On the weekends, my house was filled with the sounds of Leo Dan, José José, Julio Iglesias, and Juan Gabriel. Their music would play while we did our chores, and my taste in music differed from my parents’, but I enjoyed the sounds coming out of the living room speakers. These artists were not something that I would play in my Walkman, but I would listen to them whenever we went on family trips in the car.

As I got older, my ears were always covered with headphones, and I would listen to Hip-Hop all day long. The music from these Latino artists slowly began to fade away, and my journey into different musical landscapes began to grow. As an adult, I would play those  Spanish songs on my playlists so my children can listen to some of the songs I heard growing up. Juan Gabriel was one that I would play on repeat because his voice would remind me of those weekends in my childhood home.

Juan Gabriel: I Must, I Can, I Will is a 4-episode series that is a beautiful love letter to the man, his music, and his fans. The beauty of this documentary lies in the fact that Juan Gabriel, himself, tells the audience his story. Through a massive collection of cassette tapes, home movies, and written notes, audiences are given an inside look at his rise to stardom. In never-before-seen films, we see Juan at home, on the road, and spending time with his family. We were lucky to watch the first 2 episodes of this series, and they were not only fantastic but also very emotional. 

To know the music is to know the man, and we get a in-depth look at his life in this series. The first episode alone shows us the tough life he lived in a school for troubled kids. Being in the school he felt alone and he states that “Loneliness became my friend’. This loneliness resulted in a young Juan writing hundreds of songs at such a young age. When he was in prison his talent was shared by the warden of the jail to a record executive who felt he needed to be out of prison and making music. 

It is little stories like this that might not be known to some that expand on the life of this amazing artist. In the first two episodes, not only do we see the hardships but also the successes! We see how his career blooms and how working and writing for others take him to another level. With all of these successes come problems and we are introduced to a few in the second episode. 

I’m curious and excited to see what the rest of the series shows us but am also preparing myself for the final episode. We are shown how his death affected the entire country of Mexico and the kind words from world leaders. This was just the first few minutes of the first episode and it was emotional to watch. The timing of this docu-series is perfect for premiering after Hispanic Heritage Month, but in my opinion, it would have been great to come out at the beginning of this celebration. 

Juan Gabriel: I Must, I Can, I Will premieres on Netflix October 30th.

Final Thoughts: Juan Gabriel: I Must, I Can, I Will is a beautiful love letter to not only Juan Gabriel, but also to his music and his fans! Following him along on his journey to stardom, as he tells his story, is truly an emotional ride. You can see the love that was put into creating this series, and it will make fans look at the man and his music in a whole new light. Juan Gabriel: I Must, I Can, I Will will create a new generation of fans! This is a beautiful documentary and should be watched by all.

Violence: There is talk of the abuse that Juan Gabriel experienced when growing up.

Kid-Friendly: Other than the issues mentioned above regarding the abuse, this is a documentary that kids can watch with their parents.

A documentary series with unprecedented access to Juan Gabriel’s personal archives,
including videos he filmed himself. Across four episodes, this investigation offers an intimate and revealing story about Alberto Aguilera Valadez, the man behind the iconic Mexican music idol and author of hundreds of songs, who transformed his pain into anthems and broke stigmas and prejudices throughout his life. Juan Gabriel: I Must, I Can, I Will takes us from the beginnings of the career of one of Mexico’s most beloved artists to his death, offering an unprecedented and deeply human look at his legacy, which is now part of Mexican popular culture and whose music continues to move millions around the world.