Decoded (EP)

File:TomasCostanza.jpg co-wrote all six songs on the EP.]]

Approximately 18 minutes long, Decoded has six tracks, with them being performed by Divina de Campo (the stage name of British drag queen Owen Richard Farrow) and written by Tomas Costanza, Paul Coultrup, Farrow, and Ashley Levy.{{cite web |title=Decoded – EP |url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/decoded-ep/1488403783 |publisher=Apple Music |access-date=27 December 2020 |archive-date=1 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101230739/https://music.apple.com/au/album/decoded-ep/1488403783 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Divina De Campo: Decoded |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/decoded-mw0003340600 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=27 December 2020 |archive-date=1 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101230730/https://www.allmusic.com/album/decoded-mw0003340600 |url-status=live }}

"A Drag Race Song" parodies music released by previous RuPaul's Drag Race contestants. Divina de Campo described it as a "tongue-in-cheek poke at everybody",{{cite news |last1=Damshenas |first1=Sam |title=Premiere: Divina De Campo parodies former contestants in hilarious A Drag Race Song video |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/premiere-divina-de-campo-parodies-former-contestants-in-hilarious-a-drag-race-song-video/ |access-date=27 December 2020 |work=Gay Times |issn=0950-6101 |archive-date=1 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101230805/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/premiere-divina-de-campo-parodies-former-contestants-in-hilarious-a-drag-race-song-video/ |url-status=live }} and Attitude called the song a "catchy pop tune" that showcases her "high soprano and 4-octave range". The song's lyrics mention fellow RuPaul's Drag Race UK contestants Blu Hydrangea, Crystal, Gothy Kendoll, Scardey Kat and The Vivienne, and suggest Divina de Campo feels disliked by Drag Race judge Michelle Visage.

"Gratify" was described by Sam Damshenas of Gay Times as an "operatic dance anthem" and by Out in Jersey{{'s}} Michael Cook as a "dance stomper".{{cite news |last1=Damshenas |first1=Sam |title=Premiere: Vogue meets opera in Divina De Campo's insane Gratify music video |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/premiere-vogue-meets-opera-in-divina-de-campos-insane-gratify-music-video/ |access-date=27 December 2020 |work=Gay Times |archive-date=1 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101230716/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/premiere-vogue-meets-opera-in-divina-de-campos-insane-gratify-music-video/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Cook |first1=Michael |title=Pop stars find their own unique voices |url=https://outinjersey.net/pop-stars-find-their-own-unique-voices/ |website=Out in Jersey |date=26 March 2020 |access-date=28 December 2020 |archive-date=1 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101230741/https://outinjersey.net/pop-stars-find-their-own-unique-voices/ |url-status=live }} Divina de Campo said of the song: "Lyrically, it's that desire to give people exactly what they want. Musically, it's a mixture of what my career has been up until this point; classical and mainstream pop work. It's quite personal, but also not that personal!" Damshenas called "Pocket Rocket Princess" a "pop anthem", while Cook described "Down with You" as a "dance floor bopper showing definite influences" of Blondie and the Scissor Sisters.

File:Darnley stage 3.jpg for "Gratify" features fashion inspired by Elizabeth I (pictured: The "Darnley Portrait" of Elizabeth I, c. 1575)]]Decoded was released on 29 November 2019, following the release of "A Drag Race Song" as the lead single on 22 November.{{cite web |title=A Drag Race Song – Single |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/a-drag-race-song-single/1488405245 |publisher=Apple Music |access-date=27 December 2020 |archive-date=1 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101230717/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/a-drag-race-song-single/1488405245 |url-status=live }} In April 2020, Divina de Campo included the song on her "self-isolation playlist" published by Billboard Pride.{{cite magazine |last1=Daw |first1=Stephen |title=Divina de Campo Explores 'Different Moods' With Her Self-Isolation Playlist |magazine=Billboard |issn=0006-2510 |date=3 April 2020 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/9350302/divina-de-campo-self-isolation-playlist |access-date=28 December 2020 |archive-date=1 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101230730/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/9350302/divina-de-campo-self-isolation-playlist |url-status=live }} A 12" format of Decoded was released for Record Store Day in 2020.{{cite news |title=Here's the Full List of Record Store Day 2020 Releases |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/heres_the_unofficial_list_of_2020_record_store_day_releases |access-date=27 December 2020 |work=Exclaim! |date=20 February 2020 |issn=1207-6600 |first1=Brock |last1=Thiessen |first2=Calum |last2=Slingerland |archive-date=1 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101230747/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/heres_the_unofficial_list_of_2020_record_store_day_releases |url-status=live }}Official Charts Company:

