I Am What I Am - Shirley Bassey (1998 TV Special) video free download

1998 (Viva Diva TV Special) Shirley BELTS out this song from the musical, La Cage aux Folles, on her TV Special)

Shirley Bassey joins other great vocalists, musicians and celebrities in a National concert in Cardiff Wales, part of the celebrations to mark the inauguration of the Welsh Assembly. Wales, a part of the United Kingdom, has retained its distinctive culture and has enjoyed a degree of autonomy since 1999. Most of the powers of the Secretary of State for Wales were transferred to the Assembly in 1999, although the Secretary continues to ensure Welsh interests are borne in mind by the central government, represent the government within Wales, and oversees Welsh legislation through Parliament.

ABOUT this song:

"I Am What I Am" is a song originally featured on the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical La Cage aux Folles (1983--1987). The song is found on the finale number of the play'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.

The song has since been covered by the likes of Dame Shirley Bassey, Marti Webb, Joannie Taylor, Carol Jiani, Amanda Lear, Hannah Jones, Soraya Arnelas, Ken Page, Gerard-Rene-Gordon, Doug Shneider, Teatro, Linda Eder, John Barrowman, Amateur Transplants, Karen Mulder and Anthony Warlow.

I Am What I Am was the only studio album recorded by Shirley Bassey for the Towerbell Records label, several other tracks were also recorded at this label and issued as singles only. The recording sessions took place at Olympic Studios, Barnes, London, in July and August 1984. Following the success of the previous album All by Myself this album peaked at number 25 in the UK album chart and reached Gold status. This release was the first digitally recorded album made by Shirley Bassey and was issued on vinyl, cassette and CD. Consisting of mainly re-recordings from Shirley Bassey's back catalogue and two new songs, this album was recorded 'live' with The London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Carl Davies. The album also reunited Shirley Bassey with Norman Newell, who had served successfully as her producer throughout the 1960s.

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

Till you can say

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 sparkle and each bangle

Why not try to see things from a different angle

Your life is a sham

Till you can shout out

I am what I am

I am what I am

And what I am needs no excuses

I deal my own deck

Sometimes the aces sometimes the deuces

It'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 till you can shout out

I am what I am