Released 1983 Length 3:51 | Genre Soul, Disco Writer(s) Jerry Herman | |
"I Am What I Am" is a song originally introduced in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical La Cage aux Folles (1983–1987). 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. The song was composed in 1983 by Jerry Herman, an openly gay man.
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Gloria Gaynor version
The song was later released as a single by Gloria Gaynor in 1983 and went on to become one of the singer's best known songs. A club hit in America, Gaynor's version of "I Am What I Am" was a hit throughout Europe and eventually became a gay anthem.
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Other versions
Welsh singer Shirley Bassey recorded the song for her 1984 album I Am What I Am. That version was released as a single from the album, with "This Is My Life" as the B-side.
The song has been also covered by Marti Webb, Joannie Taylor, Carol Jiani, George Hearn, Hannah Jones, Soraya Arnelas, Ken Page, Linda Eder, Amateur Transplants, Karen Mulder, Andrew Rannells, and John Barrowman.
In Argentina, the singer Sandra Mihanovich made a Spanish-cover of the song called "Soy lo que soy".
Páll Oskar has recorded an Icelandic version of the song called "Ég er Eins og ég Er".
In the Philippines, the song was included and was sung by Maricel Soriano in the movie "Inday Bote". It became the title of her weekly musical variety show. She would sing a portion of the song as her finale.
French singer Amanda Lear covered "I Am What I Am" for her 2009 album Brand New Love Affair.
Swedish drag queen Babsan, who sang the song "Ge mig en spanjor" in the Melodifestivalen 2011, regularly performs a Swedish version of the song, "Jag är som jag är".
The song was used as the closing number of the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London sung by Beverley Knight.
The Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands, a micronation occupying the Coral Sea Islands off Australia, have adopted the song as their national anthem.
Anthony Geary (as his character Luke Spencer) performed a version of this song at the 2014 Nurses Ball on an episode of the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital on May 9, 2014.
Camryn Manheim (as Daisy on Two and a Half Men) covered the song.
Ginger Minj performed a version of this song at the 2016 Trailblazer Honors in tribute to Harvey Fierstein.