Harvey is a magician. He turned his vocal-cord disorder into a Tony-award winning voice. He fought and fights for acceptance and respect, and is a LGBTQIA+ torch-bearing pioneer. What an actor, singer, performer and activist. I love you, Harvey!!

If anyone truly lives the message of this song, it's Harvey. He's one of a kind and he's stood up for himself and his right to be who he is, his entire life, even amidst facing some of the most horrific difficulties and prejudices. I've always admired him for that.

the point is that the version isnt perfect, its warts and all, its a representation of the character as who they are, its the literal interpretation of "i am what i am", some think its noise, but i think its pretty. emotional, beautiful, a talent and interpretation rarely seen in art. beautiful.

We must remember that Harvey Fierstein wrote the book to La Cage aux Folles. This man knows this character inside and out. THIS is Albin. The definitive Albin.

I like the fact that it's Harvey singing it and not someone else. His voice is not pretty, but he can carry a tune and it's a much more soul full performance. As I said, his voice isn't pretty but he's singing anyway, which is what the song is all about: being yourself.

He's a GREAT actor, he sets it up so beautifully, and the voice? It's quite easy to imagine that a drag entertainer who had overused his voice for many years would sound exactly like this.

There's something about the proud anger that fuels this song that puts it on another level.

YEARS ago... my husband and I went to see a La Cage-TYPE show in Las Vegas. We loved it! Then we realized that the older couple in front of us {who were also enjoying the show} were unaware that these were men in drag. Though the show on stage was great, it nearly lost out to watching these two as they started to question, then began to realize the reality of what they were watching ... followed by their full realization and quietly discussing if they were offended enough to get up and leave. Long story short... they stayed, but it was a cross between we are never to mention this to any of our friends back home and damn these "ladies" are TALENTED!!

Thanks Nina West for discovering me this artist

What an actor, singer, performer and activist. I love you, Harvey Fierstein!!

Harvey Fierstein is a genius! His interpretation is so moving, so wonderful and so true to the character. I love his man so much he just entertains with a silky ease and that voice is so iconic spoken and sung. He is breathtaking here!

Never sounded more powerful -- Harvey was a magnificent Albin, and I would see him do it again in a heartbeat.

Whenever I feel like crying I watch this. Harvey is so real, really himself, that's true art of performance. Even his broken voice just makes it more real, more true. This song is sung from his heart.

This performance ripped the soul case out of me. What a tour de force by the brilliant, multi talented genius Mr Harvey Fierstein.This has never been done better and, I daresay, never will be !

Oh. My god. YES. The absolute and utter emotion in this. You can feel every thing that is going through Albin’s head. This is one of the best performances and most believable performances I have ever seen. Kudos

This song is a deeply emotional and raw song about being yourself wholly and unapologetically, the vocals not being perfect makes the performance that much stronger

I am what I am! I will never change myself to make someone else comfortable!

He is amazing. Never saw him in La Cage but he was incredible in Torch Song Trilogy.

I feel like there could be a book written about this performance, and it would be Harvey Fierstein's biography.

I keep crying watching it. Im performing it myself this summer, on the clarinet, remembering my lover who died last year and this song represents his spirit. And Harvey is a true artist

I've seen every Albin that played Broadway in all three NYC productions -- and many others elsewhere. No one matches Harvey's performance -- of this glorious song, or of the entire role. But then, that's true of most every role he takes on.

Time to revive this...in Florida.

seen it on broadway with Harvey....it was one of the best acting i've seen on broadway...I still remember him singing this I am what I am...He showed me that voice is really not everything in musical. He was great.

Somehow this just feels right. He wrote the book for the stage and sang it word for word. La Cage Aux Falles isn’t just your normal average Broadway production… it is a love letter to the entire LGBTQIA+ community. The lyrics are but a message for queer people like myself. An expression of one’s identity and telling the world I am what I am. A beautiful sentiment. A beautiful song with a beautiful heart of pride ❤️🌈🏳️‍⚧️⚧️!

Last part of the song❤️❤️❤️ Harvey Fierstein’s voice /passion makes me overwhelmed with tears !

