"Drop Dead Gorgeous" is a song by English alternative rock band Republica. Released in 1996 on their self-titled debut album and in 1997 by Deconstruction Records 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, Israel and Germany. The music video, which went into rotation on MTV, was nominated for "Best Video" at the 1998 Brit Awards.
Reception Critical The song was praised upon its release. AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine 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 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 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 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 1998 Brit Awards. It also went into rotation on MTV.
In media The song appears on the soundtracks of the TV shows Doctors, My Mad Fat Diary, Who's Doing the Dishes?, and Clueless. It also appears in the film Scream.
Legacy The song was included on Official Charts' list of "20 Classic Hits Turning 20 Years Old in 2017," with writer Justin Myers noting that both "Ready to Go" and "Drop Dead Gorgeous" "still get played on ads or on TV pretty often."
Track listing
Track lengths on the digital version of CD1: "Drop Dead Gorgeous" (Radio Edit) is 3:30. Total length of maxi single is 18:52. Track lengths on the digital version of CD2: "Drop Dead Gorgeous" (Radio Edit) is 3:30, "Mutha" is 4:00, and "Holly" (Full Mix) is 7:07. Total length of maxi single is 21:42.
Personnel Adapted from AllMusic. Donald Christie – photography Ben Grosse – mixing, production, programming Randy Jacobs – guitar Saffron – vocals Michael Tuller – programming John Vitale – guitar, programming Jez Williams – guitar
Charts +Chart performance for "Drop Dead Gorgeous"Chart (1997)PeakpositionAustralia (ARIA) 131Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 51Israel (Israeli Singles Chart) Search "Drop Dead Gorgeous" for Israeli chart history. 13
Year-end charts +1997 year-end chart performance for "Drop Dead Gorgeous"Chart (1997)PositionUK Singles (OCC) 157
References
External links Hear the song on YouTube