Synopsis
Set against the nighttime grandeur of Paris, Jody Watley moves through the Paris Opera House in a series of striking, fashion-led tableaux. The black-and-white photography emphasizes the architecture, shadows, and sculptural quality of her poses before bursts of color heighten the song's energy. Watley performs with fluid, spontaneous movement alongside dancer Tyrone Proctor, turning the clip into a stylish showcase for her voice, presence, and individuality rather than a conventional narrative about romance.
Factoids & Trivia
- The video was filmed at the Paris Opera House. Watley said she was the first artist or entity permitted to shoot a music video there.
- Watley described the concept as "Paris by Night," drawing inspiration from the location-based, fashion-conscious videos of Duran Duran.
- The dancing was not built around set choreography. Watley and Tyrone Proctor improvised their movements at each location, with Proctor bringing the waacking style associated with the disco and Soul Train dance scenes.
- Watley had known Proctor since her teenage years on Soul Train. Their collaboration connected the polished 1987 pop video to the freestyle dance culture that shaped her early career.
- The production uses a notable visual transition from black and white into color near the end, matching the escalating energy of the performance.
- "Still A Thrill" was Watley's second single from her 1987 debut album. She co-wrote the song with Andre Cymone, who produced it with David Z.
- The song reached No. 3 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart and No. 8 on the Dance chart, while peaking at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Watley later said the record's lower vocal register surprised some listeners, with people occasionally assuming that a male singer handled the lead vocal.