La Bamba (song)

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates "La Bamba" (Template:IPA) is a Mexican folk song, originally from the state of Veracruz, also known as "La Bomba".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The song is best known from a 1958 adaptation by Ritchie Valens, a top 40 hit on the U.S. charts. Valens's version is ranked number 345 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" and is the only song on the list not written or sung in English.

"La Bamba" has been covered by numerous other artists, most notably by Los Lobos, whose version was the title track of the soundtrack to the 1987 film La Bamba, a biopic about Valens; their version topped many charts in the same year.

Traditional versions

"La Bamba" is a classic example of the son jarocho musical style, which originated in the Mexican state of Veracruz, and combines Spanish, indigenous, Afro-Mexican and Afro-Caribbean<ref name="w983">Template:Cite web</ref> musical elements.<ref name=NatGeo_SonJarocho>Template:Cite web</ref> "La Bamba" likely

originated in the last years of the 17th century in 1683 during a slave uprising known as the Bambarria Template:Citation needed. The song would be played at weddings with lyrics being encouraged to be made up, over 500 known verses exist. The bride and the groom would tie a ribbon together on their toes and dance to La Bamba as a symbol of love, fistfights or knife fights would break out amongst guests as well. Template:Citation needed The word bamba is of African origin meaning wood referring to dancing on a wooden floor.<ref name="z531">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="f694">Template:Cite web</ref> Initially Template:When, the song satirized the late and futile efforts made by the viceroy of Mexico Template:Who to defend the citizens of the port of Veracruz from pirates Template:When. Template:Citation needed His ships were old and leaky, so a young sailor is frantically "dancing the bomba (water pump)", while bragging that, effectively, he is the captain, the most important person on the ship (for he, alone, keeps it afloat). The fast rhythm and hand movements of the dance comically imitate the action of pumping water Template:Citation needed. Likewise, its name also alludes to a dance of Spanish origin called bamba, which was popular at that time Template:When, whose name sounds close to "bomba".Template:Citation needed The oldest known historical references come from the town of Alvarado, Mexico, where it apparently was performed with an atypically lively rhythm.Template:Citation needed

"La Bamba" is typically played on one or two arpa jarochas (harps) along with guitar relatives the jarana jarocha and the requinto jarocho.<ref name=NatGeo_SonJarocho/> Lyrics to the song vary greatly, as performers often improvise verses while performing. However, versions such as those by musical groups Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan and Los Pregoneros del Puerto have survived because of the artists' popularity. The traditional aspect of "La Bamba" lies in the tune, which remains almost the same through most versions. The name of the dance referenced within the song, which has no direct English translation, is presumably connected with the Spanish verb "bambolear", meaning "to sway", "to shake" or "to wobble".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In one traditional version of this dance performed at weddings and ballet folklórico shows, couples use intricate footwork to create a bow signifying their union.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Early recordings

"La Bamba" has its origin in the state of Veracruz, Mexico.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The oldest recorded version known is that of Alvaro Hernández Ortiz,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> who recorded the song under the name El Jarocho. His recording was released by Victor Records in Mexico in 1938 or 1939, and was reissued on a 1997 compilation by Yazoo Records, The Secret Museum of Mankind Vol. 4.<ref>Arnold Rypens, The Originals Template:Webarchive. Retrieved April 13, 2015</ref>

According to a 1945 article in Life, the song and associated dance were brought "out of the jungle" at Veracruz by American bandleader Everett Hoagland, who introduced it at Ciro's nightclub in Mexico City. It became popular, and the song was adopted by Mexican presidential candidate Miguel Alemán Valdés who used it in his successful campaign. Later in 1945, the music and dance were introduced at the Stork Club in New York City by Arthur Murray.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> A popular version by Andrés Huesca (1917–1957) and his brother Victor, billed as Hermanos Huesca, was issued on Peerless Records in Mexico around 1945–46. Huesca re-recorded the song for RCA Victor in 1947,<ref name=sullivan>Template:Cite book</ref> and the same year the song featured as a production number in the MGM musical film Fiesta, performed by a group called Los Bocheros. The song was featured in the 1946 Mexican movie Rayando el Sol starring Pedro Armendáriz.Template:Cn

