RuPaul .|: Red~Hot

[All blog entries with the "Boombox" label are indie artist reviews submitted to former websites. With this blog, I will only include artist submissions. This review was original published in 2004.]



I was tempted to pen this review before I even listened. It's not too complicated -- RuPaul is a one-trick neutered stallion. She cannot carry a tune. Her brand of dance-pop is a production cover for the hopelessly untalented. Her career is based on calculated marketing that I despise. However, listening to her CD and its unabashed straightforwardness made me realize that she was no Britney.

You may remember her from her anthemic crossover hit, "Supermodel (You Better Work)", the VH1 television show or Paris Hilton-like celebrity -- anything resembling gay pop or dance, Diana Ross (of the last 20 years) or RuPaul bounds to the forefront of your expectations. Considering her past and that more than a decade passed since her isolated mainstream success, she has big heels to fill to justify continued minutes of fame or its credibility.

Researching the submitted text, I noticed her supporting roster was very impressive -- it even includes Siedah Garrett ("Man On the Mirror" and "I Can't Stop Loving You" with MJ) and a monolith of production hands. Rather lengthy for dance pop, Red~Hot spans 14 tight tracks (most fix between three-four minutes) and two skits. My mind rolled as a noticed that one of the songs included a cover of the (allegedly) queer-revered Depeche Mode's 'People Are People'.

The renders all feature big dance beats and a virtual grab bag of production tricks ranging from the early 1990's thru present. Listeners that frequent the dance genre, would find at least a portion of Red~Hot gadgetry generic. Lyrical fans would gasp at the cliche-saturation content, but should, in turn, appreciate her surprising honesty and substance. Her aforementioned vocals have not improved, 'she is what she is' as a crooner -- she realized this and (for the most part) kept the tempo rolling. RuPaul's strengths are intangible and relate only modestly to technical aptitude.

The artist has super-human charisma. All known sides of her personality are spread thickly throughout Red~Hot. RuPaul's enthusiastic versions of candor delete any concept of commonality pressed with the CD's shortcomings.

Classic RuPaul, "Looking Good, Feeling Gorgeous" is frank and genuinely fun single that resembles the 'ear worm' quality of her earlier hit, but is edgier and meritorious dance (not just novelty). Other songs that have like potential include: "Coming Out of Hiding"; "Are You Man Enough?" and "Kinky/Freaky".