Beyond "Supermodel": Fabulous RuPaul Songs for Your Playlist
Celebrate the drag icon's birthday with 10 great tracks that will have you sashaying through life
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RuPaul Charles — better known simply as RuPaul — became a global sensation in 1992 with the dance hit "Supermodel (You Better Work)." With it, RuPaul became the first, and thus far only, drag artist in history to achieve mainstream American musical success, cracking the Billboard Top 50, selling more than 500,000 copies of the single, and entering the charts in numerous other countries around the world.
Since then, RuPaul has gone on to an incredible career, acting in movies (cameos in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar and The Brady Bunch films; a supporting role in the cult classic But I'm a Cheerleader...), writing several best-selling books, and most importantly hosting the TV competition RuPaul's Drag Race, which has spawned more than 20 spinoff series around the globe and won Ru 14 Primetime Emmy Awards and counting. I guess Ru really did work. OK, supermodel!
Through it all, RuPaul has continued releasing new music, some of which is pretty great. To celebrate RuPaul's 64th birthday on November 17, we went through RuPaul's 16 albums and picked out 10 additional songs beyond "Supermodel" that are worth adding to your playlist.
Amazon.com
Listen to RuPaul's Essential Christmas on Amazon Music.
Honorable Mention: Rock It (To the Moon)
People either love or hate this highly robotic, quasi-funk number that has, really, no lyrics to speak of aside from "To the moon," "Blast off," and "Gonna take me away."
But it's not about the words; it's about a vibe. There's a reason this song was used as the promo tune for the exceptional RuPaul's Drag Race Season 9, and continues to be used as the outro song for numerous Drag Race franchises.
10. Hustle That Cat
The promo song for RuPaul's Drag Race Season 16 has a great laid-back vibe, even if it's all about getting out there and selling yourself to get what you want.
The tempo is absolutely perfect for feeling your oats on a self-affirming strut.
9. New Friends Silver, Old Friends Gold
For a total tonal shift, we have this sweet song, probably the closest we're likely to get to a ballad from RuPaul at this point.
In it, Ru sings about the beauty of long-term friendships. It was effectively used as the runway track for the all-winners season, Drag Race All-Stars 7.
Amazon.com
Listen to Essential RuPaul Vol. 2 on Amazon Music.
8. A Little Bit of Love
This track is a fully remixed and reworked version of a very 90s-sounding single off Ru's early album, Foxy Lady.
The new version sounds modern and infectious, which is probably why it has been used as the runway song for all six existing seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.
7. Mighty Love
We're gonna slow it down a bit with this sensual track, used as the runway song for Drag Race Season 11.
This is another great strut track, especially when that bridge kicks in. You feel this beat in your bones.
6. Just What They Want
This high-energy track packs a punch with its references to underground ballroom culture delivered with a surprisingly spry rap.
Of the modern RuPaul songs, it's probably the closest in tone to "Supermodel." This was used to promote Drag Race Season 14.
Amazon.com
Listen to RuPaul's Black Butta on Amazon Music.
5. Main Event
This gloriously over-the-top track is a love note to disco music.
There's absolutely zero subtlety to be found here, but that's never been RuPaul's strong suit.
This is fierce, fabulous, and dramatic, and it climaxes in a supernova bridge. I wouldn't change a thing.
4. Geronimo
Don't ask me what this song is about — competition in the club scene? — but it doesn't matter. This is a super catchy number that will liven up the dance floor or get you twerking in your office chair.
Props for referencing Home Alone, Romeo & Juliet, and Game of Thrones.
Amazon.com
Listen to RuPaul's "Born Naked" album on Amazon Music.
3. Call Me Mother
Guess who back in the house?
It's RuPaul, absolutely destroying this rap track and reminding the children that in a world full of mothers, she is TRULY Mother.
I can't even count the number of times this song has been used as a Drag Race lipsynch, and every time, it's a slay.
2. Cover Girl
Y'all wanted a twist?
One of RuPaul's very best songs comes from the very beginning of Drag Race. "Cover Girl" was the finale lipsynch on Season 1 of the show, and the runway song for the entirety of Season 2.
It's a fierce track, and if you love "Supermodel," you'll love this.
1. Sissy That Walk
Some will argue that RuPaul's Drag Race peaked with Season 6.
The show is still putting out great seasons a decade later, so I don't necessarily agree — but there has never been a better promo than S6, and part of that is this instant-classic gay track. Legendary!
Eric Rezsnyak is the founder and host of the Great Pop Culture Debate podcast. He is a journalist, writer, cultural critic, and trivia champion.