The Swedish-American folk singer William Clauson recorded the song in several languages in the early and mid-1950s. He claimed to have heard the song in Veracruz, and in performance slowed down the tempo to encourage audience participation.<ref name=sunkit>Mats Johansson, Magnus Nilsson, "William Clauson", sunkit.com. Retrieved April 13, 2015</ref><ref name=bio>Biography, William Clauson official siteTemplate:Webarchive. Retrieved April 13, 2015</ref> Another version, "somewhat bowdlerized", was recorded by Cynthia Gooding on her 1953 Elektra album, Mexican Folk Songs.<ref>Richie Unterberger, Liner notes for reissue of Cynthia Gooding's Mexican Folk Songs. Retrieved April 13, 2015</ref>

Ritchie Valens version

Template:Infobox song Ritchie Valens learned the song in his youth, from his cousin Dickie Cota.<ref name=celebrating/> In 1958 he recorded a rock and roll flavored version of "La Bamba",<ref name=pc14>Template:Gilliland</ref> together with session musicians Buddy Clark (string bass); Ernie Freeman (piano); Carol Kaye (acoustic rhythm guitar); René Hall (Danelectro six-string baritone guitar); and Earl Palmer (drums and claves).<ref>Ritchie Valens, "Ritchie Valens in Come On. Let's Go" Del-Fi Records, liner notes</ref> It was originally released as the B-side of "Donna", on the Del-Fi label.<ref name=celebrating>María Herrera-Sobek , Celebrating Latino Folklore: An Encyclopedia of Cultural Traditions, ABC-CLIO, 2012, p.651</ref>

The song features a simple verse-chorus form. Valens, who was proud of his Mexican heritage, was hesitant at first to merge "La Bamba" with rock and roll, but subsequently agreed to do so. The song ranked No. 98 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Rock and Roll in 1999, and No. 59 on VH1's 100 Greatest Dance Songs in 2000. Furthermore, Valens' recording of the song was inducted into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame and the Grammy Hall of Fame.

The song was listed at number 354 in the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> being the only non-English language song included in the list.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It was also included in Robert Christgau's "Basic Record Library" of 1950s and 1960s recordings published in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Valens was inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In 2018, Valens' version was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It is also included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of 500 songs that were influential in shaping rock and roll.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Charts

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Weekly chart performance for Ritchie Valens' recording

Chart (1959–1987)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name=aus>Template:Cite book</ref>	87
Canada (CHUM Chart)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	1

Los Lobos version

The music video directed by Sherman Halsey<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> won the 1988 MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film; it also featured Lou Diamond Phillips, the actor who played Valens in the 1987 film La Bamba.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The song was also the fourth wholly non-English language song to top the Billboard Hot 100.

Charts

Weekly charts

Template:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chart

Weekly chart performance for Los Lobos' cover

Chart (1987)	Peak position
Australia (Australian Music Report)<ref name="aus87">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	2
Finland (Suomen virallinen singlelista)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	1
Greece (IFPI)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1
Italy (Musica e dischi)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1
Italy Airplay (Music & Media)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	8
Portugal (IFPI)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1
Spain (AFYVE)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	1
Zimbabwe (ZIMA)<ref>* Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000</ref>	1

Template:Single chart

Chart (2016)	Peak position

Year-end charts

1987 year-end chart performance for Los Lobos' cover

Chart (1987)	Position
Australia (Australian Music Report)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	2
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	20
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	21
Canada Top Singles (RPM)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1
European Top 100 Singles (Music & Media)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	12
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	16
Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	26
New Zealand (RIANZ)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	4
UK Singles (OCC)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	18
US Billboard Hot 100<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	11
US Hot Crossover Singles (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	18
US Hot Latin 50 (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	15
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	11
West Germany (Media Control)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	49

Other notable versions

• In 1960, Harry Belafonte's live version of the song was released on his album Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall. His previously recorded but unreleased studio version from 1958 was included in a 2001 compilation, Very Best of Harry Belafonte, under the title "Bam Bam Bamba".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• In 1985, Canadian children's singer Charlotte Diamond included her version of the song on her Juno Award-winning debut album 10 Carrot Diamond. Diamond's version is perhaps best known for appearing in the children's television series Ants in Your Pants.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• In 1987, Selena covered the song for her album And the Winner Is..., which it was released as a single the same year. Her version reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
• A Star Academy 3 version of "La Bamba" reached No. 3 in France on December 13, 2003,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In January 2004, it reached No. 5 in Wallonia, Belgium.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

See also

• Bambera
• La Bamba, a 1987 film
• La Bamba, soundtrack from the homonymous 1987 film
• List of best-selling Latin singles