View source for La Bamba (song)

{{Short description|Mexican folk song and dance}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
"'''La Bamba'''" ({{IPA|es|la βamba|pron}}) is a Mexican [[folk song]], originally from the state of [[Veracruz]], also known as "La Bomba".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.45worlds.com/78rpm/78_search.php?sq=la+bomba&sm=tr |title=La bomba |publisher=45worlds.com}}</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 "[[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|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 [[cover version|covered]] by numerous other artists, most notably by [[Los Lobos]], whose version was the title track of the [[La Bamba (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] to the 1987 film ''[[La Bamba (film)|La Bamba]]'', a [[biographical film|biopic]] about Valens; their version topped many charts in the same year.

==Traditional versions==
{{Weasel|date=November 2025}}

"La Bamba" is a classic example of the ''[[son jarocho]]'' musical style, which originated in the Mexican state of [[Veracruz]], and combines [[Spanish Mexican|Spanish]], [[Indigenous peoples of Mexico|indigenous]], [[Afro-Mexican]] and [[Afro-Caribbean]]<ref name="w983">{{cite web | last=Meraji | first=Shereen Marisol | title=Through Slavery, Segregation And More, 'La Bamba' Has Been The Sound Of Survival | website=NPR | date=2018-10-14 | url=https://www.npr.org/2018/10/14/655833317/la-bamba-american-anthem-ritchie-valens-los-lobos-survival | access-date=2024-11-07}}</ref> musical elements.<ref name=NatGeo_SonJarocho>{{cite web |url=http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/page.basic/genre/content.genre/son_jarocho_789/en_US |title=Son Jarocho Music |work=National Geographic |access-date=March 30, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530022053/http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/page.basic/genre/content.genre/son_jarocho_789/en_US |archive-date=May 30, 2013 }}</ref> "La Bamba" likely 

originated in the last years of the 17th century in 1683 during a slave uprising known as the Bambarria {{citation needed|date=November 2025}}. 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. {{Citation needed|date=October 2025}} The word bamba is of African origin meaning wood referring to dancing on a wooden floor.<ref name="z531">{{cite web | title= | website=[[Library of Congress]] | url=https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/documents/LaBamba.pdf | access-date=2024-11-07}}</ref><ref name="f694">{{cite web | last=Arrieta | first=Rolando | title='La Bamba' | website=NPR | date=2000-07-15 | url=https://www.npr.org/2000/07/15/1079558/npr-100-la-bamba | access-date=2024-11-07}}</ref> Initially {{when|date=November 2025}}, the song satirized the late and futile efforts made by the viceroy of Mexico {{who|date=October 2025}} to defend the citizens of the port of Veracruz from pirates {{when|date=October 2025}}. {{Citation needed|date=October 2025}} 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 {{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}. Likewise, its name also alludes to a dance of Spanish origin called bamba, which was popular at that time {{when|date=October 2025}}, whose name sounds close to "bomba".{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} The oldest known historical references come from the town of [[Alvarado, Mexico]], where it apparently was performed with an atypically lively rhythm.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} 

"La Bamba" is typically played on one or two [[arpa jarocha]]s (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>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spanishdict.com/translate/bambolear|title=Check out the translation for "bambolear"|website=Spanishdict.com|access-date=May 22, 2021}}</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>{{cite web | url=https://bailefolkclorico.weebly.com/history-of-the-art.html | title=History of the art }}</ref>

==Early recordings==
"La Bamba" has its origin in the state of Veracruz, Mexico.<ref>{{cite news |title='La Bamba': conoce el origen de esta popular canción veracruzana |url=https://heraldodemexico.com.mx/tendencias/2021/3/24/la-bamba-conoce-el-origen-de-esta-popular-cancion-veracruzana-274931.html |access-date=October 22, 2021 |work=El Heraldo de México |date=March 24, 2021 |language=es}}</ref> The oldest recorded version known is that of Alvaro Hernández Ortiz,<ref>{{cite web |title=Revisiting La Bamba, the Ritchie Valens Biopic That Underscores the Myth of the American Dream |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/revisiting-la-bamba-the-ritchie-valens-biopic-that-underscores-the-myth-of-the-american-dream/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=October 21, 2021 |date=August 27, 2020}}</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>[http://www.originals.be/en/originals.php?id=3343 Arnold Rypens, ''The Originals''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924061703/http://www.originals.be/en/originals.php?id=3343 |date=September 24, 2015 }}. Retrieved April 13, 2015</ref>

