I am an 81 year old gay man. My spouse is 85 and we've been through so much in our 50 years together. The beatings the firing s and all the other crap.
@@4k.vip3rzwhy does that fing matter were talking about compassion for other people gays Trans minorities and women iam so sick and tired of hatred for what people don't understand start talking dialog
I remember when this show first came out, this production. I was a closeted gay kid in my second year of college. While the show was light, the news about the "Gay Epidemic" wasn't. When the show went on tour, I saw it with a group on my floor at the campus housing. I remember being very uncomfortable, but impressed. The original show had a large chorus line (the gimmick was that there was one woman and you had to guess who was what). When this number happened, my uncomfortableness changed, I so related to the main character, it was about acceptance and that there is nothing wrong with me. It was powerful. I read later that the show was hard on the performers, because members of the cast kept getting sick and dying off, when I read that I cried. In 1988 I graduated college, and that summer I was diagnosed with HIV. It was discovered by my Dad's doctor, who said to me "your poor Dad" and when I asked him what the diagnosis meant for me, he said I had 3 years to live. I saw the revival of this show a few years ago, without the uncomfortableness, without the internalized homophobia, and with a lot of acceptance and gratitude. It didn't hold up to the original production, but I also know that I have a lot of emotions tied up with the original production, the understanding and experience of living through that war zone, barely at times, and the immense loss of lives, talent, friends and youth.
Thank you for sharing your story. And I'm very glad you were able to fight your HIV/AIDS and are here to tell us about your experience. I love theater, and I am always thrilled by someone's reaction to a moment that seemed to be just for you. Thank you again.
Good for you, rbjnla! I have sat by many a bedside and lost many friends to HIV/AIDS - it is good to hear a heartwarming positive story coming out of that time and I appreciate you sharing it. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing your story. I think all of us gay boys can relate to the lyrics very well. Amazing how times have changed from the era that you describe above. So many beautiful young men lost, what a sad and scary time for us all. But, we have our memories and they will never be taken away from us.
My Coming Out wasn't accepted at all by my family (1982, I was 17). Despite issues and un- agreeable situations we remained "family". Three years after I had moved out I had a really well paying job, the family was very impressed. I could even afford a trip to NYC to see La Cage Aux Folles on Broadway (my first Bway experience) which was incredible. That Christmas I bought theater tickets for the whole family for a [play] at the National Theater in Washington D.C.. Everyone was elated, one of the most exciting Christmas' ever (to start). Christmas morning there were 7 envelopes on the tree one with each name on it. The show was for that night, 12/25/85. Honestly, I cannot remember my entire family beaming so much, they were so excited and proud of me. [Going to the big city to see a big play in a big theater!!!] After the show, my youngest sister asked why the guys were dressed as women. My next sister hugged me and said she loved me. My grandfather thought that the show was a "hoot!". My grandmother stated "to each their own". My mother glared [forever] at me and my step-father said angrily, " You got some balls, kid." to which I replied., "And don't forget it". Walked away to catch up with my sister while I sang aloud, "I am what I am".
This a very touching memory you share with us. Thank you. I think it's important, especially for the younger people, to learn how difficult it was for us to get out of the closet back in the 80ies, even more when you were living in a small town or villiage on the countryside. With time going by it became easier (not good - but easier). Today I become worried more and more, because I think we are moving backwards again. It may be only little incidents (more or less) that are giving me this feeling but I'm convinced that the inhibition threshold is getting lower to discriminate gay people again. Discrimination was never gone, but it's rising again. Nowadays the use of the word "faggot" increases and more and more people are laughing about it instead of being shocked. I am living in Germany, by means on the european continent, and the new nationalism that finds its way back in our societies, really frightens me. The same for racism (speaking of jewish people). Some time ago I read about the recommandation of the Secretary of the Interior for jews not to wear the Kippa in public due to security reasons and I was totally shocked to read that. In Germany ?? With our past ?? Incredible !!! But It's not only in my country. Look at France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain where all the right wing parties are being on the rise. I'm feeling very sad about all this ...
The thing I like best about this version is that unlike others I've seen, Albin is given space to express his fury at this situation. Our rage is often sanitised away for the nice clean straight-acting sitcom couple who never kiss, the fem gay man whose character is nothing but a joke, the tragic movie trans woman played by anyone but a trans woman. Wanting to burn down the whole fucking institution of homophobia, wanting to rip the transphobia out of the legal system with bare hands-- pure rage and fury at what they've done to us, our siblings they killed and let die, at the hatred in our parents' eyes, at being asked to hide-- that's what drove our people to throw the first brick. I love this version for not whitewashing Albin's rage.
@@docgima His is more sensitive and hurt rather than angry. Same with Douglas Hodge and Harvey Fierstein. All favourites of mine! George Hearn is more similar to Charles, in sound and rage
Thank you for this. I am finishing up graduate school and entering a field where being a gay man is not always safe. I'm sitting at my kitchen table crying my eyes out, this song still rings true every single moment. What a gift.
