The Way I Am (Charlie Puth song)

"The Way I Am" is a song recorded and produced by American singer-songwriter Charlie Puth. It was sent to US contemporary hit radio through Atlantic Records on July 24, 2018, as the fifth and final single from his second studio album, Voicenotes. It was initially released as the second promotional single from the album on May 3, 2018. Puth wrote the song alongside Jacob Kasher Hindlin.

"The Way I Am"
Single by Charlie Puth
from the album Voicenotes
Released	July 24, 2018 (2018-07-24)
Genre	Pop
Length	3:06
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Charlie Puth Jacob Kasher Hindlin
Producer(s)	Charlie Puth
Charlie Puth singles chronology
"Change" (2018) "The Way I Am" (2018) "Easier (Remix)" (2019)
Music video
"The Way I Am" on YouTube

Background

The song deals with Puth's reaction to his sudden fame, specifically his insecurities and anxieties. He has identified the song as his most personal on the album. The content of the song was so personal in fact that Puth "was almost crying while writing it because it was so overwhelming."^[1]

In an interview with Genius, Puth explained the meaning behind the song, saying: "I was known for who I was dating more than my music. People were forgetting that I was actually a singer. And that was not good and multiple people told me that wasn't good. I worked too hard to have that reputation. So I just like a slight steer to the left and brought it back to the music. I honestly feel better mentally than I ever have in my life."^[2]

Composition

"The Way I Am" is an upbeat pop song in which Puth addresses his self-acceptance.^[3][4] Described as an "introspective, autobiographical track", it heavily features "a plugging electric guitar riff" throughout, with "Puth's vocals syncing up to the instrumental during the verses".^[5]

Music video

Directed by Colin Tilley, the music video was released on July 9, 2018.^[6] It features Puth wandering from one room to another, interspersed between flashbacks of a house party that took place the night before and shots of him sitting alone on the roof of the house, as partygoers drink and dance past him in fast-motion.^[7] Throughout the video, he locks eyes with a brunette woman (acted by Trew Mullen);^[8] they come face to face and exchange smirks as the party comes to an end.^[9] Salvatore Maicki of The Fader regarded the video as "a nice aesthetic throwback to the late 90s",^[3] while PopSugar's Mekishana Pierre opined that Puth's character bears a resemblance to My So-Called Life's Jordan Catalano.^[10]

Live performances

On June 22, 2018, Puth made the first televised performance of "The Way I Am" at the 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards.^[11][12] On July 17, he performed the song during his television appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, as well as the Citi Concert Series on Today three days later.^[13][14]

Track listing

Digital download

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Way I Am"	3:06

Digital download^[15]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Way I Am" (Acoustic Version)	3:08

Digital download^[16]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Way I Am" (Eden Prince Remix)	3:12

Digital download^[17]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Way I Am" (Slushii Remix)	3:45

Digital download^[18]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Way I Am" (Taska Black Remix)	3:15

Credits and personnel

Recording and management

• Published by Charlie Puth Music Publishing/Artist 101 Publishing Group (BMI) admin. by Warner Chappell; Rap Kingpin Music/Prescription Songs (ASCAP)

Personnel Credits adapted from the liner notes of Voicenotes.^[19]

• Charlie Puth – vocals, songwriting, production, recording
• Jacob Kasher – songwriting
• Jan Ozveren – guitar

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2018) Peak position Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[20] 14 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[21] 29 Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[22] 40 Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[23] 40 France (SNEP)[24] 175 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[25] 39 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[26] 58 US Billboard Hot 100[27] 61 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[28] 25 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[29] 9 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[30] 55 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[31] 18 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[32] 16

Year-end charts Chart (2018) Position Taiwan (Hito Radio)[33] 32 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[34] 46

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[35]	Gold	35,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[36]	Platinum	80,000‡
United States (RIAA)[37]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Version	Label	Ref.
Various[a]	May 3, 2018	Digital download	Original	Atlantic	[5]
United States	July 24, 2018	Contemporary hit radio			[38]
Various	July 27, 2018	Digital download	Eden Prince Remix		[16]
	August 17, 2018		Taska Black Remix		[18]
	September 7, 2018		Acoustic		[15]
			Slushii Remix		[17]
Italy	September 14, 2018	Contemporary hit radio	Original	Warner	[39]

Notes

1. Release as a promotional single.