Vibeology

{{Short description|1991 single by Paula Abdul}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox song | name = Vibeology | cover = Vibeology.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = [[Paula Abdul]] | album = [[Spellbound (Paula Abdul album)|Spellbound]] | released = {{start date|1991|10|21}} | recorded = | studio = Studio Masters (Los Angeles)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://crydee.sai.msu.ru/public/lyrics/asv-collection/Lyrics/Abdul_Paula/abdul.91 |title=Paula Abdul "Spellbound" 1991 |access-date=July 9, 2012 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215048/http://crydee.sai.msu.ru/public/lyrics/asv-collection/Lyrics/Abdul_Paula/abdul.91 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | genre = * [[House music|House]]<ref name="Breihan 2021">{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: Paula Abdul's "The Promise Of A New Day|website= [[Stereogum]] |date= December 10, 2021 |url= https://www.stereogum.com/2169863/the-number-ones-paul-abduls-the-promise-of-a-new-day/columns/the-number-ones/|accessdate= December 23, 2023|quote= Apparently, the original plan was to follow “The Promise Of A New Day” with “Vibeology", a daffy and fizzy house track.}}</ref> * [[new jack swing]]<ref name="fansite">{{cite web|url=https://www.paula-abdul.com/vibeology-single.html|title=Vibeology single: Paula-Abdul.com|website=Paula Abdul Official Fan Site|access-date=November 18, 2024}}</ref> | length = * 5:16 (album version) * 3:20 (video edit) | label = * [[Virgin Records|Virgin]] * Captive | writer = * Peter Lord * [[Sandra St. Victor]] * V. Jeffrey Smith | producer = * Peter Lord * V. Jeffrey Smith | prev_title = [[Blowing Kisses in the Wind]] | prev_year = 1991 | next_title = [[Will You Marry Me?]] | next_year = 1992 | misc = {{Extra album cover | header = | type = single | cover = Paula Abdul - Vibeology Australia single.jpg | border =  | alt = | caption = Australian single cover }} {{External music video|{{YouTube|ib01_vWRpx0|"Vibeology"}} }} }} "'''Vibeology'''" is a song by American singer [[Paula Abdul]], taken from the singer's second studio album, ''[[Spellbound (Paula Abdul album)|Spellbound]]'' (1991). The [[House music|house]] and [[new jack swing]] number was written by Peter Lord, [[Sandra St. Victor]], and V. Jeffrey Smith and produced by Lord and Smith. It was first released on October 21, 1991, in Japan via [[Virgin Records]] and Abdul's [[vanity label]] Captive Records, becoming the album's fourth official single. In Europe and Australia, the track was released as the third single, as "[[Blowing Kisses in the Wind]]" was not released in the former region and would be released in the latter region following "Vibeology".

==Background== Originally, [[Virgin Records]] had intended to release "Vibeology" as the third single from ''Spellbound'' following Abdul's performance of the song at the [[1991 MTV Video Music Awards]]; however, it was delayed in favor of "[[Blowing Kisses in the Wind]]" which was receiving airplay at the time, creating demand for the song.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1991/10/04/paula-abduls-vibeology/|title=Paula Abdul's ''Vibeology''|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] }}</ref>

==Critical reception== [[Slant Magazine]]'s Eric Henderson, in a 2004 retrospective review for ''Spellbound'', named "Vibeology" one of the two best tracks off the album, describing it as an "underappreciated departure" for Abdul and that it is "topped off with [[Betty Boop]]–channeling affectations in what is surely Abdul's most gutsy vocal performance." Henderson also said the track "introduced fans used to tasteful, precise beat to the concept of [[dance music]] as a balls-out freak party."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Henderson |first=Eric |date=2004-07-17 |title=Review: Paula Abdul, 'Spellbound' |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/paula-abdul-spellbound/ |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=[[Slant Magazine]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Commercial performance== [[File:Paula Abdul 2007.jpg|left|thumb|228x228px|"Vibeology" broke Abdul's (pictured in 2007) streak of top-10 singles in the United States.]]

