I'm Coming Out
"I'm Coming Out" is a disco song recorded by American singer Diana Ross for her eleventh studio album, Diana, released in 1980 by Motown Records. Written and produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of the band Chic, the track served as the album's second single and features a prominent trombone solo amid its upbeat funk arrangement.[1][2] The song originated from Rodgers' observation of drag queens impersonating Ross during a night out at New York City clubs, prompting him to craft it as an explicit celebration of coming out for gay men who admired her.[3][4][5] It achieved commercial success, entering the Billboard Hot 100 at number 88 and reaching a peak of number five, where it held for three weeks, while also topping the disco charts.[6] Despite Rodgers' intentions, Ross was cautioned by industry figures that the song's gay connotations could damage her mainstream appeal, and she herself did not conceive it as a homosexual anthem but rather as a broader declaration of self-confidence following her departure from Motown's Supremes era.[7][8][9] Over time, however, it evolved into an enduring gay anthem, embraced at Pride events and in queer culture despite the initial reservations, and gained further prominence through sampling in The Notorious B.I.G.'s 1997 hit "Mo Money Mo Problems."[10][11]Background and Creation
Songwriting Inspiration
Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic co-wrote "I'm Coming Out" in 1979, drawing inspiration from Rodgers' observation of drag queens impersonating Diana Ross at a New York City gay club.[6][12] While at the club's bathroom—specifically GG's Barnum Room—Rodgers noticed multiple performers applying makeup and embodying Ross's image, which struck him as a powerful symbol of the singer's appeal within gay culture.[12] This encounter prompted Rodgers to conceptualize the track as an anthem celebrating personal emergence and self-acceptance, particularly for those in the LGBTQ community "coming out."[6][4] The song's title and lyrical theme directly reflected this intent, with Rodgers aiming to leverage Ross's diva status to create a disco-era hit resonant in underground scenes like those at Studio 54.[13] Edwards contributed to the composition, blending funky basslines and rhythmic grooves characteristic of Chic's style, while the lyrics emphasized triumphant revelation over the horn-driven arrangement.[14] Rodgers later recounted that the idea crystallized from recognizing Ross's inadvertent iconicity among drag performers, transforming a nightlife anecdote into a broader statement on visibility.[5] Diana Ross, however, initially interpreted the song differently upon presentation, viewing it as a metaphor for her artistic return following her Supremes tenure rather than its homosexual connotation.[12][15] Rodgers confirmed to Ross that the track was explicitly crafted as a "gay anthem," aligning with the cultural context of late-1970s New York nightlife, though she proceeded with recording unaware of its full subtext at first.[12] This divergence highlights how the song's inspiration stemmed from external cultural homage to Ross, independent of her personal input during the writing phase.[14]Recording Process
"I'm Coming Out" was recorded during sessions for Diana Ross's eleventh studio album, Diana, in New York City in late 1979, with production handled by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic, who also wrote the song.[16] Edwards performed the prominent bassline, while Rodgers contributed the track's signature funky guitar riff and chord scratches, layered in Chic's characteristic style to drive the disco-funk groove. The arrangement featured tight rhythm section work, including drums and percussion, alongside a brass section delivering the upbeat trumpet fanfare that opens the song and punctuates its choruses. Ross laid down her lead vocals in these sessions, emphasizing a bold, celebratory delivery that complemented the producers' upbeat instrumentation.[12] Throughout the recording, Ross raised concerns with Rodgers and Edwards about the title phrase "coming out," interpreting it as potentially referencing homosexuality, but the producers maintained it symbolized personal emergence and self-realization, not sexual orientation.[17][12] After completing her vocal takes, Ross learned from a disc jockey that the song was gaining traction as a gay anthem, prompting her to request re-recording her parts to avoid such associations; however, Motown declined, citing the substantial costs already expended on the sessions.[12] This episode highlighted tensions between artistic intent and label priorities, yet the original recording remained intact for the album's release on May 22, 1980.[18]Diana Ross's Initial Reaction
