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Chatting up the immortal RuPaul
The drag artist of her generation, RuPaul, fresh from the reality TV show, “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” performs for the grand opening of the Kiss & Fly gay club on Wednesday. We chatted by phone.
Glamour is a sense of freedom, a sense of understanding that you are a spiritual being, having a human experience. In knowing that, you are able to give yourself the freedom to take it beyond the limits of what our society or culture dictates.
Besides yourself, who has glamour?
All the girls on (“Drag Race”) understand what glamour is. Victoria Beckham is definitely very glamorous. Michelle Obama has a great sense of glamour, in a classic way that doesn’t make people feel uncomfortable. (Her bare arms make people uncomfortable, but that’s another story.) Sharon Stone is always very glamorous, even in jeans and a T-shirt
You don’t seem to age. Why?
Because I have a great lighting director and a genius little item called Photoshop. (Booms with laughter.) Due to those two things, I’ve stayed as young as I always was. Hey, I’m 48 and I look 48, but thankfully I get to put on lot of makeup and get dolled up.
Best drag artists of the past?
I loved Sylvester (1947-1988). When I was a kid, my sister showed me a picture of Sylvester and I was transfixed. I thought: “Wow. That’s possible.” Then there was Divine (1945-1988). I spent a lot of my youth recapturing what she and John Waters had done on film with a VHS camera back in Atlanta. I love the irreverence of their attitude. It was freeing for me. I learned there was more than one way to skin a cat. As time went on, I really understood that everything you put on after you get out of the shower was drag. So my drag icons became David Bowie, James Brown and Elvis, people who turned up the volume on the images they created. As you’ve heard me say: “You are born naked and all the rest is drag.” I truly believe that.
Best drag artists of the future?
All my girls on the show. (Recording artist) Ari Gold told me that during “The Night of 1,000 Gowns” (the New York fundraiser), the whole event was abuzz because my three finalists were in the buildings. That’s all they talked about. It was fun for me to hear that. It confirmed that all nine of my contestants will be stars from here to eternity.
I hadn’t thought of this before, but could “Drag Race” do for drag what “Project Runway” did for high fashion?
For many years, drag had gone underground because of our culture’s obsession with fear, hysteria and fundamentalism. When things get sketchy like that, men who use femininity as a palette have to go underground. Straight men took the roles: Tyler Perry, Martin Lawrence, Eddy Murphy. But now the black cloud has lifted. The nation is hopeful. A new generation of drag queens will be inspired.
What will you perform at Kiss & Fly on Wednesday?
I will be performing songs from “Champion,” which is my finest album and I’ve been making them since 1983. Inspired by the show, it’s about not playing small and owning your power. For many years, people wouldn’t speak out for fear of being Dixie Chicked. Now there will be no more belittling yourself so someone else can feel good about themselves. One song, “Never Go Home Again,” was inspired by contestant Akashia. She was kicked out of her house as teenager because her mother’s boyfriend felt uncomfortable about Akashia being gay. Of course I’ll be doing songs from my earlier albums, too, “Supermodel” and “Red Hot.” … I haven’t been to Austin in like 15 years, but I think I played this club before, when it was called Area.
RuPaul: Wednesday; Kiss & Fly, 404 Colorado St. www.kissandflyaustin.com. rsvp@kissandflyaustin.com
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” airs on Logo Monday nights and on VH1 on Tuesday nights. Shows can also be watched on rupaulsdragrace.com.
Music from the CD “Champion” is featured on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Here’s the video link for her single “Cover Girl”:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfmfuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=52480206
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