Login
Login

What I Am

{{Short description|1988 single by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}

{{for|the 2024 song by Zayn|What I Am (Zayn song)}}

{{Infobox song

| name = What I Am

| cover = Edie Brickell - What I Am 7-inch.gif

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Edie Brickell & New Bohemians

| album = Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars

| B-side =

| released = {{start date|1988|11|1}}

| recorded =

| studio = Rockfield (Wales, UK)

| genre =

| length =

  • 4:54 (album version)
  • 3:40 (single edit)

| label = Geffen

| writer =

| producer = Pat Moran

| next_title = Circle

| next_year = 1988

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|tDl3bdE3YQA|"What I Am"}}}}

}}

"What I Am" is a song written by Edie Brickell and Kenny Withrow and recorded by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians for their debut album, Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars (1988). The song is highlighted by a guitar solo that notably features an envelope filter. It peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100, topped the Canadian RPM 100 Singles chart, and became a top-20 hit in Australia and New Zealand. "What I Am" was ranked number 23 on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 80s".{{cite web|url=https://www.vh1.com/news/58qjan/100-greatest-one-hit-wonders-of-the-80s|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628182745/https://www.vh1.com/news/58qjan/100-greatest-one-hit-wonders-of-the-80s|url-status=live|archive-date=June 28, 2022|title=100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the '80s|last=Ali|first=Rahsheeda|publisher=VH1|date=May 2, 2013|access-date=April 19, 2020}}

English music duo Tin Tin Out collaborated with Spice Girl Emma Bunton to release a cover of "What I Am" in November 1999. This version became the more successful one in the UK, peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart and receiving a silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry.

Background

Edie Brickell said:

{{quote|The lyrics came from my one elective in my first year in college, world religions. From the time I could first think, I wondered, What does the rest of the world think? I know what these Texas folks think, but what’s going on in the rest of the world? So I took this world religions class, and I was immediately annoyed at the chatter going on in the classroom. To adopt behaviors, to adopt some sort of dogma, I felt defeated the purpose of evolution. That song just blossomed from irritation.{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2011/01/qa-edie-brickell-wont-let-husband-paul-simon-hear-her-records|title=Q&A: Edie Brickell Won't Let Husband Paul Simon Hear Her Records |last=Maiscott|first=Mary Lyn|website= Vanity Fair|date=January 11, 2011 |accessdate=June 11, 2023}}}}

On the "choke me in the shallow water" lyric, she said, "That’s the part that was irritating about the class. Everybody was getting so deep in terms of making things up—'Does this mean this and does that mean that?' I was just irritated, like, just kill me now before I get out there and lose myself and my sense of who I am."

Composition

"What I Am" is written in the key of B minor in Time signature with a tempo of 89 beats per minute. The song follows a chord progression of B{{small|sus2}}–D{{small|sus2}}–A{{small|sus2}}, and the vocals span from G3 to B4.{{Cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0092262|title=Edie Brickell & New Bohemians "What I Am" Guitar Tab in D Major - Download & Print|last=Aly|first=Brandon|website=Musicnotes.com|date=April 25, 2011 |access-date=February 12, 2017}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.spotontrack.com/track/what-i-am/831390|title=What I Am - Edie Brickell & New Bohemians - Spot On Track|website=www.spotontrack.com|access-date=February 12, 2017}}

Critical reception

Betty Page from Record Mirror wrote, "Like so many other singles this week, this is pleasantly quirky but not terribly inspiring. Edie's yet another female singer/songstress who sings and strums a guitar in a rustic fashion which makes you forget what the song sounds like before it's finished."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/50814760251/in/album-72157717794970697/|title=45|last=Page|first=Betty|magazine=Record Mirror|page=29|date=January 28, 1989|access-date=August 25, 2021}} Cash Box called it "one of the catchiest, anti-philosophical, tongue-in-cheek ditties since Peggy Lee's 'Is That All There Is?.'"{{cite magazine|title=Single Releases|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1988/CB-1988-10-29.pdf|magazine=Cash Box|date=October 29, 1988|accessdate=December 22, 2022|page=10}}

