La Camisa Negra

"La camisa negra"
Single by Juanes
from the album Mi Sangre
Released January 25, 2005
Format CD single, Maxi single
Recorded 2004
Genre Alternative rock
Latin pop
Length 3:36
Label Universal
Writer(s) Juanes/Octavio Mesa
Producer Juanes, Gustavo Santaolalla
Certification Gold (Switzerland)
Juanes singles chronology
"Volverte a Ver"
(2004)
"La Camisa Negra"
(2005)
"Para Tu Amor"
(2005)

"La Camisa Negra" (English: "The Black Shirt") is a Spanish rock song written by Colombian singer-songwriter Octavio Mesa and recorded by Juanes for his third studio album Mi Sangre. In Latin America, the track was released in 2005 as the third single from Mi Sangre, and in Europe, it was released in 2006 as the album's lead single.

The song received mixed reviews from critics and generated controversy when it was used to support neo-fascism in Italy. The single was very successful in Latin America, topping most record charts.

Contents

Music and structure

"La Camisa Negra" is written in common time in the key of F#minor.[1] The song is carried by an acoustic guitar strum at a moderate 100 beats per minute, with an accompanying melody on the electric guitar.[1] The lyrics are organized in the common verse-chorus form,[2] and Juanes' range spans around an octave and a half, from C#4 to F#5.[1]

Despite what the liner notes say, the beat is actually at 97 bpm.

Critical reception

The song received mixed reviews from critics. Contactmusic.com stated that the track "is a good intro into the world of Juanes as it fully exhibits his guitar style and absorbing voice."[3] MyVillage gave the song two out of five stars, commenting that it "has a certain charm about it, but I certainly won't mind missing the boat on this occasion."[4] IndieLondon called the song "a supremely slick acoustic ballad", stating that "the rolling guitar licks…provide a wonderful accompaniment."[5] OMH gave the song a mixed review, stating that "the powerful chorus has a rather catchy vocal melody to it" but that "it's like being promised a culinary banquet only to be served a few chicken nuggets."[6]

Controversy

The song was used in Italy in support of neo-fascism because of the association of "black shirt" with the Fascist Blackshirts of Benito Mussolini,[7] and many nightclub attendees from the far right raised an arm in the fascist salute when the song was played.[8] In response, left-wing media network Indymedia called for a boycott of the song.[8] Juanes later stated that "'La Camisa Negra' has got nothing to do with fascism or Mussolini...People can interpret music in all kinds of ways I guess."[9] The song was also banned in the Dominican Republic for its sexual undertones.[10] It was also implicated in controversy at his August 2009 performance in Havana.[11][12]

Chart performance

In the United States, the song did not perform well in mainstream music, only reaching number eighty-nine on the Billboard Hot 100.[13] It performed much better on the Latin charts, topping the Hot Latin Tracks for eight non-consecutive weeks,[14] topping the Latin Pop Airplay, and reaching number two on the Latin Tropical Airplay.[13] Billboard listed the song at number two on the 2005 year-end Hot Latin Songs chart, behind fellow Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira's "La Tortura".[15] The song performed well in Europe, topping the charts in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland and reaching the top twenty in Belgium, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Norway.[16] The single was certified gold in Switzerland[17] and it is one of the Top 10 singles in the country's history.[18]

Music video

A music video for the song was released in 2005. In the video, Juanes arrives in a town, accompanied by two women and an older man. The man and women exit the car, and the man begins playing a guitar while the two dance. Various people are shown in realist street scenes. A wave comes out of the guitar, and aside from Juanes, everyone through whom the wave passes is frozen in time, performing the same motion repeatedly in forward and reverse. During the last chorus, the wave reverses direction, and the people of the town disappear. The song and video appear in the video game Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party 3.

Cover versions

In 2007, Mexican singer Lucero included a live version with mariachi of this song on her album Lucero En Vivo Auditorio Nacional. Live cover version from Kylie Minogue in Bogotá 2008, KylieX2008.

