Customer Reviews

Yes I Am

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Ok, I have bought this CD 3 times. The wear & tear of being played in the car, at home, wherever I go demanded it.

At first my husband thought I was switching gears so to speak. Until he went with me to one of her concerts. He was swept away by the driving beats, the lyrical mesh of genders & he went crazy when she turned her guitar over & did a drum solo on the wood! He finally understood her talent without being jaded by her sexualism.

On "Yes I Am", there is an equisite mix of tracks. From the title song to "Come To My Window", to my absolute favorite; "I Will Never Be The Same", and the thrusting get yourself up and pumping, "All American Girl".

Too bad most men cannot accept Melissa for who she is. If you are secure with yourself, you do not have to be gay to say, "Yes, I Am".

Thanks--CDS

I was first introduced to Melissa Etheridge's music when a ex-partner dedicated a song to me, the song "Come to my Window".... I listened to the songs and then looked up the lyrics..the words struck like a chord through my body.. Then I heard the song, "I'm the only one" on the radio. All day long I was humming the chorus of that song. I decided to purchase a cassette to see if I liked the flavor of her music. I chose "Yes I Am", because it had both songs on it. I've probably listened to it 50 times since. However I prefer side one to side 2, and have listened to it more. I think the songs that seem to have the most depth are on side one, songs such as "I'm the only one", "Yes I am", "I will never be the same", "If I wanted to". I like "silent Legacy" because to me it represents the plight we've suffered as lesbians. Although I'm sure it could refer any repressed person. One the second side, I think the best song is "yes I am", the rest are okay, the last song I like just because she is singing about her father. Overall I am very happy with my first purchase.

First of all, the album title is very appropriate - "Yes I Am" - alluding to her coming out as a lesbian earlier in 1993. And this album is indeed all about the now-public lesbian pride, felt through several high-energy songs and thoughtful lyrics. This is also the Melissa that most people are familiar with, as this album was the best-selling Melissa album ever.

The first track, "I'm The Only One," sets the tone with powerful bass and and a strong message affirming her love against all hostile circumstances. It is followed by "If I Wanted To" - a very high-energy song. "Come To My Window" is rather a let-down, but that may be because the radio stations tended to overplay it. The rest of the album is made up of high-energy songs like "All-American Girl," which is about the everyday life of a working-class single mother, and thoughtful vocal reflections such as "Silent Legacy," "I Will Never Be The Same," and "Talking To My Angel." Don't forget the title track either!

I find every track to be a gem in its own right, and do not hesitate to give album the highest rating. Coming out of the closet often means devastation to an artist's career, but Melissa has done what she has been always good at - great music and meaningful lyrics - to turn it into an even bigger message and success. This album may not have the subtlety of Melissa's earlier works, but it is nevertheless a great one... buy it and you will find yourself shouting "Lesbian Power" before you know it. Even if you are straight or male!

Please read this review if your fire has been doused by the buckets of flame-retardants heaped upon it by the Entertainment Tonight mentalities who've been reviewing it.

First of all, there is NOT ONE word in her poetic lyrics which could possibly infer "gay" or "lesbian" themes. What there IS in this beautiful collection, is an abundance of material that touches upon the fruits of diversity, acceptance, and individuality (tolerance is too weak of a word). The only reason reviewers can even begin to get preachy so far as to call this a "coming out of the closet" album is because they "know" (from their ET shows and from the check-out counter rag-mags that inundated the public with Melissa's "sexuality").

This album is about heart, about truth to ones own nature, about walking your own path, about love and heartache, but most of all this album is about INTEGRITY.

Sure it boasts the sultry pining I'm The Only One, and the love-lorn Come To My Window. But every song on this collection is a poem, beautifully written and scored with a lot of heart. This album is the pinnacle of Melissa's maturation as a songwriter and singer (check out Heart's Dog & Butterfly if you want to know what I mean).

I'm not going to run down each song with a bullet-comment review, just realize that If I Wanted To, Silent Legacy, I Will Never Be The Same, Yes I Am, Resist, and Ruins, are among the very best songs Etheridge ever wrote and performed.

If you are a fan who has not purchased this and are sitting on the docks with her debut album believing it was the best ever because you were blown away when it debuted, pick up Yes I Am and you will be blown to the next level. This album is as much better than her debut self-titled as that one was better than all the pasty female rock artists that saturated us during the 80's.