According to a 1945 article in ''[[Life (magazine)|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>{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sUsEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Fiesta+movie+bamba&pg=PA140|title=Life Dances La Bamba in Mexico City|magazine=Life|page=140|date=October 15, 1945|access-date=May 22, 2021|via=Google Books}}</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>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QWBPAQAAQBAJ&dq=peerless+records+mexico+bamba&pg=PA461|title=Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings|first=Steve|last=Sullivan|page=461|date=October 4, 2013|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=9780810882966|access-date=May 22, 2021|via=Google Books}}</ref> and the same year the song featured as a production number in the [[MGM]] [[musical film]] ''[[Fiesta (1947 film)|Fiesta]]'', performed by a group called Los Bocheros. The song was featured in the 1946 Mexican movie ''Rayando el Sol'' starring [[Pedro Armendáriz]].{{cn|date=October 2022}}

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>[https://www.sunkit.com/william-clauson/ Mats Johansson, Magnus Nilsson, "William Clauson", ''sunkit.com'']. Retrieved April 13, 2015</ref><ref name=bio>[http://www.williamclauson.com/bio/ Biography, William Clauson official site]{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121130813/http://www.williamclauson.com/bio/ |archive-date=November 21, 2008}}. Retrieved April 13, 2015</ref> Another version, "somewhat [[bowdlerized]]", was recorded by [[Cynthia Gooding]] on her 1953 [[Elektra Records|Elektra]] album, ''Mexican Folk Songs''.<ref>[http://www.richieunterberger.com/gooding.html Richie Unterberger, Liner notes for reissue of Cynthia Gooding's ''Mexican Folk Songs'']. Retrieved April 13, 2015</ref>

==Ritchie Valens version==
{{Infobox song
| name       = La Bamba
| cover      =
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Ritchie Valens]]
| album      = [[Ritchie Valens (album)|Ritchie Valens]]
| A-side     = [[Donna (Ritchie Valens song)|Donna]]
| released   = October 1958
| recorded   = 1958
| studio     =
| genre      =
* [[Rock and roll]]
* [[chicano rock]]
* [[rock en español]]
| length     = 2:06
| label      = [[Del-Fi Records|Del-Fi]]
| writer     = Traditional, adapted by Ritchie Valens
| producer   = [[Bob Keane]]
| prev_title = Come On, Let's Go
| prev_year  = 1958
| title      = [[Donna (Ritchie Valens song)|Donna]]
| title2     = La Bamba
| next_title = Fast Freight / Big Baby Blues
| next_year  = 1959
}}
[[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>{{Gilliland |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19763/m1/ |title=Show 14 – Big Rock Candy Mountain: Rock 'n' roll in the late fifties. [Part 4]}}</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 (Ritchie Valens song)|Donna]]", on the [[Del-Fi]] label.<ref name=celebrating>[https://books.google.com/books?id=bDIwZ8BieWcC&dq=valens+%22la+bamba%22+B-side&pg=PA651 María Herrera-Sobek , ''Celebrating Latino Folklore: An Encyclopedia of Cultural Traditions'', ABC-CLIO, 2012, p.651]</ref>

The song features a [[verse–chorus form|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 [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|500 Greatest Songs of All Time]] by ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=La Bamba ranked #17 on Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs List |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=December 11, 2003 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-151127/ritchie-valens-la-bamba-34872/ |access-date=October 21, 2021}}</ref> being the only non-English language song included in the list.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bender |first1=Steven |title=Comprende?: The Significance of Spanish in English-only Times |date=2008 |publisher=Floricanto Press |isbn=978-1-888205-08-4 |page=113 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1HAqAQAAIAAJ&q=ritchie+valens+500+greatest+rolling+stone+345 |access-date=October 22, 2021 |language=en}}</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>{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]|publisher=[[Ticknor & Fields]]|isbn=0899190251|chapter=A Basic Record Library: The Fifties and Sixties|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bk-cg70/basics.php|access-date=March 16, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com}}</ref> Valens was inducted posthumously into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 2001.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Celebrating Hispanic Live History: Linda Ronstadt Brings Mariachi To The Masses With 'Canciones de Mi Padre' |journal=Pollstar |date=September 30, 2021 |url=https://www.pollstar.com/article/celebrating-hispanic-live-history-machito-mario-bauz-and-chano-pozo-imbue-jazz-with-latin-flair-148822 |access-date=October 22, 2021}}</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>{{cite news |last=Andrews |first=Travis M. |date=March 20, 2019 |title=Jay-Z, a speech by Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and 'Schoolhouse Rock!' among recordings deemed classics by Library of Congress |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/jay-z-a-speech-by-sen-robert-f-kennedy-and-schoolhouse-rock-among-recordings-deemed-classics-by-library-of-congress/2019/03/19/f7eb08ea-4a58-11e9-9663-00ac73f49662_story.html?|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=March 25, 2019}}</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>{{cite web |title=500 Songs That Shaped Rock |url=https://www.infoplease.com/culture-entertainment/music/500-songs-shaped-rock |website=Infoplease |publisher=FEN Learning |access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref>

===Charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Weekly chart performance for Ritchie Valens' recording
! scope="col"| Chart (1959–1987)
! scope="col"| Peak<br>position
|-
!scope="row"|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=319}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|87
|-
{{single chart|Flanders|13|artist=Ritchie Valens|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"|Canada ([[CHUM Chart]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chumtribute.com/59-02-02-chart.jpg| title=CHUM Hit Parade – February 2, 1959}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
{{single chart|France|32|artist=Ritchie Valens|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|49|artist=Ritchie Valens|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|22|artist=Ritchie Valens|rowheader=true}}
|}

==Los Lobos version==
{{Infobox song
| name          = La Bamba
| cover         = La Bamba Los Lobos.jpg
| alt           = 
| type          = single
| artist        = [[Los Lobos]]
| album         = [[La Bamba (soundtrack)|La Bamba Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]]
| language      = Spanish
| B-side        = Charlena
| released      = June 20, 1987
| recorded      = 1986
| studio        = 
| genre         = * [[Rock and roll]]
* [[Chicano rock]]
* [[rock en español]]
| length        = 2:54
| label         = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
| writer        = Ritchie Valens
| producer      = Los Lobos
| prev_title    = [[Come On, Let's Go]]
| prev_title2   = Ooh! My Head
| prev_year     = 1987
| next_title    = Down on the Riverbed
| next_year     = 1990
}}

The music video directed by [[Sherman Halsey]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Morris |first1=Chris |title=Los Lobos: Dream in Blue |date=2015 |publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=978-1-4773-0852-3}}</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 (film)|La Bamba]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=In 1987 Los Lobos brings back 'La Bamba' in their energized version to the top of the charts |url=https://www.popexpresso.com/2021/08/29/in-1987-los-lobos-brings-back-la-bamba-in-their-energized-version-to-the-top-of-the-charts/ |website=popexpresso.com |access-date=September 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909151519/https://www.popexpresso.com/2021/08/29/in-1987-los-lobos-brings-back-la-bamba-in-their-energized-version-to-the-top-of-the-charts/ |archive-date=September 9, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> The song was also the fourth wholly non-English language song to top the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

===Charts===
====Weekly charts====
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Weekly chart performance for Los Lobos' cover
! scope="col"| Chart (1987)
! scope="col"| Peak<br>position
|-
! scope="row"| Australia ([[Kent Music Report|Australian Music Report]])<ref name="aus87">{{cite magazine|url=https://i.imgur.com/F7ais40.jpg|title=National Top 100 Singles for 1986|magazine=[[Kent Music Report]]|issue=650|date=December 1986|via=Imgur|access-date= January 24, 2023}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
{{Single chart|Austria|3|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Single chart|Flanders|2|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Single chart|Canadatopsingles|1|chartid=0869|rowheader=true|access-date=April 23, 2025}}
|-
!scope="row"|Europe ([[European Hot 100 Singles]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1987/M&M-1987-10-17.pdf|date=October 17, 1987|title=European Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=4|issue=41|page=17|access-date=September 24, 2023}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
! scope="row"| Finland ([[Official Finnish Charts|Suomen virallinen singlelista]])<ref>{{cite book|url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=152|first=Timo|last=Pennanen|year=2021|title=Sisältää hitin – 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021|section=Los Lobos|page=152|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|access-date=July 2, 2022|language=fi}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
{{Single chart|France|1|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true}}
|-
! scope="row"|Greece ([[IFPI]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1987/M&M-1987-12-12.pdf|date=December 12, 1987|title=Top 3 in Europe|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=4|issue=49|page=16|access-date=September 24, 2023}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
{{Single chart|Ireland2|1|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true|access-date=September 24, 2023}}
|-
! scope="row"|Italy (''[[Musica e dischi]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1987/M&M-1987-12-12.pdf|date=December 12, 1987|title=Top 3 in Europe|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=4|issue=49|page=16|access-date=September 24, 2023}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
!scope="row"|Italy Airplay (''[[Music & Media]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1987/M&M-1987-09-05.pdf|title=European Playlist Reports: RAI - Italy|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=4|issue=35|page=15|date=5 September 1987}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|8
|-
{{Single chart|Dutch40|2|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Single chart|Dutch100|2|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Single chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true|access-date=April 23, 2025}}
|-
{{Single chart|Norway|4|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true}}
|-
! scope="row"|Portugal ([[IFPI]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1987/M&M-1987-10-24.pdf|date=October 24, 1987|title=Top 3 in Europe|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=4|issue=42|page=20|access-date=September 24, 2023}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
! scope="row"|Spain ([[Productores de Música de España|AFYVE]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st |date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
{{Single chart|Sweden|3|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Single chart|Switzerland|1|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Single chart|UKsinglesbyname|1|artist=Los Lobos|artistid=22438|rowheader=true|access-date=April 23, 2025}}
|-
{{Single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=Los Lobos|rowheader=true|access-date=April 23, 2025}}
|-
{{Single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|4|artist=Los Lobos|rowheader=true|access-date=April 23, 2025}}
|-
{{Single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|57|artist=Los Lobos|rowheader=true|access-date=April 23, 2025}}
|-
{{Single chart|Billboardlatinsongs|1|artist=Los Lobos|rowheader=true|access-date=April 23, 2025}}
|-
{{Single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|11|artist=Los Lobos|rowheader=true|access-date=April 23, 2025}}
|-
! scope="row"|Zimbabwe (ZIMA)<ref>* Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. ''Zimbabwe: singles chart book''. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
{{Single chart|West Germany|7|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|songid=1658|rowheader=true}}
|}
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!Chart (2016)
!Peak<br />position
|-
{{single chart|Poland|75|chartid=1980|year=2016|rowheader=true|access-date=May 23, 2016}}
|}