In 2009, the University of Rochester Midnight Ramblers recorded a contemporary acappella version of the song for their 8th studio album, "Ca C'est Bon".

Fox's 2009 TV Show Glee in episode 3 "Acafellas," a cover version of this song was heard in background.

There is also an Iranian version of the song entitled "Beverley Hills" by group Barobax

Dutch band 3JS covered the song in 2011 as a b-side for their Toen Ik Jou Vergat single.

Formats and track listings

12" maxi single (House Remixes)

  1. "La Camisa Negra" [Main Mix]
  2. "La Camisa Negra" [Duro Mix]
  3. "La Camisa Negra" [T.U.&G! Remix]

CD single #1

  1. "La Camisa Negra" [Album Version] - 3:36
  2. "La Camisa Negra" [Remix por Toy Hernández] - 4:36

CD single #2

  1. "La Camisa Negra" [Album Version] - 3:36
  2. "La Camisa Negra" [Sonidero Nacional Remix] - 3:36

Maxi single (July 24, 2005)

  1. "La Camisa Negra" [Album Version] - 3:36
  2. "La Camisa Negra" [Sonidero Nacional Remix] - 3:36
  3. "Fotografía" [feat. Nelly Furtado] - 3:58
  4. "La Camisa Negra" [Video] [Bonus]
  5. An Introduction to Juanes [Bonus]

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (2005–06) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[19] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] 3
Belgium (Ultratop 40 Wallonia)[21] 1
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100 Oficiální)[22] 2
Denmark Airplay (Tracklisten)[23] 1
European Hot 100 Singles[24] 4
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[25] 7
France (SNEP)[26] 1
Germany (Media Control AG)[27] 1
Italy (FIMI)[28] 1
New Zealand (RIANZ)[29] 3
Norway (VG-lista)[30] 9
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100 Oficiálna) 79
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[31] 27
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[32] 1
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[33] 1
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[34] 32
US Billboard Hot 100[35] 89
US Latin Songs (Billboard)[36] 1
US Latin Pop Songs (Billboard)[37] 1
US Tropical Songs (Billboard)[38] 1
US Regional Mexican Songs (Billboard)[38] 1

Certifications

Country Certifications
(sales thresholds)
Belgium Gold[39]
Germany Gold[40]
Switzerland Gold[41]

Year-end

End of year chart (2005) Position
German Singles Chart [42] 6
Preceded by
"Aire" by Intocable
U.S. Billboard Hot Latin Songs number-one single
(first run)

April 9, 2005 – May 28, 2005
Succeeded by
"La Tortura" by Shakira featuring Alejandro Sanz
Preceded by
"La Tortura" by Shakira featuring Alejandro Sanz
U.S. Billboard Hot Latin Songs number-one single
(second run)

June 18, 2005
Preceded by
"Maria" by US5
German Singles Chart number-one song (first run)
August 20, 2005
Succeeded by
"Durch Den Monsun" by Tokio Hotel
Preceded by
"Durch Den Monsun" by Tokio Hotel
German Singles Chart number-one song (second run)
September 17, 2005
Preceded by
"Hung Up" by Madonna
French Singles Chart number-one single
January 7, 2006 – January 21, 2006
Succeeded by
"Nolwenn Ohwo !" by Nolwenn Leroy"

