"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 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".
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:
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."
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 B–D–A, and the vocals span from G3 to B4.
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." Cash Box called it "one of the catchiest, anti-philosophical, tongue-in-cheek ditties since Peggy Lee's 'Is That All There Is?
Track listings US, European, and Australian 7-inch single; US cassette single A. "What I Am" (LP version) – 4:54 B. "I Do" (LP version) – 2:00
Canadian and UK 7-inch single A. "What I Am" (edit) – 3:43 B. "I Do" (LP version) – 2:00
12-inch and UK mini-CD single "What I Am" (LP version) "I Do" (LP version) "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 Robbie Blunt – guitar Chris Whitten – drums Paul "Wix" Wickens – keyboards John Henry – background vocals
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1988–1990)PeakpositionCanada Top Singles (RPM)1Canada Retail Singles (RPM)4Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)90Italy (Musica e dischi) Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Edie Brickell & New Bohemians".14Italy Airplay (Music & Media) 7UK Airplay (Music & Media) 15US Cash Box Top 1006
Year-end charts Chart (1989)PositionBrazil (Crowley) 90Canada Top Singles (RPM)37US Billboard Hot 10084
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesNovember 1, 1988GeffenUnited KingdomJanuary 16, 1989JapanFebruary 10, 1989Mini-CDUnited KingdomFebruary 20, 1989
Tin Tin Out and Emma Bunton version
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. 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. "What I Am" was the UK's 88th-best-selling single of 1999.
Track listings Standard CD and UK cassette single "What I Am" (radio version) "What I Am" (Gangstarr remix) "Weird (Save Yourself)" (featuring Wendy Page)
UK 12-inch single 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 "What I Am" (radio version) "What I Am" (Gangstarr remix)
Personnel Personnel are taken from the UK CD single liner notes. Edie Brickell – writing Kenny Withrow – writing Emma Bunton – vocals John Jorgenson – guitars Lindsay Edwards – guitars, keyboards Marcus Cliffe – bass Preston Heyman – percussion Tin Tin Out – production Stylorouge – design Rankin – photography
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1999–2000)PeakpositionAustralia (ARIA)65Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)13Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)18Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)20UK Airplay (Music Week) 6
Year-end charts Chart (1999)PositionUK Singles (OCC)88
Certifications and sales
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United KingdomNovember 1, 1999New ZealandDecember 13, 1999
References