Valentino - I Was Born This Way

Valentino - I Was Born This Way (1975)

Performed by Charles "Valentino" Harris
Words - Bunny Jones
Music - Chris Spierer
Label - Gaiee Records
Distributed by Motown

LYRICS:

I'm walking through life in nature's disguise
You laugh at me and you criticize
Just because I'm happy
I'm carefree
And I'm gay
Yes I'm gay
Tain't a fault tis a fact
I was born this way

You call me strange cause you don't understand
God's role for me in life's overall plan
Oh yes I'm happy
I'm carefree
And I'm gay
Yes I'm gay
Tain't a fault tis a fact
I was born this way

Now I won't judge you and don't you judge me
We're all the way nature meant us to be
Just human beings - born to be free
I can't be you and you can't be me
Tain't a fault tis a fact
Tain't a fault tis a fact
I was born this way

I've learned to hold my head up high
Not in scorn nor disgrace
Doing my thing individually
Entwined with the human race
Grooving in time - playing in space
Oh yes I'm happy
I'm carefree
And I'm gay
Yes I'm gay
Tain't a fault tis a fact
Yes, I was born this way

So be happy
Be carefree
Yeah ain't nothing wrong with being a little gay
Tain't a fault tis a fact
I was really really born this way

I'm happy
I'm carefree
Yeah I'm gay

More info about this record at: http://www.queermusicheritage.us/jun2002v.html

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Was
• Born
• This
• Way
• Valentino
• Charles
• Harris
• Bunny
• Jones
• Chris
• Spierer
• Gaiee
• Records
• Motown
• Carl
• Bean
• Disco
• Funk
• Northern
• Soul
• Gay
• Liberation
• Civil
• Rights
• Anthem

[langolutch]

Thank you so much for posting this.

My name is Chris Spierer and I wrote this song with Bunny Jones back in 1974.

It has been covered by many artists such as The Pet Shop Boys, Magnus Carlsson, Jimmy Somerville, Johnny Rodriguez, Paul Oskar, Dimitri From Paris, Marty Thomas, Pour Homme, Another Gay Movie as well as Carl Bean..It has also been sampled numerous times.

You're hearing Stevie Wonder on drums!!

I am playing the guitar along with great musicians from New York.

Thanks again. Chris

[gianni73701]

@langolutch Hi Chris , it was wonderful to read your comment. I and many thousands of others are grateful to you beyond words for bringing this landmark song into the world. Fascinating that Stevie Wonder is on drums here! I would love to know the story behind that!... Very best wishes, Gianni

[jorial6675]

Valentino NEVER gets credit for releasing this song FIRST. Carl Bean never corrects music journalists who perpetuate the myth that Bean was the first "out" Black gay recording artist, even though Sylvester's first recordings were in 1972 (five years BEFORE Bean's version of this song) and recordings by Canada's Jackie Shane (Little Richard's 'out' gay cousin) date back to the early 1960's. Check out Shane's live and studio versions of "Any Other Way" if you don't believe me! :-)

[gianni73701]

@jorial6675 Interesting... I have never heard of Jackie Shane before. It's also important to mention The Dynamic Superiors who were formed in 1963 and released their first hit Shoe Shoe Shine on Motown in 1974. The Superiors' material is mostly not specifically gay in its subject matter but their brilliant lead vocalist Tony Washington was openly gay.

[jorial6675]

@gianni73701 WOW! Thanks for the tip about the The Dynamic Superiors -- that's one I have never heard of, LOL. Will definitely check them out. So much great music, so little time! This is why I love YouTube! xo J.

[gianni73701]

@jorial6675 Well I'd like to thank you for making me aware of Jackie Shane - amazing performer!!! I'm dying to hear Papa's Got A Brand New Bag. Might try to upload it if I can get hold of a copy. Best wishes, G.

[mymusixrebrn]

I met Valentino when I was a little girl, I think it was in the studio because I remember him singing this song. Wow, it was cool hanging around him that day.

[shutup807]

great post! b side is killer!!!

[MrMARVIN1952]

I just want to say it was the first time that I did a record and the first time I played a real piano...thank you Bunny, R.I.P.

[marketst7]

@langolutch

Valentino is very glad that this is posted and that he is still singing and writing. He went on to perform as a scarecrow in the wiz

Can be heard on Joni Mitchell's turbulent indigo and wild things run fast

To see a portrait of him painted by Joni go to her website

[pianoman74]

@jorial6675 So you see? Never trust Mr. Bean.

(LMAO)

[langolutch]

Dear Gianni:

Let's put it this way......Bunny Jones, the co-writer had a very close connection with Motown Records and Stevie Wonder, thereby successfully arranging to have him perform on the session with us.

I will always be grateful to Stevie for doing this.

The B side of "I Was Born This Way" was another song I wrote titled "Liberation".

It also charted in Europe and in my opinion was also a great song.

Valentino did a great job on it !!

Again thank you......Chris

[Nekorin]

Interesting! Is there a karaoke version of this? (I got here because some idiots were saying Lady Gaga stole this song... They're not the same song. XD )

[CombrogoStarchild]

Where is Valentino today?