===North America=== "Vibeology" entered the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] the week of January 18, 1992, at number 65, becoming the "Hot Shot Debut" of the week.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 18, 1992 |title=The ''Billboard'' Hot 100 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1992-01-18/ |access-date=January 22, 2025 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> Three weeks later, the track reached its peak position of number 16, breaking Abdul's streak of eight top-10 singles and becoming Abdul's first single to miss the top 10 in the US since the original release of "[[The Way That You Love Me (Paula Abdul song)|The Way That You Love Me]]" in 1988. It spent 14 weeks in total on the chart.<ref name="hot100"/> "Vibeology" performed marginally better on component charts, peaking at number 17 on the [[Dance Club Songs|Dance Club Play]] chart and number two on the [[Dance Singles Sales|12-inch Singles Sales]] chart.<ref name="dance"/><ref name="dancesales"/> It was the 34th-best-selling dance single of 1992.<ref name="bbyearend"/>

===UK and Europe=== In the United Kingdom, "Vibeology" debuted on the [[UK Singles Chart]] the week of 12 January 1992, at number 29.<ref name="uk"/> One week later, the track reached number 19, where it would peak. It stayed there for two consecutive weeks and overall spent six weeks on the chart.<ref name="uk"/> It was Abdul's highest charting UK single since "[[Rush Rush (Paula Abdul song)|Rush Rush]]" peaked at number six in early 1991. Elsewhere in Europe, the track entered the top 40 in the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium (Flanders), and Switzerland; this led to a number-40 peak on the [[European Hot 100 Singles]] chart.<ref name="euhot100"/> "Vibeology" would achieve its greatest success on the [[European Dance Radio Chart]], where it reached number three.<ref name="eudance"/>

===Australia=== Following its November 18, 1991, release in Australia,<ref name=":0" /> "Vibeology" peaked at number 63 on the [[ARIA Singles Chart]].<ref name="aus"/> In New Zealand, it debuted and peaked at number 50 on the [[RIANZ Singles Chart]] the week of March 29, 1992, and spent a single week on the chart.<ref name="nz"/>

==Music video== Stefan Würnitzer directed the video for "Vibeology";<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paula Abdul: "Vibeology" — Production Credits and More |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7783546/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_1_cdt_c_40 |access-date=January 22, 2025 |website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref> he had previously directed the music video for "[[Rush Rush (Paula Abdul song)|Rush Rush]]". It was filmed on December 10, 1991.<ref name="fansite"/> A video edit was used and would later be released as the single edit; this version would also be included on her [[Greatest Hits (Paula Abdul album)|''Greatest Hits'']] (2000) collection. Two videos were made for "Vibeology", one for North America and another for Europe and Australasia. The music video was released to [[MTV]] on December 21, 1991, as an "Exclusive".<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=December 21, 1991 |title=The Clip List |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]] |page=48 |volume=103 |issue=51 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref> It was shortly placed on [[heavy rotation]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 18, 1992 |title=The Clip List |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]] |page=34 |volume=104 |issue=3 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref>

===Synopsis=== The video for the North American version features Abdul and her dancers dancing in front of spotlights and red and white backdrops. During the chorus the word "Vibeology" scrolls across the screen with ghostly effects and at times Abdul herself is outlined with a white blur. For the international version, it was re-edited with clips of rehearsals of the [[Under My Spell Tour|''Under My Spell'' ''Tour'']] and was also utilized to cross-promote Abdul's tour.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paula Abdul: "Vibeology" (International Version) — Production Credits and More |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7783578/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_1_cdt_c_38 |access-date=January 22, 2025 |website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref>

==Track listings== All tracks were written by Peter Lord, Sandra St. Victor, and V. Jeffrey Smith. {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

* '''US 12-inch vinyl single'''<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Vibeology |type=US 12-inch vinyl single sleeve |year=1992 |publisher=[[Virgin Records]] |id=96107}}</ref>

