A Subjective Top Ten — The Best RuPaul Songs
In 1992, RuPaul, the original supermodel of the world, had one thing to say: “You better work!”
Back then her debut single “Supermodel” broke into the top 50 of the singles charts in both the US and the UK. One and a half decades later, she is still on top of her game. RuPaul has made herstory with her Reality TV show RuPaul’s Drag Race, has slapped her gorgeous face onto candy bars, and still finds the time to grace our ears with brand new music.
The release of her best-of record Remember Me: Essentials, Vol. 1 makes this the perfect time to look back on the highlights of her illustrious music career. To quote RuPaul herself: “Let the music play!”
10. “Rock It (To The Moon)” feat. KUMMERSPECK [‘Remember Me’, 2017]
RuPaul’s latest single just makes the Top 10. Of all the club-oriented tracks she has focused on in the recent past, this one is the standout. While the lyrics are reduced to two repeated lines, the infectious beat makes “Rock It” a stunning nightlife anthem. The short “hairography” video, featuring former Drag Race contestants, fits the track perfectly.
9. “Snapshot” [‘Foxy Lady’, 1996]
The lead single of RuPaul’s sophomore album may not be as iconic as her debut “Supermodel”, but it certainly lives up to our expectations. “Snapshot” has everything a RuPaul single needs: a driving beat, lyrics that inspire self-confidence, and a glamorous music video. Add camera sound effects, a sassy spoken bridge, as well as a killer pre-chorus and you get a fun — and slightly underrated — gem.
8. “Main Event” [‘Champion’, 2009]
“Main Event” is a straightforward pop song with a particularly powerful chorus. It starts with a dramatic first verse and then builds up to become a true floor filler.
The lyrics are uncharacteristically personal, dealing with the struggle of smiling for the cameras while your private life is falling apart. “I won’t let the spotlight see the heartbreak in my love life,” RuPaul sings. “When the laughter starts to fade, all the drama takes center stage.”
“Main Event” is one of the most complex and compelling RuPaul songs. Sadly, it never got the single treatment it deserved.
7. “Supermodel (You Better Work)” [‘Supermodel Of The World’, 1992]
This is the iconic house/pop hybrid that everything started with. The fact that it only reached seventh place on this list shows that RuPaul released quite a few brilliant songs in her long career.
“Supermodel” elevated RuPaul to superstardom and the art of drag in general to new heights. The “you better work” line is still quoted by countless LGBTQ individuals and allies around the world, and the song itself is an integral part of many nightlife playlists. If you want to work the runway or the dancefloor, this remains the song to choose.
6. “Dolores” [‘Foxy Lady’, 1996]
Sixth place goes to another 90s RuPaul jam, but a much less well-known one. “Dolores” has latin influences in both lyrics and instrumental. The song is quite possibly a hymn to a beautiful transgender woman. “What you used to be don’t matter,” RuPaul proclaims. “You changed your name, but your heart’s the same.”
RuPaul’s voice works well on the simple, effortless chorus, but it’s the verses that truly make “Dolores” a standout track. They transform the song into a special, subdued kind of anthem that is empowering without the need for clichéd mantras.
5. “Sissy That Walk” [‘Born Naked’, 2014]
This uptempo masterpiece is the “Supermodel” of the 21st century. Both the song and the music video are modern classics that introduced Mama Ru’s music to a younger generation. In fact, “Sissy That Walk” became the most successful RuPaul single since her early 90s hits. The song’s parent album Born Naked — arguably Ru’s best record to date — also sold well, breaking into the US Top 100.
According to RuPaul, “sissy that walk” is a phrase that a child pageant coach used to shout at the young contestants during rehearsals. It served as the basis for the song, which then grew into yet another self-empowerment anthem. “It’s a universal song because it talks about going for it,” RuPaul explains.
