Born and raised in San Diego, California, RuPaul later studied performing arts in Atlanta, Georgia. He settled in New York City, where he became a popular fixture on the LGBTQ+ nightclub scene. He achieved international fame as a drag queen with the release of his debut single, "Supermodel (You Better Work)", which was included on his debut studio album Supermodel of the World (1993). He became a spokesperson for MAC Cosmetics in 1994, raising money for the Mac AIDS Fund and becoming the first drag queen to land a major cosmetics campaign. He later received his own talk show on VH1 called The RuPaul Show, which he hosted for over 100 episodes while co-hosting the morning radio show on WKTU with Michelle Visage.
RuPaul's Drag Race was created in 2009 and has gone on to produce fourteen seasons in the United States. The show has also seen success internationally, with several international variants of the show being made, such as RuPaul's Drag Race UK and Canada's Drag Race. This has also inspired several spin-offs of the main show, including RuPaul's Drag U, RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars, and RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race. He is also featured as a host on other reality television series such as Skin Wars, Good Work, and Gay for Play Game Show Starring RuPaul.
RuPaul has made appearances in films such as Crooklyn (1994), The Brady Bunch Movie (1995), To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995), But I'm a Cheerleader (1999), television shows such as Girlboss (2017), Broad City (2017), and Grace and Frankie (2019). He later created and starred in his own Netflix original television series AJ and the Queen (2020). In addition, he has also published three books: Lettin' It All Hang Out (1995), Workin' It! RuPaul's Guide to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Style (2010), and GuRu (2018).
RuPaul is considered the most commercially successful drag queen in the United States. For his work on RuPaul's Drag Race, he has received 12 Primetime Emmy Awards, becoming the most-awarded person of color in the history of the Primetime Emmys. Outside of film and television, he also continues to write and record music; he has released fourteen studio albums as of 2022, and received a Tony Award for Best Musical as a producer for the musical A Strange Loop.
American
RuPaul Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I-I-I am American, American
My, my, my, my country 'tis of thee
These are all my friends, we are a family
Hey, hey, hey, despite what you think
This is who I am and who I wanna be
(I wanna be)
Everybody came here wantin' to be free
New York to California, sea to shining sea
Everybody came here wantin' to be free
New York to California, sea to shining sea
Everybody, everybody, everybody
(Oh, oh, oh)
I am American, American, American
I am American, American, red, white, and blue
Am-Am-Am-Am-Am-American, American, American
I am American, American, just like you too
You-ou-ou, you got the right
Stand up for yourself, we've just begun to fight
Ain't no way we're going back in time
Forward to the future baby, yours and mine
Everybody came here wantin' to be free
New York to California, sea to shining sea
Everybody came here wantin' to be free
New York to California, sea to shining sea
Everybody, everybody, everybody
(Oh, oh, oh)
I am American, American, American
I am American, American, red, white, and blue
Am-Am-Am-Am-Am-American, American, American
I am American, American, just like you too
I am American, American
I-I-I am American, American
I am American, American
I-I-I am American, American, I
I am American, American, American
I am American, American, red, white, and blue
I am American, American, American, American
I am American, American, just like you too
Am-Am-Am-Am-Am-American, American, American
I am American, American, red, white, and blue
I am American, American, American
I am American, American, just like you too
The song "American" by RuPaul is an anthem that celebrates diversity in America. It sends a message that the country is a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities, and despite their differences, everyone shares a common bond of being American. The first verse starts with the line "My country 'tis of thee" which is a reference to the first line of the patriotic song "America" (also known as "My Country 'Tis of Thee"). RuPaul acknowledges that people from different backgrounds have come to America in search of freedom and a better life. The chorus repeats the lines "I am American, American" several times, emphasizing the idea that being American is something to be proud of, regardless of one's race, religion or social status. The line "You got the right, stand up for yourself, we've just begun to fight" implies that there are still some inequalities that need to be addressed in the United States, but overall, RuPaul believes that America is a place where everyone can thrive.
The second verse continues with the theme of freedom and individuality. The line "Ain't no way we're going back in time, forward to the future baby, yours and mine" suggests that progress is inevitable and that everyone should embrace change and move forward. The chorus repeats again with the same message that everyone is American, and the song ends on a positive note with RuPaul celebrating his identity as an American.
Overall, "American" is a song that celebrates patriotism, diversity, and inclusivity. It acknowledges that America has a complicated history and that there is still work to be done to achieve true equality. However, the song is ultimately optimistic and emphasizes that being American is something to be proud of, regardless of one's background.
Line by Line Meaning
I am American, American
I am proud of being an American
I-I-I am American, American
I am emphasizing my American identity
My, my, my, my country 'tis of thee
The United States is my beloved country
These are all my friends, we are a family
All Americans are part of a larger family as we share a common identity and national values
Hey, hey, hey, despite what you think
Despite any stereotypes or negative opinions, I am still proud to be an American
This is who I am and who I wanna be
Being American is an essential part of my identity and who I aspire to be
Everybody came here wantin' to be free
People from all over the world came to America seeking freedom
New York to California, sea to shining sea
From east to west coast, America is a land of opportunity and freedom
You-ou-ou, you got the right
Every American has rights and freedoms protected by the Constitution
Stand up for yourself, we've just begun to fight
It's important to defend your rights and freedoms, and stand up for what you believe in
Ain't no way we're going back in time
We cannot revert to a time when liberty and equality were not fundamental values in America
Forward to the future baby, yours and mine
We must continue to progress and advance towards a brighter future
I am American, American, American
I repeat my American identity with even more pride and conviction
I am American, American, red, white, and blue
The colors of the American flag represent my identity and values as an American
I am American, American, just like you too
I share the same American identity with all other Americans
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RuPaul Andre Charles, Lawrence Starbuck Wilson Jack, Lior Rosner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind