B-side Oye mama, oye papa Format 7", 12" Length 3:12 | Released 1971 (1971) Recorded 1970, Barcelona, Spain Label Hispavox | |
"Soy Rebelde" (English: "I Am a Rebel"), also known as "Yo Soy Rebelde", is a Spanish pop ballad written by Manuel Alejandro and Ana Magdalena. It was released by British-born singer Jeanette in 1971, and was her debut solo single. It has been re-recorded by Jeanette in English, French, and Japanese, and has inspired cover versions in diverse genres from flamenco to punk rock and rap.
Contents
Development
Following the dissolution of her former band Pic-Nic in 1969, Jeanette remained with the Hispavox label and moved to Barcelona the next year. Songwriter Manuel Alejandro wrote the song for a Mexican singer, Sola, but offered it to Jeanette, who is half Spanish. Jeanette originally did not like the song; in an interview posted in Cha Cha Charming magazine, Jeanette said, "My style of music was folk music . . . but Hispavox wanted me to sing this romantic music that I could not relate to." They recorded the song that summer.
Music and Lyrics
The song begins with a combination of piano and violin. The lyrics describe a solitary person, relating a life marked by pain, and focusing on a search for happiness, friendship and love. Jeanette's voice was an angelic whisper; Alejandro remarked it was "the tiniest voice I have ever heard", and that it would have been just another Mexican song if she did not sing it. Accompanying the song is an orchestra led by Waldo de los Rios. The song was produced by Rafael Trabucchelli.
Release
When "Soy Rebelde" was released, the record label misspelled her name (Janette) as "Jeanette", but after the single became a "runaway hit", the label decided to retain the latter spelling as her stage name. The single was played in Spain, but also extended to other countries, including: France, Belgium, England, Mexico, Italy, Argentina, and Venezuela. The B-side was "Oye Mama, Oya Papa" (Listen Mama, Listen Papa).
In May 1972, Jeanette released the single in Japan as "Soy Rebelde (あまのじゃく, Amanojaku)", under Nippon Columbia records. She sang it in Japanese; the lyrics and arrangement were done by J. Hamada, with Waldo de Los Rios and his orchestra providing supporting music. The B-side was still the Spanish version of "Oye Mama, Oye Papa (オイェ・ママ、オイェ・パパ, Oie Mama Oie Papa)".
In 1976, Jeanette released the album Porque te vas, which consisted of French versions of her singles. "Soy Rebelde" became "L'inconnu Qui M'aimera" (The Stranger Who Loves Me). She also released the song as a B-side to her single Je suis triste.
Jeanette's English version, "I Am a Rebel", was released in the United Kingdom as a B-side to her Spanish single.
Reception
“Soy rebelde” charted well in Spain, and had regular airplay in 1971.
Spanish version
The Spanish version was released in 1971 by Hispavox, catalog #: HS-764.
Japanese version
The Japanese version was released in May 1972 by Nippon Columbia, catalog #: LL-2543-H
French version
The French version was released as a B-side to the single, "Je suis triste", Hispavox catalog #: 2022 014
Cover-versions/multiple-renditions
"Soy Rebelde" has inspired cover versions and renditions: