DRAG MUSIC

The world of popular music has a venerable history of drag.

Marlene Dietrich was a popular actress and singer who sometimes performed dressed as a man, such as in the film Blue Angel. In the glam rock era many male performers such as David Bowie and The New York Dolls donned partial or full drag.

This tradition waned somewhat in the late 1970s but was revived in the new wave era of the 1980s, as pop singers Boy George, Pete Burns, and Philip Oakey frequently appeared in a sort of semi-drag.

While female musicians of the era dabbled in their own form of androgyny, with performers like Annie Lennox, Phranc and The Bloods sometimes performing as drag kings.

The male grunge musicians of the 1990s sometimes performed wearing deliberately ugly drag – that is, wearing dresses but making no attempt to look feminine, not wearing makeup and often not even shaving their beards. Nirvana did this several times, notably in the In Bloom video.

However, possibly the most famous drag artist in music in the 1990s was RuPaul!

Jeffree Star - Prom Night

We’re gonna party like it’s prom night We’re gonna fuck like it’s our first time We’re gonna party like it’s prom night I just wanna sweat it out On my clothes and in your mouth,yeah

Dress me up, paint the town Spike the punch Got me gone, I’m blown, I’m out to lunch Taser in my pocket Got the flask, got the pipe I know, I know what you like I know, I know what you like

I’ll come pick you up Disappear with us Underneath your love I’ll make you remember this

Dress me down, turn me on Spill my drink Push it hard, push it good Make me scream I’ve never done this before Condom wrappers on the floor Oops I lied Yeah we do this all the time

Pearl - Love Slave

Alaska Thunderfuck - your makeup is terrible

Now, I heard this is the best motherfucking club in all the land Is that correct? (ahuh) uhum Well, it better be because I never had no stunt shows or shenanigans at the doorway

Mr Doorman, what’s that? You need my ID? This face is my ID, motherfucker!

Now, I’m not the kind of bitch who’s gonna go behind your back and talk shit on you If I have an issue with you, I’ll bring it right to your busted face Now, let’s discuss it right now, shall we? Alrightalrightalright

Are you ready? You specifically! Are you ready? Are you ready? Are you ready? Are you ready? Are you ready!?

Your makeup is terrible Your makeup is terrible Your makeup is terrible Your makeup is terrible But I love you anyway

Willam Belli - “RuPaulogize”

Sharon Needles - Dressed To Kill

My accessory’s a cigarette No I don’t need your Heatherette These leather boots kick off my St. Marks look I’m hard as concrete, rubber licked My rotten fresh will make you sick You know I never do it by the book

I’m rough around the edge it seems I need a little flaw on me Over the top but keep it underground Taxidermy round my neck My perfume is my whiskey breath While you are wearing rhinestones by the pound.

This isn’t a fucking costume This is a way of life This isn’t a fucking costume This is a way of life

BANG! BANG! BANG! I, I dress to kill BANG! BANG! BANG! I, I aim to thrill BANG! BANG! BANG! I, I dress to kill BANG! BANG! BANG! I, I aim to thrill