Champion (RuPaul album)
Encyclopedia
Champion is the fourth studio album
from singer and drag queen
RuPaul
. It was released on iTunes
February 24, 2009. The album is a mix of dance, electro pop, R&B, and hip-hop. The album failed to reach the Billboard 200
, however, it managed to peak at number 12 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums as well as number 26 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers
chart.
profile and his blog. It was premiered as a promotional video which included footage from RuPaul's Drag Race
, a reality TV show formatted similar to America's Next Top Model
. The single was later available as a download on iTunes on February 11, 2009, or as a CD directly from RuPaul's webpage (released in the "RuCo, Inc." imprint RuPaul founded for his last 3 albums.)
It was recorded in the bedroom of record producer
Lucian Piane's home, with the closet serving as the vocal booth. Work on the album was complete by February 10, 2009, and the album was released February 24, 2009. After receiving an initial release on iTunes, the album is now available on the physical CD format from RuPaul's website and other major on-line retailers.
March 17 the video of the second single Jealous of My Boogie was released.
According to RuPaul, "The theme of this album is stepping up to your throne, owning your power, and saying goodbye to playing small. There has been a shift in consciousness socially, politically and spiritually. The time has come for you to be [a]... Champion".
RuPaul has also said that the album is his best, adding, "I understand what the public wants from me - and I am letting these children have it!". To this end, the album is strongly directed to a gay audience (even more so than previous RuPaul albums). The song "Tranny Chaser", for instance, is a comedic hip-hop track about sexually curious heterosexual men who pursue casual sex with transgendered women. In it RuPaul sings "Is some tranny chasers up in here? Welcome to my stratosphere! Make a move...what you gonna do? I ain't got no time for no lookie-loo, boo!"; and later, "Do you wanna fuck me? That don't make you gay!"
Another song, "Let's Turn the Night", correlates the Proposition 8
struggle in California with the story of Harvey Milk
; according to RuPaul, "Lucian and I wrote the song during the height of the prop 8 protests here in West Hollywood."
The album's title song "Champion", played throughout Abercrombie kids
stores during the Spring 2009 season. Two other songs featured on the album "Let's Turn the Night" and "Jealous of My Boogie" have also been played throughout all Abercrombie & Fitch stores in the summer and fall of 2009.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
from singer and drag queen
Drag queen
A drag queen is a man who dresses, and usually acts, like a caricature woman often for the purpose of entertaining. There are many kinds of drag artists and they vary greatly, from professionals who have starred in films to people who just try it once. Drag queens also vary by class and culture and...
RuPaul
RuPaul
RuPaul Andre Charles , best known as simply RuPaul, is an American actor, drag queen, model, author, and singer-songwriter, who first became widely known in the 1990s when he appeared in a wide variety of television programs, films, and musical albums. Previously, he was a fixture on the Atlanta...
. It was released on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
February 24, 2009. The album is a mix of dance, electro pop, R&B, and hip-hop. The album failed to reach the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, however, it managed to peak at number 12 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums as well as number 26 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
chart.
Background
On January 5, 2009, RuPaul released the world premier of his first single "Cover Girl" on his MySpaceMySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
profile and his blog. It was premiered as a promotional video which included footage from RuPaul's Drag Race
RuPaul's Drag Race
RuPaul's Drag Race is an American reality television series produced by World of Wonder for Logo. RuPaul plays host, mentor and inspiration for this series, which details RuPaul's search for "America's next drag superstar."...
, a reality TV show formatted similar to America's Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model is a reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of America's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modeling industry....
. The single was later available as a download on iTunes on February 11, 2009, or as a CD directly from RuPaul's webpage (released in the "RuCo, Inc." imprint RuPaul founded for his last 3 albums.)
It was recorded in the bedroom of record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Lucian Piane's home, with the closet serving as the vocal booth. Work on the album was complete by February 10, 2009, and the album was released February 24, 2009. After receiving an initial release on iTunes, the album is now available on the physical CD format from RuPaul's website and other major on-line retailers.
March 17 the video of the second single Jealous of My Boogie was released.
According to RuPaul, "The theme of this album is stepping up to your throne, owning your power, and saying goodbye to playing small. There has been a shift in consciousness socially, politically and spiritually. The time has come for you to be [a]... Champion".
RuPaul has also said that the album is his best, adding, "I understand what the public wants from me - and I am letting these children have it!". To this end, the album is strongly directed to a gay audience (even more so than previous RuPaul albums). The song "Tranny Chaser", for instance, is a comedic hip-hop track about sexually curious heterosexual men who pursue casual sex with transgendered women. In it RuPaul sings "Is some tranny chasers up in here? Welcome to my stratosphere! Make a move...what you gonna do? I ain't got no time for no lookie-loo, boo!"; and later, "Do you wanna fuck me? That don't make you gay!"
Another song, "Let's Turn the Night", correlates the Proposition 8
California Proposition 8 (2008)
Proposition 8 was a ballot proposition and constitutional amendment passed in the November 2008 state elections...
struggle in California with the story of Harvey Milk
Harvey Milk
Harvey Bernard Milk was an American politician who became the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors...
; according to RuPaul, "Lucian and I wrote the song during the height of the prop 8 protests here in West Hollywood."
The album's title song "Champion", played throughout Abercrombie kids
Abercrombie Kids
Abercrombie kids is an American lifestyle brand by Abercrombie & Fitch. Targeting consumers aged 7–14, the concept is designed as the children's version of A&F and is marketed as "Classic Cool"...
stores during the Spring 2009 season. Two other songs featured on the album "Let's Turn the Night" and "Jealous of My Boogie" have also been played throughout all Abercrombie & Fitch stores in the summer and fall of 2009.
Track listing
All songs written by RuPaul Charles and Lucian PianeAlbum
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums | 12 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
26 |
Singles
| Year | Single |
|---|---|
| 2009 | "Cover Girl" |
| "Jealous of My Boogie" | |
| 2010 | "Devil Made Me Do It" |
| "Tranny Chaser" | |
| 2011 | "Champion" |