Don’t miss RuPaul’s Drag Race Week!
• RuPaul’s Drag Race Week: “Responsitrannity” video!
• RuPaul’s Drag Race Week: Ten Best Episodes!
• RuPaul’s Drag Race Week: Top Five Contestant Singles!
• RuPaul’s Drag Race Week: Most Underrated Queens!
• RuPaul’s Drag Race Week: Top Five Villains!
• RuPaul’s Drag Race Week: Best and Worst Lip Syncs!
One of the reasons why RuPaul’s Drag Race has done as well as it has is because, ultimately, their contestants are real performers. They know how to put on a show, they’re quick on their feet, they have a natural wit and charm. Unlike, say, Jersey Shore or The Real World, these aren’t nobodies in a nuclear arms race of stupid vying for camera time; they’re actual entertainers, they define themselves by their talent. So it makes sense that most of them release songs after their time on Drag Race, because they actually have the chops to back it up. But who has the best single out of all the queens?
Before we delve into the list, a couple ground rules:
- Officially released singles only. A Youtube parody or a stage act will not count.
- Collaborations count, but only as long as the queen in question does the bulk of the vocal work.
- Each queen only gets one song to represent her, so that the list doesn’t end up too samey.
- Parodies are fine; Covers are not. The lyrics must be original.
- Sorry Ru, but in the interest of fairness, we’re only counting contestants. “Glamazon” is kinda the best song evs, but we need to give the children a shot here.
- Remember: All these songs are available on iTunes!
#5 Pandora Boxx’s “Cooter”
This song proves that good energy, humor, and camp can really make a song. “Cooter” may not have the best vocals, but Pandora’s personality shines through, and the song’s dirty lyrics and raunchy video really sell this one.
#4 Sahara Davenport’s “Pump With Me”
Oh, Sahara … This is kind of a bittersweet one, because it really does prove how talented Sahara was. It’s sad that we won’t get to see what else she had up her sleeve, but at least we’ll always have “Pump With Me,” which is one hell of a dance track.
#3 Raja’s “Sublime”
“Diamond Crowned Queen,” Raja’s first single after her Drag Race win, was kind of a head-f**k; it was avant-garde and trippy and just, like, whaaaaaaa? So when Sublime dropped, I was a little surprised to see how much more user-friendly it was. It was still pretty out there, but this was something a little more accessible as compared to “Diamond.”
#2 Willam, Vicky Vox and Detox Icunt’s “Chow Down (At Chick-Fil-A)”
Willam Belli is a master of self-promotion. After the now infamous Frienemies episode that saw her booted from the competition, Willam immediately capitalized on it with “Chow Down (At Chick-Fil-A)”, a parody she did with Vicky Vox and Detox Icunt. Not only was the song amazing, but it took advantage of Willam’s newfound fame as well as the growing controversy surrounding Chick-Fil-A’s attitude towards gays. All in all, it was a perfect storm of controversy and talent.
#1 Manila Luzon’s “Hot Couture”
I’ve already talked about how much I love “Hot Couture” in the past, but you guys. Seriously. “Hot Couture” is the best. We already knew that Manila had some vocal chops after the RuPaul-a-palooza back in season three, but when she dropped her first single after the competition, she really hit it out of the park. To be honest, I went back and forth between this and “Best XXXcessory,” but ultimately, “Hot Couture” was just slightly better.
Honorable Mention: Shangela’s “Pocket Full of Hawthornes”
THIS NEEDS TO BE A SINGLE BECAUSE IT’S THE GREATEST THING EVER. SHANGELA. GET ON IT. SRSLY.
About Jeremy Feist
