Will You Marry Me?

{{Short description|1992 single by Paula Abdul}} {{Other uses}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox song | name = Will You Marry Me? | cover = Paula.Abdul Will.You.Marry.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = [[Paula Abdul]] | album = [[Spellbound (Paula Abdul album)|Spellbound]] | released = March 19, 1992<ref name="ger"/> | B-side = [[Goodnight My Love (1956 song)|Good Night, My Love (Pleasant Dreams)]] | 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 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921230959/http://crydee.sai.msu.ru/public/lyrics/asv-collection/Lyrics/Abdul_Paula/abdul.91 |archive-date=September 21, 2018 |accessdate=July 9, 2012}}</ref> | venue = | length = 4:24 | label = [[Virgin Records|Virgin]] | writer = {{hlist|Paula Abdul|[[Sandra St. Victor]]|[[The Family Stand|Peter Lord]]|[[The Family Stand|V. Jeffrey Smith]]}} | producer = {{hlist|Peter Lord|V. Jeffrey Smith}} | prev_title = [[Vibeology]] | prev_year = 1992 | next_title = [[My Love Is for Real]] | next_year = 1995 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|D9h2HsaqStg|"Will You Marry Me?"}} }} }}

"'''Will You Marry Me?'''" is a song by American artist [[Paula Abdul]], released as the fifth and final widely released single (the album's final single "Alright Tonight" was exclusively released in Canada) from her second studio album, ''[[Spellbound (Paula Abdul album)|Spellbound]]'' (1991). The song was written by Abdul, Peter Lord, [[Sandra St. Victor]] and V. Jeffrey Smith and produced by Lord and Smith. [[Stevie Wonder]] notably appears as a special guest playing the [[harmonica]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paula-abdul.net/html/will_you_marry_me.html |title=Will You Marry Me? |publisher=Paula-Abdul.net |date=April 29, 1992 |accessdate=July 9, 2012 |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202153204/http://www.paula-abdul.net/html/will_you_marry_me.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The track received moderate success, hitting the top ten in Canada.

==Content== "Will You Marry Me?" is performed in the key of [[G major]], with Abdul's vocals ranging from B3–E5.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paula Abdul "Will You Marry Me" Sheet Music |url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0122156 |access-date=November 19, 2024 |website=Musicnotes.com}}</ref> The song is about the narrator pleading for her partner to marry her. It was coincidentally released just as Abdul had gotten engaged and married to actor [[Emilio Estevez]].<ref name="people101">{{cite web|title=CELEBRITY CENTRAL Paula Abdul|url=http://www.people.com/people/paula_abdul/biography/|website=People|publisher=[[Time Inc.]]|accessdate=September 15, 2014}}</ref> The single's [[B-side]] was a track from the ''[[Spellbound (Paula Abdul album)|Spellbound]]'' sessions called "[[Goodnight My Love (1956 song)|Good Night, My Love (Pleasant Dreams)]]" which was only included in the international edition of the album. It was recorded for a compilation as well, called ''For Our Children'', whose proceeds benefited the Pediatric AIDS Foundation.<ref name="latimes1">{{cite web|last1=Hochman|first1=Steve|title=Kiddie Pop : A Bevy of Stars Sing Nursery Rhymes to Benefit Pediatric AIDS Foundation|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-05-22-ca-2251-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=May 22, 1991}}</ref>

== Critical reception == [[Larry Flick]] of [[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']] magazine gave the track a positive review, saying "Overall warm reception to ballads from the [[multi-platinum]] ''Spellbound'' set bodes well for this retro-spiced tune. Harmonica cameo by Stevie Wonder sits well next to Abdul's charming vocal and track's glistening production values. Quite nice."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Flick |first=Larry |date=April 4, 1992 |title=Single Reviews: Pop |work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media]] |page=66 |volume=104 |issue=14 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref> Bryan Buss of [[AllMusic]] described the song as "skating that thin line between sweet and precious."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bogdanov |first=Vladimir |title=All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul |date=August 2003 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |isbn=9781617134968}}</ref> Diane Rufer and Ron Fell of ''[[Gavin Report]]'' also wrote a positive review of the single saying, "We think this is a mute question now, but the single is a worthy play this time of the year in any case."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rufer |first=Diane |last2=Fell |first2=Ron |date=March 20, 1992 |title=Inside A/C: Reviews |work=[[Gavin Report]] |page=26 |issue=1897}}</ref>

