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I'm Coming Out
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = I'm Coming Out
| cover = I'm Coming Out - Diana Ross.jpg
| alt =
| caption = French 7-inch vinyl single
| type = single
| artist = Diana Ross
| album = Diana
| B-side =
| released =
| recorded = December 1979
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length =
| label = Motown
| writer =
| producer =
| prev_title = Upside Down
| prev_year = 1980
| next_title = My Old Piano
| next_year = 1980
| misc =
}}
"'I'm Coming Out'" is a song recorded by American singer Diana Ross. It was written and produced by Chic members Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, and released on August 22, 1980, as the second single from Ross' self-titled tenth album 'Diana' (1980).
Background
In 1979, Ross commissioned Chic founders Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards to create material for a new album after taking her daughters to see the band in concert, following the success of Ross's final Ashford & Simpson-composed and produced LP,' The Boss.' In 2021, Nile Rodgers confirmed in a TikTok video that the song was originally intended for the LGBTQ community, and was inspired after seeing drag queens dressed as Diana Ross at a New York club, with him stating:
The lyrics hold an additional meaning to Ross, as she was leaving Motown Records and "coming out" from under Berry Gordy's thumb. According to the BBC4 documentary 'How to Make It in the Music Business', Ross loved the record until she put it in front of Frankie Crocker, who pointed out that "I'm coming out" is what homosexual people use to announce their homosexuality; she ran back to the studio in tears and demanded to know why Rodgers wanted to ruin her career.
Legacy
The song was another hit from the album, peaking at number five on the U.S. 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart for two weeks in November 1980. It is also notable for being the first song usually performed at Ross' performances and concerts since 1980. In 2021, it was ranked at No. 385 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
LGBTQ significance
"I'm Coming Out" has been regarded as an anthem for the LGBTQ community. The phrase "coming out" to describe one's self-disclosure of sexual orientation or gender identity had been present in the LGBTQ subculture since the early 20th century. It has also been understood as "coming out of the closet" or coming out from hiding. The song is thus interpreted as a celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender identity and the encouragement of self-disclosure.
Trombone solo
Rodgers convinced his neighbor, producer Meco Monardo, to contract the horns for the album in return for a commitment by Rodgers to co-produce Monardo's then-upcoming album of music from 'The Empire Strikes Back'. Monardo, a former first-call session player who had a string of hits in the late 1970s with disco versions of film music, also played trombone on the album and is featured in a solo towards the end of "I'm Coming Out":
Trombone solos have been rare on Top 40 songs in the post-big band era and especially so since the 1960s. Notable exceptions include brief solos by James Pankow on a handful of early Chicago hits and Clifford Adams' brief solo on Kool & the Gang's 1983 hit "Joanna".
The dispute with Ross led to none of the musicians being credited on the album cover and also may have had a part in Rodgers backing out of his commitment to Monardo's 'Meco Plays Music from The Empire Strikes Back' album. However, Rodgers and Monardo later mended their professional relationship and subsequent digital releases of the album credit Monardo and the other musicians. A 2003 two-disc release of the album included the Rodgers/Edwards mix originally rejected by Ross, as a bonus track.
Music video
The video consists of Ross performing the song with studio musicians live in concert.
Track listings
'U.S., UK, French, and German 7" and 12" single'
*Side A:
#"I'm Coming Out"
*Side B:
#"Give Up"
'Dutch 7" and 12" single'
*Side A:
#"I'm Coming Out"
*Side B:
#"Never Say I Don't Love You"
'Swedish 7" single'
*Side A:
#"I'm Coming Out"
*Side B:
#"My Old Piano"
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
In popular culture
This song was featured in two trailers of 'The Princess Diaries' and 'The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement'. It was also featured in 'Borat Subsequent Moviefilm' and 'Poms'.
And it was featured in a spring 2004 advertisement for Zellers.
Amerie version
{{Infobox song
| name = I'm Coming Out
| cover = Amerie sinhgle imcomingout.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| type = single
| artist = Amerie
| album = Maid in Manhattan: Music from the Motion Picture
| B-side = Talkin' to Me
| released =
| recorded = 2002
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length =
| label = Columbia
| writer =
| producer =
| prev_title = Talkin' to Me
| prev_year = 2002
| next_title = Paradise
| next_year = 2003
| misc =
}}
In 2003, American singer Amerie covered "I'm Coming Out" for the soundtrack to the film 'Maid in Manhattan'. Her version was released as a single in select European countries and Australia. The final single version to be released was the Loren Dawson remix. The original single version (which is similar to the original) can be found on both CD singles and the original motion picture soundtrack to 'Maid in Manhattan'. Ross' version appears on the film's soundtrack album as well.
Music video
A music video was produced to promote the single.Track listings
*'German CD single'#"I'm Coming Out" (Loren Dawson Remix) 3:49
#"Talkin' to Me" (album version) 4:00
#"Talkin' to Me" (Trackmasters Remix) (featuring Foxy Brown) 3:38
#"Talkin to Me" (Mark Ronson Sunshine Remix) (no loop) 3:09
#"I'm Coming Out" (video)
*'French CD single'
#"I'm Coming Out" (Loren Dawson Remix) 3:49
#"Talkin' to Me" (album version) 4:00
*'Australian CD single'
#"I'm Coming Out" (Loren Dawson Remix) 3:49
#"Talkin' to Me" (album version) 4:00
#"Talkin' to Me" (Trackmasters Remix) (featuring Foxy Brown) 3:38
Charts
Release history
Other samples and covers
The distinctive sound of "I'm Coming Out" and its resulting popularity has led to Ross's song often being sampled, most notably by Stevie J, who sampled the song for rapper The Notorious B.I.G.'s 1997 song "Mo Money Mo Problems". In 1997, German comedian Hella von Sinnen sampled "I'm Coming Out" for her single "Mein Coming Out", using the term "coming out" in the context of coming out of the closet, or revealing one's homosexuality. There's also been a cover by Marcia Hines. It was featured as a cover for the video game 'Karaoke Revolution' as well.
In more recent times, the song was sampled in Keyshia Cole's remake of "I'm Coming Out" (featuring Iggy Azalea) for the original soundtrack of the 2014 movie The Other Woman, starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Upton, Leslie Mann and Nicki Minaj. The song is sampled in "Break Your Heart Right Back" from Ariana Grande's sophomore album 'My Everything' (2014). This song was also covered for the soundtrack to the 2016 movie 'Trolls'. Samantha Jade covered the song for her disco album 'Best of My Love' (2018)
References
Category:1980 singles
Category:1997 singles
Category:2003 singles
Category:Amerie songs
Category:Diana Ross songs
Category:LGBT-related songs
Category:Songs written by Bernard Edwards
Category:Songs written by Nile Rodgers
Category:Song recordings produced by Nile Rodgers
Category:Song recordings produced by Bernard Edwards
Category:Songs with feminist themes
Category:1980 songs
Category:Motown singles
Category:Columbia Records singles
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