# "Vibeology" (Hurley's House Mix) – 7:04 # "Vibeology" (Hurley's Underground Mix) – 5:27 # "Vibeology" (Silky Sax Dub) – 5:42 # "Vibeology" (Underground Sax Dub) – 4:58

* '''European 7-inch vinyl single'''<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Vibeology |type=European 7-inch vinyl single sleeve |year=1991 |publisher=Virgin Records |id=114 849}}</ref>

# "Vibeology" – 4:13 # "Vibeology" (Hurley's House 7 Inch) – 3:39 {{col-2}}

* '''Australian maxi-CD single'''<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Vibeology |type=Australian maxi-CD single liner notes |publisher=Virgin Records |year=1991 |id=VUSCD53}}</ref>

# "Vibeology" (Jeff & Pete 7" Edit) – 4:13 # "Vibeology" (7" Keith Cohen Club Edit) – 3:30 # "Vibeology" (Humphrey's Hip-Hop Radio Edit) – 3:47 # "Vibeology" (Keith Cohen's House Mix) – 7:48 # "Vibeology" (Humphrey's Hip-House Mix) – 5:40 # "Vibeology" (Keith Cohen's Penthouse Dub) – 5:57

* '''US and Canadian cassette single'''<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Vibeology |type=US cassette single sleeve |publisher=Virgin Records |year=1992 |id=4-98737}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Vibeology |type=Canadian cassette single sleeve |publisher=Virgin Records Canada |year=1992 |id=VS4 1571}}</ref>

# "Vibeology" (Jeff & Pete 7" Edit) – 4:13 # "Vibeology" (Keith Cohen's Vibe the House Dub) – 5:53 {{col-end}}

==Personnel== Personnel are taken from the ''Spellbound'' booklet.

* V. Jeffrey Smith – production, arrangement, vocal arrangement, programming, keyboards, sax * Peter Lord – production, arrangement, vocal arrangement, programming, keyboards, additional voices * [[Sandra St. Victor]] – vocal arrangement, [[background vocals]] * [[Paula Abdul]] – lead vocals * [[The Family Stand]] – additional voices

