Who I Am (Jessica Andrews song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Who I Am

| cover = Jessica Who I Am.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Jessica Andrews

| album = Who I Am

| B-side = Helplessly, Hopelessly

| released = {{Start date|2000|10|30}}

| recorded = 2000

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Country

| length = 4:15

| label = DreamWorks Nashville

| writer = {{hlist|Brett James|Troy Verges}}

| producer = Byron Gallimore

| prev_title = I Do Now

| prev_year = 2000

| next_title = Helplessly, Hopelessly

| next_year = 2001

}}

"Who I Am" is a song by American country music artist Jessica Andrews that was released on October 30, 2000, as the lead single to her second studio album of the same name (2001). It was written by Brett James and Troy Verges.

Background

In a 2001 interview, Andrews explained that she recorded the song (which was written by Brett James and Troy Verges{{cite web |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1443617/shes-no-1-thats-who-jessica-andrews-is.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208222441/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1443617/shes-no-1-thats-who-jessica-andrews-is.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 8, 2009 |title=She's No. 1 — That's Who Jessica Andrews Is |accessdate=2008-04-13 |last=Morris |first=Edward |date=2001-04-20 |work=CMT}}) because she felt that its lyrics were especially fitting to her own life: "Everything is so true in that song, except that my grandmother's name is not Rosemary. It's about believing in yourself and being supported by those around you. No matter how many mistakes you make, your friends and family will be there for you."{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1444466/jessica-andrews-who-she-is.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208222445/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1444466/jessica-andrews-who-she-is.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 8, 2009|title=Jessica Andrews: Who She Is Teen Singer Prepares for Stardom With Second Album, Billy Gilman Tour|last=Gray|first=Michael|date=26 February 2001|work=CMT|accessdate=24 June 2013}} Andrews performed the track at the 2001 CMA Awards.{{Cite news |last=Gilbert |first=Calvin |date=October 26, 2001 |title=On With The Show |work=Radio & Records |page=60 |issue=1425}}

Content

The song is a mid tempo country song in which the narrator tells of how, no matter what her future, she will be satisfied with her life, because she is confident about herself, and she knows that her peers will still support her.

Use in media

Sections of this song are featured in the opening theme of TV police drama Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye.{{cite web |url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/news/articles/2009/interview.asp |title=Exclusive Interview with Sue Thomas creator Dave Johnson |publisher=Parents Television Council |accessdate=2011-03-12}} It also appeared on an episode of Lizzie McGuire.

Critical reception

Rick Cohoon of Allmusic described the song favorably, saying that it "seems to echo Andrews’ self-confidence in moving forward to face the challenges of the music industry".{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=song|id=t4549956|pure_url=yes}}|title=Jessica Andrews — "Who I Am"|last=Cohoon|first=Rick|work=allmusic|accessdate=2009-02-10}}

Music video

The song's video, directed by filmmaker Jon Ragel, focuses mainly on Andrews singing in a flower field, on a swing, and beside a brick wall. Actual home footage of her childhood is interspersed throughout the video, and it ends with her waking up in bed and smiling, having dreamt the whole thing.

Cover versions

Country music artist Danielle Bradbery featured a cover of "Who I Am" on the deluxe version of her debut album Danielle Bradbery, having sung this song as a tribute to her family during the semi-finals of Season 4 of The Voice, which she eventually won.

Charts

The song had sold 361,000 copies in the US as of June 2013.{{cite news|title=Country Chart News - The Top 30 Digital Singles - June 19, 2013: Three Gold Singles, The Swon Brothers, Florida Georgia Line Dominate |url=http://www.roughstock.com/blog/country-chart-news-the-top-30-digital-singles-june-19-2013-three-gold-singles-the-swon-brothers-florida-georgia-line-dominate |last=Bjorke |first=Matt |work=Roughstock |date=2013-06-19|accessdate=June 19, 2013}}

= Weekly charts =

class="wikitable sortable"

|+Weekly chart performance for "Who I Am"

! align="left" |Chart (2000–2001)

! align="center" |Peak
position

{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|28|artist=Jessica Andrews|artistid=327912|accessdate=2010-09-05}}

{{singlechart|Billboardcountrysongs|1|artist=Jessica Andrews|artistid=327912|accessdate=2010-09-05}}

{{singlechart|Billboardadultcontemporary|24|artist=Jessica Andrews|artistid=327912|accessdate=2010-09-05}}

{{singlechart|Billboardlatinpopsongs|20|artist=Jessica Andrews|artistid=327912|accessdate=2010-09-05}}

= Year-end charts =

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" \|+2001 year-end chart performance for "Who I Am" !Chart (2001) !Position
scope="row"\|Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS){{cite web\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020726115818/http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100page2_2001.html\|archivedate=July 26, 2002\|url=http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100page2_2001.html\|title=BDS CHART : Top 100 of 2001\|website=Jam!\|accessdate=March 26, 2022}} \|align="center"\|88
scope="row"\| US Country Songs (Billboard){{Cite magazine \| url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2001/hot-country-songs\| title=Best of 2001: Country Songs \| magazine=Billboard \| publisher=Prometheus Global Media \|year=2001 \| accessdate=August 14, 2012}} \| align="center" \| 8

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|+2001 year-end chart performance for "Who I Am"

!Chart (2001)

!Position

scope="row"|Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS){{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020726115818/http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100page2_2001.html|archivedate=July 26, 2002|url=http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100page2_2001.html|title=BDS CHART : Top 100 of 2001|website=Jam!|accessdate=March 26, 2022}}

|align="center"|88

scope="row"| US Country Songs (Billboard){{Cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2001/hot-country-songs| title=Best of 2001: Country Songs | magazine=Billboard | publisher=Prometheus Global Media |year=2001 | accessdate=August 14, 2012}}

| align="center" | 8