No matter how many times I play this, that triumphant walk off the stage, gives me chills!! What a battle cry for not just being gay, but being every single thing that makes us unique unto ourselves! Just beautiful! I gotta go, the tears are coming. 😭💖💖
I can remember being fired from work, after they heard rumors that I was gay. I can remember " family " using the spare key that I gave them for emergencies. The guy that came home with me from the club was even more surprised than I was. He quickly put on his clothes and drive away. It wasn't long after that I can remember crying my eyes out looking in the mirror, making up my mind to run away. I packed what I could in my car, drove my cat to another family members house and drove away. The few clothes I had ended up wet and moldy. The shoes on my feet and holes in them and I had blisters on my feet. ... still gone all these years later ... it was the best thing I ever did ! :)
@@TrippyPixels You are already courageous, just by having the desire to be. You have the ability to release what you have kept hidden. We each have to help make this world a better place, and to leave it a better place; so those that come after us can enjoy it.
My husband and I saw La Cage with Douglas Hodge we had cabaret seats which meant we couldnt get closer to the stage when he sang I am what I am at the end I stood up with tears in my eyes cheering his performance before his exit through the audience he stopped looked at me and blew me a kiss!!!! That's what memories are made of!!!!!!
Anyone who was ever made to feel "different and unacceptable" can relate. Color, size, gender, orientation... whatever. This song says a big "oh yeah....says who???" for all of us.
Darcye Morawski They just passed a resolution that was supposed to monitor if white nationalists enlisted so they could watch for them in case they became extremist and in the version up to the Senate the ability to monitor white nationalists who try to enlist was gone! It’s sanctioned murder for minorities because now they can sing that tired tune ...Who could’ve known? The enlisting programs!
@@MatrixDownload5150 The handwriting is on the wall. A wall we must continually break through. I'm am now of a particular age. A Black woman who has seen too much/seen enough. I keep waiting for a revolution, that by now I know I won't see in my lifetime.
I remember when La Cage Aux Folles first came out. Since then I have lost many friends who loved the production to HIV. For those of us that are still here it is quite amazing and I do not take it for granted. I think of my friends that I have lost and I often do things in their honor. I believe that it is a gift that I am still here and I have a responsibility to those beautiful bangled sparkled souls who are no longer with us to shout out I am what I am!
I saw this when I was in high school in 1984. The performance is from the 26th Grammy Awards, and I remember being shocked to see those gay men and drag queens dancing around in the middle of all the pop music. I was shocked, but also completely inspired by what I saw, and I sometimes think those five minutes were the single most important and formative moment of my high school years as a gay kid in the middle of nowhere.
For me, the beginning of this video is the biggest emotional hurdle of an otherwise delightful and powerfully proud show: that he would ask his life partner to not attend a family dinner for appearances and status.
The first part is why the song is soo meaningful. It's a protest against being expected to be in the closet for other people. We are still asking LGBTQ people to do this because they don't want to cause any "drama" or make anyone feel uncomfortable etc. He was telling his partner that he will not be shamed in his own damn house.
Remember the time it's in. The GIRL'S family is the Conservative one. The boyfriend has to ask permission for their daughter's hand, so it's that father/family they have to impress I mean they could have had him as an uncle I guess but then why is he living with the family? Why doesn't he have a job (most conservatives don't like arts or unemployed)
It was definitely a different time. While often difficult, tough choices had to be made all the time to navigate a hostile world. It's still that way in many parts of the US and the world.
The song is great, and the performance is superb. I love this song, and relate strongly to it- although I'm straight. I have (high functioning) autism. The ASD has given me a strong sense all my life that I am "different" from other people, which I am, but I had long, long ago determined for myself that this difference did not make me a lesser person. This song epitomizes for me something I have decided about my own life many years ago.
He was not eligible. He took over as Albin a few years into the run. He did a leg of the national tour as well. There was a touring production in the 1990s with hopes of Broadway, but it came off as very cheap and business was lousy. That’s when Walter Charles played Georges with Lee Roy Reams as Albin.
I want a revival ...... and the musical movie... PLEASE birdcage was great but PLEASE the musical needs a showcase revival.. stunning.. touching ..heart warming ..funny and very glamourous
This show premiered during the height of the aids crisis, and while I'd love a revival that's as heartwarming as the original, I think a lot of the meaning and true soul of the songs would have less passion as they did back then
@@MoralsInSongs Not at all. First of all, the original play having been written in the early 70s by Jean Poiret was before the AIDS crisis which started in the 80s. Yes, the American production ran from 1983 onwards and definitely had a special place in its time. But I think, this song, this play has a meaning to all who listen to it and know the pain of having to hide who they truly are. I agree, that its American premiere most assuredly was felt by those who also felt the pain of seeing their loved ones die because of the apathy and negligence of the American government and the public. Yet, I still think it would have the impact amongst our community and with those who are still having a tough time coming out to the world.
I am what I am at the age of 41. Love this original performance. Took my dad to see La Cage Aux Folles in the year 2000's in Chicago. I loved the show and he enjoyed it to.
Sheer genius, I mean really, how else can I say how good that performance was. Now that is pure stage acting. I can see why so many have said he just nailed this whole performance. I just felt the whole thing, like he was truly living this part. It must have been damn difficult to follow this for those that did the role that came after him.
