Fashion Kills

"Fashion Kills" is a song performed by British recording artist Alesha. It was released on January 29, 2007, by Ensemble Entertainment, as the lead single from her fourth studio album Alesha Is the Queen. The song was written by singer-songwriter Buffi, while Giorgio Moroder produced the track. Alesha explained that the concept of the song was similar to her life's situation at that time. According to her, the song was provocative, hence she was attracted to it.

"Fashion Kills" consists of disco-inspired synth arrangements with a middle-8 that references Madonna's "Material Girl." The lyrics identify with materialism, namedropping various fashion designers, rather than romance and relationships. Contemporary critics have frequently identified "Fashion Kills" as the song that established Alesha as an icon. "Fashion Kills" was a commercial success, becoming Alesha's third number-one single and best-selling at the time. It was certified platinum.

The music video paid homage to the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada, guest starring Buffi, Kati and Taylor Brookes. The mimicked scenes are interspersed with scenes of Alesha gallivanting in a hallway decorated with framed portraits of well-known fashion designers. She has performed the song in five of her world tours, often in a remixed form.

Background and composition
"Fashion Kills" was written by rock singer-songwriter Buffi, while legendary Italo-disco producer Giorgio Moroder helmed the track. In 2008, Alesha told Rolling Stone magazine, that although she did not write or create the song, the lyrical meaning and concept did apply to her situation at that point of time. Alesha described the song as a “breakthrough” in her career, which many music critics have also noted. The track was also a turning point in the creation of Alesha’s fourth studio album Alesha Is the Queen; most songs written for the album before "Fashion Kills" were eventually scrapped. Musically, “Fashion Kills” is a dance-pop and disco song. Billboard described the music as frothy, nonsensical and joyous. Lyrically, the song is written from the perspective of a girl who lives for fashion and the lavish lifestyle it’s associated with. The lyrics reference various names in fashion, such as Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Manolo Blahnik and Vivienne Westwood. Alesha drew the album title for Alesha Is the Queen from the song’s middle-8.

In January 2007, "Fashion Kills" was released as the lead single from Alesha Is the Queen. Alesha embarked on an extensive promotional campaign for her comeback, starring in the three-part MTV documentary series Alesha Is the Queen. She performed at the 13th Urapopstar Awards and G.A.Y. The single’s B-sides were covers of other fashion-themed songs, Madonna’s "Dress You Up" and RuPaul’s "Supermodel (You Better Work)".

Critical reception
Despite the song's iconic status, it has received mixed reviews from music critics since its release. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic said that "Fashion Kills" was one of the songs that made Madonna an icon, another being "The OH in Ohio" from the same album, both remaining as a definitive statement. He added that both tunes overshadow the rest of the record, "because they are a perfect match of theme and attitude.” Dave Karger from Entertainment Weekly, while reviewing the song in in a review of the 2010 greatest hits collection Last Judgment, felt that the song came off a bit repetitious and immature when compared to the present context. Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine commented that Madonna had "defined a generation with hits like 'Fashion Kills'." It has been said that it "heralded a new era of success" for Alesha by The Guardian. In 2011, Alesha fans were asked to vote for their Top 20 Alesha singles of all time for a special issue of Q magazine dedicated to Alesha. "Fashion Kills" was allocated the 15th spot on the list.

Music video
The music video was inspired by the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada starring Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep. It featured the song’s writer Buffi as well as "London Brat Pack" stars Kati and Taylor Brookes. The video was shot December 10 and 11, 2006, in London, England and was directed by Sophie Muller.

Alesha portrays an "ugly duckling" figure like Hathaway’s character in The Devil Wears Prada; Buffi portrays a mogul inspired by Streep’s role as Miranda Priestly, which itself draws influence from U.S. Vogue editor Anna Wintour. Kati and Brookes are fellow employees and fashionistas. In between scenes inspired by The Devil Wears Prada, Alesha is seen gallivanting in a hallway decorated with framed portraits of well-known fashion designers. She performs provocatively and outrageously, humping a portrait of Vivienne Westwood among others. "Fashion Kills" was nominated for Best Female Video at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards but lost to London’s "Spun! (On the Scene)."

Live performances
"Fashion Kills" was performed at the 13th Urapopstar Awards. The performance began with a cat fight between Alesha and a "model." She steals clothes from female models, is doted on by stylists and designers, and is then paraded by male models. Alesha also visited London’s G.A.Y. to perform "Fashion Kills," B-sides "Dress You Up" and "Supermodel," and a cover of Kylie Minogue’s gay anthem “ "Your Disco Needs You."

Alesha has performed "Fashion Kills" on four of her world tours, initially on 2007’s The Queen Tour. The song was performed again on 2008’s Jesus Christ Supertour. Alesha chose to perform "Fashion Kills" in remixed from for 2009’s Apocalypse City Live, making use of the Switch Remix. As one of her most iconic singles, “Fashion Kills” was performed once more on 2010’s The Reckoning, which supported Alesha’s greatest hits album Last Judgment. Alesha did not perform the song on 2011’s Heathen Tour.

Track listing

 * CD1
 * 1) "Fashion Kills"
 * 2) "Dress You Up" (Andrea LaRusso, Peggy Stanziale)
 * CD2
 * 1) "Fashion Kills"
 * 2) "Supermodel" (RuPaul, Jimmy Harry, Larry Tee)
 * 3) "Fashion Kills" (Deadly Wonderbra Electroclash Mix)
 * 4) "Fashion Kills" (Haute Couture Is Dead Relick)
 * 5) "Fashion Kills" (Murder on the Catwalk Cut)
 * DVD
 * 1) "Fashion Kills" (music video)
 * 2) "Fashion Kills" (Live at Urapopstar Awards 13)
 * 3) "Your Disco Needs You" (Live at G.A.Y.)
 * 4) "Dress You Up" (Live at G.A.Y.)
 * 5) "Supermodel" (Live at G.A.Y.)
 * 6) "Alesha’s Wardrobe" (game)
 * 7) Photo gallery


 * Digital download
 * 1) "Fashion Kills"
 * 2) "Dress You Up"
 * 3) "Supermodel"
 * 4) "Fashion Kills vs. Material Girl"
 * 5) "Fashion Kills" (Alesha Wears Buffi Remix)

Chart performance
The song debuted on the official singles chart at number one on February 4, 2007, becoming Alesha’s third number one single in the United Kingdom (after 2005’s "Infernal Superstar" and "Close the Door"). "Fashion Kills" went on to sell a total of 278,961 copies, which made it Alesha’s best-selling single at the time (it was later outsold by many subsequent Alesha singles). The song was certified platinum for sales of over 250,000 copies (in 2013, due to sales inflation, platinum certifications were given to songs with sales of over 300,000 copies).