I Was Born This Way

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"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, and both artists released it through Motown Records.

Contents

The record was first released on the Motown-distributed Gaiee Records, and performed by Valentino [1] (real name "Charles Harris"). [2] Frankie Crocker of WBLS in New York first aired the song and it was an instant hit. For the past 46 years since it was written, it has become an anthem for the gay community and has been on countless compilation albums as well as being (sampled) on other recordings many times.

Background

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.

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

Valentino's version was a success in U.K. (where it was a #1 disco hit) and in the U.S.A.

In 1978, the Carl Bean version on Motown Records became a club hit on the Billboard National Disco Action, Top 40 chart, peaking at #15. [3] 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, for Next Plateau Records.

Other recordings

Influence and samples

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References

  1. ↑ "Valentino (10) – I Was Born This Way". Discogs. 1975. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  2. ↑ Doyle, JD. "Valentino...he was born that way...so was Carl Bean". Queer Music Heritage. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  3. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 31.
  4. ↑ Bean, Reverend Carl (2010). I Was Born This Way . Simon & Schuster. ISBN   978-1-4165-9282-2.
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