315:"pride and faithfulness to the individual and authentic self." DeAngelis notes that this theme had particular resonance at the time, when the gay community was in the process of "coming out" and a general cultural obsession was finding healthy ways to feel good about oneself. Frédéric Martel identifies "I Am What I Am" as one of five Village People songs that were touchstones to the gay movement in France when they came out ("
314:
but even just if you want to dress in an unusual manner, as long as you don't hurt anyone else. Co-writer Willis similar says that the theme is not limited to gays but that "we're saying to everyone – be who you are. We're for people liberation." Michael DeAngelis describes the theme as being
309:
describes the song as "a gay liberation statement, aimed directly at gays and lesbians who were standing up without apology for their lifestyle" and as the group's "first gay liberation song". He says that the theme of the song is the virtue of being yourself, and not just if you're gay or
399:, along with gay men and women, had made a vacation destination." He noted that it is a "gay friendly resort" that is so "different-thinking" that it remained in the Union despite Florida seceding in the
330:
Judith A. Peraino described "I Am What I Am" as a "hit single" while Boze
Hadleigh described it as a "pre-hit". Sharon Davis claimed that lyrics are "so camp they have to held down with tent pegs." But
367:
stating that Willis' voice is "full of anger and delight" on the song and concluding that "because the song seems so committed, it makes the rest of the material sound downright pointless."
914:
Sincerity: How a Moral Ideal Born Five
Hundred Years Ago Inspired Religious Wars, Modern Art, Hipster Chic, and the Curious Notion that We All Have Something to Say (no Matter how Dull)
373:
critic Brian
Kachejian rated it the Village People's 5th greatest song, calling it "a song of tremendous empowerment in standing up for the rights of gays and lesbians at the time."
275:. It was also released as a single with "Key West" as the b-side in some countries including Germany and the UK. It did not chart in those countries, but it reached #4 on the
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407:...where there's plenty of 'unity,' 'happiness,' 'liberation' and 'togetherness.' "Key West" has been included on several Village People greatest hits
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403:. Author Chuck Eddy describes "Key West" as one of the Village People's "small hits" and one of several of their songs to "stump for substitute
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The b-side of the "I Am What I Am" single was "Key West". Like "I Am What I Am", "Key West" was part of the medley that reached #4 on the
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Dance Chart and
Peraino also described "Key West" as a "hit single". Jones described "Key West" as "a salute to the Florida town that
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described it as "provocative", describing it as a "gay pride anthem with its activist lyrics and basic theme."
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critic
Mitchell Schneider described "I Am What I Am" as a "human-rights anthem". Village People singer
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Listening to the Sirens: Musical
Technologies of Queer Identity from Homer to Hedwig
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later used the title phrase for a successful trainers advertising campaign.
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Gay Fandom and
Crossover Stardom: James Dean, Mel Gibson, and Keanu Reeves
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critic
Mitchell Schneider regarded "I Am What I Am" as the best song on
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287:". It has since been released on several Village People greatest hits
404:
376:
342:
945:
Rock and Roll Always
Forgets: A Quarter Century of Music Criticism
124:
1038:
524:
The Da Capo Book of
American Singing Groups: A History, 1940-1990
556:
1042:
353:
critic Amy Hanson described it as "a well-constructed slab of
291:. It was also included on the soundtrack for the 1978 film
727:
The Pink and the Black: Homosexuals in France Since 1968
627:
Macho Man: The Disco Era and Gay America's "Coming Out"
581:"The Village People – Macho Man (Rolling Stone review)"
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997:"Village People Chart History (Dance Club Songs)"
811:Every Chart Topper Tells a Story: The Seventies
781:Sing Out!: Gays and Lesbians in the Music World
757:. University of California Press. p. 182.
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8:
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649:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
1448:Song recordings produced by Jacques Morali
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729:. Stanford University Press. p. 366.
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27:For other songs with the same title, see
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446:"Macho Man"/"Key West"/"I Am What I Am"
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553:"Thank God It's Friday soundtrack"
25:
948:. Duke University Press. p.
889:Kachejian, Brian (20 July 2021).
700:. Duke University Press. p.
51:Cover to German 7" single release
1438:Songs written by Jacques Morali
671:. January 29, 1979. p. A14
265:that was first released by the
1428:Songs written by Victor Willis
1016:"National Disco Action Top 40"
629:. ABC-CLIO. pp. 84. 183.
357:", despite lacking subtlety.
1:
1433:Songs written by Henri Belolo
1264:San Francisco (You've Got Me)
891:"Top 10 Village People Songs"
846:. March 25, 1978. p. 150
317:San Francisco (You've Got Me)
34:1978 single by Village People
1025:. April 8, 1978. p. 65
784:. Barricade Books. p.
678:– via newspapers.com.