I came across this today and I literally had to stop and remind myself that this was Harvey Fierstein and not my dear friend Gregg Matthews,... I miss him terribly (Gregg) every day ( he died suddenly of a heart attack three months ago) and I know he loved being thought he looked like Harvey. He would have had a huge kick out of this. In addition, Mr. Fierstein may not have the most amazing voice but sometimes you do not need to hit every note perfectly to show the world how a moment in a musical needs to be done. Bravo.

I love this song; it speaks to anyone transforming themselves into their "own special creation"; I've loved Harvey for decades!

Harvey is a genius of performance --I saw him once in a sports stadium at the Gay Games in Amsterdam --the next act was delayed en route...Harvey just strolled around and ad-libbed to that huge crowd for about 20 minutes and kept us in stitches. Unforgettable.

I fell in love with Harvey when the movie 'A Torch Song Trilogy' came out. He's one hell of a hoot!!

sHe's SO GOOD, She Snatches her OWN wig and EVERYONE agrees! QUEEN!!!

Harvey is the ultimate dame! We’ve been together for over 36 years, loved you from the first moment in torch song. Funnily enough I became a foster cater for 26 years and have been with my partner 33 years. Love ❤️ love ❤️ love ❤️ to you achi

I can't hear this song and not think of Harvey. An amazing soul 💜

Love it. You don't just hear the beautiful song, but you really feel the character and emotions, and to me it seems like he's acting it out a lot more than others do, with gestures and body language. He's extremely expressive and relatable, my favorite version for sure.

God I LOVE the Great Harvey Fierstein. Trailblazer and maverick! He is a gift.

Introduced to this song at an aerobics class in ‘83, I’ve loved it ever since. I love Harvey Fierstein, too. He was guest of honor at the “girls’ night” party the night before a dear friend’s wedding. At the wedding, we danced up a storm: he was Harvey, I was very pregnant!

I saw this - closing performance. I had never see La Cage before, and I remember being a little disappointed I wasn't going to hear a "good" singer sing this song. I was so wrong. It was one of the greatest theater moments of my life. His rendition was unbelievable.

Nobody has a voice like Harvey.

Amazing vocals and emotion. The ending of the song gets me every time. Tears of joy.

The BEST and definitive version by a MILE!!!!!

No one could’ve done it better. Bravo!!!

Brilliant performance and I LOVE Harvey's voice! It's his and his ALONE!! Thanks for posting.:)

💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧STUNNING AMAZING PERFECT the best and greatest performance of this ever.

Raw power … and infinite vulnerability. It’s how he wrote it. And just like all those who’ve played it well before - he did it perfectly. But here, there is an extra something. It’s not Harvey’s voice - although that voice is so distinctive and is part of that makes him a national treasure. Is it because he’s the auteur? I think it’s more in the way he knows it … by heart. Albin *is* a wounded heart here - a deeply wounded heart reclaiming its power - and I’ve never seen anyone capture that aspect better. My own heart breaks for him. Thank you, Harvey, for this show, for this magnificent performance, and for all you do. We love you.

He reminds me of Divine, I don't know why. I think it's the audacity and the hutspa to be what he truly is.

This is astonishingly and loved he chorus being there at the beginning... the author knows what the song is all about... excellent!!!!!!

Very true, but his voice (gravelly as it is) is perfect for the role. So just sit back and enjoy a truly great piece of theater

I've been fortunate to see Harvey Fierstein in several shows. When he first appeared in "Hairspray" you could feel the star energy vibrating off him. He was wonderful. However, when I saw him in "La Cage"--so incredibly powerful, devastating, and joyous! Being in the theater when he sang this song was one of the most magical moments I have ever had seeing a Broadway show! Even now, it can still bring me to tears!! Thanks for sharing this video.

Oh sweety. Thanks fot this gift. I love you Harvey. You are a mega star.

let the master perform & an amazing performance it is. Harvey, I will ever be in your debt each time you present your skill of grasping my attention & reducing me to a gibbering wreck when I hear & see you. I cannot thank who posted this enough. in my world, you would be a great friend. From the bottom of my heart. Thank you.