I can remember when this show first came out (seems like a thousand years ago)and I was still very much in the closet because I was not ready to come out. I remember going to Pride parades in N.Y. where I lived even before I came out. It felt so good to see other LGBTQ people when I was there as it felt like family. When I finally came out years later I realized I should have come out much earlier as I suspected my family knew already. I was at that "stage" performing in theatre and choreographing stage bows in my room to different Broadway shows and pretending to be Liza Minnelli singing Mein Herr from Cabaret. I was a show/theatre queen...(clearing throat)I meant Princess. Anyway, I came out officially in the early 90s at 27 and it was funny because all my family and friends were waiting quite sometime for me to come out. So coming out for me was awesome and hysterical. Living a complete authentic life. HAPPY PRIDE MY DARLINGS!
Saw La Cage in San Francisco when I was in college. Most amazing experience! I just loved the mix of the audience and that each person there was accepting of whoever was sitting next to them. Didn’t matter if you were gay, straight or other. I loved the musical and this song has been a favorite to this day!
This song is soo emotive and brave. The wound is there, the fear, the rejection, the moment when you feel the "fuck you" to the world, so much feeling, just trying to write what emotions go through this is so fucking powerful. It was a great number.
Incredibly powerful, but to get the full effect you need to witness the struggle leading up to this glorious release. One of my favourite Musical numbers.
Now, April 2021 and the words of this song mean more than ever before! I love music but never heard this song before! I am blown away! Just so beautiful and it truly touches my soul. ThanQ for posting! And, you don’t have to be gay to appreciate this song....it’s for everyone.
Saw the original in Bway tryouts in Boston and still remember the fury as Albin tossed the wig and walked thru the audience. The cast album was the only thing I asked for that birthday and my father tracked it down with the special "Thank you, Boston" sticker. It would be years later before it was officially discussed only once.
Thank you so much for posting this, and for going through the process of digitizing it fron VHS! This is the best performance of this song I've ever seen. Hopefully I'll get to see the show live someday; I hear it's a wonderful production.
Atuação,performance e interpretação da canção perfeitas,PERFEITAS de Walter Charles.O olhar de profunda dor,decepção e coração dilacerado é de doer o peito.Eternizou-se nesta montagem.Que voz belíssima,a serviço dessa canção que-perigosamente´pode descambar para o melodramatico.Mas não,Walter Charles segurou brilhantemente.
Thank you for sharing this, I worked on the original at the palladium in 86' brings back wonderful memories, every night I had to follow the curtain tab in, after Albin left the stage, xxx
I wish I knew of this musical when I was a teen. Much less, this song. All of my life I had to deal with a lot of people in my saying that being gay was wrong *I live in Louisiana BTW* It was so common of me to hear that I had to stay deep into the closet until 5 years ago. *I’m 30* It also didn’t help that I had no positive gay role models for me to inspire to. I never got to have that validation of being it okay with being gay. Until I discovered this musical. Jerry Herman gave me that validation. And I will never forget that.
Damn that was amazing. I knew about the musical and how the Birdcage is based on it, but I never got to see this or hear these things before. I only heard about this song recently, and I love it.
I saw the original and the revival on Broadway. At the revival, I noticed Jerry Herman and Harvey Firestein 2 rows in front of us sitting in the house seats. GThey were just enjoying the wonderful musical they created.
WOW - I remember this song when Gloria Gaynor did it, and always knew it as a national gay "anthem" and a requirement of "Drag 101" but never knew it came from La Cage - definitely time to bring back a revival of such a great musical. I have seen the French version of the film, an English version play based on the film, and of course - "The Birdcage" (which I have mixed feelings about) - but never seen the musical version or heard the soundtrack. Not surprising - I was in the 8th grade when it was produced. Definitely time to bring back revivals of classics like this! Thanks so much!
@@MrTheprojects MrTheProjects you are so lucky - I don't think there has been a revival of it here in the US. I hope one day that it does... it's message and the scenario (conservative politicians caught with their "hand" in the cookie jar, etc.), son shamed by gay parents, etc. is just as relevant today as it was back then. It is just a shameful mark on our nation and it's history that we have stepped back to something that was relevant 50 years ago instead of letting go of prejudices and stereotypes and just let everyone be who they are.
There was a very successful recent revival a couple of years ago on Broadway. I think it was 2010/2011. It's the third time it was on Broadway, which is noteworthy since it was only produced in the 80s. I don't think it'll be reexplored any time soon for that reason.
If ever there needed to be a reason to believe in the power that can be released by coming out to yourself, your friends & your family it's in this marvellous musical, powerful performance and promise of a better tomorrow. True, not everyone has a great - or even good - journey along that road. My family disowned me, for in excess of 20 years, and even now that my Mum is dying and my Dad has failing health (living in a nursing home) and neither will see nor speak with me, this life was a journey filled with not one regret - as you see, I am what I am, I am my own special creation. Life is not about being judged because of who you are, life is how much you are loved by others. Buoyed by a loving husband of 33 years, it’s my (our) world that I want to have a little pride in, our (my) world...and it’s not a place I have to hide in. Life’s [REALLY] not worth a damn ‘til you can say, “Hey world...I am what I am”. x
This great show with incomparable performers like these should be running now....all over the country. Aside from its obvious theatrical power and greatness...the the work deserves to be a reminder of the destructiveness of on-going homophobic mindset. "La Cage....." remains a theatrical gem! Thank you for posting!!!!!!