== Chart performance == Like the previous single "[[Vibeology]]" the single reached the top 20 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], stalling at number 19 and becoming a modest hit for Abdul.<ref name="billboard101">{{cite magazine |title=Paula Abdul Chart History |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/328428/paula-abdul/chart |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=September 15, 2014}}</ref> The song performed strongest in Canada where it reached number 6 on the [[RPM (magazine)|''RPM'']] Top Singles chart. It gave Abdul her ninth top 10 single there. "Will You Marry Me?" however performed poorly outside North America, failing to enter the top-fifty in Europe or Australia.

== Music video ==  The video for "Will You Marry Me" was directed by Big TV!, a duo made up of Andy Delaney and Monty Whitebloom and whom Abdul have worked with multiple times before.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paula Abdul: Will You Marry Me (Music Video 1992) - IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6666618/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_1_cred_t_39 |access-date=November 19, 2024 |website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref> It was added to [[MTV]]'s playlist for the week of May 2, 1992.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 2, 1992 |title=The Clip List |work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media]] |page=51 |volume=104 |issue=18 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref> It was then released to [[VH1]] on May 9, 1992.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 9, 1992 |title=The Clip List |work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media]] |page=39 |volume=104 |issue=19 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref>

=== Synopsis === The music video for the song featured a digital composite of five versions of Abdul wearing similarly coloured white outfits. Each "version" of Abdul performs a different style of dance to the song (ballet, jazz, etc...) and ultimately settle into a choreographed routine in which they dance with one another, concluding with one Abdul dancing with and being carried off by a translucent partner.

==Track listings== '''US cassette single'''<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Will You Marry Me? |type=US cassette single sleeve |others=[[Paula Abdul]] |year=1992 |publisher=[[Virgin Records]] |id=4-98584}}</ref>

# "Will You Marry Me?" (LP Version) – 4:24 # "[[Goodnight My Love (1956 song)|Goodnight, My Love]]" (Special Non-Album Track) – 3:12

'''UK CD single'''<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Will You Marry Me? |type=UK CD single liner notes |others=Paula Abdul |publisher=Virgin Records |year=1992 |id=665 250}}</ref>

# "Will You Marry Me?" (Edit) – 3:43 # "[[The Promise of a New Day]]" (East Coast Remix) – 4:54 # "Good Night, My Love (Pleasant Dreams)" – 3:06 # "Will You Marry Me?" (Album Version) – 4:25

'''Australian CD single'''<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Will You Marry Me? |type=Australian CD single liner notes |others=Paula Abdul |publisher=Virgin Records |year=1992 |id=VOZCD139}}</ref>

# "Will You Marry Me?" (Edit) – 3:43 # "Will You Marry Me?" (LP Version) – 4:25

== Personnel == Taken from the ''Spellbound'' booklet.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=[[Spellbound (Paula Abdul album)|Spellbound]] |type=album liner notes |others=[[Paula Abdul]] |publisher=[[Virgin Records]] and Captive Records |year=1991 |id=91611}}</ref>

* [[Paula Abdul]] – lead vocals * V. Jeffrey Smith and Peter Lord – programming and keyboards * V. Jeffrey Smith – guitar * [[Stevie Wonder]] – harmonica * [[Sandra St. Victor]] – background vocals

