Songbird Saturday...I Am What I Am

[xakara]

The American musical La Cage aux Folles was based on the 1973 French play and 1978 French-Italian movie of the same name. The story follows a gay couple, Georges, the manager of a successful drag club, and Albin his star attraction. When their son gets engaged to the daughter of a conservative politician he's suddenly embarassed about his non-traditional home. If the premise seems familiar there was a secondary film adaptation in 1996 called The Birdcage starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane.

Music for the musical was written by Jerry Herman of Hello Dolly! and Mame fame. At the end of Act I, Albin's finale is a song called I Am What I Am. Herman had no idea at the time of penning the standout tune that it would go on to become a Gay Pride anthem, along with a commercial hit when recorded by Gloria Gaynor.

Below is a performance of I Am What I Am done by John Barrowman along with the lyrics. Above the link on Gloria Gaynor is the "disco" version of the song.

Enjoy.

 The lyrics:

I am what I am, I am my own special creation
So come take a look, give me the hook or the ovation
It's my world that I want to have a little pride in
My world and it's not a place I have to hide in
Life's not worth a damn 'til you can say, hey world
I am what I am

I am what I am, I don't want praise I don't want pity
I bang my own drum, some think it's noise I think it's pretty
And so what if I love each feather and each spangle
Why not try to see things from a different angle
Your life is a sham 'til you can shout out loud
I am what I am

I am what I am and what I am needs no excuses
I deal my own deck sometimes the ace, sometimes the deuces
There's one life and there's no return and no deposit
One life so it's time to open up your closet
Life's not worth a damn 'til you can say, hey world
I am what I am

Songbird Ramble Done

~X

Comments

[moondancerdrake.livejournal.com]

I love this musical, and this song is great in so many ways. How many folks would live healthier and happier lives just being who they were, screw what anyone thinks.

[(Anonymous)]

I had never heard this song until now. Although I liked both versions, I preferred the discofied one by Gloria Gaynor. My feelings about the GLBT community is that they should be free to be who they are. I'm not going to hide my sexuality so why should they?

[(Anonymous)]

I had never heard this song until now. Although I liked both versions, I preferred the discofied one by Gloria Gaynor. My feelings about the GLBT community is that they should be free to be who they are. I'm not going to hide my sexuality so why should they?

By the way, I have a post and a poll this week that may be of interest to you and your readers.

Malcolm
http://popculturedish.blogspot.com/