bwayrunner22 wrote:
I don't know if this counts, I've never seen La Cage but I've heard I am what I am and I don't see how that couldn't be one of the best. Just my thought though. I've heard a lot of songs and that one is one of my favorites.
'I Am What I Am' is staged very dramatically. Albin has just been told by Georges that he is not welcome at the dinner to meet his future in-laws. He pushed Georges aside, telling him "Excuse me, I have a show to do" and walks onstage. The Cagelles start the 'We Are What We Are' number and Albin stops them and quietly asks them to leave the stage. He then sings 'I Am What I Am', softly at first, then stonger as the anger and hurt builds within him. By the end of the number, he is practically spitting out the words. He finishes the number, pulls off his wig, throws it at Georges (who has been watching from the wings), walks down off the stage and marches up the aisle out the back of the theatre. It never fails to move me to tears. Maybe it's because I am a middle-aged gay man that I can relate to having attended family functions alone because my partner was not welcome, or watching co-workers bring spouses and children to company events and not being asked to bring my lover that this number has special meaning for me. For the past 15 or so years, I have decided to make my gayness known to everyone I know (and most of that was met with a gigantic yawn). But if you're 15 or 50, coming out is not an easy thing to do which is why 'I Am What I Am', written by an out and proud gay composer/lyricist is such a powerful number for me. Sorry to prattle on, but you asked
'Our whole family shouts. It comes from us livin' so close to the railroad tracks'