“Sissy That Walk” has the power to turn every pavement and every dancefloor into a runway. Moreover, it includes what is possibly the best piece of advice you’ll ever receive: “Unless they’re paying your bills, pay them bitches no mind.”
4. “Here It Comes Around Again” [‘Glamazon’, 2011]
Of the four RuPaul tracks that are even better than the fabulous “Sissy That Walk”, this is the only one that wasn’t released as a single in some capacity — even though it definitely should have been. “Here It Comes Around Again” is a brilliant example of a song that is flawless in its simplicity.
The track talks about falling in love with a stranger on the dancefloor when you would least have expected it. “We cry so hard until we laugh and try to love again,” RuPaul sings over a monotonous beat reminiscient of old disco tunes. The song’s positive message is sure to put a smile on your face, and you’ll quickly find yourself singing along to the timeless chorus. This is what disco ballads should sound like.
PS: Glenn Stewart recorded a country-rock cover of the track. His version features former Drag Race contestants in the music video and successfully attempts to bridge the wide gap between country music and LGBTQ culture.
3. “Jealous Of My Boogie” [‘Champion’, 2009]
Welcome to the Top 3 and to some of the sassiest chorus lines ever written: “Don’t be jealous of my boogie — you can say that you are not, but I always see you looking.”
Sitting still is impossible once “Jealous Of My Boogie” begins to play. The song’s monster of a beat has everyone up on their feet in an instant, while the catchy-as-hell chorus turns even the shyest person into a fierce lipsynch queen. Most RuPaul songs are empowering in one way or another, but this career highlight is a sonic injection of confidence.
It’s a little sad that neither of the two music videos released for “Jealous Of My Boogie” — one featuring the Drag Race season 2 finalists and one featuring drag icon Chi Chi LaRue — truly does the song justice.
At the end of the day, however, there is only one thing to say: THAT. CHORUS.
2. “Born Naked” feat. Clairy Browne [‘Born Naked’, 2014]
The fantastic title track of Ru’s acclaimed Born Naked album narrowly misses out on the top spot. With a distinctive rock sound and powerful guest vocals performed by Australian singer Clairy Browne, “Born Naked” differs drastically from other RuPaul songs. It’s based on her famous slogan “we’re all born naked, and the rest is drag,” lines that also serve as the core of the song’s chorus. On the meaning of “Born Naked”, RuPaul elaborates:
“I think there are really just two types of people on the planet: people who understand that this is a play we’re doing, and that the characters we play are really not real; and then there are people who think that the characters that they play or what it says on their driver’s licence is who they are, which we both know is not really true.”
The important message of “Born Naked”, as well as its catchy hooks and fun nature, make the song a true masterpiece that should be in everybody’s iTunes library. There was, by the way, a music video for an electronic remix, but nothing beats the original, which works best when belted out on a roadtrip.
Seriously, try it.
1. “Modern Love” [‘Born Naked’, 2014]
The best RuPaul song of all time is not one of her biggest hits. It’s not even one of the uptempo empowerment anthems she’s well-known for. Instead, it’s an often overlooked midtempo gem from Born Naked, the album that spawned no less than three of the Top 5 songs on this list.
“‘Modern Love’ is really about love in the 21st century,” RuPaul explains. She distinguishes between two kinds of love: the modern love of the 20th century, and the postmodern love of the 21st century, which is based on social media and dating apps. RuPaul distances herself from the latter notion by singing “take me back to modern love” on her song’s dreamy chorus.
The heart of the track is its spoken bridge, which was added spontaneously at the very last minute. It addresses the common issue of being attracted to somebody who isn’t attracted to you. This adds another layer to “Modern Love”, making it incredibly complex for a song with rather short verses.
The elegant black-and-white music video that accompanies “Modern Love” fits the track’s melancholic tone perfectly. Both the video and the song itself show a more serious side to RuPaul and an intriguing, philosophical take on pop music’s favourite topic.
Follow RuPaul on her social media and check out her discography wherever music is sold.