For those who think it's supposed to be funny, it's NOT. It's supposed to be a phoenix rising from the Ashes of bigotry and ignorance. Gays and drag queens and bisexuals and transgendered are NOT clowns to be treated as bitchy pass times, without feelings. Yes drag can be funny, but this song represents the emotion of " THIS IS ME! Take it or do one, I no longer care what you all think! It's my life and I'll live it as I see fit!". So don't make the mistake of thinking La Cage was meant to be totally funny and oh let's have a laugh at these poncy drag queens.... If you think that's the point of the song, then you blindly missed the point.
This was from the broadcast of the Grammy Awards....1984 I think .... Walter Charles was at that time playing Albin in the National Your ......freaking amazing performance 😎😎😎
I've heard many people sing this, and I've loved every one of them, growing up an autistic queer weirdo, finally learning to embrace myself in my 30s, it's always meant a lot. This is I think the most defiant and meaningful I've heard it. Most others sing it as a song, a melodious few minutes, for entertainment. This really felt like a statement and like ferrofluid it stirred my own sense of "no, I'm gonna fucking shine, actually." I found it very powerful, especially the way he ended it, you don't throw a wig lightly, that shit costs money lol it's a real power move xD Where can I see the full show of this?
Astounding! I remember when I was ALLOT younger it was playing up in SF but at that time I was too busy spending my money on stupid things like partying. To this day I have regrets of not seeing this.
I had only seen The Birdcage..maybe 5 times. One of my favorites movies. So, it is from this and I see how it was so much more of a drama. Hope I get to see the whole show. It looks fantastic.
I am an 81 year old gay man. My spouse is 85 and we've been through so much in our 50 years together. The beatings the firing s and all the other crap.
Spouse. To you and our struggle to simply be. Thank you.
Bless you! It's inspiring. Also gives me hope (I'm in my mid-30s) that I might meet someone like that
So inspiring. Thanks for sharing. :)
I'm sorry you and your spouse have been through so much. Love is love.
♥♥
"I don't want praise, I don't want pity"
"that girl has some tig ol bitties"
@@4k.vip3rz Exactly
Thing is that's exactly what they want.
@@4k.vip3rzwhy does that fing matter were talking about compassion for other people gays Trans minorities and women iam so sick and tired of hatred for what people don't understand start talking dialog
"... *I don't NEED pity."
I remember when this show first came out, this production. I was a closeted gay kid in my second year of college. While the show was light, the news about the "Gay Epidemic" wasn't. When the show went on tour, I saw it with a group on my floor at the campus housing. I remember being very uncomfortable, but impressed. The original show had a large chorus line (the gimmick was that there was one woman and you had to guess who was what). When this number happened, my uncomfortableness changed, I so related to the main character, it was about acceptance and that there is nothing wrong with me. It was powerful. I read later that the show was hard on the performers, because members of the cast kept getting sick and dying off, when I read that I cried. In 1988 I graduated college, and that summer I was diagnosed with HIV. It was discovered by my Dad's doctor, who said to me "your poor Dad" and when I asked him what the diagnosis meant for me, he said I had 3 years to live. I saw the revival of this show a few years ago, without the uncomfortableness, without the internalized homophobia, and with a lot of acceptance and gratitude. It didn't hold up to the original production, but I also know that I have a lot of emotions tied up with the original production, the understanding and experience of living through that war zone, barely at times, and the immense loss of lives, talent, friends and youth.
Thank you for sharing your story. And I'm very glad you were able to fight your HIV/AIDS and are here to tell us about your experience. I love theater, and I am always thrilled by someone's reaction to a moment that seemed to be just for you. Thank you again.
This personal memory means a lot. It helped connect me to the production in a new light and I thank you for it.
Good for you, rbjnla! I have sat by many a bedside and lost many friends to HIV/AIDS - it is good to hear a heartwarming positive story coming out of that time and I appreciate you sharing it. Thanks for sharing!
very touching i also saw it on broadway loved it kelsey grammer was in it
Thank you for sharing your story. I think all of us gay boys can relate to the lyrics very well. Amazing how times have changed from the era that you describe above. So many beautiful young men lost, what a sad and scary time for us all. But, we have our memories and they will never be taken away from us.
My mom took me to this when I was 9-10 yrs old 😂😂😂😂 im straight af and still love Broadway shows! Thanks for the culturing MOM!!
❤
I have so many straight male relatives that love Broadway and musicals. We were raised on culture too.
My Coming Out wasn't accepted at all by my family (1982, I was 17). Despite issues and un- agreeable situations we remained "family". Three years after I had moved out I had a really well paying job, the family was very impressed. I could even afford a trip to NYC to see La Cage Aux Folles on Broadway (my first Bway experience) which was incredible. That Christmas I bought theater tickets for the whole family for a [play] at the National Theater in Washington D.C.. Everyone was elated, one of the most exciting Christmas' ever (to start). Christmas morning there were 7 envelopes on the tree one with each name on it. The show was for that night, 12/25/85. Honestly, I cannot remember my entire family beaming so much, they were so excited and proud of me. [Going to the big city to see a big play in a big theater!!!] After the show, my youngest sister asked why the guys were dressed as women. My next sister hugged me and said she loved me. My grandfather thought that the show was a "hoot!". My grandmother stated "to each their own". My mother glared [forever] at me and my step-father said angrily, " You got some balls, kid." to which I replied., "And don't forget it". Walked away to catch up with my sister while I sang aloud, "I am what I am".
