Pretty Poison
Sunrise: January 1, 1981
Philadelphia, PA
Pretty Poison is a notable American dance group that emerged in the mid-1980s, carving a niche for themselves with their unique blend of freestyle and dance-pop music.
Pretty Poison is an American dance-pop and freestyle group that emerged from Philadelphia in 1981. The group was formed by vocalist Jade Starling and keyboardist and guitarist Whey Cooler. Over the years, Pretty Poison became known for combining synthesizers, dance rhythms, pop melodies, and the emerging freestyle sound of the 1980s. Their music helped connect Philadelphia's club-music scene with the broader national dance-pop audience.
The group's signature song is **“Catch Me (I'm Falling),”** released in 1987. The energetic dance track became Pretty Poison's breakthrough success, reaching **No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100** and **No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart**. The song was also featured in the 1987 film *Hiding Out*, giving the group additional exposure through both radio and movie audiences.
Pretty Poison's 1988 album, *Catch Me I'm Falling*, showcased more of the group's dance-oriented sound. Along with the title hit, the album included songs such as **“Nighttime,” “When I Look Into Your Eyes,” “The Look,” “Hold Me,”** and **“Heaven.”** “Nighttime,” which had originally appeared as an earlier dance release, received renewed attention and reached the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988.
What makes Pretty Poison especially memorable is the group's place in the colorful 1980s dance-music movement. Their combination of catchy hooks, electronic production, club rhythms, and Jade Starling's distinctive vocals gave their music an instantly recognizable character. While “Catch Me (I'm Falling)” remains their biggest mainstream hit, the group's catalog continues to appeal to fans of classic freestyle, dance-pop, and 1980s club music.
Pretty Poison's music has also continued to find an audience decades after its original success. Streaming services still feature “Catch Me (I'm Falling),” “Nighttime,” and other recordings, while the group has continued releasing music and performing. Their enduring popularity demonstrates how strongly their signature sound is connected with the nostalgia and energy of the classic 1980s dance era.
~AI