Track listings

US, European, and Australian 7-inch single; US cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=What I Am|others=Edie Brickell & New Bohemians|year=1988|type=US & Australian 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Geffen Records|id=7-27696}}{{cite AV media notes|title=What I Am|others=Edie Brickell & New Bohemians|year=1988|type=European 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Geffen Records|id=927 696-7}}{{cite AV media notes|title=What I Am|others=Edie Brickell & New Bohemians|year=1988|type=US cassette single cassette notes|publisher=Geffen Records|id=4-27696}}

:A. "What I Am" (LP version) – 4:54

:B. "I Do" (LP version) – 2:00

Canadian and UK 7-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=What I Am|others=Edie Brickell & New Bohemians|year=1988|type=Canadian 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Geffen Records|id=92 76967}}{{cite AV media notes|title=What I Am|others=Edie Brickell & New Bohemians|year=1989|type=UK 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Geffen Records|id=GEF 49, 927 568-7}}

:A. "What I Am" (edit) – 3:43

:B. "I Do" (LP version) – 2:00

12-inch and UK mini-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=What I Am|others=Edie Brickell & New Bohemians|year=1989|type=UK 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Geffen Records|id=GEF 49T, 921 153-0}}{{cite AV media notes|title=What I Am|others=Edie Brickell & New Bohemians|year=1989|type=UK mini-CD single liner notes|publisher=Geffen Records|id=GEF 49CD, 921 153-2}}

  1. "What I Am" (LP version)
  2. "I Do" (LP version)
  3. "Walk on the Wild Side" – 5:52

Personnel

New Bohemians

  • Edie Brickell – vocals
  • Kenny Withrow – guitar
  • Brad Houser – bass guitar
  • Brandon Aly – drums
  • John Bush – percussion

Additional personnel

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1988–1990)

!Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|18|artist=Edie Brickell & New Bohemians|song=What I Am|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2019|refname="aus"}}
scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|url=http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume%2049-No.%2019-March%206-11,%201989.pdf|title=RPM 100 Singles – March 11, 1989|magazine=RPM|volume=49|issue=19|page=6|date=March 11, 1989|access-date=November 8, 2019}}

|1

scope="row"|Canada Retail Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|url=http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume%2049-No.%2019-March%206-11,%201989.pdf|title=RPM 30 Retail Singles – March 11, 1989|magazine=RPM|volume=49|issue=19|page=14|date=March 11, 1989|access-date=November 8, 2019}}

|4

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1989/M&M-1989-03-11.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=6|issue=10|page=25|date=March 11, 1989|access-date=July 7, 2020}}

|90

{{single chart|Ireland2|23|artist=Edie Brickell|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2019}}
scope="row"|Italy (Musica e dischi){{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=Musica e dischi|language=it}} Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Edie Brickell & New Bohemians".

|14

{{single chart|New Zealand|11|artist=Edie Brickell & New Bohemians|song=What I Am|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2019}}
{{single chart|UK|31|date=19890304|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2019}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|7|artist=Edie Brickell|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2019}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|30|artist=Edie Brickell|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2019}}
{{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|4|artist=Edie Brickell|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2019}}
{{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|9|artist=Edie Brickell|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2019}}
scope="row"|US Cash Box Top 100{{cite web|url=https://www.popmusichistory.co.uk/usa-cashbox-summaries|title=USA Cashbox Charts Summaries|website=popmusichistory|access-date=December 11, 2022}}

|6

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1989)

