He's a Rebel

The Crystals, Pat Boone

About He's a Rebel

"He's a Rebel" is a song written by Gene Pitney that was originally recorded by the girl group the Blossoms. Produced by Phil Spector, their version was issued as a single credited to the Crystals, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in November 1962. It was Spector's first number one hit since "To Know Him Is to Love Him" (1958). In 2004, "He's a Rebel" was ranked No. 263 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Billboard named the song #31 on their list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.  


Year:
1999
2:17
51 
#1

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See the way he walks down the street
Watch the way he shuffles his feet
My, he holds his head up high
When he goes walking by, he's my guy

When he holds my hand, I'm so proud
'Cause he's not just one of the crowd
My baby's always the one to try
the things they've never done
And just because of that, they say

He's a rebel and he'll never ever be any good
He's a rebel 'cause he never ever does what he should
But just because he doesn't do what everybody else does
That's no reason why I can't give him all my love

He's always good to me, always treats me tenderly
'Cause he's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no, to me

If they don't like him that way
They won't like me after today
I'll be standing right by his side when they say

He's a rebel and he'll never ever be any good
He's a rebel 'cause he never ever ever does what he should
Just because he doesn't do what everybody else does
That's no reason why we can't share a love

He's always good to me, good to him, I try to be
'Cause he's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no, to me

Oh, he's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no

He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no

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The Crystals

The Crystals are an American vocal group based in New York, considered one of the defining acts of the girl group era of the first half of the 1960s. Their 1961–1964 chart hits, including "Uptown", "He's Sure the Boy I Love", "He's a Rebel", "Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)" and "Then He Kissed Me", featured three successive female lead singers, and were all produced by Phil Spector. The latter three songs are ranked #267, #114, and #493, respectively, on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. more »

1 fan

Written by: Gene Pitney

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Genre and Creator
"He’s a Rebel" is a song written by Gene Pitney, but it was brought to fame by music producer Phil Spector who released it under his record label, Philles Records.
Signature Sound
The song is known for its "Wall of Sound" production technique, a hallmark of Spector's music that combines multiple instruments and vocal harmonies to build a layered, dense orchestral effect.
Band Discrepancy
Even though it was credited to The Crystals, "He’s a Rebel" was actually recorded by a completely different girl group, The Blossoms. Due to touring commitments, The Crystals were unable to record the song and Spector chose not to wait.
Chart Success
"He's a Rebel" topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States for two weeks in November 1962, making it The Crystals' first Number 1 U.S. hit.
Clara Thomas Controversy
Despite being the lead singer on "He's a Rebel", The Blossoms' Darlene Love, then known as Darlene Wright, was not originally credited. The song was instead attributed to The Crystals' vocalist Barbara Alston, causing a lot of controversy in the music industry.
The Impersonation Tour
After "He’s a Rebel" became a hit, The Crystals found they were expected to perform it on tour despite not being the actual singers on the track. They had to quickly learn the song to match their recorded personas.
Song Theme
The song theme is quite feminist for its time. It talks about a girl in love with a boy who is a ‘rebel,' implying she values him for his individuality against societal norms rather than for conforming.
Popularity Over Time
Over 50 years later, "He's a Rebel" is still regarded as a classic, and it was even inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004.
Influence on Other Artists
The song's success and unique sound had a significant influence on future artists. Notably, it was embraced by the British Invasion bands of the 1960s, including The Beatles, who admired Spector's innovative production style.
He's a Rebel" in Movies
The song has appeared in several films over the years, including in the opening sequence of Martin Scorsese's film "Goodfellas", lending a sense of timeless appeal to the movie's setting.

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1962

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