| 1 | [[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/OliverAndCompany https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/perfect_isnt_easy_761.png]]]] |
| 2 | [[caption-width-right:350:♫ ''"Perfection becomes me, [[GratuitousFrench n'est ce pas?]]"'' ♫]] |
| 3 | ->''I've never lost in battle or game;\ |
| 4 | I'm simply the best by far\ |
| 5 | When swords are crossed, 'tis always the same --\ |
| 6 | one blow and au revoir!'' |
| 7 | -->-- '''Lancelot''', "C'est Moi", ''{{Theatre/Camelot}}'' |
| 8 | |
| 9 | The I Am Great Song is sung by someone who ''can't'' sing an {{I Want Song}}, because there's nothing left for them to want. Their accomplishments, [[HundredPercentHeroismRating popularity]], and undisputed [[TheAce mastery]] of their field leave absolutely no need for daily affirmations -- but they have them anyway, in musical form. Singing one of these songs [[WishFulfillment feels better than it probably should]]. |
| 10 | |
| 11 | Since protagonists have to face conflict, and people love to watch the mighty fall, the hero almost never sings this song. However, it is not always a {{Villain Song}}, and the singer can be legitimately great--if songs were Greek heroes, this one would be Achilles. |
| 12 | |
| 13 | Can be used as a negative-space version of {{This Loser Is You}}. |
| 14 | |
| 15 | Subtrope, naturally, of the [[IAmSong 'I Am' Song]]. Works best sung by a {{Large Ham}}. May overlap with JobSong if they're bragging about their job. |
| 16 | |
| 17 | See also BraggingThemeTune, BoastfulRap. Can overlap with TheDissTrack if they're praising themselves but trashing someone else, with BravadoSong if they're boasting about their fearlessness or bravery, and with GainingConfidenceSong if they only realize they're great partway through. Could also be a source of HypocriticalHumor if they also sing about how humble they are. |
| 18 | ---- |
| 19 | !!Examples |
| 20 | |
| 21 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 22 | |
| 23 | [[folder:Anime]] |
| 24 | * ''Manga/TheDisastrousLifeOfSaikiK'': In episode 18 of the anime, the class goes to a karaoke club. When [[SchoolIdol Kokomi Teruhashi]] gets her turn, she smugly laments on the cliché that people assume that someone as beautiful as her can't sing- |
| 25 | -->''"But sorry,\ |
| 26 | I'm super-duper good at singing,\ |
| 27 | Cause I am the perfect pretty girl you know,\ |
| 28 | I'm awesome at everything,\ |
| 29 | Don't bother trying to resist me, \ |
| 30 | I am such a cute and kind and pretty girl,\ |
| 31 | But soon enough\ |
| 32 | You're gonna say it to me,\ |
| 33 | Oh! You'll say it to me!"'' |
| 34 | * ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'' has "I am Ogremon" ("[[UsefulNotes/JapanesePronouns Ore wa Ogremon]]"), which consists of the titular digital ogre singing/screaming about how awesome he is. |
| 35 | * ''Franchise/LupinIII'' has "Super Hero", a song sung from Lupin's point of view about how he's the ideal [[TheCasanova lady-killing hero]] and his ego is as big during it as you'd expect. |
| 36 | * ''Manga/OnePiece'': Queen's song "Queen's Funk Dance" is about his supposed popularity and it explains why he's so heavy-built. |
| 37 | -->''If I get thinner, I'll be too popular\ |
| 38 | So I don't get thinner, that's my type of\ |
| 39 | FUNK!!!\ |
| 40 | I may look chubby, but it's all muscle\ |
| 41 | I can sing and dance, that's my type of\ |
| 42 | FUNK!!!'' |
| 43 | [[/folder]] |
| 44 | |
| 45 | [[folder:Film -- Animated]] |
| 46 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheBraveLittleToaster'': "The Cutting Edge" is largely about the [[TechnologyMarchesOn then-modern]] electronic devices boasting their superiority in function over the main characters. |
| 47 | * Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon: |
| 48 | ** ''WesternAnimation/OliverAndCompany'': |
| 49 | *** "Perfect Isn't Easy," in which Georgette pulls out all the stops in declaring herself TheDiva of the cast. |
| 50 | *** "Why Should I Worry?", in which Dodger brags about how streetwise and adaptable he is. |
| 51 | ** ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'': The VillainSong "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNlpuD42_BM Gaston]]" is more of a "You are Great" song by Gaston's admirers, but he happily joins in on praising himself partway through, because nobody boasts about himself like Gaston. |
| 52 | ** ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'' has "Friend Like Me", where Genie sings about how his unlimited power will change Al's life for the better. |
| 53 | --->'''Genie:''' Can your friends do this?\ |
| 54 | Can your friends do that?\ |
| 55 | Can your friends pull this\ |
| 56 | Out their little hat? |
| 57 | *** Jafar gets a similar number in [[WesternAnimation/AladdinTheReturnOfJafar the sequel]], mixing it with TheHeroSucksSong. |
| 58 | ---->'''Jafar:''' Men cower at the power in my pinky \ |
| 59 | My thumb is number one on every list! \ |
| 60 | But if you're not convinced that I'm invincible, put me to the test! \ |
| 61 | I'd love to lay this rivalry to rest! |
| 62 | ** ''WesternAnimation/{{Moana}}'': |
| 63 | *** Maui's song "You're Welcome", where he brags to Moana about how awesome he is and all the great things he's done for mortals, like dredging up new islands, stealing fire, and killing monsters. |
| 64 | ---->'''Maui:''' ''What can I say except "You're welcome"\ |
| 65 | For the tides, the sun, the sky\ |
