I Am What I Am (Broadway musical song)
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"I Am What I Am" is a song originally introduced in the Broadway musical La Cage aux Folles. The song is the finale number of the musical's first act, and performed by the character of Albin Mougeotte, first played by George Hearn.[1] His version appears on the original cast album released in 1983.[2] The song was composed by Jerry Herman.
Gloria Gaynor version
"I Am What I Am" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Gloria Gaynor | ||||
from the album I Am Gloria Gaynor | ||||
B-side | More Than Enough (7") | |||
Released | 1983 | |||
Genre | Dance-pop, soul | |||
Length | 5:56 (album version & 12"), 3:51 (7") | |||
Label | Chrysalis | |||
Songwriter(s) | Jerry Herman | |||
Producer(s) | Joel Diamond | |||
Gloria Gaynor singles chronology | ||||
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The song was released as a single by Gloria Gaynor in 1983 and went on to become one of the singer's best known songs. Producer Joel Diamond recognized the song's disco potential when he saw La Cage Aux Folles on Broadway and arranged for Gaynor – whose 1978 ...Park Avenue Sound album he'd produced – to record it.[3] A club hit in America, arranged by Marcus Barone,[4] with a remix by Shep Pettibone, Gaynor's version of "I Am What I Am" was a Top 40 hit throughout Europe, becoming established as a global gay anthem.
Track listing
- 7" single[5]
- A. "I Am What I Am" – 3:51
- B. "More Than Enough" – 4:46
- 12" single[6]
- A. "I Am What I Am" (Extended Version) – 5:56
- B. "I Am What I Am" (Dub Mix) – 5:10
Chart performance
Chart (1983–84) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report) | 69 |
Belgium[7] | 36 |
Germany[8]
|
35 |
Ireland (IRMA)[9] | 18 |
MegaCharts)[10]
|
37 |
South Africa (Springbok)[11] | 12 |
Switzerland[12] | 20 |
13 | |
U.S. Dance Music/Club Play Singles (Billboard)[14] | 3 |
U.S. R&B Singles (Billboard)[15] | 82 |
U.S. Bubbling Under the Hot 100[16]
|
2 |
Sandra Mihanovich version
"Soy lo que soy" | |
---|---|
Song by Sandra Mihanovich | |
from the album Soy lo que soy | |
Language | Spanish |
Released | 1984 |
Genre | Pop |
Length | 4:07 |
Label | Microfon |
Producer(s) | Claudio Kleiman |
Audio sample | |
Sample of the song |
Argentine singer
Now regarded as a classic of Argentine popular music, "Soy lo que soy" was a big commercial success and consolidated Mihanovich's rising career, becoming one of her signature songs.[19][23] It became an important gay anthem for the LGBT community in Argentina, which was experiencing a moment of cultural and activist boom after the end of the military dictatorship in 1983.[24][25] Mihanovich already had another gay anthem in her repertoire, her 1981 breakthrough single "Puerto Pollensa", a love song between women that continues to be celebrated by the local lesbian community to this day.[26][27] Mihanovich was a lesbian, although not openly, a topic that caused much speculation in the media and increased when she formed a musical duo with her partner Celeste Carballo in the late 1980s.[22] Their controversial 1990 lesbian-themed album Mujer contra mujer is now regarded as a landmark in lesbian visibility in Argentine society.[22][28][29]
Although she became a
Other use
- The Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands, a former micronation that occupied the Coral Sea Islands off Australia, adopted the song as their national anthem.[32]
- Virgin Atlantic used the song in their 2022 and 2023 advert, featuring cast and crew of different backgrounds and fashion. The song was used to show that those people are, as the song states, "what they are".
- Catherine Tate performed the song in character as Joannie "Nan" Taylor, in the sixth episode of the first series of her sketch show when the character's grandson (Mathew Horne) asked her "Why are you like this?"
- In 2023, Italian singer Senhit released a cover of the Gaynor version[33] to promote her 2024 I Am What I Am tour.[34]
References
- ISBN 978-1-57344-198-8.
- ^ "La Cage Aux Folles (Original Cast Recording) by La Cage Aux Folles (Original Broadway Cast) on iTunes". itunes.apple.com. January 1983. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
- ISBN 978-0-7864-7581-0.
- ^ "Marcus Barone Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic.
- ^ "Gloria Gaynor – I Am What I Am (Vinyl) at Discogs". www.discogs.com. 1983. Retrieved 2011-05-11.
- ^ "Gloria Gaynor – I Am What I Am (Vinyl) at Discogs". www.discogs.com. 1983. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
- ^ "Gloria Gaynor – I Am What I Am". ultratop.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-05-28.
- ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts". offiziellecharts.de (in German). Retrieved 2018-05-28.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Am What I Am". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- ^ "Discografie Gloria Gaynor". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-05-28.
- ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ "Gloria Gaynor – I Am What I Am". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 2018-05-28.
- ^ "GLORIA GAYNOR | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
- ^ "Gloria Gaynor Chart History". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
- ^ "Gloria Gaynor Chart History". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
- ^ Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100 1959–2004
- ^ "Soy lo que Soy | 1984 archivos – Sandra Mihanovich | Sitio Oficial" (in Spanish). www.sandramihanovich.com. Archived from the original on 2018-05-28. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
- ^ ISSN 2545-7284. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Sandra Mihanovich y el origen de "Soy lo que soy": "Haberla encontrado fue una oportunidad extraordinaria"" (in Spanish). Infobae. January 20, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
- ^ a b Mariel Rosciano (2017). Sandra Mihanovich - Documental (Documentary) (in Spanish). Sony Music. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- ^ "Lo más fuerte que me aparece es un sentimiento de agradecimiento". La Capital (in Spanish). February 26, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
- ^ .
- ^ a b "Sandra Mihanovich reveló la curiosa historia de una de sus canciones más famosas". La Nación (in Spanish). November 7, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
- S2CID 9046161.
- .
- Página/12(in Spanish). Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- ^ Firpo, Hernán (July 15, 2016). "Sandra Mihanovich "No sé si me hubiera casado con Celeste"". Clarín (in Spanish). Retrieved August 5, 2020.
- ^ Página/12(in Spanish). Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- Página/12(in Spanish). Retrieved February 27, 2022.
- Página/12(in Spanish). Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- ^ "Sandra Mihanovich habló por primera vez de su sexualidad". La Capital (in Spanish). August 10, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
- ^ "The Story Of The Gay & Lesbian Kingdom Of The Coral Sea Islands". henriettahudson.com. 2015-04-04. Archived from the original on 2018-05-28. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
- ^ "New music this week (part 2): Songs from MELOVIN, Senhit, KALUSH and more". wiwibloggs.com. 2023-11-19. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
- ^ "Senhit & Friends: I Am What I Am 2024 Tour". wiwibloggs.com. 2023-11-22. Retrieved 2024-01-17.