"My Love Is for Real" is a song by American singer and songwriter Paula Abdul with backing vocals from Israeli singer Ofra Haza. It was released on May 30, 1995, by Virgin and Captive Records as the first single from Abdul's third studio album, Head over Heels (1995). Intended as Abdul's comeback single, "My Love Is for Real" reached number one in Hungary, number five in Israel, number seven in Australia, and the top 20 in Canada and New Zealand, but it stalled outside the top 20 in the United States, peaking at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, and failed to make a major impact in Europe. The song's music video was directed by Michael Haussman.

Composition Written by Abdul and Rhett Lawrence, the song fuses trip hop and traditional Indian instruments as well as Middle Eastern music with backing vocals by Israeli singer Ofra Haza, producing a darker sound not present in Abdul's earlier hits and also containing elements of industrial music. The single's B-side is the mid-tempo song "Didn't I Say I Love You", written by Elliot Wolf and Stacey Piersa.

Critical reception Larry Flick from Billboard magazine viewed the song as "an overlooked pop-treasure", describing it as "cute" and "fun". Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel described it as "Middle Eastern-flavored" and "slow chugging".Campbell, Chuck (June 23, 1995). "Bjork Returns With Lyrical Surprises". Knoxville News Sentinel. In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton wrote, "Her new single goes for the dance angle, reminiscent of her first hit 'Straight Up' but this time round unlikely to become too big a hit for her." Ian Watson from Melody Maker felt that "mucho respect" goes to Abdul "for first having the good sense to employ the wailing woman talents of Ofra Haza and then penning a pop song that flirts dangerously with the intense feelings found in the Arabic music world." A reviewer from Music Week gave "My Love Is for Real" a score of four out of five, adding, "Smooth, soulful vocals with a funky rhythm and oriental touches show Abdul back on form." John Perry from NME named it the "strongest of all" on the album, "mixing Ofra Haza's ethereal vocals over Paula's Madonna-esque whispering, almost turning a standard sexy ballad into Massive Attack's 'Safe from Harm'. Almost." Mark Sutherland from Smash Hits gave it three out of five, writing, "Nowadays though, she's reduced to copying Madonna with this stab at 'Justify My Love'/'Confide in Me' eastern-tinged sexiness. A hit the size of a house, but that's hardly the point."

Chart performance "My Love Is for Real" was intended to be a comeback single for Abdul, who had not released an album since 1991's triple-platinum Spellbound. The single was not as successful as Abdul's previous releases and peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100. To date, it is Abdul's most recent top-40 hit in the US. The song fared better on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, where it reached the number-one position.

Internationally "My Love Is for Real" peaked at number five in Israel, number seven in Australia and became a top-20 hit in New Zealand and Canada. In the United Kingdom, the song peaked at number 28 on the UK Singles Chart and number three on the UK R&B Chart. The song did not impact Ireland or mainland Europe at all, save for Hungary, where it topped the country's chart, and Germany, where it reached number 87.

Music video The accompanying music video for "My Love Is for Real", directed by Michael Haussman, features Middle Eastern-inspired imagery with Abdul appearing as the head mistress of a harem. The video received two MTV Video Music Award nominations: Best Dance Video and Best Choreography in a Video.

Track listings

US and cassette CD single "My Love Is for Real" (radio edit) – 4:23 "Didn't I Say I Love You" – 3:29 "My Love Is for Real" (LP version) – 5:21 "My Love Is for Real" (R&B remix) – 4:04

US 7-inch single A. "My Love Is for Real" (radio edit) – 4:23 B. "Didn't I Say I Love You" – 3:29

US 12-inch single A1. "My Love Is for Real" (E-Smoove's Fever mix) – 8:25 A2. "My Love Is for Real" (Strike's Pink Wig dub) – 6:48 B1. "My Love Is for Real" (downtempo club dub) – 8:02 B2. "Didn't I Say I Love You" – 3:05

UK CD single "My Love Is for Real" (E-Smoove's Fever 7-inch edit) – 3:47 "My Love Is for Real" (LP version) – 5:21 "My Love Is for Real" (Strike Straight Up There mix) – 7:05 "Didn't I Say I Love You" – 3:29

UK cassette single; European CD single; Japanese mini-CD single "My Love Is for Real" (LP version) – 5:21 "Didn't I Say I Love You" – 3:29

Australian CD single "My Love Is for Real" (LP version) – 5:21 "My Love Is for Real" (E-Smoove's Fever 7-inch edit) – 3:47 "My Love Is for Real" (Strike Straight Up There mix) – 7:05 "Didn't I Say I Love You" – 3:29

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1995)PeakpositionCanada Retail Singles (The Record) 23Canada Contemporary Hit Radio (The Record) 8Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 44Europe (European Dance Radio) 8Europe (European Hit Radio) 11Hungary (Mahasz) 1Israel (Israeli Singles Chart) Search "My Love Is for Real" for Israeli chart history. 5Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade) 13Netherlands (Single Top 100 Tipparade) 5US Cash Box Top 10013US CHR/Pop (Radio & Records) 16US CHR/Rhythmic (Radio & Records) 26

Year-end charts Chart (1995)PositionCanada Adult Contemporary (RPM) 52US Dance Club Play (Billboard) 42US CHR/Pop (Radio & Records) 74

Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesMay 9, 1995May 30, 1995United KingdomJune 5, 1995VirginJapanJuly 5, 1995Mini-CD

Strike version

British electronic dance music group Strike released their version of "My Love Is for Real" in November 1996 through Fresh Records. It was the fourth single from their only studio album, I Saw the Future (1997), and was produced by Andy Gardner and Matt Cantor of Strike, with vocals by Victoria Newton. The single peaked at number 35 in the United Kingdom and number 45 in Scotland. Outside Europe it reached number 157 in Australia. British magazine Music Week gave Strike's version of "My Love Is for Real" a score of four out of five, writing, "The magic is still there from the band who have got making commercial pop dance down to a fine art. Another smash."

Track listings UK 12-inch single (1996) "My Love Is 4 Real" (Strike's Big Outback 12-inch mix) "My Love Is 4 Real" (Strike's Small Upfront dub) "My Love Is 4 Real" (Ramp vocal mix) "My Love Is 4 Real" (Ramp dub)

UK CD single (1996) "My Love Is for Real" (radio edit) – 3:48 "My Love Is for Real" (Strike's Big Outback 12-inch mix) – 6:11 "My Love Is for Real" (Strike's Small Upfront dub) – 6:35 "My Love Is for Real" (Ramp vocal mix) – 6:37 "My Love Is for Real" (Ramp dub) – 7:33

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1996–1997)PeakpositionAustralia (ARIA) 157Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 84France Airplay (SNEP) 100Scotland (OCC) 45UK Singles (OCC) 35UK Dance (OCC) 3UK Pop Tip Club Chart (Music Week) 3

Year-end charts Chart (1996)PositionUK Pop Tip Club Chart (Music Week) 6

See also List of number-one dance hits (United States)

References