Awwwww I’m choked up at that!
Bless you!
Oh, that's marvelous. Thank you for sharing this memory. I'm sorry for some of it, but also proud.
Loved this story. Thank you for sharing :)
This a very touching memory you share with us. Thank you. I think it's important, especially for the younger people, to learn how difficult it was for us to get out of the closet back in the 80ies, even more when you were living in a small town or villiage on the countryside. With time going by it became easier (not good - but easier). Today I become worried more and more, because I think we are moving backwards again. It may be only little incidents (more or less) that are giving me this feeling but I'm convinced that the inhibition threshold is getting lower to discriminate gay people again. Discrimination was never gone, but it's rising again. Nowadays the use of the word "faggot" increases and more and more people are laughing about it instead of being shocked. I am living in Germany, by means on the european continent, and the new nationalism that finds its way back in our societies, really frightens me. The same for racism (speaking of jewish people). Some time ago I read about the recommandation of the Secretary of the Interior for jews not to wear the Kippa in public due to security reasons and I was totally shocked to read that. In Germany ?? With our past ?? Incredible !!! But It's not only in my country. Look at France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain where all the right wing parties are being on the rise. I'm feeling very sad about all this ...
The thing I like best about this version is that unlike others I've seen, Albin is given space to express his fury at this situation. Our rage is often sanitised away for the nice clean straight-acting sitcom couple who never kiss, the fem gay man whose character is nothing but a joke, the tragic movie trans woman played by anyone but a trans woman. Wanting to burn down the whole fucking institution of homophobia, wanting to rip the transphobia out of the legal system with bare hands-- pure rage and fury at what they've done to us, our siblings they killed and let die, at the hatred in our parents' eyes, at being asked to hide-- that's what drove our people to throw the first brick. I love this version for not whitewashing Albin's rage.
E. S. Rigby check out Gary Beach’s version, a shared passionate rate.
@@docgima His is more sensitive and hurt rather than angry. Same with Douglas Hodge and Harvey Fierstein. All favourites of mine! George Hearn is more similar to Charles, in sound and rage
David Payne I’ll check them out man, I appreciate the reply. 🤙🙏
This!! This is it. My whole heart belongs to your comment.
Well fucking said
This performance always gives me shivers especially the line "There's one life and there's no return and no deposit".
Thank you for this. I am finishing up graduate school and entering a field where being a gay man is not always safe. I'm sitting at my kitchen table crying my eyes out, this song still rings true every single moment. What a gift.
Congratulations
Congrats on finishing school, and good luck! Sending you good vibes on your next chapter
You’ll be safe when you project confidence and self-assurance.
Congratulations.
It does get better. I am what and who I am and when in graduate school I did not think that was possible.
GOOD GOING ON GRAD SCHOOL. I HOPE ALL IS WELL ALL THESE YRS LATER.
"I am my own special creation..." So very precious and beautiful!!
Sung with the emotion of decades of repression. Heartbreaking and ecstatic.
No matter how many times I play this, that triumphant walk off the stage, gives me chills!! What a battle cry for not just being gay, but being every single thing that makes us unique unto ourselves! Just beautiful! I gotta go, the tears are coming. 😭💖💖
Please allow nothing else. If it's pretty I'll always look forward to pretty!🤓
I can remember being fired from work, after they heard rumors that I was gay.
I can remember " family " using the spare key that I gave them for emergencies.
The guy that came home with me from the club was even more surprised than I was.
He quickly put on his clothes and drive away.
It wasn't long after that I can remember crying my eyes out looking in the mirror, making up my mind to run away.
I packed what I could in my car, drove my cat to another family members house and drove away.
The few clothes I had ended up wet and moldy.
The shoes on my feet and holes in them and I had blisters on my feet.
... still gone all these years later
... it was the best thing I ever did !
:)
🙂 I'm sorry but I'm glad you choose yourself
@@googleuser7454 ... " LIFE " was patiently waiting for me
:)
@@TrippyPixels You are already courageous, just by having the desire to be.
You have the ability to release what you have kept hidden.
We each have to help make this world a better place, and to leave it a better place; so those that come after us can enjoy it.
My husband and I saw La Cage with Douglas Hodge we had cabaret seats which meant we couldnt get closer to the stage when he sang I am what I am at the end I stood up with tears in my eyes cheering his performance before his exit through the audience he stopped looked at me and blew me a kiss!!!!
That's what memories are made of!!!!!!
Anyone who was ever made to feel "different and unacceptable" can relate. Color, size, gender, orientation... whatever. This song says a big "oh yeah....says who???" for all of us.
Darcye Morawski They just passed a resolution that was supposed to monitor if white nationalists enlisted so they could watch for them in case they became extremist and in the version up to the Senate the ability to monitor white nationalists who try to enlist was gone! It’s sanctioned murder for minorities because now they can sing that tired tune ...Who could’ve known? The enlisting programs!
For ALL of us!! 👏🏾🧡🧡
@@MatrixDownload5150 The handwriting is on the wall. A wall we must continually break through. I'm am now of a particular age. A Black woman who has seen too much/seen enough. I keep waiting for a revolution, that by now I know I won't see in my lifetime.