====Year-end charts====
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"
|+1987 year-end chart performance for Los Lobos' cover
!Chart (1987)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|Australia ([[Kent Music Report|Australian Music Report]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/sPdqqRt.jpg|title=Kent Music Report No 701 – 28 December 1987 > National Top 100 Singles for 1987|publisher=[[Kent Music Report]]|via=Imgur.com|access-date=April 8, 2022}}</ref>
| 2
|-
!scope="row"|Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://austriancharts.at/1987_single.asp|title=Jahreshitparade 1987|language=de|website=Austrian Charts Portal|access-date=April 8, 2022}}</ref>
| 20
|-
!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|title= Jaaroverzichten 1987 |publisher= Ultratop |access-date= April 8, 2022 |url= https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1987 |language= nl}}</ref>
| 21
|-
!scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title= Top 100 Singles of '87 |volume= 47 |issue= 12 |date= December 26, 1987 |magazine= [[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] |via= [[Library and Archives Canada]] |access-date=April 8, 2022 |url= http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0920&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=u9874ano8k0c5b6bkp4r8qrbp3 |archive-date= October 5, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131005015555/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0920&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=u9874ano8k0c5b6bkp4r8qrbp3}}</ref>
|1
|-
!scope="row"|European Top 100 Singles (''Music & Media'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1987/M&M-1987-12-26.pdf|title=European Charts of the Year 1987: Singles|page=34|work=Music & Media|date=December 26, 1987|access-date=April 8, 2022|volume=5|issue=11}}</ref>
| 12
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|title= Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1987 |publisher= [[Dutch Top 40]] |access-date= April 8, 2022 |url= https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1987 |language= nl}}</ref>
| 16
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|title= Jaaroverzichten – Single 1987 |publisher= [[Single Top 100]] |access-date= April 8, 2022 |url= http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1987&cat=s |language= nl}}</ref>
| 26
|-
!scope="row"|New Zealand (RIANZ)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1987-12-31 |title= END OF YEAR CHARTS 1987|publisher=[[Official New Zealand Music Chart]]|access-date=April 22, 2021}}</ref>
| 2
|-
!scope="row"|Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/1987|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1987: Singles|language=de|website=Swiss Chart Portal|access-date=April 8, 2022}}</ref>
| 4
|-
!scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/88/Record-Mirror-1988-01-23-OCR.pdf|title=Gallup Year End Charts 1987: Singles|magazine=[[Record Mirror]]|page=36|date=January 23, 1988|access-date=April 7, 2022}}</ref>
| 18
|-
! scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JCgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA25|title=No. 1 Awards: Top Pop Singles|magazine=Billboard|volume=99|issue=52|page=Y-22|date=December 26, 1987|access-date=April 23, 2025}}</ref>
| 11
|-
!scope="row"|US Hot Crossover Singles (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JCgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA20|title=No. 1 Awards: Top Hot Crossover Singles|magazine=Billboard|volume=99|issue=52|page=Y-31|date=December 26, 1987|access-date=April 23, 2025}}</ref>
| 18
|-
!scope="row"|US Hot Latin 50 (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JCgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA67|title=No. 1 Awards: Top Hot Crossover Singles: Top Latin Singles|magazine=Billboard|volume=99|issue=52|page=Y-44|date=December 26, 1987|access-date=April 23, 2025}}</ref>
| 15
|-
!scope="row"|US ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]'' Top 100 Singles<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1987YESP.html|title=The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1987 . TOP 100 POP SINGLES|work=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]|access-date=April 10, 2021|date=December 26, 1987|archive-date=October 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006043744/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1987YESP.html}}</ref>
| 11
|-
!scope="row"|West Germany (Media Control)<ref>{{cite web|title= Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts: 1987 |website= Offiziellecharts.de |publisher= GfK Entertainment charts |url= https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1987 |archive-date= May 9, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150509001159/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1987 |language= de|access-date=April 8, 2022}}</ref>
| 49
|}

