For the 2024 song by Zayn, see What I Am (Zayn song).
What I Am
single
CoverEdie Brickell - What I Am 7-inch.gif
ArtistEdie Brickell & New Bohemians
AlbumShooting Rubberbands at the Stars
B-side
ReleasedNovember 1, 1988
StudioRockfield (Wales, UK)
Length
  • 4:54 (album version)
  • 3:40 (single edit)
LabelGeffen
Writer
ProducerPat Moran
Next year1988

"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 No. 7 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 No. 23 on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 80s".[1]

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 No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and receiving a silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry.

Background

Edie Brickell said:

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.[2]

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."[2]

Composition

"What I Am" is written in the key of B minor in time with a tempo of 89 beats per minute. The song follows a chord progression of Bsus2–Dsus2–Asus2, and the vocals span from G3 to B4.[3][4]

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."[5] Cash Box called it "one of the catchiest, anti-philosophical, tongue-in-cheek ditties since Peggy Lee's 'Is That All There Is?'"[6]

Track listings

US, European, and Australian 7-inch single; US cassette single[7][8][9]

A. "What I Am" (LP version) – 4:54
B. "I Do" (LP version) – 2:00

Canadian and UK 7-inch single[10][11]

A. "What I Am" (edit) – 3:43
B. "I Do" (LP version) – 2:00

12-inch and UK mini-CD single[12][13]

  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

Weekly charts

Chart (1988–1990)Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[14]1
Canada Retail Singles (RPM)[15]4
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[16]90
Italy (Musica e dischi)[17]14
Italy Airplay (Music & Media)[18]7
UK Airplay (Music & Media)[19]15
US Cash Box Top 100[20]6

Year-end charts

Chart (1989)Position
Brazil (Crowley)[21]90
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[22]37
US Billboard Hot 100[23]84

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref(s).
United StatesNovember 1, 19887-inch vinyl · cassetteGeffen[24][25]
United KingdomJanuary 16, 19897-inch vinyl · 12-inch vinyl[26]
JapanFebruary 10, 1989Mini-CD[27]
United KingdomFebruary 20, 19897-inch vinyl box set · mini-CD[28]

Tin Tin Out and Emma Bunton version

What I Am
single
CoverWhatiamcover.jpg
ArtistTin Tin Out and Emma Bunton
AlbumEleven to Fly
B-sideWeird (Save Yourself)
ReleasedNovember 1, 1999
RecordedJune 1999
StudioSarm West (London, England)
Length3:54
Label
Writer
ProducerTin Tin Out
ChronologyTin Tin Out
Prev year1999
Next year2000

The song was covered by English electronic music duo Tin Tin Out and Spice Girls 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.[29] 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 No. 2 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.[30] "What I Am" was the UK's 88th-best-selling single of 1999.

Track listings

Standard CD and UK cassette single[31][32]

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

UK 12-inch single[33]

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[34]

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

Personnel

Personnel are taken from the UK CD single liner notes.[31]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1999–2000)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[35]65
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[36]13
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[37]18
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[38]20
UK Airplay (Music Week)[39]6

Year-end charts

Chart (1999)Position
UK Singles (OCC)[40]88

Certifications and sales

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Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United KingdomNovember 1, 199912-inch vinyl · CD · cassetteVirgin · VC[41]
New ZealandDecember 13, 1999CD · cassette[42]