Yes it does
I remember when La Cage Aux Folles first came out. Since then I have lost many friends who loved the production to HIV. For those of us that are still here it is quite amazing and I do not take it for granted. I think of my friends that I have lost and I often do things in their honor. I believe that it is a gift that I am still here and I have a responsibility to those beautiful bangled sparkled souls who are no longer with us to shout out I am what I am!
How Walter Charles walked off that stage is how I want to walk out of life, when my time comes!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🧡🧡
Bravo! The true baritone voice and actor's depiction convince me the song has never been more powerful. Love you Walter Charles!
I saw this when I was in high school in 1984. The performance is from the 26th Grammy Awards, and I remember being shocked to see those gay men and drag queens dancing around in the middle of all the pop music. I was shocked, but also completely inspired by what I saw, and I sometimes think those five minutes were the single most important and formative moment of my high school years as a gay kid in the middle of nowhere.
For me, the beginning of this video is the biggest emotional hurdle of an otherwise delightful and powerfully proud show: that he would ask his life partner to not attend a family dinner for appearances and status.
It used to happen all the time.
The first part is why the song is soo meaningful. It's a protest against being expected to be in the closet for other people. We are still asking LGBTQ people to do this because they don't want to cause any "drama" or make anyone feel uncomfortable etc. He was telling his partner that he will not be shamed in his own damn house.
Remember the time it's in. The GIRL'S family is the Conservative one. The boyfriend has to ask permission for their daughter's hand, so it's that father/family they have to impress
I mean they could have had him as an uncle I guess but then why is he living with the family? Why doesn't he have a job (most conservatives don't like arts or unemployed)
It was definitely a different time. While often difficult, tough choices had to be made all the time to navigate a hostile world. It's still that way in many parts of the US and the world.
Topher S, still a scenario for my family 😞
I took my parents to see La Cage in 1984 when it came to San Francisco, Walter Charles was outstanding. What I didn't expect was to cry.
Words to live by in this day and age
The best rendition of I Am What I Am ever.
The song is great, and the performance is superb.
I love this song, and relate strongly to it- although I'm straight. I have (high functioning) autism. The ASD has given me a strong sense all my life that I am "different" from other people, which I am, but I had long, long ago determined for myself that this difference did not make me a lesser person. This song epitomizes for me something I have decided about my own life many years ago.
What a beautiful baritone voice! Did he win an award for this performance? Bravo Woohoo
He was not eligible. He took over as Albin a few years into the run. He did a leg of the national tour as well. There was a touring production in the 1990s with hopes of Broadway, but it came off as very cheap and business was lousy. That’s when Walter Charles played Georges with Lee Roy Reams as Albin.
Everyone reading this is a truly unique and amazing person who deserves love and respect no matter what.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
Glad Ted Lasso led me here!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
I want a revival ...... and the musical movie... PLEASE birdcage was great but PLEASE the musical needs a showcase revival.. stunning.. touching ..heart warming ..funny and very glamourous
Anthony Ince i absolutely agree I would love to see it I’m 57 and remember it well and we did a lot of drag shows for many performers at the time
This show premiered during the height of the aids crisis, and while I'd love a revival that's as heartwarming as the original, I think a lot of the meaning and true soul of the songs would have less passion as they did back then
@@MoralsInSongs Not at all. First of all, the original play having been written in the early 70s by Jean Poiret was before the AIDS crisis which started in the 80s. Yes, the American production ran from 1983 onwards and definitely had a special place in its time. But I think, this song, this play has a meaning to all who listen to it and know the pain of having to hide who they truly are. I agree, that its American premiere most assuredly was felt by those who also felt the pain of seeing their loved ones die because of the apathy and negligence of the American government and the public. Yet, I still think it would have the impact amongst our community and with those who are still having a tough time coming out to the world.
I am what I am at the age of 41. Love this original performance. Took my dad to see La Cage Aux Folles in the year 2000's in Chicago. I loved the show and he enjoyed it to.
Sheer genius, I mean really, how else can I say how good that performance was. Now that is pure stage acting. I can see why so many have said he just nailed this whole performance. I just felt the whole thing, like he was truly living this part. It must have been damn difficult to follow this for those that did the role that came after him.
This makes me cry with with Pride. 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Came here cos I thought the thumbnail was Maggie Smith, stayed for the feels.
I can remember when this show first came out (seems like a thousand years ago)and I was still very much in the closet because I was not ready to come out. I remember going to Pride parades in N.Y. where I lived even before I came out. It felt so good to see other LGBTQ people when I was there as it felt like family. When I finally came out years later I realized I should have come out much earlier as I suspected my family knew already. I was at that "stage" performing in theatre and choreographing stage bows in my room to different Broadway shows and pretending to be Liza Minnelli singing Mein Herr from Cabaret. I was a show/theatre queen...(clearing throat)I meant Princess. Anyway, I came out officially in the early 90s at 27 and it was funny because all my family and friends were waiting quite sometime for me to come out. So coming out for me was awesome and hysterical. Living a complete authentic life. HAPPY PRIDE MY DARLINGS!
OMG -- I did a complete review in my basement of "Cabaret", with a huge section for "Mein Herr". I haven't thought about that in YEARS!
Saw La Cage in San Francisco when I was in college. Most amazing experience! I just loved the mix of the audience and that each person there was accepting of whoever was sitting next to them. Didn’t matter if you were gay, straight or other. I loved the musical and this song has been a favorite to this day!