| 66 | Hey, it's okay, it's okay, you're welcome\ |
| 67 | I'm just an ordinary demi-guy!'' |
| 68 | *** The even more narcissistic [[EvilIsHammy Tamatoa]] sings "Shiny", which doubles as a VillainSong. Turns out that, like Maui, his narcissism in reality is an InferioritySuperiorityComplex, and he defines his entire self-worth on the amount of glitter he collects. |
| 69 | ---->'''Tamatoa:''' ''Shiny! Watch me dazzle like a diamond in the rough!\ |
| 70 | Strut my stuff, my stuff is so shiny!\ |
| 71 | Send your armies, but they'll never be enough\ |
| 72 | My shell's too tough!'' |
| 73 | ** ''WesternAnimation/{{Encanto}}'': "The Family Madrigal" is a We Are Great! song sung by Mirabel about her superpowered family. It gets subverted by the end when [[spoiler: it is inferred that Mirabel does not have powers like the rest of her family and feels an inferiority complex because of this]]. |
| 74 | *** "Surface Pressure" is also a subversion: it starts with Luisa singing her own praises ("I'm the strong one, I'm not nervous/I'm as tough as the crust of the Earth is.") but after the opening stanza Luisa starts singing about her own insecurities and stressors, and her own desire to simply relax and not have to face her family's expectations. |
| 75 | * ''[[WesternAnimation/JohnnyBravo Johnny Bravo Goes to Bollywood]]'': Bollywood star Jiggy gets a whole musical number where he gloats about being a famous celebrity. |
| 76 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheLandBeforeTimeVIITheStoneOfColdFire'' has "Very Important Creature", a song where [[WellIntentionedExtremist Pterano]] outright states that him being in charge would be best for everybody. |
| 77 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOBatmanMovie'': "Who's The (Bat)Man?" is three minutes of Batman singing about how awesome he is and how cool his stuff is while beating up his entire RoguesGallery. |
| 78 | -->'''Batman:''' Who has the coolest gadgets? (Batman!)\ |
| 79 | Who has the tricked-out ride? (Batman!)\ |
| 80 | Who does the sickest backflips? (Batman!) |
| 81 | * ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks'': Two songs: |
| 82 | ** "Awesome as I Want To Be" for Rainbow Dash, who implies that you'll never be quite as awesome as her. |
| 83 | ** "Tricks Up My Sleeve" for Trixie, who's even less complimentary about her competition than Rainbow: |
| 84 | --->''[[BlatantLies Don't mean to brag, don't mean to boast]], but I'm a six-course meal and you're just burnt toast'' |
| 85 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'': "Jack's Lament" is an interesting variation on this: it's more of an IWantSong, but Jack sings his own praises at several points, to drive home the point of [[ThePerilsOfBeingTheBest just how bored he is]] with his job as the Pumpkin King. |
| 86 | * ''WesternAnimation/OverTheMoon'' has "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbUfOhEv1sc Ultraluminary]]," which serves as [[MoonGoddess Chang'e]]'s EstablishingCharacterMoment. It starts of as an Opera piece, but then it becomes a glorious Pop Song, which Chang'e describes herself as shining brighter than the Stars. |
| 87 | -->'''Chang'e:''' You ready to watch me be legendary?\ |
| 88 | 'Cause I'm ultraluminary |
| 89 | * ''WesternAnimation/RapsittieStreetKidsBelieveInSanta'': Nicole sings "Look at Me" about how she will definitely get everything she wants for Christmas since she is so perfect. |
| 90 | -->'''Nicole:''' Look at me,\ |
| 91 | look and you'll see,\ |
| 92 | the best kid in the world! |
| 93 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheRoadToElDorado'': "It's Tough to be a God" features Tulio singing about how uncomfortable he is with their accidental (and arguably blasphemous) [[GodGuise position in El Dorado society]], while Miguel convinces him to stick with it by pointing out just how sweet life can be for a fake god. |
| 94 | * From ''WesternAnimation/RockAndRule'', Mok's "Triumph (of the Glory of ME)". Omar's road song "I'm the Man" seems understated only by comparison. Mok is perhaps the most deliciously egotistical individual portrayed in any medium; in example, his motivation for employing the Armageddon Key to trigger a new apocalypse is revenge on the public, because his last concert was not ''completely'' sold out. |
| 95 | * ''WesternAnimation/PussInBootsTheLastWish'': "Fearless Hero" doubles as an EstablishingCharacterMoment for the titular hero, singing about the fame and glory he receives from being his town's hero. This would eventually be deconstructed as [[spoiler:it's a coverup for how lonely he is, as well as the reason why his love, Kitty Softpaws, feels she can't trust him. Moreso after he sees how he wasted his eight lives so badly that Death has to physically manifest for him to [[BreakTheHaughty genuinely fear for his final life]].]] |
| 96 | [[/folder]] |
| 97 | |
| 98 | [[folder:Film -- Live-Action]] |
| 99 | * ''Film/CampRock'': "Too Cool", sung by the AlphaBitch Tess and her clique. |
| 100 | -->''I'm a natural, I'm the real deal\ |
| 101 | I can't help the way I am\ |
| 102 | Hope you don't misunderstand\ |
| 103 | But I'm too cool (too cool)\ |
| 104 | Yeah, I'm too cool to know you'' |
