"I Am What I Am" is a song originally introduced in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musicalLa 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. His version appears on the original cast album released in 1983. The song was composed by Jerry Herman, an openly gay man.
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. A club hit in America, Gaynor's version of "I Am What I Am" was a Top 40 hit throughout Europe becoming established as a global gay anthem.
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, but did not chart.
In Argentina, singer Sandra Mihanovich recorded a Spanish language-cover of the song called "Soy lo que soy", released on an album of the same name in 1984.
Pia Zadora recorded "I Am What I Am" on her 1986 album of the same name and released it as a single.
Marti Webb released a cover of the song on her 1989 album Performance.
In 1998, Respect recorded a cover of the song featuring British singer Hannah Jones which was used in the British television seriesQueer as Folk. In 2004, Jones released a solo version of the song.
Swedish artist Lars-Åke Wilhelmsson, performing under his drag queen name Babsan, released a Swedish language-cover of the song "Jag är som jag är" in 1999.
Dutch model and singer Karen Mulder released a cover of the song in 2002. The single reached no. 13 in France, no. 22 in Belgium's Wallonia region, and no. 81 in Switzerland.
Ken Page recorded a cover of the song for a Jerry Herman tribute album Tap Your Troubles Away: The Words & Music of Jerry Herman released in 2003.
Linda Eder covered "I Am What I Am" on her 2003 album Broadway My Way, and released it as a single. It peaked at no. 40 on Billboard's Dance Club Songs in the US.
Parody duo Amateur Transplants released a cover of the song on their 2008 album Unfit to Practise.
John Barrowman recorded a cover of the song for his 2008 album Music Music Music.