He was the best..he gave the best version of this song incredible ❤
I just cried. I am a girl and I am just really proud of him.
This song is everything to me. thank you for digitising.
This is so beautifully done! It hurts! Dang! It hurts. Beautiful baritone voice, and gorgeous in drag! WONDERFUL!
Black Kitty..... you sum it up so perfectly!
Everyone deserves to love and be loved , to be safe to do so and not be punished , shamed , ridiculed or prosecuted for it. ❤💙💚💛💜💟
Best version of this song. Ever.
My goodness, I clicked on the thumbnail thinking it's Maggie Smith. Gosh, was I surprised when he opened his mouth.
Great voice, btw.
Me too!! 😂
This is my favorite comment on any TH-cam channel ever.
@@Sunshine-zm1fx thank you. Very kind of you.
Yes
Me, too. Who knew the Dowager looked like a drag queen?
When he started to sing I started to cry.
What a fantastic talent!!!! 🤩🙌💖
Jerry Herman would be pleased. What a fabulous performance. Thank you so much. This song means so much. Bravo Walter Charles.
This song is soo emotive and brave. The wound is there, the fear, the rejection, the moment when you feel the "fuck you" to the world, so much feeling, just trying to write what emotions go through this is so fucking powerful. It was a great number.
Tears in my eyes here. Just so good.
Incredibly powerful, but to get the full effect you need to witness the struggle leading up to this glorious release. One of my favourite Musical numbers.
This didnt resonate with me as 20yr old Gay Male. Now at 48yrs old I totally get it. It resonates so true to form. Love it!!
With age comes wisdom, and I can certainly relate having hit the big 50 earlier this year.
That triumphant walk off of the stage did it for me! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🧡🧡
Now, April 2021 and the words of this song mean more than ever before! I love music but never heard this song before! I am blown away! Just so beautiful and it truly touches my soul. ThanQ for posting!
And, you don’t have to be gay to appreciate this song....it’s for everyone.
there is a lot of different versions of this song but I think this is the best one because you can feel his hurt and anger by the end.
Fabulous Lyrics....Superb Performance 🎭....💕💕
And I cry every damn time I hear that song.
Saw the original in Bway tryouts in Boston and still remember the fury as Albin tossed the wig and walked thru the audience. The cast album was the only thing I asked for that birthday and my father tracked it down with the special "Thank you, Boston" sticker. It would be years later before it was officially discussed only once.
Thank you so much for posting this, and for going through the process of digitizing it fron VHS! This is the best performance of this song I've ever seen. Hopefully I'll get to see the show live someday; I hear it's a wonderful production.
Gorgeous voice ❤
I was introduced to this number by ginger minj and now I think I have a lot of history to catch up on. I love this. I can’t wait to learn more.
Atuação,performance e interpretação da canção perfeitas,PERFEITAS de Walter Charles.O olhar de profunda dor,decepção e coração dilacerado é de doer o peito.Eternizou-se nesta montagem.Que voz belíssima,a serviço dessa canção que-perigosamente´pode descambar para o melodramatico.Mas não,Walter Charles segurou brilhantemente.
This musical made me into the incredible gay man I am. Thank you.
When Albin looks at George and says "One life so it's time to open up your closet" 👏👏👏
Thank you for sharing this, I worked on the original at the palladium in 86' brings back wonderful memories, every night I had to follow the curtain tab in, after Albin left the stage, xxx
Ben Barrie 🌸 WOW 💫 What a fantastic memories for you to share 🌸
that opening build up was just.....WOW.
Fantastic still in April 2019. 🎶🎵🎼💃🎬📽️🎭
Phil Jon june 🙋🏻♀️
July 2019
I always cry when I hear this. So powerful.
I wish I knew of this musical when I was a teen. Much less, this song. All of my life I had to deal with a lot of people in my saying that being gay was wrong *I live in Louisiana BTW* It was so common of me to hear that I had to stay deep into the closet until 5 years ago. *I’m 30* It also didn’t help that I had no positive gay role models for me to inspire to. I never got to have that validation of being it okay with being gay. Until I discovered this musical. Jerry Herman gave me that validation. And I will never forget that.
This gives me a throat lump 😁😢👏👏👏
What an emotional performance he's really brilliant ,I'm crying right now😭😭😭💔💔💔
This is so wonderful ... it made me weep and weep and weep ... for heartbreak and joy!
Very moving. Wonderful! ❤️🌈⭐🌺
Damn that was amazing. I knew about the musical and how the Birdcage is based on it, but I never got to see this or hear these things before. I only heard about this song recently, and I love it.
Fantastic performance!!
Beautiful, sad, incredible and moving. Crying so much to this xxxxxxxxxxxxx
I would love love for this phenomenal musical to be back!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I saw the original and the revival on Broadway. At the revival, I noticed Jerry Herman and Harvey Firestein 2 rows in front of us sitting in the house seats. GThey were just enjoying the wonderful musical they created.
I wish i could have been in the audience when the original Broadway cast performed. I bet the screaming, yelling and cheering was overwhelming.
Absolutely amazingly fantabulous performance......Bravo you.
I love this, and all the comments below!
this still gives me chills...and tears....