| 105 | * In the 2005 ''Film/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory'', the puppet show the Golden Ticket tour group watches after they pass through the factory's gate features a WelcomingSong that, while written in the third-person, is clearly this for Willy Wonka -- sample lyrics include "He's modest, clever, and so smart" and "A magician and a chocolate whiz/The best darn guy that ever lived". He's actually an InsufferableGenius and AntiVillain. (See Theatre below for how a [[InterpretativeCharacter rather different]] Mr. Wonka boasts.) |
| 106 | * The Shark Gang duo in ''Film/OurFriendPower5'' have a VillainSong that brags about how great and [[CardCarryingVillain evil they are.]] |
| 107 | -->''We cannot be scared in the dark\ |
| 108 | We are the kings of bad things'' |
| 109 | [[/folder]] |
| 110 | |
| 111 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 112 | * No compendium of boastful songs should be without Mr. Toad's lyrics from ''Literature/TheWindInTheWillows'', which includes "The world has held great heroes as history books have showed, but never a name goes down to fame compared to that of Toad". Complete text of the original [[https://www.poetrynook.com/poem/song-mr-toad here]], the slightly different version from ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfIchabodAndMrToad'' [[http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Mr._Toad_(song) here]]. |
| 113 | [[/folder]] |
| 114 | |
| 115 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 116 | %%* ''Series/HorribleHistories'' has one for, fittingly, Alexander the Great. Though he prefers "the Greatest." |
| 117 | %%* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'': Barney's video resume is basically just this. [[BlatantLies Although he's not singing it.]] That would be lame. |
| 118 | * ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess'': "Joxer The Mighty". A song that just keeps on growing every time that it recurs. |
| 119 | * ''Series/CrazyExGirlfriend'' has "I'm So Good At Yoga", which is actually sung in the heroine's mind by the girlfriend of the guy she's obsessed with: |
| 120 | -->''I do stuff with my body\ |
| 121 | That no human should be able to do\ |
| 122 | Like putting my face behind my knees\ |
| 123 | Turning my hand, into a shoe.\ |
| 124 | As the morning sun kisses the lotus\ |
| 125 | I kiss my own hoo-haa, can you do that?\ |
| 126 | Greet each day, Namaste''\ |
| 127 | Screeeeeewww you, '''you‛re fat''' |
| 128 | * In the ''Series/RedDwarf'' episode "Blue", the VR "Arnold Rimmer Experience" ends with a song written very obviously by Rimmer to praise himself, it is sung by tiny munchkin Rimmers to boot. |
| 129 | -->''If you're in trouble, he will save the day,\ |
| 130 | He's brave and he's fearless, come what may;\ |
| 131 | Without him the mission would go astray!\ |
| 132 | He's Arnold, Arnold, Arnold Rimmer!\ |
| 133 | Without him life would be much grimmer;\ |
| 134 | He's handsome, trim, and no-one slimmer,\ |
| 135 | He will never need a zimmer!'' |
| 136 | * ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': The musical episode ''Once More, With Feeling'' features the demon of the week (Sweet) delivering this trope: |
| 137 | -->'''Sweet:''' I can bring whole cities to ruin/And still have time to get a soft-shoe in! |
| 138 | * Creator/JeffGoldblum's GuestHost gig on ''Series/TheLateLateShow with Creator/JamesCorden'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIAlP0yXH4A opens with a song]] that has Goldblum declaring "I'm just a fill-in/I got top billin'/But it's just for one show." It quickly turns into a huge production number about how awesome he's going to be and how much everyone will love him, even as it keeps bringing up that it's a one-off thing. |
| 139 | [[/folder]] |
| 140 | |
| 141 | [[folder:Music]] |
| 142 | %% * Music/CardiB's most iconic song, "Bodak Yellow", is one of these. |
| 143 | * Music/FrankSinatra's legacy is typified by [[Music/MyWay "My Way"]], which is sung from the perspective of an old man as his life draws to a close. The theme of the song is personal integrity; Alas, it has become synonymous with Sinatra's legendary abrasiveness and "[[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney take it or leave it]]" attitude (Ironically, even ''he'' thought the ego-stroking lyrics too much). Music/SidVicious did a much-acclaimed punk cover of the song. |
| 144 | * Music/DonMcLean's song "Everybody Loves Me, Baby" is in the voice of a military dictator with wealth, territory, popular acclaim, and no (remaining) rivals, though it is sung to [[EverythingButTheGirl the one person]] who doesn't seem to be impressed. |
| 145 | * {{Music/Weird Al Yankovic}}'s "This is the Life" and "Waffle King". "You're Pitiful" is a variant, where the narrator follows "My life is brilliant", with a long TheReasonYouSuckSpeech. |
| 146 | * "Ego Trippin Out" by Music/MarvinGaye plays with this - half of it is a character singing about how amazing he is in every way, and how lucky people are to be in his presence - while the chorus seems to be a different character singing about how empty and broken the first character's egotism really is. |
| 147 | %%* "Film/DemolitionMan", by Music/{{Sting}}. |
| 148 | * Many, ''many'' modern rap songs [[BoastfulRap are about this]] or being InDaClub. Quite obvious with rappers like Wiz Kalifa, Flo Rida and Pitbull. |
| 149 | * "Towards the Crown of Nights" and "The Dark Conquest" by Music/TheKovenant are both about some evil overlord praising themselves after bringing about TheNightThatNeverEnds. |
| 150 | %%* "Don't Stop" by [=InnerPartySystem=] is a deeply cynical version of this. |