!Position

scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6684&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6684.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6684|title=Top 100 Singles of '89|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=November 8, 2019}}

|37

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://billboardtop100of.com/1989-2/|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1989|website=Billboardtop100of.com|access-date=November 8, 2019}}

|84

{{col-end}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref(s).|Reference(s)}}

scope="row"|United States

|November 1, 1988

|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|cassette}}

|rowspan="4"|Geffen

|align="center"|{{cite book|last=Strong|first=M. C.|title=The Great Rock Discography|url=https://archive.org/details/greatrockdiscogr00stro|url-access=registration|year=1995|publisher=Canongate Books Ltd|location=Edinburgh|isbn=0-86241-385-0|page=[https://archive.org/details/greatrockdiscogr00stro/page/90 90]}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|January 16, 1989

|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl}}

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|title=New Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=24|date=January 14, 1989}}

scope="row"|Japan

|February 10, 1989

|Mini-CD

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/47330/products/5445/1/|title=ホワット・アイ・アム {{!}} エディ・ブリケル&ニュー・ボヘミアンズ|trans-title=What I Am {{!}} Edie Brickell & New Bohemians|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=September 4, 2023}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|February 20, 1989

|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl box set|mini-CD}}

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|title=New Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=31|date=February 18, 1989}}

Tin Tin Out and Emma Bunton version

{{Infobox song

| name = What I Am

| cover = Whatiamcover.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Tin Tin Out and Emma Bunton

| album = Eleven to Fly

| B-side = Weird (Save Yourself)

| released = {{start date|1999|11|1}}

| recorded = June 1999

| studio = Sarm West (London, England)

| genre =

| length = 3:54

| label =

| writer =

| producer = Tin Tin Out

| chronology = Tin Tin Out

| prev_title = Eleven to Fly

| prev_year = 1999

| next_title = Anybody's Guess

| next_year = 2000

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Emma Bunton

| type = single

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| title = What I Am

| year = 1999

| next_title = What Took You So Long?

| next_year = 2001

}}

{{External music video|header=Audio|{{YouTube|cIxtxJZH6x4|"What I Am"}}}}

}}

The song was covered by English electronic music duo Tin Tin Out and English singer Emma Bunton. It was released on November 1, 1999, as the second single from Tin Tin Out's second studio album, Eleven to Fly (1999). It also appeared on Bunton's debut solo album, A Girl Like Me (2001). Bunton recorded her vocals at London's Sarm West Studios in June 1999.{{cite magazine|title=News|magazine=Music Week|page=3|date=June 19, 1999|quote=Spice Girl Emma Bunton last week recorded vocals for a track by label-mates Tin Tin Out at Sarm West Studio.}} The collaboration was the first release for Bunton to appear as a solo artist.

Tin Tin Out and Bunton's version debuted and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, 29 places higher than the original version 11 years previously. It sold 106,300 copies during its first week of release and has sold over 234,000 copies in the UK. "What I Am" was the UK's 88th-best-selling single of 1999.

=Track listings=

Standard CD and UK cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=What I Am|others=Tin Tin Out|year=1999|type=UK, Australian, Malaysian & Taiwanese CD single liner notes|publisher=VC Recordings, Virgin Records|id=VCRD53, 7243 8 96383 2 5}}{{cite AV media notes|title=What I Am|others=Tin Tin Out|year=1999|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=VC Recordings, Virgin Records|id=VCRC53, 7243 8 96383 4 9}}

  1. "What I Am" (radio version)
  2. "What I Am" (Gangstarr remix)
  3. "Weird (Save Yourself)" (featuring Wendy Page)

UK 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=What I Am|others=Tin Tin Out|year=1999|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=VC Recordings, Virgin Records|id=VCRT53, 7243 8 96383 6 3}}

:A1. "T.W.M." (DJ Jam X & De Leon remix)

:B1. "What I Am" (Gangstarr remix)

:B2. "What I Am" (Groove Chronicles remix)

European CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=What I Am|others=Tin Tin Out|year=1999|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=VC Recordings, Virgin Records|id=VCRDE53, 7243 8 96393 2 2}}

  1. "What I Am" (radio version)
  2. "What I Am" (Gangstarr remix)

=Personnel=

Personnel are taken from the UK CD single liner notes.