WOW - I remember this song when Gloria Gaynor did it, and always knew it as a national gay "anthem" and a requirement of "Drag 101" but never knew it came from La Cage - definitely time to bring back a revival of such a great musical. I have seen the French version of the film, an English version play based on the film, and of course - "The Birdcage" (which I have mixed feelings about) - but never seen the musical version or heard the soundtrack. Not surprising - I was in the 8th grade when it was produced.
Definitely time to bring back revivals of classics like this!
Thanks so much!
There was a UK tour in 2017 with john partridge leading. Couldn’t fault it
@@MrTheprojects MrTheProjects you are so lucky - I don't think there has been a revival of it here in the US. I hope one day that it does... it's message and the scenario (conservative politicians caught with their "hand" in the cookie jar, etc.), son shamed by gay parents, etc. is just as relevant today as it was back then. It is just a shameful mark on our nation and it's history that we have stepped back to something that was relevant 50 years ago instead of letting go of prejudices and stereotypes and just let everyone be who they are.
There was a very successful recent revival a couple of years ago on Broadway. I think it was 2010/2011. It's the third time it was on Broadway, which is noteworthy since it was only produced in the 80s. I don't think it'll be reexplored any time soon for that reason.
Such a fabulous song and performance! I wish I looked as beautiful as she is!!!!
This show was spectacular 🌹
Astonishing performance.
How have I never seen this before? Bravo and Brava!
This song reduced me to tears
If ever there needed to be a reason to believe in the power that can be released by coming out to yourself, your friends & your family it's in this marvellous musical, powerful performance and promise of a better tomorrow.
True, not everyone has a great - or even good - journey along that road. My family disowned me, for in excess of 20 years, and even now that my Mum is dying and my Dad has failing health (living in a nursing home) and neither will see nor speak with me, this life was a journey filled with not one regret - as you see, I am what I am, I am my own special creation.
Life is not about being judged because of who you are, life is how much you are loved by others.
Buoyed by a loving husband of 33 years, it’s my (our) world that I want to have a little pride in, our (my) world...and it’s not a place I have to hide in.
Life’s [REALLY] not worth a damn ‘til you can say, “Hey world...I am what I am”.
x
Shared this to my Facebook in honor of Pride 2019. So so many emotions as others here have shared.
This great show with incomparable performers like these should be running now....all over the country. Aside from its obvious theatrical power and greatness...the the work deserves to be a reminder of the destructiveness of on-going homophobic mindset. "La Cage....." remains a theatrical gem! Thank you for posting!!!!!!
For those who think it's supposed to be funny, it's NOT. It's supposed to be a phoenix rising from the Ashes of bigotry and ignorance. Gays and drag queens and bisexuals and transgendered are NOT clowns to be treated as bitchy pass times, without feelings. Yes drag can be funny, but this song represents the emotion of " THIS IS ME! Take it or do one, I no longer care what you all think! It's my life and I'll live it as I see fit!". So don't make the mistake of thinking La Cage was meant to be totally funny and oh let's have a laugh at these poncy drag queens.... If you think that's the point of the song, then you blindly missed the point.
Paul McKinlay-Durning well said Paul
Paul McKinlay-Durning I find it more upsetting for me as you can manage Putting in make up and doing your hair, nails better than I can 💕💕😩💕💕
Here here!
This. Thank you this is what it’s about!!
I was lucky enough to see Walter Charles play Albin and many year later play Georges. He was wonderful in both roles.
A WO WO MAN.....with a great voice and appearence!!!!!!
WE USED TO SING THIS AT CHURCH!! Listen carefully to the words, you'll hear a powerful lesson!
Sounds like a heck of a church.
I feel blessed that I got the chance to watch this. Thank you so much *so much* for uploading this wonderful performance.
Wonderful.
I love this song but never heard of this play until today. Great performance
Just came across this... What a fun surprise!
This brought tears to my eyes!
absolutely marvelous!
This was from the broadcast of the Grammy Awards....1984 I think ....
Walter Charles was at that time playing Albin in the National Your
......freaking amazing performance 😎😎😎
I've heard many people sing this, and I've loved every one of them, growing up an autistic queer weirdo, finally learning to embrace myself in my 30s, it's always meant a lot. This is I think the most defiant and meaningful I've heard it. Most others sing it as a song, a melodious few minutes, for entertainment. This really felt like a statement and like ferrofluid it stirred my own sense of "no, I'm gonna fucking shine, actually." I found it very powerful, especially the way he ended it, you don't throw a wig lightly, that shit costs money lol it's a real power move xD Where can I see the full show of this?
I. Love. This. This is my favorite friend, Betty. I love her.
Astounding! I remember when I was ALLOT younger it was playing up in SF but at that time I was too busy spending my money on stupid things like partying. To this day I have regrets of not seeing this.
I had only seen The Birdcage..maybe 5 times. One of my favorites movies. So, it is from this and I see how it was so much more of a drama. Hope I get to see the whole show. It looks fantastic.
It is a brilliant show which is based on a play that got turned Into a film.
@@ReyntiensDanny Oh yes, I know. Been wanting to see it a long time. I love the Birdcage one so much ! Thank you!
@@ReyntiensDannyactually it is based on a French movie from the early 80s La Cage A Folles. MUCH funnier and moving then The Birdcage.
@@Foleyboy09 yes, which was based on an original play by Jean Poirot.
I love when the Xtravaganza Girls sing this on Paris is Burning.