| 151 | * Music/ToddRundgren's "Emperor of the Highway" is a short musical duel between The Emperor of the Highway and the Royal Prince of Foreign Sports Cars; each is a LargeHam and both characters show the egotism inherent in this trope. |
| 152 | * Music/{{Queen}} has several songs of this type, such as "Don't Stop Me Now", and notably "Princes of the Universe", which sums up how an Immortal from the ''Franchise/{{Highlander}}'' saga would think LivingForeverIsAwesome, while also showing Freddie Mercury's apparent attitude toward life. |
| 153 | * Music/RingoStarr opened his Music/{{Ringo}} album with "I'm the Greatest"–written by Music/JohnLennon. |
| 154 | * "Awesome Forces!" by Music/TheAquabats |
| 155 | -->''We are your average ordinary superhuman\ |
| 156 | Punishers of evil rock-and-roll band\ |
| 157 | And we've been designated to save this crazy world\ |
| 158 | We cannot die, for this is our destiny!'' |
| 159 | * Mac Davis's "It's Hard to Be Humble": |
| 160 | -->Oh, Lord, it's hard to be humble\ |
| 161 | When you're perfect in every way\ |
| 162 | I can't wait to look in the mirror\ |
| 163 | 'Cause I get better-lookin' each day\ |
| 164 | To know me is to love me\ |
| 165 | I must be a hell of a man\ |
| 166 | Oh, Lord, it's hard to be humble\ |
| 167 | But I'm doin' the best that I can. |
| 168 | %%* Music/TwoNEOne has perhaps their most iconic song, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7_lSP8Vc3o "I Am The Best"]]. |
| 169 | * Firewater has "Dark Days Indeed": |
| 170 | -->I was born to shame the dawn\ |
| 171 | I saw the angels cry\ |
| 172 | I raised my arms and made the sun\ |
| 173 | Tremble in the sky\ |
| 174 | And when I sang the choirs were humbled\ |
| 175 | When I danced the mountains crumbled\ |
| 176 | Chased the waves right back into the sea\ |
| 177 | Feasted on the fatted calf\ |
| 178 | I drank whole cities dry\ |
| 179 | I made the devil dance for me and spat into his eye |
| 180 | %%* Music/{{Lordi}} has "I'm The Best". |
| 181 | [[/folder]] |
| 182 | |
| 183 | [[folder: Professional Wrestling]] |
| 184 | * At the height of the Federation Era in the Wrestling/{{WWE}}, Wrestling/VinceMcMahon recorded a big music video for his own single called [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxtCTaCxDUc "Stand Back!"]] Originally presented as a new theme for Wrestling/AndreTheGiant (and used as such in [[https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5ciq1t a promo video]] and the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwPVFp5ho6U NES game WWF Wrestlemania]]), it's actually a collection of {{Take That}}s leveled at his many critics over the way he runs his business and the product he puts out. It's a massive NeverLiveItDown for him, though he's willing to let the occasional jab at it slide. |
| 185 | [[/folder]] |
| 186 | |
| 187 | [[folder: Puppet Shows]] |
| 188 | * ''Series/SesameStreet'': |
| 189 | ** Big Bird has "Wonderful Me" from Season 8, as he sings about the many things he likes about himself. |
| 190 | ** A Season 42 episode gives us another by Big Bird, "Happy to Be Me", as he embraces his true big bird self and he's proud to be the way he is now. It gets progressively sadder and lustful as he is ridiculed over his appearance by the Good Birds' Club. |
| 191 | [[/folder]] |
| 192 | |
| 193 | [[folder:Theatre]] |
| 194 | * "Gorgeous" from ''The Apple Tree'' has Passionella raving about her new magically-enhanced appearance. |
| 195 | -->''Beautiful, glamorous,\ |
| 196 | radiant, ravishing.\ |
| 197 | Look at the hair,\ |
| 198 | Look at that shape!\ |
| 199 | Look everywhere,\ |
| 200 | I am such a divine me!\ |
| 201 | Every studio will sign me!\ |
| 202 | My cup runneth over,\ |
| 203 | whoever saw such a complete WOW?\ |
| 204 | Nobody can say no to me now!\ |
| 205 | No one is as\ |
| 206 | gorgeous as me!'' |
| 207 | * In the Broadway version of ''Theatre/BeautyAndTheBeast'', Gaston sings a song, "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y5riINpUx8 Me]]", about how Belle has no choice but to be madly in love with him, because of how perfect he is in every way. Gaston's eponymous song in the original film isn't just sung by him, but those parts he does sing would qualify as this, too. |
| 208 | * Contrary to what the beginning of this page states, "You and Me (But Mostly Me)" from ''Theatre/TheBookOfMormon'' manages to be both this and an [[IWantSong "I Want" Song]]. |
| 209 | %%* In ''{{Theatre/Camelot}}'', Lancelot's song "C'est Moi" is nothing but this. |
| 210 | %%* Maximillian and Cunegonde in "Life is Happiness Indeed" from the musical version of ''Literature/{{Candide}}''. |
| 211 | * The Act One finale of ''Theatre/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory'', "It Must Be Believed to Be Seen", crossbreeds this trope with WelcomingSong as Willy Wonka introduces himself to the Golden Ticket finders with promises that they're going to see incredible things on their tour of his factory -- all of which are of '''his''' invention. His world does warrant the hype, but he's also [[TheTrickster a Trickster]] AntiHero, and the catchy, brassy, cheekily sinister, glamorously-visualized number owes a lot stylistically to the ''VillainSong'' trope... |
| 212 | * In ''Theatre/AChorusLine'', Mike brags to Zach about how he could rapidly pick up new choreography and dance steps since he was a little kid during his solo "I Can Do That". |
