Soy rebelde

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.^[1]

"Soy rebelde" is a quintessential sad song.^[2] The song uses a melody based on piano, wind instruments and violins that surrounds Jeanette's soft vocals.^[2]

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.^{[citation needed]} 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.^[1]

The song is one of the greatest exponents of the "Torrelaguna Sound", named after the Torrelaguna Street in Madrid, where Hispavox Studios was based.^[3] This production style was influenced by Phil Spector's Wall of Sound, and experimented with the layering of instruments and reverb.^[4]

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.^[5] The single was played in Spain, but also extended to other countries, including: France, Belgium, England, Mexico, Italy, Argentina, and Venezuela.^[1] The B-side was "Oye Mama, Oye Papa" (Listen Mama, Listen Papa).^[6]

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)".^[6]

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).^[5][7] She also released the song as a B-side to her single Je suis triste.^[8]

Jeanette's English version, "I Am a Rebel", was released in the United Kingdom as a B-side to her Spanish single.^[9]

"Soy rebelde" was a commercial success and redefined Jeanette's career to that of a romantic balladist.^[10] The hit single topped the charts in Spain,^[11] staying on the charts for ten weeks.^[12] It also charted in the Top 10 of Latin American countries such as Argentina,^[13] Colombia^[14] and Peru.^[15] The song became a popular teen anthem throughout the Spanish-speaking world.^[16] This generation "adopted Jeanette as a symbol of a desire that became embedded in the subconscious of the collective memory."^[17]

"Soy rebelde" has inspired cover versions and renditions:

• In 1978, the Brazilian singer Lilian Knapp recorded a Portuguese version of the song titled "Sou Rebelde" (on the B-side, another version of a Jeanette song, "Porque te vas").^[19]
• In 1997, Albert Pla, a Catalan singer-songwriter, sang "Soy rebelde", and released it on his album Veintegenarios En Alburquerque.^[20][21] It was also presented in the film Airbag as "Yo soy rebelde".^[22]

• In 1998, Argentine group Attaque 77 released their album Otras Canciones, containing a punk rock version of "Soy rebelde".^[23] It was also featured on their live album, Trapos.^[24]

• In 2005, Esmirna sang "Soy rebelde" on his episode of Chilean animated series Diego and Glot.
• In 2007, Fernando Caro sang "Soy rebelde" on his debut album Rebelde.^[25] Spanish flamenco singer Pastora Soler also sang "Soy rebelde" as a duet with India Martinez.^[26]

• In 2008, French singer Nathalie Cardone did a version of "Soy rebelde" that features a guitar for the background music.^[27][28]

• In 2009, Rosario Flores covered "Soy rebelde" on her Spanish pop songs from the 1970s album, Cuéntame.^[29] Mariano Prunes of Allmusic remarked that Flores's version is one of her best.^[30] Flores also released a video clip of the song.^[31]

• In May 2012, rap music group Rebel Diaz sang "Soy rebelde" from its album Radical Dilemma. Its version's message is "that struggle against the status quo has a history that needs to be continued." It samples Jeanette's version, calling hers "a late 60s Spanish pop ballad."^[32]