Wednesday, February 26, 2014

'Born Naked' by RuPaul Album Review

Supermodel of the World RuPaul has dabbled her fingers in just about everything from television, to books, to a fragrance, and more, but it's her music that always strikes a chord with me. She released her first album back in 1993, and two decades later she has just released her sixth studio album. Her previous two albums have all been done under the tutelage of producer Lucian Piane who has crafted mega-hits for the supreme goddess. Born Naked is the third collaboration between the two, and having listened to it half a dozen times by now I can safely say that this is Ru's best album to date. While she does stick to the classic dance-pop sound for many of the tracks, Born Naked is her most adventurous to date as it features New Orleans bounce, a beautiful acoustic track, and a nice '80s rock track. Also, the lyrics and emotions of this album are much more mature than her previous releases only adding to the greatness of this effort. RuPaul can do anything, but she's a huge inspiration to me and no music in the world has ever affected as much as hers.


1. Freaky Money (feat. Big Freedia) - 7/10

Kicking off our listening experience is the New Orleans bounce track featuring Big Freedia who collaborated with Ru on her Phi Phi O'Hara-inspired track 'Peanut Butter'. 'Freaky Money' is a fun booty shakin' tune that chronicles Ru's obsession with strippers and prostitutes. Everyone can earn a bit of freaky money if they try.

2. Sissy Dat Walk - 9/10

Currently the runway walk song and one of my favorites on the record is this one here. Inspired by the phrase Ru coined when describing Penny Tration's first and only runway walk last season, 'Sissy Dat Walk' is this huge dance track that breaks down into this insane beat after Ru says "now sissy dat walk." He also throws in his phrase "pay them bitches no mind" which are truly words to live by. You just can't help by dancing along and showing your friends your best runway stomp when this one comes on.

3. Geronimo (feat. Lucian Piane) - 8/10

I've already written about 'Geronimo' as it's the first single from the album, but it's one to note. Capitalizing on the New Orleans bounce sound that was present in 'Freaky Money' but ramping it up 10 notches, Ru brings out his inner glamazon and spits some serious rhymes. How could you not "make your booty bounce" after this one?

4. Dance With U - 9/10

'Dance With U' is a contender for my favorite track on this album. It's a massive Euro-pop club banger that is euphoric and pumps throughout your body. Ru's vocals slide like butter across the beat and I can't help but get lost in the music. This could be released on radio and the public would eat it up. Your faves could never.

5. Adrenaline (feat. Myah Marie) - 8/10

Myah Marie is probably most known as the background vocalist for Britney Spears, and she has been under fire by people claiming she sings for Britney at times. I don't believe those rumors, but 'Adrenaline' basically sounds like Ru couldn't pay to get Britney to be featured on the song so he got the next best thing. During the chorus it sounds exactly like the Pop Princess, but it makes for a hot track either way. With a pulverizing beat and a 'Gasoline'-eqsue vibe, 'Adrenaline' is a fun power tune.

6. Can I Get An Amen (feat. Martha Wash) - 10/10

Halfway through, Ru slows things down with his first acoustic track, and here's a warning: you may cry. 'Can I Get An Amen' was featured on last season's Drag Race, but here Ru has taken the song and turned it into a gorgeous mid-tempo. Accompanying Ru is one of his idols, Martha Walsh. Their vocals mesh together so well, and combined with the deep heart-gouging lyrics I feel broken and shattered inside. But at the same time it's very uplifting.

7. Fly Tonight (feat. Frankmusik) - 10/10

Getting back to our bangas, Ru teams up with electro-pop superstar Frankmusik for one of my favorites on the album. 'Fly Tonight' is one of those songs that make you feel so good and happy inside. It's a euphoric track where Ru and Frankmusik make beautiful chemistry on top of a punching beat that lifts us to the sky with every passing moment.

8. Modern Love - 10/10

'Modern Love' is easily the best song on the album. It gives the listener a view into Ru's life that we don't usually get, including a powerful monologue in the middle of the track from the queen herself. It's emotionally charged and the lyrics are so profound they make me weep. Don't let the hot bombastic beat fool you though. This is Ru at his most emotional. This song rattles every nerve in my body, and that's what good music should do.

9. Let The Music Play (feat. Michelle Visage) - 10/10

At long last we finally get a collaboration between RuPaul and his best squirrel friend and Drag Race judge, Michelle Visage. 'Let the Music Play' is also another one of Ru's infamous sayings, but he took that and wrote a song about the relationship he has with Michelle. This should be the anthem for friends all over the world. It's a very '80s Madonna feel-good acoustic guitar-driven dance tune with a real sense of beauty and love underneath the beat. You can literally feel the love these two have for each other while listening to this song and that's what makes it so damn good.

10. Born Naked (feat. Clairy Browne) - 9/10

Closing out the album is the title track with Clairy Browne. Ru dabbles in '80s pop rock (maybe even a bit Disney Channel-reminiscent) for a song about his ultimate mantra: we're all born naked and the rest is drag. It's a song about just being yourself, and to pay them bitches no mind if they criticize you for what you wear or how you present yourself. It's the perfect self-empowerment anthem.

Tracks to Check Out: 'Sissy Dat Walk', 'Can I Get An Amen', 'Fly High', 'Modern Love', 'Let the Music Play'

Overall Rating: 9/10

4 comments:

  1. AnonymousFebruary 26, 2014 at 12:18 PM

    Just wanted to say I really enjoyed reading your review. It was really well put together & i agree completely that this is Ru's best album to date! :)
    The only place i disagree is that I wouldn't have scored Born Naked (the song) a 9/10 it's one of the weaker tracks for me, more like a 6 or a 7 but i guess it's just not my sound. Thanks for an interesting read hunty. ;)

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    1. UnknownFebruary 26, 2014 at 3:34 PM

      Thanks for reading! Yeah, I can definitely see why people wouldn't like "Born Naked" too much. I find it to be campy cheesy fun which I enjoy from time to time haha.

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  2. Mike StonemMarch 10, 2014 at 6:33 PM

    I love born naked and definitely agree with you on the fact that this is a mature album for Ru. I didn't enjoy freaky money and geronimo, guess I'm not a fan of that kind of beat, but overall I think this album is fun, heart-warming, and moving.

    Nice Review :)

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    Replies
    1. UnknownMarch 10, 2014 at 7:50 PM

      I wasn't a big fan of those songs at first either, but they've both grown on me. And thanks for reading :)

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