"Yo soy aquél" ("I am that one"), sometimes spelled as "Yo soy aquel", is a song recorded by Spanish singer Raphael, written by Manuel Alejandro. It in the Eurovision Song Contest 1966, held in Luxembourg, and over time it has become one of Raphael's signature songs.

Background

Conception

Manuel Alejandro wrote several songs for Lucho Gatica, being one of them "Yo soy aquél", but Gatica's team prevented them from meeting. So, Alejandro included the song in the album he was producing for Raphael.

Eurovision

Televisión Española (TVE) addressed the General Society of Authors and Publishers (SGAE) requesting original songs to participate in the of the Eurovision Song Contest, naming nine possible composers as an example, but leaving the SGAE freedom of choice. Since the SGAE did not consider appropriate to choose among its associates, TVE agreed to take into consideration all the works sent to them by SGAE's associated composers. Finally, TVE accepted songs from seven composers, among which "Yo soy aquél" sent by Manuel Alejandro and sung by Raphael was internally selected as in the contest. The public announcement of the song, singer, and composer selected was done without prior notice in a television broadcast in January 1966, for which TVE had to ask permission from the head of the military garrison where Raphael was doing his compulsory military service, so that he could travel to Prado del Rey for the announcement. On 5 March 1966, the Eurovision Song Contest was held at Villa Louvigny in Luxembourg hosted by the Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion (CLT), and broadcast live throughout the continent. Manuel Fraga himself, the Minister of Information and Tourism, on whom TVE depended at that time, had to obtain special permission so that Raphael could leave the garrison for a few days to travel to Luxembourg. He performed "Yo soy aquél" eleventh on the evening, following 's "Nygammal vals" by Lill Lindfors and Svante Thuresson and preceding 's "Ne vois-tu pas?" by Madeleine Pascal. Rafael Ibarbia made the orchestral arrangement of the Spanish entry and conducted the event's orchestra in its performance. At the close of voting, "Yo soy aquél" received nine points –five points from, three from the and one from –, placing seventh in a field of eighteen, in a tie with Yugoslavia's Berta Ambrož with "Brez Besed". This was the best result for Spain in the contest so far, which led TVE to select Raphael again as its representative at the, where he competed with "Hablemos del amor" placing sixth.

Film

On 12 December 1966, the film Cuando tú no estás starring Raphael premiered in Spain, in which he sings several songs including "Yo soy aquél". This song and some footage of his performance in this film were later used in the 1997 film Love Can Seriously Damage Your Health to portray one of the protagonists attending a Raphael recital of the time.

Releases

"Yo soy aquél" was released in Spain by Hispavox in a vinyl single along with other three songs. It was subsequently released in different vinyl single editions in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, South Africa, Portugal, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela by different labels under license from Hispavox. Raphael also recorded a French language version of the song, with lyrics by Don Diego, with the title "Dis-moi lequel" that was released in France in a vinyl single by Disques Vogue under license from Hispavox. "Yo soy aquél" was included in the album Canta... Raphael that Manuel Alejandro produced for Raphael, in which he wrote eight of the twelve songs, arranged other three songs by other composers, and conducted the orchestra on the recording. Another song on the album written by Antonio Areta was arranged and conducted by Frank Ferrer. Seven of Alejandro's songs were featured in the film Cuando tú no estás. The album released in Spain by Hispavox in 1966, was released in different vinyl editions internationally.

Charts

Weekly charts

Legacy

Cover versions

The song was subsequently covered many times and released by different singers:

Other performances

Impersonations

Raphael performances singing "Yo soy aquél" were recreated several times in different talent shows: