Man I Am
{{Short description|2023 song by Sam Smith}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Man I Am
| cover = Sam Smith - Man I Am.png
| alt = Cover art for "Man I Am": the letter "S" debossed onto a pink background
| type = promo
| artist = Sam Smith
| album = Barbie the Album
| released = {{start date|2023|7|21|df=y}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = {{hlist|Synth-pop|disco}}
| length = 3:07
| label = {{hlist|Atlantic|Capitol}}
| writer = {{hlist|Eric Frederic|Mark Ronson|Sam Smith}}
| producer = {{hlist|Mark Ronson|Ricky Reed}}
}}
"Man I Am" is a song by English singer Sam Smith for Barbie the Album, the soundtrack of the 2023 film Barbie. It was released on 21 July 2023, as the album's third promotional single.
Background
On 25 May 2023, Rolling Stone announced a partial tracklist of the Barbie soundtrack, with two additional tracks and surprise artists to be revealed at a later date.{{cite magazine |last1=Aramesh |first1=Waiss |title=Dua Lipa, Lizzo, Ice Spice, Charli XCX, and Even Ryan Gosling Feature on 'Barbie' Soundtrack |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/barbie-soundtrack-announced-dua-lipa-lizzo-more-1234741923/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=25 May 2023 |access-date=14 October 2023}} On 10 July, Smith was revealed as the second surprise artist of the soundtrack, with their song "Man I Am" being released on 21 July.{{Cite instagram |user=samsmith |postid=Cuhx2t9NRd9 |title=I cannot begin to express how incredibly excited I am to be a part of the soundtrack to this already iconic film. The incredible @iammarkronson and Greta Gerwig invited me to write a song from the perspective of Ken for one of the scenes, and we honestly had so much fun with this. I cannot wait for you to hear what we've created together 💪🏻 👅 Man I Am is out 21st July Along with @barbiethemovie 🌸👛💖 BARBIE LAND HERE WE COME!!!! |date=10 July 2023 |access-date=14 October 2023}}{{cite magazine |last1=Daw |first1=Stephen |title=Sam Smith Is Bursting With Kenergy About Their Upcoming Song on the 'Barbie' Soundtrack |url=https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/sam-smith-barbie-song-man-i-am-announced-1235369036/ |magazine=Billboard |date=10 July 2023 |access-date=14 October 2023}}
On 12 July, Smith teased the song on Twitter with a clip from the film.{{Cite tweet |user=samsmith |number=1679168590379991044 |title=💖 @barbiethemovie barbiethealbum.lnk.to/SamSmith pic.twitter.com/PRpqz1ZrJc}}
Production
Smith was invited by Barbie director Greta Gerwig and soundtrack producer Mark Ronson to write a song from Ken's perspective.{{cite magazine |last1=Mier |first1=Tomás |title=Sam Smith Will Sing 'From the Perspective of Ken' in 'Barbie' Film |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sam-smith-barbie-soundtrack-man-i-am-1234785958/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=11 July 2023 |access-date=14 October 2023}} Ronson described the track as "the missing piece of Ken's puzzle" and "put[ting] the sound of Ken's liberation perfectly into song".{{Cite tweet |user=MarkRonson |number=1679518218610778113 |title=AND... can't wait for u to hear the missing piece of KEN's puzzle penned and sung incredibly by @samsmith. The artist who put the sound of ken's liberation perfectly into song. Produced by me and Ricky Reed 💗💗💗💗 pic.twitter.com/502Iv3v9ix}}
Personnel
All credits are adapted from CD liner notes of Barbie the Album.{{cite AV media notes |title=Barbie The Album |others=Various artists |year=2023 |publisher=Atlantic Records}}
- Sam Smith – songwriter
- Mark Ronson – songwriter, producer
- Eric Frederic – songwriter, producer, piano, synthesizers, guitar, drum programming
- Ethan Shumaker – engineering
- David Odlum – Sam Smith vocal engineering
- Manny Marroquin – mixing
Charts
References
{{reflist}}
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Category:Songs from Barbie (film)
Category:Atlantic Records singles
Category:Capitol Records singles
Category:Sam Smith (singer) songs
Category:Songs written by Mark Ronson
Category:Songs written by Ricky Reed