Shirley Bassey - I Am What I Am (1996 TV Special)

REMASTERED CLIP - 1996 (An Audience With Shirley TV Special)
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, Gloria Gaynor, 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

[@bamlin52]

Have see her 4 times in Concert.A true stage Star performer. Thank you Shirley Bassey.🤗🙏

[@angelacasey6336]

She has a powerful voice and sings very impressively .Reminds me of Judy Garland. Great singer

[@antonidaskalaki7091]

Amazing i wish you have kep all of these lovely dresses sometime its worth it to open a museum with all your amazing looks!!!!

[@CarlosRodriguez-wb4hv]

❤❤😂 EN MI E'POCA DE CORUÑA EN LA ESCUELA DE RIAZOR,DESCUBRI' A ALBANO CARRISI Y A MI AMADA SHIRLEY. SHIRLEY R.I.P. SE' QUE' LO PASASTE MUY MAL EN UNA E'POCA MUY COMPLICADA,PERO CO'MO TU CANCIO'N GRANDE GRANDE QUE' TANTO ME DISLOCA..GRANDE FUISTE ENTRE LAS GRANDE...TENGO DISCOS TUYOS DESDE 1970.❤❤❤.

[@heikebohne8864]

😂😂🎉🎉 She really has a Power 💪🏽💪🏽, My God, She sings others at the wall, I saw Her live in the 80 tis in 🇩🇪

[@MackanxXx]

A star ⭐️ star 💫

[@Uwes-Concert-Arena]

Absolutley great voice thanks

[@MrKarlsea]

Great!👏👏👏👏👏

[@Adel-mj5gt]

Grandiosa!

[@doronb-a1393]

Love her VOICE (not the song) and performance

[@rosario3028]

꧁• 𝑺𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒅𝙖 •꧂

[@Shopmyst]

Shirley has a big gay following.

[@sas9023055]

She also has a big hetero male following. She is the definition of a worldwide DIVA. But, in her case, it comes out in her amazing top-tier performances and vocals...