RuPaul's "SuperModel of the World" turns 25!

RuPaul's 'Supermodel of the World' Album Turns 25: Why It Was More Than a Novelty

Back when supermodels really did rule the world, RuPaul sashayed down his own rarefied runway: He went from New York nightlife celebrity to something beyond a drag queen lip-syncing other people’s songs for his life when he released his debut album, Supermodel of the World, 25 years ago on June 8, 1993.

This was not an androgynous, sexually ambiguous artist like David Bowie, Boy George or Prince. This was an out gay man who looked like a glamazon but sounded like a baritone. Sixteen years before he shifted the culture with his reality-show competition RuPaul’s Drag Race, Ru was taking himself seriously as a dance-pop artist.

 The song features LaWanda Page of TV sitcom. "Sanford and Son" who has several lines in the song, but does not appear in the music video despite appearances in other RuPaul music videos. The music video is a tribute to RuPaul's early childhood and his career in both the gay community and mainstream culture. The phrase "Supermodel You Better Work" was coined by RuPaul in the 90's.

But while the idea of a drag queen taking on the music world may have been novel, Supermodel was no novelty. In fact, the album held its own with other LPs of the era -- from Black Box’s Dreamland and C&C Music Factory’s Gonna Make You Sweat to CeCe Peniston’s Finally and Crystal Waters’ Surprise -- that were finding house music a home outside of the clubs.

Like the kindred club kids of Deee-Lite had done before him on 1990’s World Clique, RuPaul demonstrated that he had learned how to rock a good party from all his time working the downtown New York scene. “Supermodel (You Better Work),” the first single and opening track, is one of the defining pop-house anthems of the ’90s. Not only did it popularize the enduring catchphrase “You better work,” but it inspired the “Now, sashay away” sendoff that exiting contestants get on RuPaul’s Drag Race. And even if you still don’t know exactly what it means to “shantay,” this strutter is an anthem for the Naomi/Christy/Linda in all of us.

“Miss Lady DJ,” with its thumping bass line, brings the funk to the fierceness, capturing the kiki energy of a night out in clubland. Meanwhile, the giddy “Free Your Mind” -- no relation to the 1992 “En Vogue” hit -- liberates your head and your booty from your troubles.

Supermodel continues the infectious uplift with another piano house workout, “House of Love,” whose title nods to both the genre of music at play and the family nomenclature in the underground ballroom scene. The track also references the 1979 Diana Ross gem “It’s My House” both with its lyrics (“See that chair, I put it there”) and its welcoming, inclusive spirit.

RuPaul also pays homage to the divas who came before him on “Thinkin ’Bout You,” which borrows its “Ain’t nobody’s business if I do” line from the Billie Holiday standard “Ain’t Nobody’s Business.” But here, that lyric becomes a defiant declaration about loving who you want. Empowering messages like this take Supermodel beyond the superficial. Indeed, “Back to My Roots” may be kitschy fun, but along that irresistible wiggle, it also displays black pride as RuPaul celebrates African-American hairstyles and hair rituals.

The album loses some disco-ball steam on the two midtempo tracks -- “Supernatural” and “Prisoner of Love” -- but RuPaul hardly embarrasses himself stretching into R&B. (Except maybe with that “Baby, you make my nature rise” line in “Supernatural.”) “Stinky Dinky” -- that title says it all -- is probably the only time you really fail to take him seriously. And for that, Supermodel of the World remains a twirling triumph.

Once upon a time, there was a little black girl

In the Brewster Projects of Detroit, Michigan
At fifteen, she was spotted by an Ebony Fashion Fair talent scout
And her modeling career took off
You better work

You better work
(Cover girl)
Work it, girl
(Give a twirl)
Do your thing on the runway

Work
(Supermodel)
You better work it girl
(Of the world)
Wet your lips and make love to the camera

Work
Turn to the left
Work
Now turn to the right
Work
Sashay, shantay

Work
Turn to the left
Work
Now turn to the right
Work
Sashay, shantay

It don't matter what you wear
It doesn't matter what you wear
They're checking out your savior faire
And it don't matter what you do
'Cause everything looks good on you
Supermodel

Work
(Cover girl)
Work it girl
(Give a twirl)
Do your thing on the…