==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ {{sro|Weekly chart performance for "Vibeology"}} |- ! scope="col" | Chart (1991–1992) ! scope="col" | Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row" | Australia ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref name="aus">{{cite Ryan|page=7}}</ref> | 63 |- {{single chart|Flanders|30|artist=Paula Abdul|song=Vibeology|access-date=May 7, 2019|rowheader=true}} |- ! scope="row" | Canada [[Retail Singles]] (''[[The Record (magazine)|The Record]]'')<ref name="Lwin">{{cite book|last=Lwin|first=Nanda|author-link=Nanda Lwin|date=2000|title=Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide|publisher=Music Data Canada|page=18|isbn=1-896594-13-1}}</ref> | 7 |- ! scope="row" | Canada Contemporary Hit Radio (''[[The Record (magazine)|The Record]]'')<ref name="Lwin" /> | 4 |- {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|19|chartid=1261|access-date=May 7, 2019|refname=rpm|rowheader=true}} |- ! scope="row" | Europe ([[Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref name="euhot100">{{cite magazine|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=9|issue=6|page=17|date=February 8, 1992}}</ref> | 40 |- ! scope="row" | Europe ([[European Dance Radio Chart|European Dance Radio]])<ref name="eudance">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-02-01.pdf|title=European Dance Radio|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=9|issue=5|page=21|date=February 1, 1992|access-date=October 29, 2021}}</ref> | 3 |- {{single chart|Ireland2|29|song=Vibeology|access-date=August 26, 2022|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Dutch40|13|artist=Paula Abdul|song=Vibeology|access-date=October 29, 2021|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Dutch100|20|artist=Paula Abdul|song=Vibeology|access-date=May 7, 2019|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|New Zealand|50|artist=Paula Abdul|song=Vibeology|access-date=May 7, 2019|rowheader=true|refname="nz"}} |- {{single chart|Switzerland|31|artist=Paula Abdul|song=Vibeology|access-date=May 7, 2019|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|UK|19|artist=Paula Abdul|song=Straight Up|date=19920118|access-date=May 7, 2019|refname="uk"|rowheader=true}} |- ! scope="row" | UK Airplay (''[[Music Week]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-02-01.pdf|title=Top 50 Airplay Chart|magazine=[[Music Week]]|date=February 1, 1992|page=14|access-date=November 2, 2025}}</ref> | 6 |- ! scope="row" | UK Dance (''[[Music Week]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-01-18.pdf |title= Top 60 Dance Singles |magazine= [[Music Week]] |date= January 18, 1992 |page= 20 |access-date= September 29, 2020}}</ref> | 16 |- ! scope="row" | [[Record Mirror Club Chart|UK Club Chart]] (''[[Record Mirror]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1991/MW-1991-12-14.pdf|title=The Record Mirror Club Chart|magazine=[[Music Week]], in [[Record Mirror]] (Dance Update Supplemental Insert)|date=December 14, 1991|page=8|access-date=September 9, 2025}}</ref> | 21 |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|16|artist=Paula Abdul||access-date=May 7, 2019|refname="hot100"|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|17|artist=Paula Abdul||access-date=May 7, 2019|refname="dance"|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Billboarddancesales|2|artist=Paula Abdul|access-date=March 15, 2023|rowheader=true|refname="dancesales"}} |- ! scope="row" | US [[Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles|''Cash Box'' Top 100]]<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Cash Box Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles|magazine=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]|page=4|date=March 7, 1992|volume=LV|issue=28}}</ref> | 7 |- ! scope="row" | US Crossover (''[[Gavin Report]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Crossover Chart|magazine=[[Gavin Report]]|page=20|date=February 7, 1992|issue=1891}}</ref> | 8 |- ! scope="row" | US Top 40 (''[[Gavin Report]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=the Gavin Report: Top 40|magazine=[[Gavin Report]]|page=8|date=February 21, 1992|issue=1893}}</ref> | 10 |- ! scope="row" | US Contemporary Hit Radio (''[[Radio & Records]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Back Page: CHR|magazine=[[Radio & Records]]|page=84|date=February 14, 1992|issue=928}}</ref> | 9 |} {{col-2}}

===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ {{sro|Year-end chart performance for "Vibeology"}} |- ! scope="col" | Chart (1992) ! scope="col" | Position |- ! scope="row" | US Maxi-Singles Sales (''Billboard'')<ref name="bbyearend">{{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music: Hot Dance Music Maxi-Singles Sales|magazine=Billboard|volume=104|issue=52|page=YE-48|date=December 26, 1992|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> | 34 |} {{col-end}}

==Release history== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+{{sro|Release dates and formats for "Vibeology"}} !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- !scope="row"|Japan |October 21, 1991 |Mini-CD |{{hlist|[[Virgin Records|Virgin]]|Captive}} |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/156645/products/298522/1/|title=ヴァイヴをちょうだい {{!}} ポーラ・アブドル|trans-title=Give Me a Vibe {{!}} Paula Abdul|publisher=[[Oricon]]|language=ja|access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|Australia |November 18, 1991 |rowspan="2"|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}} |rowspan="3" |[[Virgin Records|Virgin]] |<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/ndvSOcy.png|title=New Release Summary – Product Available from: 18/11/91 (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 95)|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]]|via=[[Imgur]]|access-date=August 14, 2016}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|United Kingdom |January 6, 1992 |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=5|date=January 4, 1992}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|United States |January 21, 1992 |{{Hlist}}{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|cassette single}} |<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 16, 1992 |title=Billboard Top 10 Singles, Disks: New Releases |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4i5DAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Vibeology%22&pg=PA7&article_id=6390,2197227 |access-date=January 21, 2025 |work=[[The Albany Herald]] |location=[[Albany, GA]] |page=5B |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:1991 singles]] [[Category:1991 songs]] [[Category:Music videos directed by Stefan Würnitzer]] [[Category:Paula Abdul songs]] [[Category:Songs written by Sandra St. Victor]] [[Category:Virgin Records singles]]