Wow, so depressed and this happy-sad song brought me back. Thank you.

so glad i saw he and chris on broadway. he is one of the finest and he is the one who sings this song from the true core of his being.

The best Albin. The true emotion.......wow

I CANNOT stop watching this video. His acting is something to behold.

by far the best interpretation of the song because Harvey sang it from the heart. So much better than the original which was a casting gimmick. This is the real thing.

This is heart-stopping; so full of genuine emotion, just wonderful. Thank you, so much.

Brilliant understanding of the this song. Wonderful honest and heartbreaking interpretation

who else could have expressed better than Harvey......#Bravo

His facial expressions are unbelievable!

Love Harvey.... A real person in this world...

Harvey you are a true inspiration :) i remember watching torch song trilogy when it 1st came out and how happy and sad and then happy again the story made me feel :) would love to see you perform in the uk :) Thank you for being true to yourself and open with us :) Huge Hugs xxx

Not the prettiest of singers but he captures the soul and emotion of this character like no other! On the other hand, George Hearn makes up in his singing what he doesn’t quite “feel” for the role. My two favorites by far.

I actually got to see Harvey do this live and it's wonderful to revisit it

Fabulous as always! He is just awesome!

Torch Song Trilogy is a heart breaking masterpiece.

I saw the original Broadway production with George Hearn playing Albin. This song ended with a brilliant piece of staging. The entire time that George Hearn sang the song, the stage was slowly drifting to the right, so we saw a few of the people backstage, notable Gene Barry as George, who stood staring in horror as how he had wounded his lover sinks into him. Albin whipped of his wig as he takes his bow, stalked to George to threw it in his face, then existed the stage through the auditorium, running up the side aisle as the audience exploded.

Wow. Impressive performance. That brought tears to my eyes.

Im so glad he got to play this part.. Its his too own.. IM in tears.. Love it.

Just being yourself and telling the world to get over itself....

Love you, Harvey. Just as you are. ♥️♥️♥️

This is sheer beauty ! Bravo!

Harvey is simply THE BEST 👍👌👏👏👏👏👏

One of our greatest. Genius performance.

One word FANTASTIC XXX

I absolutely love his voice!!! Seriously. I just love it and him!!!

this is truly magnificent, there are very little people who compare to harvey :)

I first became aware of Harvey Fierstein back in the late 80s when HBO aired their movie version of his stage play Tidy Endings starring him and Stockard Channing. I fell in 🥰 😍 ❤️ with him immediately.

Best and only version, I have only seen this in video, I envy anyone who saw this live.

I adore Harvey Fierstein. The most beautiful performance of this song I think is Shirley Bassey's.

utter brilliance

Love Harvey, love the sound track, love you for posting this Ms. Spiderwoman!!!! Wish I had been able to see it when I lived in NJ, but it was sold out for the entire run. Thanks again!

Absolutely took me away with Harvey's performance!

Torch Song Trilogy. Please watch if you haven't. It's sad and beautiful and it will break your heart and make you smile in the same scene. Brilliant.

this gives me chills every time

Brilliant in everything he's done!

I Love Harvey Fierstein With All My Heart And Always Will

Thank you for posting this, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you.

Thank you so much for posting this.

killed that perfomance

Magistral Bravoooo ❤

after listening to this song for the first time only in audio, i was wowed by the energy, and had to see it come directly from the horses mouth for the full effect.

as horrible as Harvey's voice is from all of the smoking, etc. he very well understands what his strengths and weakness' of it are, and how to use them to his best advantage both voally and emotionally. I saw the original with George and was overwhelm with a flood of emotions that a boy of 14 has a tough time during the greed is good conservative 1980s to comprehend. George was amazing as Albin, but while watching Harvey, I did not click the you tube button to see something else, and found myself feeling the emotional depth of what Harvey was trying to communicate in painful and beautiful way he did.

Chills. 🤍

This was beautiful💞✨

Harvey is a freaking Goddess.

Awesome love his voice

GREAT SONG.

Marvelous

It is hauntingly beautiful.

Living legend 🎉❤

Gotta love Harvey Firestein