18 people need to watch which button their pressing, they missed the Like! I've loved Mr Barrowman for a long time just for the fact he lives as he is and doesn't feel the need to change. Inspiring.
Such a pity that the original singer is such a homophobe. Double pity is that she is a black person who suffered from discrimination, not for for what she did, but for what she was. She knew better, still... So sad.
This song can relate to anybody who's ever felt different or out of place. A lot of people try to attach it purely to sexuality but truly this is just a lovely song about loving yourself, and deciding that nobody is going to change who you are, no matter what you are. Beautiful
It's a gay anthem written by a gay author to be in a show exclusively about homosexuality. Its attachment to sexuality is put there by the author, not attached later by the audience.
My favorite performance of this song. John sang it for me and all of us, who have lived with the shame that was poured on us from truly ignorant people. No more ignorance, no more!
I've seen this video a number of time over the past few years and used it to teach me how to sing it properly. I performed it at a stage musicals concert run by a new community theatre company a few weeks ago. I am fully straight but a couple of my gay friends in the audience said that I had them believing I was on their side.
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 "Hey World, I am what I am." I am what I am I don't want praise, I dont want pity I bang my own drum Some think it's noise I think its 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 loud 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 There'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 say "Hey world, I am what I am."
I could watch this on repeat far too many times. He has sung this endlessly and I've seen him do it live but for me this is his (and for my money THE) definitive version. I love the uncomfortable, shameful beginning full of repression and intensity that builds into anger before finally exploding into joyous showmanship at the end. Simply perfect.
@Rao16026 - He's been a leading man in the musical theatre world in the West End - UK primarily for over twenty years, but also on Broadway. He's not just "Captain Jack" in Torchwood, this guy is a multi-talented entertainer.
I've met him as well, and he was a complete sweetheart. People have bad days. Most people aren't expected to sign a bunch of things and take photos with fans even on their bad days.
I just stumbled on these John Barrowman performamces. He is fabulous in Spring Time For Hitler. I met him and we spoke briefly at a Starbucks in Earls Court years ago. A real stunner.
I need to listen to this every day...it never fails to lift me up, and makes me want to stand up and LIVE my life. Thank you JB, for this incredible rendition.
Oh My Gosh, how can one person have so much talent??? John barrowman is awesome, he is the true JB, not justin bieber! I love how he really mean every word he says!!!
This I consider the most touching and humane performance of this song. This made my heart ache, celebrate and embrace my own personal life. Thank You very much Mr John Barrowman!!!!!
WE were soo fortunate last fall to catch John in LONDON performing at The Victoria in La Cage. It was amazing as he is. John Barrowman - beautiful voice - beautiful person inside and out!
he's phenomenal. he blows me away. he is the definition of perfection. He sang this in concert and i saw him in Nottingham... i nearly passed out- the combination of his beauty, his voice, the emotion he puts in, and the song could have made me cry. Made me go all gooey!! x
I saw him do this live onstage playing Albin in La Cage in London back in 2009. By far one of the greatest theatre performances I've seen and just unbelievably chilling from the sheer perfection.
there is no bubble to burst, dear Bob, Mr Barrowman just happens the have an awesome voice and he really can do that, have you never seen him perform before?
I've watched the other videos in which he sings this, and this is by far the best, the most heartfelt, and I think that's partly because when he drops that note at 1:13, he just goes on even more passionately. It shows the kind of person he is, he messed up, so he's going to go on and make it the best it can possibly be.
Anyone else think the beginning was Eh? Douglas hodge made the beginning lyrics "I......am......what, I am..." very moving. This guy was truly amazing as he sang it and he owned it in the end! Bravo!
Oh, my God. I could practically /taste/ the emotion spilling from him in this one. I much prefer this performance to the one from The Sound of Musicals.
I must say this is a different version of John barrowman singing it to what i have seen before, and he is much better at it in this one than his other. I originally thought he was no good at it but after seeing him sing it this time, he was great!!!