• {{cite web |last1=White |first1=Jack |title=Record Store Day 2020: The full list of 570 exclusive music releases revealed |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/record-store-day-2020-the-full-list-of-570-exclusive-music-releases-revealed__28938/ |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=27 December 2020 |date=5 March 2020 |archive-date=1 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101230720/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/record-store-day-2020-the-full-list-of-570-exclusive-music-releases-revealed__28938/ |url-status=live }}
• {{cite web |last1=Copsey |first1=Rob |title=Record Store Day: Full list of exclusive music releases for the first 2020 event on August 29 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/record-store-day-full-list-of-exclusive-music-releases-for-the-first-2020-event-on-august-29__30858/ |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=27 December 2020 |date=27 August 2020 |archive-date=1 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101230745/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/record-store-day-full-list-of-exclusive-music-releases-for-the-first-2020-event-on-august-29__30858/ |url-status=live }} The "SIBS Music Remix" of "A Drag Race Song" was released on 15 May 2020,{{cite web |title=A Drag Race Song (SIBS Music Remix) – Single |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/a-drag-race-song-sibs-music-remix-single/1510531835 |publisher=Apple Music |access-date=27 December 2020 |archive-date=1 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101230748/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/a-drag-race-song-sibs-music-remix-single/1510531835 |url-status=live }} and the Gratify EP featuring the original track and three remixes was released on 26 June.{{cite journal |title=Interview: Divina de Campo on New Music and Why She'd 'Love' to Do Eurovision |journal=Attitude |date=24 June 2020 |url=https://attitude.co.uk/article/interview-divina-de-campo-on-new-music-and-why-shed-love-to-do-eurovision-1/23429/ |access-date=27 December 2020 |archive-date=1 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101230721/https://attitude.co.uk/article/interview-divina-de-campo-on-new-music-and-why-shed-love-to-do-eurovision-1/23429/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Gratify – EP |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/gratify-ep/1518596680 |publisher=Apple Music |access-date=27 December 2020 |archive-date=1 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101230751/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/gratify-ep/1518596680 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Divina De Campo: Gratify |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/gratify-mw0003401489 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=27 December 2020 |archive-date=1 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101230751/https://www.allmusic.com/album/gratify-mw0003401489 |url-status=live }}

The music video for "A Drag Race song" was released on 4 December 2019,{{cite magazine |last1=Daw |first1=Stephen |title=Divina De Campo Breaks Every Fourth Wall in Hilarious 'A Drag Race Song' Video |magazine=Billboard |date=4 December 2019 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8545418/divina-de-campo-a-drag-race-song-video |access-date=27 December 2020 |archive-date=1 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101230721/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8545418/divina-de-campo-a-drag-race-song-video |url-status=live }} coinciding with the airing of the final episode of the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK in the United States.{{cite journal |title=Exclusive: Go Behind-the-Scenes of Divine de Campo's Single 'A Drag Race Song' – Watch |journal=Attitude |date=13 December 2019 |url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/article/exclusive-go-behind-the-scenes-of-divina-de-campos-single-a-drag-race-song-watch/22363/ |access-date=27 December 2020 |issn=1353-1875 |archive-date=1 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101230724/https://www.attitude.co.uk/article/exclusive-go-behind-the-scenes-of-divina-de-campos-single-a-drag-race-song-watch/22363/ |url-status=live }} The visual has features from Drag Race and music videos released by other contestants, and sees Divina de Campo "spinning them into a fourth-wall breaking extravaganza, as she constantly changes outfits and even seems to [mimic] well-worn lip sync dance moves from the show". She showcases multiple looks, including one in which she has an orange beard and hairy armpits, and wears various red wigs. Damshenas described the video as "hilarious", and said that it "pays tribute to camp, burlesque, femme and punk performers".

"Gratify" served as the single from the EP and received a music video as well. Damshenas said the video "serves superhero-realness" with fashion inspired by Elizabeth I and has a "sickening squad" of dancers from the House of Suarez vogueing. He called the "eerie" visual "one of the fiercest (and batshit crazy) music videos of the year".

Decoded was met with positive reviews from music critics and Drag Race fans, according to Damshenas, who described "A Drag Race Song" as "hilarious" and "Gratify" as "infectious". Billboard{{'s}} Stephen Daw also called the former track "hilarious". Cook said "A Drag Race Song" has all the characteristics of a "quintessential" Drag Race song and complimented Divina de Campo's "growling and impressive" vocal performance. He said the EP "turns the standard Drag Race competitor albums on their ears" and showcases the drag queen's versatility as a singer. Cook called "Validation" an "electronica gem" and considered "Down with You" the EP's best song.

{{Track listing

| headline = Decoded track listing

| total_length = 17:58

| all_writing = Tomas Costanza / Paul Coultrup / Owen Farrow / Ashley Levy

| title1 = A Drag Race Song

| length1 = 3:13

| title2 = Gratify

| length2 = 3:35

| title3 = Elevate Her

| length3 = 2:42

| title4 = Validation

| length4 = 3:09

| title5 = Pocket Rocket Princess

| length5 = 2:27

| title6 = Down with You

| length6 = 2:52

}}

Track listing adapted from AllMusic and the Apple Music

{{Reflist}}

• {{YouTube|id=Aqipzks1xpo|title=Divina De Campo – A Drag Race Song (Official Music Video)}}
• {{YouTube|id=fnUWqwLFFdg|title=Gratify}}
• {{cite journal |last1=Lowe |first1=Adam |title=Interview: Divina de Campo: 'A clash of cultures' |journal=Vada |date=29 May 2020 |url=https://vadamagazine.com/entertainment/television/rupauls-drag-race/interview-divina-de-campo-a-clash-of-cultures}}

Category:2019 debut EPs

Category:Drag (entertainment)-related music

Category:LGBTQ-related albums

Category:Producer Entertainment Group albums

Category:RuPaul's Drag Race UK