"Drop Dead Gorgeous" is a song by English alternative rock band Republica. Released in 1996 on their self-titled debut album and in 1997 as the album's third and final single from the album, it was as a commercial success, giving the group their only top 10 hit to date in the UK. The single elicited a positive critical reaction, and was also a minor hit in the US, New Zealand, and Germany. The music video, which went into rotation on

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

, was nominated for "Best Video" at the

1998 Brit Awards Brit Awards 1998 was the 18th edition of the Brit Awards, an annual pop music awards ceremony in the United Kingdom. It was organised by the British Phonographic Industry and took place on 9 February 1998 at the London Arena in London. Performa ...

Reception

Critical

The song was praised upon its release.

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

Stephen Thomas Erlewine Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance writer, occ ...

praised the song as one of its parent album's highlights, and felt that the song has a "bright, energetic sound that is quite infectious."

Commercial

The song was a success in the United Kingdom and United States. In the UK, the song gave the group their only top-10 hit to date. The single debuted at number 7 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

on the week beginning 3 May 1997; the single spent a total of seven consecutive weeks on the chart, more than any other song by the group. The following year, the song was also successful in the US, entering the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and peaking at number 93, spending a total of three weeks on the chart. The single also entered the ''Billboard''

Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Airplay (formerly known as Modern Rock Tracks (1988–2009) and Alternative Songs (2009–2020)) is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in ''Billboard'' magazine since September 10, 1988. It ranks the 40 most-played ...

chart, where it entered the top 40 and peaked at number 39. Elsewhere, "Drop Dead Gorgeous" peaked at number 30 in New Zealand and number 90 in Germany.

Music video

The song's music video was nominated for "Best Video" at the

. It also went into rotation on

Legacy

The song was included on Official Charts' list of "20 Classic Hits Turning 20 Years Old in 2017," with writer Justin Meyers noting that both "Ready to Go" and "Drop Dead Gorgeous" "still get played on ads or on TV pretty often." The song was used in the 1996 horror movie,

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Track listing

Adapted from AllMusic. # "Drop Dead Gorgeous" — 3:32 # "Out of this World" — 7:05 # "Mutha" — 4:00 # "Holly" — 7:07

Personnel

Adapted from AllMusic. * Donald Christie — photography * Ben Grosse — mixing, production, programming * Randy Jacobs — guitar *

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— vocals * Michael Tuller — programming * John Vitale — guitar, programming *

Jez Williams Jeremy Francis "Jez" Williams (born 18 February 1970) is the guitarist/songwriter of Doves. He was born in Manchester, England, and is the twin brother of bandmate Andy and the son of noted modernist architect Desmond Williams. Before their ...

— guitar

Charts

References

External links

Hear the song
on

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{{authority control 1995 songs 1997 singles Deconstruction Records singles Republica songs