Synopsis

Paula Abdul performs "The Promise Of A New Day" in a tropical setting built from lush Hawaiian landscapes, rushing waterfalls, and bright outdoor scenery. She dances with a group of performers as the video moves between natural locations and polished studio imagery, creating an optimistic visual counterpart to the song's message of renewal and change. Abdul's close-ups and choreography are combined with footage shot in Hawaii, giving the finished clip a glossy, larger-than-life early-1990s pop aesthetic.

Factoids & Trivia

• Production took place during the week of July 8, 1991.

• The waterfall and tropical sequences were filmed on location in Hawaii. Abdul could not travel there because of other commitments, so her dance routines and close-ups were filmed against a green screen on a Los Angeles soundstage.

• Abdul later recalled spending an entire day in a pool of freezing water during the shoot. She said she caught a cold soon after production wrapped.

• The video attracted attention because special lenses and image treatment appeared to make Abdul look unusually tall and thin. The visual effect was reportedly intended to fit more dancers into the frame.

• Abdul later joked about the production on VH1's "Pop-Up Video," including a story about falling while performing dance sequences in heels.

• The clip was parodied on "In Living Color" as "Promise of a Thin Me."

• MTV premiered the video as an exclusive on August 17, 1991, after which it entered heavy rotation.