Gloria Gaynor clubs, and then on the Club Play chart in late 1983/early 1984. "I Am What I Am" became a gay anthem and made Gaynor a gay icon. Her 1986 album, "The Power of Gloria Gaynor", was almost entirely composed of cover versions of other songs that were popular at the time. Gaynor's career received a revitalizing spark in the early and mid 1990s with the worldwide disco revival movement. During the late 1990s, she dabbled in acting for a while, guest starring on "The Wayans Bros", "That '70s Show" (singing "I Will Survive"), and "Ally McBeal," before doing a limited
I Am What I Am (Broadway musical song) I Am What I Am (Broadway musical song) "I Am What I Am" is a song originally introduced in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical "La Cage aux Folles". The song is the finale number of the musical's first act, and performed by the character of Albin Mougeotte, first played by George Hearn. His version appears on the original cast album released in 1983. The song was composed by Jerry Herman, an openly gay man. The song was released as a single by Gloria Gaynor in 1983 and went on to become one of the singer's best known songs. A club