La Camisa Negra

Infobox Single
Name = La Camisa Negra


Artist = Juanes
from Album = Mi Sangre
Released = 2005
Format = CD single, Maxi single
Recorded = 2004
Genre = Latin pop
Length = 3:36
Label = Universal
Writer = Juanes
Producer = Juanes, Gustavo Santaolalla
Certification = Gold (Switzerland)
Last single = "Volverte a Ver"
(2004)
This single = "La Camisa Negra"
(2005)
Next single = "Para Tu Amor"
(2005)"La Camisa Negra" (English: "The Black Shirt") is a rock en español song written by Colombian singer-songwriter 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.

Music and structure

"La Camisa Negra" is written in common time in the key of G minor.Sheet music for "La Camisa Negra". Songs of Camaleon. 2004.] The song is carried by an acoustic guitar strum at a moderate 100 beats per minute, with an accompanying melody on the electric guitar. The lyrics are organized in the common verse-chorus form, [Juanes. "La Camisa Negra" lyrics. "Mi Sangre" liner notes. 2004.] and Juanes' range spans around an octave and a half, from C#₄ to F#₅.

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." [Fabode, Seyi. [http://www.contactmusic.com/new/home.nsf/webpages/juanesx04x05x06 "Juanes, Mi Sangre, Album Review"] . ContactMusic.Retrieved March 31 2007.] 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." [Dallimore, Rachael. [http://www.myvillage.co.uk/pages/bars&music-review-juanes-la-camisa-negra.htm "Juanes: La Camisa Negra"] . MyVillage. Retrieved March 31 2007.] IndieLondon called the song "a supremely slick acoustic ballad", stating that "the rolling guitar licks…provide a wonderful accompaniment." [ [http://www.indielondon.co.uk/Music-Review/juanes-mi-sangre "Juanes - Mi Sangre"] . IndieLondon. Retrieved March 31 2007.] 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." [Harper, Jamie. [http://www.musicomh.com/singles/juanes_0406.htm "Juanes - La Camisa Negra (Polydor)"] . OMH. Retrieved March 31 2007.]

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,Martínez, Daniel. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/misc/newsid_4207000/4207938.stm "Juanes en medio de polémica italiana"] . BBC Mundo. September 3 2005. Retrieved January 25 2007.] and many nightclub attendees from the far right raised an arm in the fascist salute when the song was played."Italians see red over 'black shirt' pop song". Reuters. September 1 2005. Retrieved from Free Republic April 1 2007.] In response, left-wing media network Indymedia called for a boycott of the song. 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."Wilson, Scott. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A21946-2003Oct13&notFound=true "From Colombia, Encouraging Sounds"] . "The Washington Post". October 14 2003: page C01.] The song was also banned in the Dominican Republic for its sexual undertones. [Sainz, Adrian. [http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/18696828 "Rubio, Juanes Earn Billboard Latin Awards"] . Yahoo! Music. April 28 2005. Retrieved February 7 2007.]

Chart performance

The song was very successful in Latin America, topping the singles charts in Argentina, Chile, Colombia , Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela. [http://latinmusicnews.com/2005/10/21/according-to-billboard%e2%80%99s-just-published-%e2%80%9cyear-to-date%e2%80%9d-latin-music-chartsjuanes%e2%80%99-%e2%80%9cla-camisa-negra%e2%80%9d-is-the-1-latin-song-of-the-year/ "According to Billboard's Just-Published 'Year-To-Date' Latin Music Charts…JUANES' 'LA CAMISA NEGRA' is the #1 Latin Song of the Year"] . Latin Music News. October 16 2005. Retrieved April 1 2007.] In the United States, the song did not perform well in mainstream music, only reaching number eighty-nine on the "Billboard" Hot 100. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:a9fpxqlsld6e~T31 "Mi Sangre > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles"] . Allmusic. Retrieved March 31 2007.] It performed much better on the Latin charts, topping the Hot Latin Tracks for eight non-consecutive weeks, [Jeckell, Barry A. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000954210 "Carey Still 'Belongs' At No. 1"] . "Billboard". June 9 2005. Retrieved March 31 2007.] topping the Latin Pop Airplay, and reaching number two on the Latin Tropical Airplay. "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". [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/yearend/2005/charts/la_singl.jsp "Hot Latin Songs"] . "Billboard". Retrieved March 31 2007.] 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. [http://www.musicsquare.net/charts/song/762 "Juanes - La Camisa Negra: Charts"] . Music Square. Retrieved March 31 2007.] The single was certified gold in Switzerland [ [http://swisscharts.com/awards.asp?year=2005 "Awards 2005"] . SwissCharts.com. Retrieved April 1 2007.] and is the best-performing single in the country's history. [ [http://swisscharts.com/bestall.asp "Best of All Time - Singles"] . SwissCharts.com. Retrieved April 1 2007.]

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. 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. During the last chorus, the wave reverses direction, and the people of the town disappear.

Formats and track listings

12" maxi single (House Remixes)
#"La Camisa Negra" [Main Mix]
#"La Camisa Negra" [Duro Mix]
#"La Camisa Negra" [T.U.&G! Remix]

CD single #1
#"La Camisa Negra" [Album Version] - 3:36
#"La Camisa Negra" [Remix por Toy Hernández] - 4:36

CD single #2
#"La Camisa Negra" [Album Version] - 3:36
#"La Camisa Negra" [Sonidero Nacional Remix] - 3:36

Maxi single (July 24, 2005)
#"La Camisa Negra" [Album Version] - 3:36
#"La Camisa Negra" [Sonidero Nacional Remix] - 3:36
#"Fotografía" [feat. Nelly Furtado] - 3:58
#"La Camisa Negra" [Video] [Bonus]
#An Introduction to Juanes [Bonus]

Charts

Cover versions

In 2007, mexican singer Lucero included a live version with mariachi of this song on her album "Lucero En Vivo Auditorio Nacional".

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASXzq1O9rrc "La Camisa Negra" music video]

References