Boy Is a Bottom

"Boy Is A Bottom"
Single by Willam Belli featuring Detox and Vicky Vox (DWV)
Released	January 26, 2013
Songwriter(s)	Willam Belli Detox Vicky Vox
Producer(s)	Markaholic
Willam Belli singles chronology
"Stand by Your Man" (2012) "Boy Is A Bottom" (2013) "RuPaulogize" (2013)
Detox singles chronology
"Chow Down" (2012) "Boy Is a Bottom" (2013) "Can I Get an Amen?" (2013)
Music video
"Boy Is a Bottom" on YouTube

"Boy Is a Bottom" is a song by American singer and drag queen Willam Belli, featuring Detox and Vicky Vox (DWV). The song was released to coincide with the fifth season premiere of RuPaul's Drag Race.[1] The original music video went viral. As of March 2024, the clip has been viewed over 27 million times since uploaded to YouTube on 28 January 2013.[2]

On January 13, 2015, Willam released a Spanish version of the song, called "Es Una Pasiva".[3][4]

Background and composition

The song is a parody of "Girl on Fire" by Alicia Keys and also features an altered version of the "breakdown" from "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" by En Vogue.[5] "Bottom" (or passive) is a term referring to a male who prefers to be on the receiving end of gay anal sex, the opposite of a "top" (or active); one who has no particular preference may be considered "versatile", or a "vers". The terms pasivo and activo are commonly used in Spanish.[6] Willam had previously collaborated with Detox and Vicky Vox on "Chow Down", a parody of "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips.[7] The song was written by Willam Belli, Detox, and Vicky Vox and was produced by Markaholic.[8]

The Spanish version of the song, "Es Una Pasiva", includes interpolations of "La Bamba" by Ritchie Valens, "La Isla Bonita" by Madonna, "Macarena" by Los Del Rio and "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" by Selena.

Critical reception

Andrew Villagomez, writing for Out, described the song as a "juicy and fantastic musical number".[9]

Commercial performance

"Boy Is a Bottom" debuted at number six on Billboard's Comedy Digital Songs, selling 3,000 downloads in its first week. Willam has had two previous songs on the chart but neither cracked the top ten.[10]

Live performances

Willam, Detox, and Vicky Vox performed the song at the 2013 White Party in Palm Springs, California. The trio also performed on the main stage of the San Francisco Pride festival on July 9, 2013, just before DWV disbanded. Willam performed the song as part of New York City's Gay Pride Parade 2014. After the group split, Willam released a Spanish version called "Es Una Pasiva". This version is the one he now performs live, stating that he can no longer perform the English version as a soloist.[11]

Track listing

Digital download (Video Edit)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Boy Is a Bottom"	3:45

Digital download (Double Penetration Extended Mix)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Boy Is a Bottom"	4:05

Charts

Chart (2013)	Peak position
US Comedy Digital Songs (Billboard)[10]	6

References

1. "This Boy Is A Bottom: Willam, Detox & Vicky Vox Return To Tackle Alicia Keys' 'Girl On Fire'". Instinct. 28 January 2013. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
2. william belli (January 28, 2013). "Boy Is A Bottom". YouTube. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
3. willam belli (2015-01-13), Es Una Pasiva (Boy Is a Bottom Español), retrieved 2019-06-27
4. "Es Una Pasiva (Boy Is a Bottom Espanol)". Amazon. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
5. "'Boy Is A Bottom' Music Video Parody From Drag Queens Of 'Chow Down (At Chick-Fil-A)' (VIDEO)". The Huffington Post. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
6. "Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men: time to end the fixation with HIV". BMJ. 355: i5598. 2016-10-17. doi:10.1136/bmj.i5598. ISSN 1756-1833. PMID 27754835. S2CID 44613891.
7. Thibault, Simon (28 January 2013). "Willam Belli, Detox Icunt & Vicky Box strike again". Xtra!. Archived from the original on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
8. Belli, Willam (28 January 2013). "Boy Is A Bottom - YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
9. Andrew, Villagomez (29 January 2013). "WATCH: 'Boy Is A Bottom' from Willam Belli". Out. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
10. Caulfied, Keith (8 February 2013). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Divas Debut in Top 10 on Billboard Dance Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
11. Ciriaco, Mike (6 March 2013). "White Party Goes to the Extreme: Don't miss White Party Palm Springs 2103". Frontiers. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013.