"Here I Am"
Song by Dolly Parton
from the album Coat of Many Colors
ReleasedOctober 4, 1971 (1971-10-04)
RecordedApril 27, 1971
StudioRCA Studio A, Nashville, Tennessee
GenreCountry
Length3:19
LabelRCA Victor
Songwriter(s)Dolly Parton
Producer(s)Bob Ferguson

"Here I Am" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. The song was included on her 1971 album Coat of Many Colors. It was recorded on April 27, 1971, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, and produced by Bob Ferguson.

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes[1] and RCA recording session records.[2]

2018 version

"Here I Am"
Single by Dolly Parton and Sia
from the album Dumplin'
ReleasedSeptember 14, 2018
Recorded2018
Studio
  • Greenleaf Studio
  • Blackbird Studio
GenreCountry
Length4:32
Label
Songwriter(s)Dolly Parton
Producer(s)Linda Perry
Dolly Parton singles chronology
"The Story"
(2017) 		"Here I Am"
(2018) 		"Girl in the Movies"
(2018)
Sia singles chronology
"Flames"
(2018) 		"Here I Am"
(2018) 		"I'm Still Here"
(2018)
Music video
"Here I Am" on YouTube

In 2018 Parton re-recorded the song as a duet with Australian singer-songwriter Sia for the soundtrack to the 2018 Netflix film, Dumplin'. It was produced by Linda Perry and released as the first single from the soundtrack on September 14, 2018.

Critical reception

Upon its release the single received positive reviews from music critics. Writing for Rolling Stone, Althea Legaspi said Parton and Sia's "voices meld together, giving it a hymnal quality, buoyed by gospel-styled choir backing vocals."[3] In a review for NPR Lars Gotrich noted the song's slower tempo compared to the original 1971 recording, calling the single "a gospel-infused statement of purpose."[4]

On a list of the 50 best Dolly Parton songs, Rolling Stone magazine ranked "Here I Am" at number 25, calling the Sia collaboration a beautiful amplification of the "desires and assurances of the original."[5]

Commercial performance

The single sold 10,000 copies during its first week of release.[6] It debuted and peaked at No. 37 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Music video

The music video for the song was released on November 2, 2018. Neither Parton nor Sia appear in the video which follows a mourner visiting a grave, a homeless man begging for change, a child cowering in fear as her mother is abused, and an elderly woman sick in bed. It focuses on the evolution of the characters introduced at the beginning, and leaves viewers with an uplifting message of hope.[7]

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes.[8]

Charts

Chart (2018) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[9] 37

References

  1. ^ Parton, Dolly (2007). Coat of Many Colors liner notes. Legacy Recordings.
  2. ^ "Praguefrank's Country Discography 2: Dolly Parton, part 1". Praguefrank's Country Discography 2. February 6, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  3. ^ Legaspi, Althea (September 14, 2018). "Hear Dolly Parton, Sia's Moving New Rendition of 'Here I Am'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  4. ^ Gotrich, Lars (September 14, 2018). "Dolly Parton And Sia Collaborate On 'Here I Am' For 'Dumplin" Soundtrack". NPR.org. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  5. ^ Betts, Stephen (April 5, 2023). ""The 50 Best Dolly Parton Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  6. ^ "The Top 30 Digital Country Singles: September 25, 2018". RoughStock. September 25, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  7. ^ Hermanson, Wendy (November 7, 2018). "Dolly Parton Teams With Sia for Powerful 'Here I Am' Video". Taste of Country. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  8. ^ Parton, Dolly (November 30, 2018). Dumplin' (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) liner notes. Dolly Records/RCA Nashville.
  9. ^ "Dolly Parton Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
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