Supermodel (You Better Work)


"Supermodel " is a 1992 song by the dance music singer and drag queen RuPaul. It was the third 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. 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 cavorting 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 and the UK. It also reached number two 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-inch vinyl releases were also pressed, including a limited edition picture disc in the United Kingdom. It was also covered by Taylor Dayne from The Lizzie McGuire Movie soundtrack.
In 2017, BuzzFeed listed the song at number 42 in their list of The 101 Greatest Dance Songs Of the '90s. And in 2018, Pitchfork Media featured it in their list of 50 Songs That Define the Last 50 Years of LGBTQ+ Pride.

Critical reception

from Billboard wrote, "New York City club and drag personality returns to the recording world with a festive twirler that aims to lengthen the life of the voguing phenomenon. RuPaul sashays like a seasoned diva over frothy synths and NRG-etic house beats." In 2017, Matt Stopera and Brian Galindo from BuzzFeed noted it as "the song that brought RuPaul mainstream success." In 2018, Jim Farber from Entertainment Weekly described it as a "pivotal single/lifestyle slogan" and added that the single "became an instant club classic, italicized by a plethora of snap-ready tag lines, including "you better work," "I have one thing to say," and "Sashay/Shantay!" each repeated with intensifying attitude." Music & Media commented, "Camp as it is, the musical backing is of course in a stylish '70s disco mode. Give Supermodel and Miss Lady DJ a try, it's for all sexes." Select noted its "catwalk cattiness" in their review of Supermodel of the World.

Music video

The music video for "Supermodel " was directed by Randy Barbato. The music video premiered in 1993 on MTV and was an unexpected success, as grunge and gangsta rap were popular at the time. It tells the story of a little black girl 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.

Chart performance

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

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Track listing

  1. "Supermodel "
  2. "Supermodel "
  3. "Supermodel "
  4. "Supermodel "
  5. "House of Love"
  6. "House of Love"
  7. "House of Love"

    2006 version

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.

Track listing

US nine track maxi-single
  1. "Supermodel " – 3:55
  2. "Supermodel " – 9:29
  3. "Supermodel " – 4:08
  4. "My Love Sees No Color" – 4:02
  5. "Supermodel " – 3:55
  6. "Supermodel " – 3:54
  7. "My Love Sees No Color" – 4:38
  8. "Supermodel " – 9:25
  9. "Supermodel " – 3:45
AUS CD No. 1
  1. "Supermodel " – 3:55
  2. "Supermodel " – 9:27
  3. "Coming Out of Hiding" – 3:25
  4. "My Love Sees No Color" – 4:40
AUS CD No. 2
  1. "Supermodel " – 3:55
  2. "My Love Sees No Color" – 4:03
  3. "My Love Sees No Color" – 4:25
  4. "My Love Sees No Color" – 4:05*
  5. "My Love Sees No Color" – 10:21
  6. "My Love Sees No Color" – 11:04
  7. "Supermodel " – 3:56