External links

References

  1. ^ a b c Sheet music for "La Camisa Negra". Songs of Camaleon. 2004.
  2. ^ Juanes. "La Camisa Negra" lyrics. Mi Sangre liner notes. 2004.
  3. ^ Fabode, Seyi. "Juanes, Mi Sangre, Album Review". ContactMusic.Retrieved March 31, 2007.
  4. ^ Dallimore, Rachael. "Juanes: La Camisa Negra". MyVillage. Retrieved March 31, 2007.
  5. ^ "Juanes - Mi Sangre". IndieLondon. Retrieved March 31, 2007.
  6. ^ Harper, Jamie. "Juanes - La Camisa Negra (Polydor)". OMH. Retrieved March 31, 2007.
  7. ^ Martínez, Daniel. "Juanes en medio de polémica italiana". BBC Mundo. September 3, 2005. Retrieved January 25, 2007.
  8. ^ a b "Italians see red over 'black shirt' pop song". Reuters. September 1, 2005. Retrieved from Free Republic April 1, 2007.
  9. ^ Wilson, Scott. "From Colombia, Encouraging Sounds". The Washington Post. October 14, 2003: page C01.
  10. ^ Sainz, Adrian. "Rubio, Juanes Earn Billboard Latin Awards". Yahoo! Music. April 28, 2005. Retrieved February 7, 2007.
  11. ^ Junco, Maite (August 21, 2009). "Juanes' Havana concert stirs controversy". Daily News (New York). http://www.nydailynews.com/latino/2009/08/19/2009-08-19_to_cuba_with_song.html. 
  12. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juanes#2009_Peace_Concert_in_Cuba
  13. ^ a b "Mi Sangre > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved March 31, 2007.
  14. ^ Jeckell, Barry A. "Carey Still 'Belongs' At No. 1". Billboard. June 9, 2005. Retrieved March 31, 2007.
  15. ^ "Hot Latin Songs". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2007.
  16. ^ "Juanes - La Camisa Negra: Charts". Music Square. Retrieved March 31, 2007.
  17. ^ "Awards 2005". SwissCharts.com. Retrieved April 1, 2007.
  18. ^ "Best of All Time - Singles". SwissCharts.com. Retrieved April 1, 2007. It peaked at #32 in the UK, surprisingly, and was the first and only song of Juanes to enter the UK charts.
  19. ^ "Juanes – La Camisa Negra – Austriancharts.at" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Hung Medien.
  20. ^ "Ultratop.be – Juanes – La Camisa Negra" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  21. ^ "Ultratop.be – Juanes – La Camisa Negra" (in French). Ultratop 40. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  22. ^ "Radio Top100 Oficiální". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  23. ^ "{{{artist}}} – {{{song}}} Hitlisten.nu" (in Danish). Tracklisten. IFPI Danmark & Nielsen Music Control.
  24. ^ "Juanes Album & Song Chart History" European Hot 100 for Juanes. Prometheus Global Media.
  25. ^ "Finnishcharts.com – Juanes – La Camisa Negra". Suomen virallinen lista. Hung Medien.
  26. ^ "Lescharts.com – Juanes – La Camisa Negra" (in French). Les classement single. Hung Medien.
  27. ^ "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, News, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche - musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  28. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Juanes – La Camisa Negra". Top Digital Download. Hung Medien.
  29. ^ "Charts.org.nz – Juanes – La Camisa Negra". Top 40 Singles. Hung Medien.
  30. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Juanes – La Camisa Negra". VG-lista. Hung Medien.
  31. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Juanes – La Camisa Negra". Singles Top 60. Hung Medien.
  32. ^ "Juanes – La Camisa Negra – swisscharts.com". Swiss Singles Chart. Hung Medien.
  33. ^ Los Discos No. 1 En España de 1950 and 2010 - NEWALENCIA, http://nicolasramospintado.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/los-discos-n%C2%BA1-en-espana-de-1950-a-2010/, retrieved 2 September 2010 
  34. ^ "Chart Stats – Juanes – La Camisa Negra" UK Singles Chart. Chart Stats.
  35. ^ "Juanes Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Juanes. Prometheus Global Media.
  36. ^ "Juanes Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Latin Songs for Juanes. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  37. ^ "Juanes Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Latin Pop Songs for Juanes. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  38. ^ a b La Camisa Negra - Juanes, http://www.billboard.com/#/song/juanes/la-camisa-negra/5546589, retrieved 6 September 2010 
  39. ^ "La Camisa Negra" Belgium Certification
  40. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank ('La Camisa Negra')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=La+Camisa+Negra&strInterpret=&strTtArt=alle&strAwards=checked. 
  41. ^ "La Camisa Negra" Switzerland Certification
  42. ^ http://www.mtv.de/charts/Single_Jahrescharts_2005