| 213 | %%* [[TheCasanova Adolpho]] gets one of these in ''Theatre/TheDrowsyChaperone'', fittingly titled "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Adolpho]]". |
| 214 | * Miles Gloriosus' song, "Bring Me My Bride", in ''Theatre/AFunnyThingHappenedOnTheWayToTheForum'': |
| 215 | -->'''Miles:''' ''I, in war the most admired, in wit the most inspired, in love the most desired, in dress the best displayed, I am a parade!'' |
| 216 | * ''Theatre/{{Hamilton}}'' unusually (for musical theater, but not for [[BoastfulRap rap and hip-hop]]) features one for the hero in "My Shot", as Hamilton tries to impress his new revolutionary friends with a combination of boasting, sheer verbal skill and idealistic fervor. |
| 217 | -->I'm 'a get a scholarship to King's College.\ |
| 218 | I prob'ly shouldn't brag, but dag, I amaze and astonish. [...]\ |
| 219 | With every word I drop knowledge!\ |
| 220 | I'm a diamond in the rough, a shining piece of coal\ |
| 221 | tryin' to reach my goal. My power of speech: Unimpeachable!\ |
| 222 | Only nineteen but my mind is older. |
| 223 | ** The melody is also reprised in ''Blow Us All Away'' when Phillip Hamilton raps about how he's following in his father's footsteps: |
| 224 | --->''Meet the latest graduate of King's College\ |
| 225 | I prob'ly shouldn't brag, but dag, I amaze and astonish.\ |
| 226 | The scholars say I got the same virtuosity and brains as my pops\ |
| 227 | The ladies say my brain's not where the resemblance stops!'' |
| 228 | ** Also, when Lafayette, Laurens, and Mulligan are introduced in ''Aaron Burr, Sir'', each performs a short rap boasting about why they're great, too, and Lafayette's one explicitly references the song ''C'est Moi'' from ''{{Theatre/Camelot}}'': |
| 229 | --->''I came from afar just to say "Bonsoir!"\ |
| 230 | Tell the King "Casse toi!" Who's the best?''\ |
| 231 | ''C'est moi!'' |
| 232 | * In ''Theatre/HowToSucceedInBusinessWithoutReallyTrying'', one song, "I Believe in You," is sung twice; the first time the main character, J. Pierrepoint Finch, sings it to himself, as a way of bolstering his own confidence. |
| 233 | * In ''Theatre/InTheHeights'', Usnavi has a brief one in "It Won't Be Long Now" after Sonny asks Vanessa out for him. It's used purely for comedic effect, as he is too shy to ask her himself. |
| 234 | * Part of "Agony" from ''Theatre/IntoTheWoods'' has Cinderella's prince listing his qualities and his bafflement that she keeps running away from him. |
| 235 | -->''"Am I not sensitive, clever, well-mannered, considerate, passionate, charming, as kind as I'm handsome, and heir to a throne? "'' |
| 236 | * ''Theatre/LegallyBlonde'': The musical features a number called ''The Harvard Variations'' where several students sing about how great they, and why Harvard is obviously the 'perfect place' for them: |
| 237 | -->'''Aaron Schulz:''' I won a Fulbright and a Rhodes/I write financial software codes/But that's a challenge I've outgrown/How many yachts can one man own? |
| 238 | * ''Theatre/LesMiserables'' has "Master of the House", in which Thenardier brags about what a [[BlatantLies good, honest, smart man he is]]. In the TriumphantReprise "Beggars at the Feast", the Thenardiers brag about how they managed to lie, scam, cheat, and rob their way into the upper class, [[KarmaHoudini and are the best off of any of the characters at the end of the show despite being by far the worst]]. |
| 239 | * Played with in ''Theatre/TheMikado'', where the title character sings about being a great Emperor in "From ev'ry kind of man," but "his daughter-in-law elect" Katisha interrupts and makes it about herself. |
| 240 | * In ''Theatre/PeterPan1954'', "I've Gotta Crow" (and its reprise) are both Peter Pan singing about how great and clever he is and how proud he is of himself. |
| 241 | -->''I'm just the cleverest fellow\ |
| 242 | 'Twas ever my fortune to know!'' |
| 243 | * In ''Theatre/ThePiratesOfPenzance'', the Pirate King plays it straight with his song, "Oh, better far to live and die," the chorus of which runs (and is later parodied within the show): |
| 244 | -->''For I am a Pirate King!\ |
| 245 | (You are! Hurrah for the Pirate King!)\ |
| 246 | And it is, it is a glorious thing\ |
| 247 | To be a Pirate King!'' |
| 248 | ** [[MajorGeneralSong "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General"]] plays with this as well, as the Major General brags about his intellect but admits that he doesn't have much military knowledge. |
| 249 | * Subverted in Ocean's signature song in ''Theatre/RideTheCyclone'', "What the World Needs is People Like Me." When the six members of the St. Cassian High School chamber choir die in a horrific roller coaster accident and end up in limbo, they learn that ''one'' of them will win the chance to return to the land of the living. Ocean immediately launches into a song about why she deserves to live again, expounding on how driven, passionate, and successful she is while gleefully putting down her fellow choir members. Throughout her song she lovingly describes them as future drug addicts, criminals, and losers. She divines her ''best friend'' Constance's future as a "soccer mom, minivan, four little brats, no steady man!" whose greatest achievement will be as an eventual "organ donor," and calls Jane Doe "a freaky monster!" |
| 250 | -->'''Ocean:''' ''What the world needs is people like me\ |
| 251 | To keep it all spinning around!\ |
