Club MTV Tour

Overview

Club MTV Tour - Paula Abdul

Launching six years into MTV's run, Club MTV was a half hour television show modeled after American Bandstand featuring teenagers dancing to a hit song intercut with it's official music video.

The show was designed with more of a nightclub-inspired look than its predecessor Bandstand; instead of the drab confines of a TV studio, it is staged at The Palladium in New York City - a real dance club.

Often there were musical guests who performed their new singles; such guests included Paula Abdul, Exposé, Jody Watley, Debbie Harry, New Kids on the Block, Vanessa Williams, Sheena Easton, Debbie Gibson, Salt-n-Pepa, MC Hammer, Taylor Dayne, Deee-lite, Pet Shop Boys, E.U., Vanilla Ice, Samantha Fox, Soul II Soul, and Black Box to name a few.

Hosted by the vivacious English personality Downtown Julie Brown, Club MTV takes a cue from Soul Train with fashion-forward dancers showing off the latest moves.

Club MTV was part of MTV's second generation of programming, as the channel was phasing out its original 5 VJs and introducing new ones. It aired on MTV from August 31, 1987 to June 26, 1992.

Paula performing "Cold Hearted"

Late in 1989, MTV launched their first Club MTV Tour featuring Was (Not Was), Information Society, Paula Abdul, Tone Loc and Milli Vanilli. Abdul turned out to be the biggest draw on the Club MTV Tour riding a wave of success from her hit songs “Straight Up,” “Forever Your Girl” and “Cold Hearted.”

During an interview for her “Under My Spell Tour” Paula said that as part of the 1989 "Club MTV" tour, she did a lot ". . . with nothing!" she says, finishing the sentence with a giggle.

Abdul continues, "It's funny. I remember when I was given that opportunity, to share the stage with five other acts, I wanted to do something to make it feel like it was my own stage, so we had little boxes, a cardboard set. I just wanted something to create my own ambience. It was a fun experience."