=Charts=

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

==Weekly charts==

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!scope="col"|Chart (1999–2000)

!scope="col"|Peak
position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/ocYTYqP.jpg|title=ariaNET The Chart! Top 100 Singles – Week Commencing 24th January 2000|publisher=ARIA|access-date=February 24, 2016}}

|65

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-11-20.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=16|issue=47|page=19|date=November 20, 1999|access-date=July 7, 2020}}

|13

{{single chart|France|75|artist=Tin Tin Out feat. Emma Bunton|song=What I Am|rowheader=true|access-date=May 26, 2018}}
{{single chart|Germany|81|artist=Tin Tin Out feat. Emma Bunton|song=What I Am|songid=95482|rowheader=true|access-date=May 26, 2018}}
scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2994503#page/n9/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 20 (23.12 – 13.12 1999)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=10|date=December 31, 1999|access-date=October 6, 2019}}

|18

{{single chart|Ireland2|14|artist=Tin Tin Out featuring Emma Bunton|rowheader=true|access-date=May 26, 2018}}
scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade){{cite web |url=https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/2000/week-6|title=Tipparade-lijst van week 6, 2000|publisher=Dutch Top 40|language=nl|access-date=March 28, 2023}}

|20

{{single chart|Dutch100|94|artist=Tin Tin Out feat. Emma Bunton|song=What I Am|rowheader=true|access-date=May 26, 2018}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|48|artist=Tin Tin Out feat. Emma Bunton|song=What I Am|rowheader=true|access-date=May 26, 2018}}
{{single chart|Scotland|10|date=19991107|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Sweden|52|artist=Tin Tin Out feat. Emma Bunton|song=What I Am|rowheader=true|access-date=May 26, 2018}}
{{single chart|UK|2|date=19991107|rowheader=true|access-date=May 26, 2018|refname="uktin"}}

{{col-2}}

==Year-end charts==

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!scope="col"|Chart (1999)

!scope="col"|Position

scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite magazine|title=Best Sellers of 1999: Singles Top 100|magazine=Music Week|publisher=United Business Media|location=London, England|page=27|date=January 22, 2000}}

|88

{{col-end}}

=Certifications and sales=

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Tin Tin Out ft Emma B|title=What I Am|award=Silver|relyear=1999|certyear=1999|id=8146-711-1|salesamount=234,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/emma-buntons-official-top-10-biggest-songs-in-the-uk__32251/|title=Emma Bunton's Official Top 10 biggest songs in the UK|last=White|first=Jack|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=January 21, 2020|access-date=January 21, 2021}}|access-date=July 7, 2020}}

|}

=Release history=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|November 1, 1999

|{{hlist|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}}

|rowspan="2"|{{hlist|Virgin|VC}}

|{{cite magazine|title=New Releases – For Week Starting 1 November, 1999: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=33|date=October 30, 1999}}

scope="row"|New Zealand

|December 13, 1999

|{{hlist|CD|cassette}}

|{{cite web|url=http://netcd.co.nz/netCD/NewReleases.html|title=New Releases|website=netcd.co.nz|date=December 13, 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991217175753/http://netcd.co.nz/netCD/NewReleases.html|archive-date=December 17, 1999|access-date=November 9, 2023}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Edie Brickell & New Bohemians}}

{{Emma Bunton}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1988 songs

Category:1988 debut singles

Category:1989 singles

Category:1999 singles

Category:Edie Brickell & New Bohemians songs

Category:Emma Bunton songs

Category:Geffen Records singles

Category:Hut Records singles

Category:Rock ballads

Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles

Category:Songs critical of religion

Category:Song recordings produced by Pat Moran

Category:Songs written by Edie Brickell

Category:Sy Smith songs

Category:Tin Tin Out songs

Category:Trip hop songs

Category:Virgin Records singles