| 252 | I'm the mover, I'm the shaker\ |
| 253 | I'm the headline maker\ |
| 254 | And no one's gonna keep me down.\ |
| 255 | Okay, it's clear, I'm the top of this class\ |
| 256 | and these folks here, well they pump the gas.\ |
| 257 | Or fetch me a coffee shine my shoes\ |
| 258 | Some of us are winners, some were born to lose!'' |
| 259 | * ''Theatre/SixTheMusical'' has "Get Down," where Anne of Cleves is ''supposed'' to be singing about how her marriage to Henry VIII ruined her life, thus proving that she had the most tragic fate out of all his wives in their competition. But she just can't help telling the truth: after the divorce, she moved into her own castle, free to do whatever she felt like doing "with more money than I could ever spend in a lifetime!" |
| 260 | * ''Theatre/SomethingRotten'' gives us "Hard to Be the Bard", where a preening, self-obessed [[ShakespeareInFiction William Shakespeare]] humblebrags about his greatness, in between whining and complaining about his writer's block, which also makes it something of a tongue-in-cheek VillainousLament. |
| 261 | * ''Theatre/StarlightExpress'' has "AC/DC", which is all about how great Electra is. |
| 262 | * ''Theatre/TwistedTheUntoldStoryOfARoyalVizier'' has "No One Remembers Achmed", wherein Prince Achmed and his soldiers boast of his manliness and battlefield prowess, while also bemoaning how outside his own kingdom [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall he is only remembered]] for [[WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}} an embarrassing incident involving a tiger biting him in the ass]], and stating his intention to rectify this state of affairs through war. |
| 263 | -->''Caked in mud, or drenched in blood\ |
| 264 | You smell as fresh as a flower.'' (I guess...)\ |
| 265 | ''But no one remembers Achmed!''\ |
| 266 | ''You can pleasure sixty concubines in only an hour!'' ([[SpeedSex Less!]])\ |
| 267 | ''But no one remembers Achmed!'' |
| 268 | [[/folder]] |
| 269 | |
| 270 | [[folder:Web Animation]] |
| 271 | * [[Franchise/HomestarRunner Strong Bad]] seems to enjoy making these kinds of songs, even often including some variation of the phrase "I am great" in the lyrics. Notable examples include [[https://youtu.be/xzwgAxbRXYw "(You Can't) Handle My Style"]] and [[https://youtu.be/94ERu8--drw "The Ladies in My Town All Know My Name"]]. None of the songs ever seem to elaborate on what, exactly, makes him so great. |
| 272 | * ''WebAnimation/CharlieTheUnicorn'' episode 4's obligatory song routine features a singing millipede who sings a song about how awesome she is. |
| 273 | * ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss'' has episode 5's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlHraWzssYc&ab_channel=FathanAjja Sweet Victory]], sung by Striker after tying for first place in the Pain Games with Blitzo, and with his smooth voice and impressive guitar skills, you could easily buy anything he says. |
| 274 | * ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Yang's theme song, ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XoOt-5pW_Q I Burn]]'', is basically a very long, catchy BadassBoast about [[ActionGirl how she's going to utterly wreck your shit]]. |
| 275 | ** And then at the end of Volume 4, there's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfdsWzjcy58 Armed and Ready]], which is basically ''I Burn, Pt. II''. After the tragic events of Volume 3 put her through the ringer, [[HesBack Yang is burning brighter than ever]]. |
| 276 | --->''I am the Golden one\ |
| 277 | Who burns just like the sun\ |
| 278 | Next time we meet is your disaster\ |
| 279 | I’ll bring the punishment\ |
| 280 | Your song won’t be lament\ |
| 281 | Revenge my happy ever after'' |
| 282 | ** Neon Katt, one of Yang's opponents in the [[TournamentArc Vytal Festival]], has her own boasting theme song, [[CharacterTitle appropriately]] titled ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5pnzQtBtf0 Neon]]'', which is about how it's just too bad that you'll never be quite as awesome as her. |
| 283 | ** Also from ''RWBY'': Team CVFY gets [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8mZmgDMLjk "Caffeine"]], and Emerald and Mercury have a villainous example in "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qXIFgzZRMk "I'm The One"]] |
| 284 | * The song "Oblivious" from [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmTyBYV_ufw&t=143s Episode Two]] of ''WebAnimation/OfWeaselsAndChickens''. Prima either makes fun of Marcus or praises herself throughout the entire song. |
| 285 | -->'''Prima:''' ''Adventurous, ambitious, egg-speditious, never timorous, and anything but oblivious!''\ |
| 286 | '''Marcus:''' ''And modest too.'' |
| 287 | ** Also "Off to the Henhouse" from [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT4d7CeQmfQ&t=1s Episode Three]], to some extent. Although the majority is a SanitySlippageSong about how much Prima loves murder, she also praises herself as an efficient predator. |
| 288 | --->''I'm the kind of guy\ |
| 289 | Who gets happy when it gets gory!\ |
| 290 | I'm in no way shy\ |
| 291 | Submitting to instincts predatory!\ |
| 292 | I'm the subject of gallinaceous horror stories\ |
| 293 | That hens tell to their chicks as a little memento mori...'' |
| 294 | [[/folder]] |
| 295 | |
| 296 | [[folder:Web Video]] |
