Supermodel (You Better Work)

"Supermodel (You Better Work)"
Single by RuPaul
from the album Supermodel of the World
Released November 17, 1992
Format
Genre
Length 3:59 (album version)
Label Tommy Boy
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Eric Kupper
RuPaul singles chronology
"I've Got That Feelin'"
(1992)		 "Supermodel (You Better Work)"
(1993)		 "Little Drummer Boy"
(1993)
Music video
"Supermodel (You Better Work)" on YouTube

"Supermodel 2006" on YouTube

"Supermodel (You Better Work)" is a 1992 song by the dance music singer and drag queen RuPaul. It was the third single (but first major label single) from his album Supermodel of the World.

The song was a dance club anthem that, though particularly popular with gay audiences, found mainstream success due in part to RuPaul's accessible "nice drag queen" image. The song consists of RuPaul giving advice to a young black supermodel, and briefly several other models, largely consisting of "sashay, shantay!", "work, turn to the left", "work, now turn to the right", and "you better work". The music video for the song, featuring RuPaul in various outfits prancing around town, became a staple on MTV. Singer Kurt Cobain of Nirvana cited the song as one of his favorites of 1993, and the two were photographed together at the MTV Video Music Awards that year.

"Supermodel" was a modest hit on the pop charts in both the US (#45) and the UK (#39). It also reached #2 on the US dance chart. This song is RuPaul's highest charting pop hit in the US to date.

The song features spoken word snippets by actress LaWanda Page, who went on to appear in several music videos by RuPaul.

The single is most commonly found on compact disc coupled with "House of Love", which would go on to become a single itself in some markets. Various 12" vinyl releases were also pressed, including a limited edition picture disc in the United Kingdom.

It is also covered by Taylor Dayne from The Lizzie McGuire Movie soundtrack.

Chart performance

In the United States, the song peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at #45 and the Hot Dance Club Play chart at #2. It sold nearly 500,000 copies there.[1] It was not only a hit in the US, it reached #4 on the Canadian RPM Dance/Urban Singles chart and #39 on the UK Singles Chart.

Chart (1992–93) Peak
position
Australian ARIA Charts 75
Canadian RPM Dance/Urban Singles 4
UK Singles Chart 39
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 45
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs 2

Music video

The music video for "Supermodel (You Better Work)" was directed by Randy Barbato. The music video premiered in 1993 on MTV and was an unexpected success, as grunge (such as Nirvana) and gangsta rap were popular at the time. It tells the story of a little black girl (played by RuPaul) in the Brewster projects of Detroit, Michigan who is spotted by an "Ebony Fashion Fair" talent scout who grows up to become a successful model and is given the title Supermodel of the World. The song features LaWanda Page 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.

Track listing

(varies from country to country; this reflects the United States CD single, which sold the most copies)

  1. Supermodel (You Better Work) (Ready to Wear Mix)
  2. Supermodel (You Better Work) (7" Mix)
  3. Supermodel (You Better Work) (Couture Mix)
  4. Supermodel (You Better Work) (La Wanda in Your Face)
  5. House of Love (7" Radio Version)
  6. House of Love (12" Version)
  7. House of Love (Dub)

2006 version

"Supermodel (You Better Work)"
Single by RuPaul featuring Shirley Q. Liquor
from the album ReWorked
Released 2006
Format
Genre
Length 3:57
Label RuCo Inc.
Writer(s)
Producer(s) DJ BunJoe
RuPaul featuring Shirley Q. Liquor singles chronology
"People Are People"
(2005)		 "Supermodel (You Better Work)"
(2006)		 "Cover Girl"
(2009)
Music video
"Supermodel 2006" on YouTube

In 2006, RuPaul re-recorded the track with an 80's freestyle inspired backing track and released it as the leadoff single from his album ReWorked. This version reached number 21 on the US dance chart.[2]

Track listing

US 9 Track Maxi-Single

  1. "SuperModel" (El Lay Toya Jam) 3:55
  2. "SuperModel" (Craig C. Havenhurst Vocal) 9:29
  3. "SuperModel" (There, U Just Got Rocked Mix) 4:08
  4. "My Love Sees No Color" (Electrolight Popular Mix) 4:02
  5. "SuperModel" (Clean El Lay Toya Jam) 3:55
  6. "SuperModel" (Craig C. Encino Edit) 3:54
  7. "My Love Sees No Color" (Electrolight Stockholm Mix) 4:38
  8. "SuperModel" (Craig C. Neverland Dub) 9:25
  9. "SuperModel" (Jackopella) 3:45

AUS CD #1

  1. "SuperModel" (El Lay Toya Jam) 3:55
  2. "SuperModel" (Craig C. Neverland Instrumental) 9:27
  3. "Coming Out Of Hiding" (Trance Gender Mix) 3:25
  4. "My Love Sees No Color" (Electrolight Stockholm Mix) 4:40

AUS CD #2

  1. SuperModel (Craig C. Encino Edit) 3:55
  2. My Love Sees No Color (Electrolight Popular Mix) 4:03
  3. My Love Sees No Color (Matheos' Dancin' Belly Mix) 4:25
  4. My Love Sees No Color (Electrolight Stockholm Edit) 4:05*
  5. My Love Sees No Color (Electrolight Popular Extended Club Mix) 10:21
  6. My Love Sees No Color (Electrolight Stockholm Extended Club Mix) 11:04[ Södros Hemsida
  7. Supermodel (El Lay Toya Acappella) 3:56

Legacy

References

  1. ↑ Flick, Larry (June 5, 1993). "RuPaul Changing The Makeup Of Pop Music" (PDF). Billboard. BPI Communications. 105 (23): 101. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  2. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/369236/rupaul/chart?f=359
  3. ↑ Spanos, Brittany (May 5, 2014). "Iggy Azalea – Irving Plaza". The Village Voice. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
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