I have to give you younger guys some perspective on Rupaul. I was in the throes of major clubbing in my 20's when Rupaul came out. So I was here to witness it first hand. Rupaul was NOT a mainstream success. Supermodel Of The World topped out at #45 on the billboard hot 100. So she never even got played on Casey Kasem's weekly show, "American top 40". And that is the biggest hit she's ever had. Don't get me wrong... it was a BIG club hit, but you didn't see the video in heavy rotation on MTV, and you rarely heard the song on top 40 radio stations. Rupaul still played gay clubs at the height of her success.. she did get a pair of appearances on Arsenio Hall, which was a big deal, but Rupaul's success was very much a "cult following" and not a mainstream success. Actually, with 5 top 40 hits to her credit, Michelle Visage was actually the mainstream success. I saw Seduction live at a 5,000 seat venue. Rupaul never played those kinds of places. I've seen Rupaul sing live, and yes, she can sing... but only at a good high school talent show level. That's why all of her songs are not vocally challenging in any way. To be honest, Rupaul is about 20% talent, and 80% hustle. But she can hustle with the best of them!! You want to see awesome drag talent, search Jim Bailey doing Judy Garland on the Ed Sullivan show in 1970. It will blow your mind if you've never seen it. From around that time period, if you want to compare a aong that crossed over from a club hit to a bona fide MAJOR mainstream hit record, the best example is C&C music factory "Gonna Make You Sweat". THAT was a song that was a true, mega hit.
I have to give you younger guys some perspective on Rupaul. I was in the throes of major clubbing in my 20's when Rupaul came out. So I was here to witness it first hand. Rupaul was NOT a mainstream success. Supermodel Of The World topped out at #45 on the billboard hot 100. So she never even got played on Casey Kasem's weekly show, "American top 40". And that is the biggest hit she's ever had. Don't get me wrong... it was a BIG club hit, but you didn't see the video in heavy rotation on MTV, and you rarely heard the song on top 40 radio stations. Rupaul still played gay clubs at the height of her success.. she did get a pair of appearances on Arsenio Hall, which was a big deal, but Rupaul's success was very much a "cult following" and not a mainstream success. Actually, with 5 top 40 hits to her credit, Michelle Visage was actually the mainstream success. I saw Seduction live at a 5,000 seat venue. Rupaul never played those kinds of places. I've seen Rupaul sing live, and yes, she can sing... but only at a good high school talent show level. That's why all of her songs are not vocally challenging in any way. To be honest, Rupaul is about 20% talent, and 80% hustle. But she can hustle with the best of them!! You want to see awesome drag talent, search Jim Bailey doing Judy Garland on the Ed Sullivan show in 1970. It will blow your mind if you've never seen it. From around that time period, if you want to compare a aong that crossed over from a club hit to a bona fide MAJOR mainstream hit record, the best example is C&C music factory "Gonna Make You Sweat". THAT was a song that was a true, mega hit.
Loving all this info! Wish we could have gone clubbing with you. Sounds legendary!!!