| 297 | * Franchise/HarryPotter sings in the ''WebVideo/PotterPuppetPals'' video "The Vortex" about being the "king" of Hogwarts, and defeating Voldemort as a baby. It has a melancholy end, though, as Harry remembers he also lost his parents as a baby, and had to move to an abusive foster home. |
| 298 | * Played with in ''WebVideo/CommentaryTheMusical'': "Better Than Neil" appears to be this, but [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation can very easily be seen as Nathan desperately masking his insecurity.]] |
| 299 | * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GrJkMywWxY Shady Could've Done It Better]] has [[WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries Marik, Bakura]] and [[WebVideo/YuGiOhGXTheAbridgedSeries Shady Vox]] singing the notion that, "no matter what anybody else does, Shady could've done it better." |
| 300 | * In ''WebVideo/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog'', the NominalHero Captain Hammer tries delivering a RousingSpeech in song form with "Everyone's A Hero," which ends up being filled with {{Stealth Insult}}s and comes off more as TheReasonYouSuckSpeech directed at homeless people and muggles about how they'll never be as great as he is no matter what. Naturally, the audience chews it up save for Penny, though the fact that he openly boasts about sleeping with her in the song probably didn't do him any favors. |
| 301 | -->'''Captain Hammer:''' ''Everyone's a hero in their own way; you, and you, and mostly me, and you.'' |
| 302 | * Creator/SamAndMickey's ''Franchise/{{Barbie}}'s Book Club'' videos have a theme song in which Barbie proclaims that she's "so pretty", and (twice) that she has a book club. |
| 303 | * ''WebAnimation/ThrillingIntent'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCClDwl98RU The Ballad of Markus Velafi]], a song telling tall tales about his exploits without giving [[ConsummateLiar any details about himself, and admitting as much in the lyrics]] while trying to con the listener into giving him money. |
| 304 | ** There's also, of course, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR7uZ90EOIo Better Than You]], the ImageSong for Inien, who [[JerkAss starts by taunting the listener]] before listing all of her qualities. |
| 305 | [[/folder]] |
| 306 | |
| 307 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 308 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'': Sasha Waybright's song "Heartstomper" from "Battle of the Bands" is about how awesome and tough she is. |
| 309 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'': |
| 310 | ** "I'm Cute", sung by Dot. Her brothers, who are singing the chorus, eventually get sick of it and interrupt with mocking lyrics of their own. |
| 311 | ** "I Am the Very Model of a Cartoon Individual," in reference to ''Theatre/PiratesOfPenzance'', is a MajorGeneralSong about Yakko bragging about his skill as a toon. |
| 312 | * ''WesternAnimation/CentralPark'': |
| 313 | ** "Momma's Got This" from Season 1 "[[Recap/CentralParkS1E3HatLuncheon Hat Luncheon]]" is a lovingly [[DownplayedTrope downplayed]], even [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] version of this. As Paige confidently chases a lead for a story with her kids in tow, insisting she has it all together, her kids gently point out her disheveled appearance, she almost gets off at the wrong stop, and she tries and fails to speak Polish. |
| 314 | ** In Season 1 "[[Recap/CentralParkS1E6RivalBusker Rival Busker]]", guest character Griffin introduces himself with "First Class Hands," emphasizing how much better he is as a narrator than the show's usual narrator, Birdie, and speaking down to Birdie himself when he shows up. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that [[spoiler:Birdie is revealed to have been fired for accidentally breaking a major narrator rule.]] No surprise the song was written by [[Creator/DarrenCriss Harry]] [[Theatre/AVeryPotterMusical Freakin']] [[ItsAllAboutMe Potter]] himself. |
| 315 | ** In Season 1 "[[Recap/CentralParkS1E10AFishCalledSnakehead A Fish Called Snakehead]]", Dick Flake is hired by Bitsy to catch the snakehead that lurks in the Harlem Meer of Central Park. He introduces himself to the reporters by singing "Dick Flake" where he brags about how he has the right equipment to catch his fishes and he's the right man for the job. |
| 316 | ** In Season 3 "[[Recap/CentralParkS3E05GoldenOwenManagerDamager Golden Owen: Manager Damager]]", when trying to convince the manager to let her work at her store, Abby, along with Molly and Cole, sings "My Many Talents" to explain all of her many talents and why she would be a great employee. But at the end of the song, she accidentally kicks the cash register off the counter, which angers the manager and she and the kids are kicked out of the store. |
| 317 | * ''WesternAnimation/DonkeyKongCountry'': In "Kong Fu" the titular ArrogantKungFuGuy sings about what he's capable of when he introduces himself to K. Rool...with Klump and Krusha joining as back-up singers. |
| 318 | -->''I survived a volcano explode\ |
| 319 | I was swallowed by a great white shark\ |
| 320 | Hitched a ride on a tornado tail\ |
| 321 | Outrun an avalanche in the dark\ |
| 322 | I'm the kung fu master so mean and tough\ |
| 323 | I'm so bad I scare myself!'' |
| 324 | * In the ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends'' episode "Bloo Done It", Uncle Pockets has his "Professional Friends Imaginary" song, which everyone actually likes. [[SomebodyDoesntLoveRaymond (Except Bloo.)]] |
