Netflix has released a new Spanish documentary, "I'm Still a Superstar," which can be watched alongside the comedy-drama series "Superstar." While the series is a fictional adaptation of the peculiar life of Spanish pop singer and businesswoman Yurena, the documentary interviews the woman and some of her co-stars who played important roles in her career, for better or worse. Overall, "I'm Still a Superstar" is a decent film (despite some sloppy editing) as a standalone documentary, giving us a glimpse into the negative impact the media can have on people. However, it's more enjoyable as a companion to the new Netflix series.
Born María del Mar Cuena Seisdedos in Baracaldo, Spain, Yurena doesn't have many fond memories of her childhood due to the constant bullying and insults she suffered in her neighborhood as a child. In the 1960s and 1970s, the world was completely unaware of sensitivity, and young Yurena was constantly criticized for her weight by the children, and even some adults, around her. Her close relationship with her mother, Margarita, was also ridiculed by the children, who found it unusual for a child to have such a close bond with her. When Margarita visited her daughter at school during recess, and the two met and chatted through the fence, Yurena was the target of cruel jokes for days.
Director: Marc Pujolar
Writers: Marc Pujolar, María Zuil
Stars: Arlequín, La Caneli, Leonardo Dantés
Already struggling to fit in, Yurena's problems increased when natural changes in her appearance made her the victim of even more relentless bullying. In the interview, she openly states that her idea of beauty standards was greatly distorted from a very young age due to these childhood experiences, which made her susceptible to the idea of "perfecting" her appearance as quickly as possible. Therefore, Yurena underwent her first breast augmentation surgery at just 16 years old, hoping to better integrate into society. Her parents put her on a very strict diet to help her lose weight, and over time, she managed to achieve a figure she liked.
But Yurena spent most of her adolescence avoiding events and public gatherings, locked in her room at her family's house and listening to music from all over the world. She admits that music helped her a lot through difficult times, so when it came time to make a decision about what to do with her life, she chose to be a singer. As a young woman, Yurena had a unique and distinctive voice, and despite not being the most talented singer and having very little formal training, she began performing in local pubs and theaters and even recorded an album.
In 1998, she moved to Madrid with Margarita, who accompanied her daughter literally everywhere, hoping to have more opportunities in the entertainment industry and succeed. By the year 2000, the world, including Spain, was undergoing a series of changes, and pop culture was beginning to take on an even larger and more global shape. It was then that Yurena suddenly burst onto the scene, albeit under the name "Tamara," which she was using at the time.
She began to become a recognized figure after appearing on the nightly show "Crónicas Marcianas," where she sang and opened up about her life. A few months later, Yurena was not only a regular guest on the show but also released the single "No Cambie," which took the country by storm. Thus, Yurena finally achieved the stardom she had longed for throughout her career, as she not only wanted to be a singer, but also an artist who stood out in front of the cameras. But popularity also came at a cost, as the media took advantage of her desperation and used it to boost their own ratings, regardless of the impact this would have on her.
When Yurena appeared on the show, she achieved a significant ratings boost by claiming to be pregnant by Paco Porras, a psychic who appeared on equally shoddy television programs at the time. "I'm Still a Superstar" also features an interview with Paco, where the segment primarily highlights his eccentricity. Paco, who has worked as a puppeteer, magician, and clairvoyant, openly states that his parents passed on their psychic abilities to him, as well as his ability to pull puppet strings.
He claims that the ability to be open to the supernatural, such as being able to hear whispers from spirits or establish direct communication with them, is often mistaken for a sign of paranoid schizophrenia. Because of this misconception, people with such abilities are either persecuted or forced to take medication (both are equally harmful to him), resulting in the loss of their powers. It's no wonder Paco Porras became famous for his outlandish, and sometimes downright insane, statements and actions on television shows.
In fact, he is primarily remembered for supposedly predicting the future by observing patterns in fruits and vegetables presented to him. Paco and Yurena apparently met at some event, both of them being "marginal celebrities," that is, famous only for scandals and controversies, not for their talent. This relationship, obviously, didn't last long, and resulted in Yurena announcing her alleged pregnancy on Crónicas Marcianas. The claim was so far-fetched that it was obvious to viewers that it wasn't true, but they continued watching simply for the drama of the situation, almost seeking the perverse pleasure of watching two people's lives fall apart.
During that time, Paco told the media on numerous occasions that he didn't have much love for Yurena and that he had only become romantically involved with her for his own interests. In the documentary, however, Yurena reveals, or claims, that it was actually Paco who suddenly appeared in her life and began telling the media that she was his girlfriend. Apparently, there was no relationship between them, and their romance was just a publicity stunt by Paco, who wanted to take advantage of her growing popularity. Therefore, it was practically impossible for the pregnancy to be real. Although Yurena doesn't clarify the matter, Paco Porras bluntly states that he was never intimate with the woman, so her pregnancy was never a possibility.
The next controversy that arose for Yurena was when a woman named Loly Álvarez claimed that she plagiarized her songs and voice, claiming that "No Cambie" was actually her creation. Born in a small town in Granada, Loly Álvarez was the youngest of her siblings and the one with the greatest desire to rebel against established norms and traditions. From a young age, she wanted to be an artist, so she moved to Madrid as soon as possible, aware that the capital was where she could find the breakthrough she was looking for. While beginning to give concerts, Loly met Leonardo Dantes, an actor and singer who was also looking for a big break in his career. Loly and Leonardo soon began performing as a duo, calling themselves Luna Azul, and even released several albums together.
Leonardo Dantes composed the song "No cambie" and brought it to Loly, who sang it for one of her albums in 1997. According to Loly, she loved the song and cherished it like her own daughter, so she was furious when she heard Yurena's version in 2000. Yurena confirms in the Netflix documentary that Leonardo Dantes himself had given her the song, and since he is the official composer, there can be no complaints against him. In fact, she had become good friends with Leonardo during her time on Crónicas Marcianas, as the actor and singer also appeared regularly on the show.
The reality seems to be that Yurena sang "No cambie" without knowing it had already been recorded by Loly Álvarez, and she probably didn't expect her version to be a hit either. Once she started receiving recognition and credit for the song, Yurena refused to give it all up for Loly's sake, and if anyone, it was Leonardo who should take the blame. "Sigo siendo una Superestrella" indirectly mentions how men abused their position and simply walked away, claiming to have tried to bring fame and popularity to everyone in any way possible. Nothing about the plagiarism occurred, apparently because Loly wasn't rich enough to sue Yurena, and she probably didn't even have official documents to prove her claim.
Comments
Post a Comment