Diana Ross initially responded positively to "I'm Coming Out" during its production in 1979–1980, loving the track co-written and co-produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards for her Motown album Diana, but without recognizing its intended connotation as a gay anthem celebrating coming out of the closet.[12] According to Rodgers, who drew inspiration from seeing multiple drag queens impersonating Ross at a New York nightclub, she "immediately loved" the song yet "didn't understand that that was a gay thing, that that was a person saying, 'I'm coming out of the closet'"; she interpreted the lyrics more literally as her emergence into solo independence after leaving the Supremes and Motown.[12] [7] This misunderstanding surfaced more clearly after Rodgers played the finished track for prominent radio DJ Frankie Crocker, who reacted by asking if Ross was declaring herself gay, prompting warnings that the song's association with homosexual themes would alienate her mainstream audience and "ruin her career."[7] Ross, upon hearing this interpretation, became "crestfallen and heartbroken," confronting Rodgers and Edwards over fears they had sabotaged her image as a family-oriented entertainer.[7] Rodgers countered by repositioning the song as an empowering opener for her live shows, likening its brass fanfare to a royal herald announcing "our black queen," which helped alleviate her concerns and led to its inclusion on the album released on May 22, 1980.[12] [7] Despite these initial reservations, rooted in 1980s cultural sensitivities around celebrity ties to gay subcultures, Ross proceeded with recording, marking an unwitting pivot toward the track's eventual status as an LGBTQ+ staple.[19]Release and Commercial Success
Single Release Details
"I'm Coming Out" was released as the second single from Diana Ross's eleventh studio album, Diana, on August 22, 1980, by Motown Records.[20] The track was written and produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers of Chic.[6] In the United States, it was primarily issued as a 7-inch 45 RPM vinyl single with catalog number M 1491F.[1] The standard B-side for the US single was "Give Up," a track also from the Diana album.[1] Some pressings featured alternative B-sides, including "Friend to Friend" or "Never Say I Don't Love You," both non-album tracks or album cuts with varying availability across regions.[21] Internationally, releases varied in format and timing; for example, the United Kingdom saw a 12-inch 45 RPM single under catalog number 12TMG 1210 in October 1980, again with "Give Up" as the B-side.[22] Promotional copies existed in both 7-inch and 12-inch formats, often with identical track listings to commercial versions but marked for radio or DJ use.[21] The single's packaging typically included a picture sleeve featuring Ross in a glamorous pose, aligning with the album's promotional imagery.[23]Chart Performance
"I'm Coming Out" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 88 on August 31, 1980, before ascending to a peak position of number 5 on November 9, 1980, where it held for two weeks and remained on the chart for 22 weeks total.[6][2] On the concurrent Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, the single reached number 6, debuting on September 13, 1980, and charting for 12 weeks.[24] It also topped the Dance Club Songs chart for five weeks as a double A-side with "Upside Down."[25] In the United Kingdom, "I'm Coming Out" peaked at number 13 on the Official Singles Chart in December 1980, spending seven weeks in the top 75.[26] The song achieved a number 7 peak in France according to period charts tracked by IFOP.[27]| Chart (1980–1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | — |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 18 |
| France (IFOP) | 7 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 25 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 13 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 5 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) | 6 |
| US Dance Club Songs (Billboard) | 1 |
| West Germany (Official German Charts) | 42 |
Certifications and Sales
In Canada, "I'm Coming Out" was certified Platinum by Music Canada on an unspecified date, representing shipments of 150,000 units. In the United Kingdom, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified the single Platinum, equivalent to 600,000 units shipped. Denmark's IFPI branch awarded it Gold certification for 45,000 units. No certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has been issued for the single in the United States, despite its peak at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.| Country | Certification | Certified units | Certifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | Platinum | 150,000 | Music Canada |
| Denmark | Gold | 45,000 | IFPI Denmark |
| United Kingdom | Platinum | 600,000 | BPI |