| 325 | * Bender in ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' will often sing songs where the lyrics are a variation of "Bender is great." |
| 326 | * Pizzazz, lead singer of The Misfits in ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'', [[RichBitch has an ego about the same size as her bank account]]. Some of the groups' boastful songs include "Takin' It All", "There Ain't Nobody Better", and "Universal Appeal". |
| 327 | * ''WesternAnimation/LittlestPetShop2012'' has famous mongoose celebrity Shahrukh sing one about what it's like to be a super-rich film star in the episode "Lights, Camera, Mongoose!" |
| 328 | -->'''Shahrukh:''' Get on your knees and bow right down\ |
| 329 | I'll sing you a song of my renown\ |
| 330 | When you're a famous pet like me\ |
| 331 | You look at your life a little differently... |
| 332 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'': In the music-heavy episode ''Really Loud Music'', Lola sings a song about her beauty. |
| 333 | * In the fourth and final part of the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyAndFriends'' serial "Bright Lights", we get the song "We Are The Flutter Ponies" as the titular race of ponies make Arabus and Zeb, who had been rather troublesome for the heroes up to that point, look like a joke while singing about just how powerful they are and backing up every word they say. |
| 334 | %% Weblinks are not examples. * In ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'', Vanessa Doofenshmirtz has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv94Bxdg_NI this masterpiece.]] |
| 335 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS16E18AStarIsTorn A Star Is Torn]]", a kid named Cameron, as part of his new stage persona as "Johnny Rainbow", sings a song about how superior he is due to his privilege. It turns out that it was secretly planned by his manager, Homer, to sabotage his career and ruin his chance to win a child idol contest. |
| 336 | ** [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS4E10LisasFirstWord Lisa's First Word]] features a young Bart marching down the hall banging a saucepan while singing |
| 337 | --> ''I am so great.\ |
| 338 | I am so great.\ |
| 339 | Everybody loves me,\ |
| 340 | I am so great...'' |
| 341 | * Garnet's song "Stronger Than You" from ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse''. |
| 342 | -->''This is Garnet, back together\ |
| 343 | And I'm never going down at the hands of the likes of you, because I'm so much better'' |
| 344 | ** "Haven't You Noticed that I'm a Star?" counts too. |
| 345 | --->''I can't help it if I make a scene\ |
| 346 | stepping out of my hot pink limousine.\ |
| 347 | I'm turning heads and I'm stopping traffic,\ |
| 348 | when I pose they scream and when I joke they laugh.\ |
| 349 | I've got a pair of eyes that they're getting lost in.\ |
| 350 | I hypnotize by the way I walk in.\ |
| 351 | I've got them dazzled like a stage magician,\ |
| 352 | when I point they look,\ |
| 353 | and when I talk they listen.'' |
| 354 | * ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends'': The movie ''Big World! Big Adventures!'' gives us "Free and Easy", where [[RecklessSidekick Ace]] sings about his love for racing. |
| 355 | * In the ContinuityReboot ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriendsAllEnginesGo'', Kana gets one in the form of "When I Go Fast" in the "Race for the Sodor Cup" movie. |
| 356 | --->''When I go fast, I'm the queen\ |
| 357 | I'm the ultimate racing machine\ |
| 358 | I go by in a blur,\ |
| 359 | They say "Look at her!"\ |
| 360 | I'm the fastest you've ever seen!'' |
| 361 | * ''WesternAnimation/TotalDramaWorldTour'': Upon her arrival to the competition when the teams merge, Blaineley sings "Blaineriffic", a song about [[SmallNameBigEgo how awesome she thinks she is]]. Only Owen is impressed, everyone else expresses dismay or confusion as to who Blaineley even is. Blaineley angrily reveals her credentials, those of a WhiteDwarfStarlet, at which point the final lines of the song are Heather and Courtney gleefully pointing out how Blaineley isn't as famous as she makes herself out to be. |
| 362 | * On ''WesternAnimation/{{Wallykazam}}'', Bobgoblin's song to Hattie in "Buddy Pal Friend Day" is a song all about how great and awesome he is. Since the song is ''supposed'' to be a gift for her to show his appreciation for her being his friend, naturally she is disgusted and flies off in a huff. |
| 363 | * The Cosgrove Hall adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/{{The Wind in the Willows|1983}}'' naturally include Toad's I Am Great song from the book. In the SpinOff TV series ''Oh, Mr Toad!'', it's used as a BraggingThemeTune. |
| 364 | -->''The world has held great heroes,\ |
| 365 | As history books have showed,\ |
| 366 | But never a name went down in fame,\ |
| 367 | Compared with that of Toad!'' |
| 368 | [[/folder]] |
| 369 | |
| 370 | [[folder:Other Media]] |
| 371 | * The Russian film adaptation of ''The Shadow'' contains the song "My Triumph" sung by the LivingShadow. In the song, The Shadow ponders how powerful he is , especially compared to the pitiful writer whose shadow he once was. |
| 372 | %%* The song Calvin performs in Chapter 9 of ''Fanfic/CalvinAndHobbesGetXtreme'' is one of these. |
| 373 | [[/folder]] |
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