The acoustics are rendered lighter than air while the electric guitar leads just soar like a stealth bomber. These melodies are both so complex and yet richly simple it's as if Melissa is an artist who painted each song with brush strokes from her heart.

If you are just pondering buying this album because of two songs, you might as well pick up her "greatest hits" album instead because you sound like a Bryan Adams or TP&theHeartbreakers kind of listener to me. If, however, you like the richness of ME's writing style, her brooding vocals, and her gut-wrenching music (if Melissa Etheridge MOVES you) then don't miss out on this album, it's definitely her 5-Star performance!

Once again, Melissa issues a directive on individuality, a cry for acceptance and diversity, not a lecture on sexual preferences. Those reviewers are on the wrong channel watching the unfolding dramas of Brad and Angelina, Tom and Katie, and can't live without trouble in paradise! And if you like artistry in music, something deeper and more meaningful that the pablum of "commercially successful" music, take a big bite of this apple!

I have been a huge Melissa Etheridge fan since her self-titled debut way back in the late 80s. After giving "Yes I Am" a few spins, I'm definitely satisfied with the album, but I have to wonder if the magic and raw emotional power was put on the back burner when The Great Melissa Etheridge walked into the recording studio. Smash hits such as "I'm the Only One" and "Yes I Am" are thoroughly saturated with the deep-cutting, home-hitting Etheridge we've known for years, but the last half of the album is missing a little bit of the passion. I love this album nonetheless, and encourage Etheridge fans new and old alike to check it out.

On her fourth album, Melissa Etheridge continues to write songs with a strong rock base and no sign of giving in to any kinds of trends. With the one-two punch of "I'm The Only One" and "Come To My Window," Etheridge manages to break through to bigger success on her own terms. YES I AM continues with tales of love within the lives of ordinary people while still managing to touch on a few different themes.

"All American Girl" mentions AIDS, while "Talking To My Angel" is about growing up alienated in a small town. YES I AM was Melissa's coming out album, her declaration of independance. This became a widely successful album, putting her on the map so to speak. This is one of her best efforts yet. "Silent Legacy", "If I Wanted To" and "I Will Never Be The Same" are other excellent songs on the album. This one's a must have, give it a try!

Talented, that is. This is the cd that did it... for me, and her. This is her landmark cd, the one that put her on the map!
All but 2 tracks here got airplay.. at least here in Pgh.
'Come to my window', 'If I wanted to' and 'I'm the only one' spawned great videos that helped propel melissa to the top. They are all great songs.
Other greats that I feel should have got more recognition are 'I will never be the same','Yes I am', 'Ruins' and 'Talking to my angel'. Nonetheless, it proved a point. Regardless of sexuality, this chick can rock!!
Her soaring vocals, driven guitars and drums combine excellently here. It's her singer/songwriter talent that really made the mark. She takes simple situations and brings out all the passion they contain.
Her voice is so expressive that it can pretty much tell the story behind the words. Every growl, plea and blue note seem to flow effortlessly.
Melissa made her mark with this collection of songs. Her previous works were good, but this one I do believe is her best. I would recommend it as a place to start when beginning to explore this wonderfully talented artist.

I bought this CD because I always liked the song "I'm the only One" and "Come to my Window". Listen, the chick can sing her a** off! Take a listen and buy CD.

This CD was my introduction to the Music of Melissa Etheridge and is still a favorite of mine. Anyone who has struggled with self-identity, most espically sexual identy, or feeling repressed will love this CD, espically "Silent Legacy" which is one of my favorites.

"Yes I am" is a song which takes a stand, and is assertive in it's message. "If I wanted to" is rebellious and wild. "Come to my window" is about love and longing. "I will never be the same" is a parents longing for a lost and rebellious child. "All American Girl" is the celebration of the hectic world today's woman deals with. "Talking to my Angel" is about finding acceptance of yourself.

Of course, different messages may be interpreted by different people with differing life experiences. This is truly insightfull and powerfull music very well done.

This was her coming out album, hence the title. Don't let that overshadow the album though, you'd be doing it a great injustice. Besides all the hoopla that went on around this album regarding her coming out, there is some fine music to be discovered here (if you haven't already). The album rocks plain and simple, full of memorable anthems. Finally in her own skin, she seemed to have purpose and an identity, and that shows on this album. Of course the big hits are great, such as "I'm The Only One", "All American Girl", "Come To My Window", "If I Wanted To". However, quieter moments are also revealing and rewarding, such as the title track, "Talking To My Angel", and "I Will Never Be The Same". Overall a great album!