1469:
1423:Casablanca Records singles
1246:The Best of Village People
1005:. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
26:
1076:
665:"City catches machomania"
431:
424:
421:
211:
44:
917:. W.W. Norton. pp.
349:and horn arrangements.
474:"Village People awards"
893:. Classic Rock History
753:Peraino, J.A. (2005).
692:DeAngelis, M. (2001).
1384:New York City Inferno
911:Magill, R.J. (2012).
778:Hadleigh, B. (1991).
579:Schneider, Mitchell.
327:" being the others).
294:Thank God It's Friday
283:with "Key West" and "
277:Billboard Dance Chart
249:is a song written by
1418:Village People songs
1372:Can't Stop the Music
1317:Can't Stop the Music
1207:Can't Stop the Music
371:Classic Rock History
269:on their 1978 album
1443:LGBTQ-related songs
1331:Far Away in America
725:Martel, F. (1999).
527:. Da Capo. p.
521:Warner, J. (1992).
185:and Peter Whitehead
1324:Sex Over the Phone
1310:Ready for the 80's
1238:Compilation albums
1228:Sex Over the Phone
1023:Billboard Magazine
843:Billboard Magazine
809:Davis, S. (2012).
593:on October 2, 2007
409:compilation albums
397:Tennessee Williams
289:compilation albums
207:singles chronology
161:Casablanca Records
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942:Eddy, C. (2011).
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341:also praised the
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16:(Redirected from
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422:Chart (1979)
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302:Rolling Stone
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251:Victor Willis
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188:
184:
183:Victor Willis
180:
176:
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169:Songwriter(s)
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1413:1978 singles
1389:
1382:
1370:
1270:
1244:
1226:
1219:
1212:
1205:
1198:
1191:
1184:
1177:
1170:
1145:Glenn Hughes
1115:Ray Stephens
1107:
1103:Chad Freeman
1102:
1097:
1092:
1087:
1080:
1027:. Retrieved
1022:
1010:
1001:
992:
981:. Retrieved
968:
944:
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913:
906:
895:. Retrieved
884:
873:. Retrieved
859:
848:. Retrieved
841:
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673:. Retrieved
668:
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595:. Retrieved
591:the original
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481:. Retrieved
444:
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292:
270:
255:Henri Belolo
246:
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179:Henri Belolo
69:
1366:Discography
1341:Other songs
1296:In the Navy
1214:Renaissance
1140:Randy Jones
1135:Ray Simpson
1125:Alex Briley
1120:Felipe Rose
1093:James Kwong
866:"Macho Man"
864:Hanson, A.
325:In the Navy
312:transgender
307:Randy Jones
192:Producer(s)
112:Sigma Sound
1453:1978 songs
1407:Categories
1155:Miles Jaye
1150:David Hodo
1029:2020-05-21
983:2014-09-01
974:"Key West"
897:2023-01-24
875:2014-09-01
850:2014-09-01
675:2020-05-21
597:2016-09-26
562:2014-09-01
507:2014-09-01
483:2014-09-01
458:References
383:"Key West"
347:percussion
85:"Key West"
1278:Macho Man
1179:Macho Man
1098:James Lee
1002:Billboard
645:cite book
619:Jones, R.
439:Billboard
427:position
401:Civil War
389:Billboard
365:Macho Man
339:Billboard
334:Billboard
285:Macho Man
272:Macho Man
232:Macho Man
71:Macho Man
1391:Solo Man
1289:Y.M.C.A.
1186:Cruisin'
978:AllMusic
870:AllMusic
625:(2009).
623:Bego, M.
502:AllMusic
478:AllMusic
351:AllMusic
321:Y.M.C.A.
149:(12"/LP)
98:Recorded
90:Released
1359:Related
1349:Hot Cop
1303:Go West
1256:Singles
1193:Go West
919:219–220
838:"Disco"
405:utopias
323:" and "
236:(1978)
227:(1978)
218:(1977)
956:
925:
817:
792:
761:
733:
708:
633:
621:&
535:
415:Charts
377:Reebok
355:groove
343:rhythm
281:medley
131:Length
107:Studio
80:B-side
58:Single
1019:(PDF)
279:in a
156:Label
147:5:37
125:Disco
120:Genre
954:ISBN
923:ISBN
815:ISBN
790:ISBN
759:ISBN
731:ISBN
706:ISBN
651:link
631:ISBN
557:IMDb
533:ISBN
425:Peak
395:and
345:and
261:and
144:(7")
101:1977
93:1978
1280:"/"
950:250
702:137
529:515
432:US
60:by
1409::
1021:.
999:.
976:.
952:.
921:.
868:.
840:.
829:^
788:.
786:32
745:^
704:.
684:^
667:.
647:}}
643:{{
606:^
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476:.
465:^
451:4
442:)
411:.
297:.
257:,
253:,
234:"
225:"
181:,
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