| I Am What I Am Written by Jerry Herman |
| La
Cage Aux Folles Short Synopsis |
This song is taken from the musical "La Cage Aux Folles" written by Jerry Herman. The musical is based on a French film with the same title. The premiere of this film was on August 21st, 1983 at the Palace Theatre in New York and it ran there for 1761 performances. In 1996 a new movie "The Birdcage" was made out of it with actors like Robin Williams and Gene Hackman.
The musical is about the transvestite night-club "La Cage Aux Folles" in the seedy part of St. Tropez, France. Georges is the owner of the night-club and Albin is Georges's gay lover and star performer as ZaZa at the club. Georges' son Jean-Michel from a previous marriage to a woman wants to marry a woman - the daughter of Dindon, a notoriously narrow-minded politician. Jean-Michel wishes to present himself as coming from a high moral background and invites his fiancée's parents to his home where Georges has to remove anything that may be considered as inappropriate. Jean-Michel's real mother should come to play an intact marriage, but calls to say that she cannot come. To the utter astonishment from the others, Albin walks in exclaiming "Here's Mother", and takes her place. Albin is eventually de-frocked, it results in high insanity and it all ends up with Dindon and his wife dressing up in high-heels, tights and leotards.
Although La Cage was Broadway's first homosexual musical, it was nevertheless a
mainstream production. Director Arthur Laurents didn't allow his lead characters so much
as a peck on the cheek for fear that he might offend his audience.
|
Jerry
Herman Short Biography |
Jerry Herman began song writing at the age of 17
and was encouraged by his
mother. 1961 he got his first Tony Award nomination for his work on the Broadway musical
"Milk and Honey". He helped to produce the Broadway hit "Hello, Dolly!" which won a Tony
Award in 1965 for Best Musical.
In 1979 "The Grand Tour" received two Tony nominations for Best Musical and Best Score.
"La Cage Aux Folles" was one of Jerry Herman's greatest accomplishments.
The show received nine Tony nominations including six awards for Best Musical,
Best Actor in a Musical (George Hern), Best Director of a Musical (Arthur Laurents),
Best Book (Harvey Fierstein), Best Score (Jerry Herman) and Best Costume Designer
(Theoni V. Aldredge).
Jerry Herman has written many more musicals and received all in all seven Tony
nominations, including three Tony Awards.
In the '70s the Theatre at the University of Miami was renamed the Jerry Herman Ring
Theatre, as a tribute to its alumnus. He was also inducted into the Songwriter's Hall
of Fame in 1981 and the Theatre Hall of Fame in 1986.
Jerry Herman has also worked on television and film programs and has released
several albums. He is still working on some projects and is still a successful
songwriter.
| Gloria Gaynor |
"I Am What I Am" was also a hit for singer Gloria Gaynor.
For more information about this artist, visit
her official website.
| Lyrics |
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 and see things from a different angle
Your life is a sham till you can say
Hey world 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
It's my 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 till you can say
Hey world I am what I am
(Transcribed by Roman)