I Am What I Am (from La Cage Aux Folles): Piano Vocal

This song demands and rewards vocal maturity from whoever sings it. The baritone line sits comfortably in a performer's money notes while the accompaniment provides just enough harmonic sophistication to keep pianists engaged without overshadowing the voice.

Standing alone in a spotlight, speaking a hard-won truth. The music wraps around the lyric like a protective embrace, acknowledging pain while asserting dignity. There's melancholy here, but also defiance and love.

Baritone singers preparing audition material or concert programming will find a substantial, character-defining song that sits well in the voice. Music theater students and cabaret performers benefit from a piece that develops storytelling chops and emotional connection.

• Honor the legit ballad tradition here; this isn't a comedy number, and the lyric's earnestness deserves straightforward musicianship from both singer and pianist.
• Track phrase lengths carefully. Herman's phrasing doesn't always align with obvious bar groupings, so map out breathing points in advance and let the melody breathe naturally.
• The accompaniment should support without swallowing the vocalist. Resist any urge to make the piano part larger than the moment calls for.

Slot this into a Broadway or American songbook concert as a moment of sincere introspection among lighter selections. It pairs well with other Herman standards or serves as a solo feature in a larger theatrical revue.

• Sustaining long phrasing over 6 pages without textual or musical repetition
• Balancing legit vocal technique with theatrical storytelling
• Navigating harmonic movement and unexpected chord progressions
• Collaborating with a pianist to find the emotional temperature of a ballad