In the wake of Madonna's success, many dance-pop divas filled the charts, but out of them all, Paula Abdul was the only one who sustained a career. The former L.A. Lakers cheerleader and choreographer scored her first hit in 1989, when "Straight Up" shot to Billboard's number one spot, becoming the first of four U.S. chart-toppers from her 1988 debut, Forever Your Girl; the others were "Forever Your Girl," "Cold Hearted," and "Opposites Attract," each earning a gold certification from the RIAA. This success laid the groundwork for her second act as a judge on American Idol, the televised singing competition that began in 2002 and kept Abdul in the spotlight throughout the decade.

Singer/dancer/choreographer Paula Abdul hit the big time with the third single, "Straight Up," off this album, which sparked a string of hits that carried through to her follow-up. Despite having a slight voice, her voice is distinct and perfectly suited to this synthesized type of late-'80s dance-pop. "Cold Hearted" is insistent and catchy, "Forever Your Girl" is sweet and accessible, and "Opposites Attract" gives Abdul a chance to spar with the Wild Pair. There is some filler – "Next to You," for example – that hasn't aged as well as the better material, but overall this is a consistent album with some great dance-pop songs. Unfortunately, as Abdul and her material matured, her audience waned.

As far as budget-line compilations are considered, 10 Great Songs is as straightforward as it gets. The disc contains Paula Abdul's first ten charting singles, from “Knocked Out” through “Vibeology.” That means that each one of her six consecutive number one singles – “Straight Up,” “Forever Your Girl,” “Cold Hearted,” “Opposites Attract,” “Rush, Rush,” and “The Promise of a New Day” – is included. “It’s Just the Way That You Love Me” and “Blowing Kisses in the Wind,” both of which reached the Top Ten, are here as well. This is all that most casual Abdul fans could possibly need.

Paula Julie Abdul (born June 19, 1962) is an American singer, songwriter, voice actress, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality. She began her career as a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers at the age of 18 before rising to prominence in the 1980s as a highly sought choreographer at the height of the music video era…