I'm Coming Out

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“I'm Coming Out”
“I'm Coming Out” cover
Single by Diana Ross
from the album Diana
B-side "Give Up"
Released 1980
Format 7" single, 12" single
Recorded 1979
Genre Soul, funk, Motown
Length 5:26
Label Motown
Writer(s) Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers
Producer Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers
Diana Ross singles chronology
"Upside Down"
(1980)
"I'm Coming Out"
(1980)
"My Old Piano"
(1980)
Alternate cover
7" single cover
7" single cover
“I'm Coming Out”
“I'm Coming Out” cover
Single by Amerie
from the album Maid in Manhattan soundtrack
Released May 20, 2003 (Australia)
July 17, 2003 (UK)
Format CD single
Genre Soul, funk, Motown
Length 3:32
Label Columbia
Writer(s) Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers
Amerie singles chronology
"Paradise"
(2003)
"I'm Coming Out"
(2003)
"1 Thing"
(2005)
Alternate cover
Australian promo single cover
Australian promo single cover
For the Ugly Betty episode see I'm Coming Out (Ugly Betty).

"I'm Coming Out" is a hit single released by Motown legend Diana Ross in 1980. It was composed by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, members of Chic, for her album Diana (1980).

Contents

[edit] Inspiration to the lyrics

Nile Rodgers, the co-writer and co-producer of the song, said that he got the inspiration for the song after going to a California discothèque and noticing several drag queens dressing up as none other than Ross, who, by her own admission, had become a gay icon.[citation needed]

[edit] Success

When the song was finally released as a single in the spring of 1980, fans of Ross's and members of the gay, lesbian, and bisexual community heralded the song as their anthem. The song was a hit, peaking at number five on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and was another gold-certified single for Ross. It is also notable for being the first song usually performed at Ross' performances and concerts since 1980.

When the song was released, Ross was doing a little "coming out" of her own after announcing to the world that after twenty years in the celebrated Motown record label that she was leaving, later signing a US$ 20 million contract with RCA Records.

[edit] Charts

Chart (1980) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 13
U.S. Billboard Pop Singles 5
U.S. Billboard Black Singles 6
U.S. Billboard Club Play Singles 1

[edit] Samples and covers

The song would be sampled as the years passed, most famously by Puff Daddy, who put the sample on rapper The Notorious B.I.G.'s 1997 "Mo Money Mo Problems". There's also been a cover by Marcia Hines.

[edit] Amerie version

In 2003, R&B singer Amerie covered the song for the soundtrack to Jennifer Lopez's highly successful film, Maid in Manhattan. It was released as a single in Australia and the United Kingdom only, and not in the United States. The final single version to be released was the Loren Dawson Radio Mix. 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 can also be found on the film's soundtrack album too.

Producers made the decision to release the Loren Dawson Radio Mix as the final released version instead of the single version. This decision was made to give the song a more urban contemporary vibe. The single was only released as a promotional single for the film in the UK and it was decided no commercial release would be given. The Trackmasters remix of "Talkin' to Me" was released as a B-side.

[edit] Track listings

International CD single
  1. "I'm Coming Out" (Loraen Dawson Radio Mix)
  2. "I'm Coming Out" (Single Mix)
  3. "Talkin' to Me" (Trackmasters Remix featuring Foxy Brown)
  4. "I'm Coming Out" (Video)
Australian promo CD single
  1. "I'm Coming Out" (Remix)

[edit] Charts

Chart (2003) Peak
position
Dutch Mega Single Top 100 69
Preceded by
"Take Your Time (Do It Right)" by The SOS Band
U.S. Billboard Club Play Singles number-one single (with "Upside Down")
(first run)

August 9, 1980August 23, 1980
Succeeded by
"Fame" by Irene Cara
"Red Light" / "Hot Lunch Jam" by Linda Clifford
Preceded by
"Fame" by Irene Cara
"Red Light" / "Hot Lunch Jam" by Linda Clifford
U.S. Billboard Club Play Singles number-one single (with "Upside Down")
(second run)

September 6, 1980September 13, 1980
Succeeded by
"Love Sensation" by Loleatta Holloway
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