I Was Born This Way

This article is about the 1975 song. For other uses, see Born This Way (disambiguation).

"I Was Born This Way" is a disco song written by Chris Spierer and Bunny Jones. The song was first recorded by Valentino in 1975, then by Carl Bean in 1977, both artists releasing it through Motown Records.

Background and composition

The writers, Spierer and Jones, wanted to write a gay anthem and make the plight on gay issues known and bring it to the forefront.

For the past years since the song was written, it has become an anthem for the gay community and has been on countless compilation albums as well as being, also sampled, on other recordings many times.

The song's lyrics are about a man who proclaims that he's a homosexual and that he was "born this way". It was one of the first gay disco songs written specifically for the gay community, before the Village People wave.

Success of each version

The record was first released in 1975 on the Motown-distributed Gaiee Records, and performed by Valentino (real name Charles Harris). This version was a success in U.K. (where it was a #1 disco hit) and in the U.S.A.. Frankie Crocker of WBLS Radio in New York first aired the song on his station and it was an instant hit.

In 1978, Carl Bean's version on Motown Records became a club hit on the Billboard National Disco Action, Top 40 chart, peaking at #15. The song was remixed by Shep Pettibone and Bruce Forest in 1986, and, along with a mix by Timmy Regisford, was re-released on Next Plateau Records. The "Better Days" mix became a huge club anthem during the 1980s. The song was also remixed again in 1995, always for Next Plateau Records.

Other recordings

• In 2005, English synth-pop band Pet Shop Boys included it on their 20th anniversary album Back to Mine: Pet Shop Boys. West End Records released a CD mixed by DJ Gomi which included six versions of the song as well as a two-part 12" Vinyl Edition.
• In 2006, two versions of "I Was Born This Way" (Bean's, and a newer recording by Jimmy Somerville) were featured in the independent film Another Gay Movie. Bean went on to entitle also his autobiography I Was Born This Way.
• In 2008, Magnus Carlsson, one of the most popular Swedish male gay vocalists, re-recorded three versions of "I Was Born This Way", as did once Paul Oscar, another male gay artist from Iceland. Carlsson can be seen performing "I Was Born This Way" on YouTube as well as actor Marty Thomas of the hit Broadway musical Wicked.

Influences and samples

• In 1989, record producer Pal Joey, under the alias Earth People, sampled Born This Way on his track "Dance".
• In 1999, Adam Blake and Stuart Price sampled the song, using the alias Pour Homme, as "Born this Way", and it was a successful hit in Europe.
• In 2011, shortly after the release of the album Born This Way, the American singer-songwriter Lady Gaga revealed in an interview with radio show host Howard Stern that the album title, as well as the title track, were inspired by Carl Bean's earlier use of the expression.

External links

• "Valentino...he was born that way...so was Carl Bean". Queer Music Heritage. June 2002.