Supermodel of the World
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Supermodel of the World is the debut studio album by American drag queen RuPaul, released on June 8, 1993 by Tommy Boy Records.
Album information
Released in 1993 on Tommy Boy Records, it peaked at #109 on the Billboard 200. Its instant (and unexpected) popularity amongst all types of people triggered the ascent of RuPaul to celebrity status. Before the release of the album RuPaul was a known name mostly for being the only drag queen supermodel (thus the album's name). The first single from the album, "Supermodel (You Better Work)", was a huge club and dance hit that peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 and achieved Gold sales status. The video clip for the song was put into heavy rotation on MTV; this was a huge surprise to RuPaul and her record label as, at the time, the music being heavily played on MTV was grunge, gangsta rap and rock. The album was reissued on Rhino Records.
The album's songs take many of the trends and colloquialisms of the drag queen and gay subcultures and turns them into dance, disco and house tracks. "House of Love" is an all-encompassing anthem of acceptance of all people. "Back to My Roots" is a play on words, referring both to ethnic heritage and to hairstyles. "A Shade Shady" references what was, at the time, a popular catch phrase in the gay community. (Someone who is "shady" is untrustworthy; though obviously not exclusive to gay people, in the early '90s the term was extremely prevalent in gay slang.)
African-American actress/comedienne LaWanda Page (best known as Aunt Esther on the television series Sanford and Son) was featured in spoken word clips on and appeared in the music videos for a variety of tracks on the record, but she is heard most notably on the hit single "Supermodel (You Better Work)". A special mix of Supermodel entitled The LaWanda in Your Face Mix appeared on a CD single. The song's chorus also features RuPaul repeating the phrase "Sashay! Shante!" When asked what it meant to "shante", RuPaul replied that it means "to weave a bewitching spell." In reality, it originates from the documentary Paris Is Burning.
Track listing
- "Supermodel (You Better Work)" (RuPaul Charles, Jimmy Harry, Larry Tee) – 3:59
- "Miss Lady DJ" (R. Charles, Eric Kupper) – 4:00
- "Free Your Mind" (R. Charles, J. Harry) – 3:48
- "Supernatural" (R. Charles, J. Harry) – 4:35
- "House of Love" (R. Charles, J. Harry) – 3:30
- "Thinkin' 'Bout You" (R. Charles, E. Kupper) – 3:46
- "Back to My Roots" (R. Charles, J. Harry, E. Kupper) – 3:32
- "Prisoner of Love" (R. Charles, J. Harry) – 4:24
- "Stinky Dinky" (R. Charles, J. Harry, Fred Schneider) – 4:44
- "All of a Sudden" (R. Charles, J. Harry) – 3:53
- "Everybody Dance" (Edwards, Rodgers) – 3:56
- "A Shade Shady (Now Prance)" (R. Charles, E. Kupper) – 3:56
Credits
- RuPaul — vocals
- LaWanda Page — performer
- Fred Schneider — performer
- Jimmy Harry — horn, vocals, producer, engineer
- Uptown Horns — horn
- Tom Coyne — mastering
- Seiji — mixing
- Fenton Bailey — executive producer
- Randy Barbato — executive producer
- Erwin Gorostiza — art direction
- Lan Yin — design
- Mark Contratto — photography
- Mathu — make-up, hair stylist, stylist
- Zaldy — make-up, stylist, hair
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- Eric Kupper — backing vocals, producer, engineer, mixing
- Karen Bernod Vocals — backing vocals
- Betty Cooper Vocals — backing vocals
- Chavonie Cooper Vocals — backing vocals
- Trenise Y. Haddock — backing vocals
- Vincent Haddock, Jr. — backing vocals
- Angela M. Hadock — backing vocals
- Kevin E. Ien — backing vocals
- Leon King — backing vocals
- Lisa Lowell — backing vocals
- Mark Mancini — backing vocals
- Sherryl Marshall — backing vocals
- William L. Richardson, Jr. — backing vocals
- Carole Sylvan — backing vocals
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Chart positions
See also
- RuPaul speaks about society and the state of drag as performance art
References
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| Studio albums |
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| Remix albums |
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| Compilation albums |
RuPaul's Go Go Box Classics
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| Extended plays |
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| Singles |
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| Soundtracks |
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| Filmography |
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| Television |
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