===Certifications and sales===
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for Los Lobos' cover}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=Los Lobos|title=La Bamba|region=Canada|relyear=1987|certyear=1987}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|relyear=1987|relmonth=06|award=Gold|artist=Los Lobos|title=La Bamba|certyear=1987|region=France|source=infodisc}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Los Lobos|title=La Bamba|region=Spain|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|access-date=4 January 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|award=Silver|artist=Los Lobos|title=La Bamba|region=United Kingdom|relyear=2004|certyear=2022|id=18373-6095-1|access-date=September 23, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|nocert=true|salesamount=2,000,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FhMEAAAAMBAJ&dq=La+Bamba&pg=PA103|title=On Kiko, Los Lobos plays stark, mostly blues-tinged rock 'n' roll with occasional ethnic overtones|magazine=[[Orange Coast (magazine)|Orange Coast]]|page=103|date=August 1992|access-date=March 24, 2025}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

==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>{{Cite web|url=http://www.belafontetracks.ca/cd_reissues_1.htm|title=CD Reissues 1|website=belafontetracks.ca|access-date=2019-07-20|archive-date=July 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720134007/http://www.belafontetracks.ca/cd_reissues_1.htm|url-status=dead}}</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>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw0SQNG0UaI&list=RDIw0SQNG0UaI&start_radio=1|title=Charlotte Diamond-LA BAMBA|date=January 5, 2011 |via=YouTube|access-date=January 5, 2011}}</ref>
* In 1987, [[Selena]] covered the song for her album ''[[And the Winner Is... (Selena 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>{{Cite magazine |last=devops |date=January 2, 2013 |title=Hot Latin Songs |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/latin-songs/ |access-date=2024-03-05 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>
* A ''[[Star Academy (French TV series)|Star Academy]] 3'' version of "La Bamba" reached No. 3 in France on December 13, 2003,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Hits of the World |magazine=Billboard |date=December 13, 2003 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bQ8EAAAAMBAJ&dq=star+academy+la+bamba&pg=PA54 |language=en |via=Google Books}}</ref> In January 2004, it reached No. 5 in [[Wallonia]], Belgium.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Hits of the World |magazine=Billboard |date=January 17, 2004 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gg8EAAAAMBAJ&dq=star+academy+la+bamba&pg=PA45 |access-date=September 9, 2021 |language=en |via=Google Books}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Bambera]]
* [[La Bamba (film)|''La Bamba'']], a 1987 film
* [[La Bamba (soundtrack)|''La Bamba'']], soundtrack from the homonymous 1987 film
* [[List of best-selling Latin singles]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ritchie Valens}}
{{Los Lobos}}
{{Edmonton Oilers}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for "La Bamba"
|titlestyle = background: lightblue
|list1 =
{{Latin Grammy Hall of Fame}}
{{Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Song}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film}}
}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bamba, La}}
[[Category:1938 songs]]
[[Category:1958 singles]]
[[Category:1987 singles]]
[[Category:2003 singles]]
[[Category:Ritchie Valens songs]]
[[Category:Selena y Los Dinos songs]]
[[Category:Los Lobos songs]]
[[Category:Star Academy France songs]]
[[Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles]]
[[Category:Cashbox number-one singles]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Australia]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Belgium]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Finland]]
[[Category:SNEP Top Singles number-one singles]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Italy]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Spain]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:UK singles chart number-one singles]]
[[Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles]]
[[Category:Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients]]
[[Category:Latin Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients]]
[[Category:Public domain music]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by Sherman Halsey]]
[[Category:Songs from Grease (film)]]
[[Category:Songs in Spanish]]
[[Category:Year of song unknown]]
[[Category:Warner Records singles]]
[[Category:United States National Recording Registry recordings]]
[[Category:Edmonton Oilers]]
[[Category:Works subject to expurgation]]
[[Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles]]