References

  1. ^ Ali, Rahsheeda (May 2, 2013). "100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the '80s". VH1. Archived June 28, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  2. ^ Maiscott, Mary Lyn (January 11, 2011). "Q&A: Edie Brickell Won't Let Husband Paul Simon Hear Her Records". Vanity Fair. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  3. ^ Aly, Brandon (April 25, 2011). "Edie Brickell & New Bohemians 'What I Am' Guitar Tab in D Major - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  4. ^ "What I Am - Edie Brickell & New Bohemians - Spot On Track". www.spotontrack.com. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  5. ^ Page, Betty (January 28, 1989). "45". Record Mirror. p. 29. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  6. ^ "Single Releases". Cash Box. October 29, 1988. p. 10. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  7. ^ What I Am (US & Australian 7-inch single vinyl disc). Geffen Records. 1988. 7-27696.
  8. ^ What I Am (European 7-inch single vinyl disc). Geffen Records. 1988. 927 696-7.
  9. ^ What I Am (US cassette single cassette notes). Geffen Records. 1988. 4-27696.
  10. ^ What I Am (Canadian 7-inch single vinyl disc). Geffen Records. 1988. 92 76967.
  11. ^ What I Am (UK 7-inch single vinyl disc). Geffen Records. 1989. GEF 49, 927 568-7.
  12. ^ What I Am (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Geffen Records. 1989. GEF 49T, 921 153-0.
  13. ^ What I Am (UK mini-CD single liner notes). Geffen Records. 1989. GEF 49CD, 921 153-2.
  14. ^ "RPM 100 Singles – March 11, 1989". RPM. Vol. 49, no. 19. March 11, 1989. p. 6. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  15. ^ "RPM 30 Retail Singles – March 11, 1989". RPM. Vol. 49, no. 19. March 11, 1989. p. 14. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  16. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 10. March 11, 1989. p. 25. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  17. ^ "Classifiche" (in Italian). Musica e dischi Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Edie Brickell & New Bohemians".
  18. ^ "Playlist Report: RAI - Italy". Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 18. 6 May 1989. p. 9.
  19. ^ "Top 20 Airplay Chart". Music & Media. 11 February 1989. p. 4. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  20. ^ "USA Cashbox Charts Summaries". popmusichistory. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  21. ^ "Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 1989". Crowley Broadcast Analysis. April 3, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  22. ^ "Top 100 Singles of '89". RPM. Retrieved November 8, 2019. – via Library and Archives Canada
  23. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1989". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  24. ^ aus
  25. ^ Strong, M. C. (1995). The Great Rock Discography. Edinburgh: Canongate Books Ltd. p. 90. ISBN 0-86241-385-0.
  26. ^ "New Singles". Music Week. January 14, 1989. p. 24.
  27. ^ "ホワット・アイ・アム | エディ・ブリケル&ニュー・ボヘミアンズ" [What I Am | Edie Brickell & New Bohemians] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  28. ^ "New Singles". Music Week. February 18, 1989. p. 31.
  29. ^ "News". Music Week. June 19, 1999. p. 3. Spice Girl Emma Bunton last week recorded vocals for a track by label-mates Tin Tin Out at Sarm West Studio.
  30. ^ White, Jack (January 21, 2020). "Emma Bunton's Official Top 10 biggest songs in the UK". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  31. ^ What I Am (UK, Australian, Malaysian & Taiwanese CD single liner notes). VC Recordings, Virgin Records. 1999. VCRD53, 7243 8 96383 2 5.
  32. ^ What I Am (UK cassette single sleeve). VC Recordings, Virgin Records. 1999. VCRC53, 7243 8 96383 4 9.
  33. ^ What I Am (UK 12-inch single sleeve). VC Recordings, Virgin Records. 1999. VCRT53, 7243 8 96383 6 3.
  34. ^ What I Am (European CD single liner notes). VC Recordings, Virgin Records. 1999. VCRDE53, 7243 8 96393 2 2.
  35. ^ "ariaNET The Chart! Top 100 Singles – Week Commencing 24th January 2000". ARIA. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  36. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 47. November 20, 1999. p. 19. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  37. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 20 (23.12 – 13.12 1999)" (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. December 31, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  38. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 6, 2000" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  39. ^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart". Music Week. 20 November 1999. p. 23. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  40. ^ "Best Sellers of 1999: Singles Top 100". Music Week. London, England: United Business Media. January 22, 2000. p. 27.
  41. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 1 November, 1999: Singles". Music Week. October 30, 1999. p. 33.
  42. ^ "New Releases". netcd.co.nz. December 13, 1999. Archived December 17, 1999 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 9, 2023.