==Charts== {{col-start}} {{col-2}}

=== Weekly charts === {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Weekly chart performance for "Will You Marry Me?" |- ! scope="col" | Chart (1992) ! scope="col" | Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row" |Australia ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref name="aus">{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}</ref> |54 |- {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|6|chartid=1544|rowheader=true|access-date=May 15, 2019|refname=rpm}} |- ! scope="row" | Canada Contemporary Hit Radio (''[[The Record (magazine)|The Record]]'')<ref>{{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> |4 |- {{single chart|Germany|74|rowheader=true|artist=Paula Abdul|song=Will You Marry Me?|songid=50161|access-date=May 16, 2019|refname="ger"}} |- {{single chart|UK|73|artist=Paula Abdul|date=19920808|rowheader=true|access-date=May 15, 2019|refname="UK"}} |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|19|artist=Paula Abdul|rowheader=true|access-date=May 15, 2019|refname="hot100"}} |- {{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|17|artist=Paula Abdul|rowheader=true|access-date=May 15, 2019}} |- !scope="row"|US [[Top 40 Radio Monitor]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top 40 Radio Monitor|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|page=78|date=April 25, 1992|publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media]]|volume=104|issue=17|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> |13 |- !scope="row"|US Contemporary Hit Radio (''[[Radio & Records]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Back Page: CHR|magazine=[[Radio & Records]]|page=88|date=May 8, 1992|issue=940}}</ref> |5 |- !scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (''[[Radio & Records]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Back Page: AC|magazine=[[Radio & Records]]|page=88|date=May 1, 1992|issue=939}}</ref> |16 |- !scope="row"|US Top 40 (''[[Gavin Report]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=the Gavin Report: Top 40|magazine=[[Gavin Report]]|page=6|date=May 15, 1992|issue=1905}}</ref> |8 |- !scope="row"|US Crossover (''[[Gavin Report]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Crossover Chart|magazine=[[Gavin Report]]|page=17|date=April 24, 1992|issue=1902}}</ref> |6 |- !scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (''[[Gavin Report]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=the Gavin Report: Adult Contemporary|magazine=[[Gavin Report]]|page=19|date=May 1, 1992|issue=1903}}</ref> |8 |- !scope="row"|US [[Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles|Top 100 Pop Singles]] (''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Cash Box Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles|magazine=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]|page=4|date=May 16, 1992|volume=LV|issue=38}}</ref> |12 |} {{col-2}}

=== Year-end charts === {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+1992 year-end chart performance for "Will You Marry Me?" |- ! scope="col" | Chart (1992) ! scope="col" | Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1992|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|page=8|date=December 19, 1992|volume=56|issue=25}}</ref> |78 |- ! scope="row"|US Contemporary Hit Radio (''Radio & Records'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Top 92 of 1992: CHR|magazine=Radio & Records|page=45|date=December 11, 1992|issue=971}}</ref> | 75 |- ! scope="row"|US Top 40 (''Gavin Report'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top 100: Top 40|magazine=Gavin Report|page=23|date=December 11, 1992|issue=1935}}</ref> | 79 |- ! scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (''Gavin Report'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top 100: Adult Contemporary|magazine=Gavin Report|page=24|date=December 11, 1992|issue=1935}}</ref> | 83 |} {{col-end}}

==Release history== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+Release dates and format(s) for "Will You Marry Me?" ! scope="col" |Region ! scope="col" |Date ! scope="col" |Format(s) ! scope="col" |Label(s) ! scope="col" |{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! scope="row" |United States |March 19, 1992 |{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|cassette}} | rowspan="2" |[[Virgin Records|Virgin]] |<ref name="ger" /> |- ! scope="row" |United Kingdom |July 27, 1992 |{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}} |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=19|date=July 25, 1992}}</ref> |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:1991 songs]] [[Category:1992 singles]] [[Category:Paula Abdul songs]] [[Category:Songs written by Paula Abdul]] [[Category:Songs written by Sandra St. Victor]] [[Category:Virgin Records singles]]