Mambo No. 5

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"Mambo No. 5"
Song by Dámaso Pérez Prado
Released 1949
Genre Mambo, jive dance
Length 2:10
Writer Dámaso Pérez Prado

"Mambo No. 5" is a mambo and jive dance song originally recorded and composed by Cuban Dámaso Pérez Prado in 1949.[1]

The song's popularity was renewed by German artist Lou Bega's sampling of the original, released under the same name on Bega's 1999 debut album A Little Bit of Mambo.

Contents

Lou Bega version[edit]

"Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of...)"
Single by Lou Bega
from the album A Little Bit of Mambo
Released April 19, 1999
(See release history)
Format CD single
Genre Latin pop
Length 5:14 (extended version)
3:39 (radio edit)
Label RCA
Writer(s) Dámaso Pérez Prado, Lou Bega, Zippy Davids
Producer Goar B, Frank Lio, Donald Fact
Lou Bega singles chronology
"Mambo No. 5"
(1999)		 "I Got a Girl"
(1999)

Lou Bega's cover was a hit in the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, and Australia, where it reached number one in 1999. It stayed at number one in Australia for eight weeks, ultimately becoming the best-selling single of the year. It also topped almost every chart in continental Europe, including Bega's home country, Germany, and set a record by staying at number one in France for 20 weeks (longer than any stay at the top spot ever on the US or UK charts). The song reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US on November 2, 1999, giving Bega his only Top 40 hit in the US.

Originally written by Lou Bega's nephew and Chicago musician Paul Grachan after having been introduced by Super Happy Fun Club member Phil Kosch and Dianna Warren, co-writers of Aerosmith's I Don't Want To Miss A Thing. Ultimately Grachan was left uncredited after a writing dispute prior to the final version.

In turn, many artists covered variations of Bega's version, including Radio Disney and Bob the Builder. It was also used as the theme for Channel 4's cricket coverage.

The following is a list of names mentioned in Bega's song, in order: Angela, Pamela, Monica, Erika, Rita, Tina, Sandra, Mary, Jessica.

Radio Disney edit[edit]

A version of "Mambo No. 5" was aired on Radio Disney, in which the women's names were replaced with the names of Disney characters, in order: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, Donald Duck, Pluto, Huey, Dewey, and Louie and Goofy. Additionally, references to a "liquor store" were replaced with a "candy store" instead, "ice cream" was used rather than "gin and juice," "flirting" was replaced by "dancing," and the "beer bust" referred to was changed to a dance party.

Music video[edit]

The music video, directed by Jorn Heitmann, features Lou Bega singing and dancing with flappers, possibly a homage to the music of the 1920s and 1930s. The video includes clips of old-style movies and newsreels showing trumpets, big bands and the like. The Disney version of the music video features Lou Bega performing against a white background with a live band. Footage of old Mickey Mouse cartoons and clips of Lou Bega performing against a checkered background is intercut throughout the video.

Track listings[edit]

CD single
  1. "Mambo No. 5" (Radio Edit) – 3:39
  2. "Mambo No. 5" (Extended Mix) – 5:14
  3. "Mambo No. 5" (Enhanced CD-ROM Video) - 3:42
Maxi single
  1. "Mambo No. 5" (Radio Edit) – 3:39
  2. "Mambo No. 5" (Extended Mix) – 5:14
  3. "Mambo" (Havanna Club Mix) – 5:48
  4. "Mambo" (The Trumpet) – 6:01

Charts and sales[edit]

Peak positions[edit]

Chart (1999) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[2] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[2] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[2] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[2] 1
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[3] 1
Canada Dance (RPM)[4] 1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[5] 1
Denmark (Tracklisten)[2] 1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[2] 1
France (SNEP)[2] 1
Germany (Media Control Charts)[2] 1
Ireland (IRMA)[6] 1
Italy (FIMI)[7] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[8] 1
New Zealand (RIANZ)[2] 1
Norway (VG-lista)[2] 1
Spain (AFYVE)[9] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[2] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[2] 1
United Kingdom (The Official Charts Company)[10] 1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[5] 3
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks[5] 26

Year-end charts[edit]

Chart (1999) Position
Australia (ARIA)[11] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] 2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[14] 4
France (SNEP)[15] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[8] 4
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] 1
UK Singles Chart 3
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[17] 42

All-time charts[edit]

Chart Position
France (SNEP)[18] 11

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[19] 4× Platinum 280,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[20] 2× Platinum 60,000x
France (SNEP)[21] Diamond 1,532,000[22]
Germany (BVMI)[23] 3× Platinum 1,500,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[24] Platinum 75,000^
Sweden (GLF)[25] 3× Platinum 90,000x
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[26] 2× Platinum 100,000x
United Kingdom (BPI)[27] Platinum 600,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Chart successions[edit]

Preceded by
"Blue (Da Ba Dee)" by Eiffel 65		 French SNEP number-one single
(Lou Bega version)
August 28, 1999 – January 8, 2000 (20 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Move Your Body" by Eiffel 65
Preceded by
"Mi Chico Latino" by Geri Halliwell		 UK Singles Chart number-one single
(Lou Bega version)
August 28, 1999 – September 11, 1999		 Succeeded by
"We're Going to Ibiza" by Vengaboys
Preceded by
"Too Close" by Blue		 UK Singles Chart number-one single
(Bob the Builder version)
September 8, 2001 – September 15, 2001		 Succeeded by
"Hey Baby" by DJ Otzi
Preceded by
"When You Say Nothing at All" by Ronan Keating		 New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart number-one single
(first run) (Lou Bega version)
September 11, 1999 – September 25, 1999		 Succeeded by
"Can You Hear Us" by Neil Finn
Preceded by
"Last Kiss" by Pearl Jam		 Australian ARIA Singles Chart number-one single
September 18, 1999 – November 13, 1999		 Succeeded by
"Blue (Da Ba Dee)" by Eiffel 65
Preceded by
"Bring It All Back" by S Club 7		 New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart number-one single
(second run) (Lou Bega version)
October 16, 1999 – October 23, 1999		 Succeeded by
"Heartbreaker" by Mariah Carey
Preceded by
"Heartbreaker" by Mariah Carey		 RIANZ New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart number-one single
(third run) (Lou Bega version)
November 6, 1999		 Succeeded by
"Blue (Da Ba Dee)" by Eiffel 65

Release history[edit]

Country Release date
Germany 19 April 1999 (1999-04-19)
Worldwide 17 August 1999 (1999-08-17)
Re-recorded 1 January 2009 (2009-01-01)

Other cover versions[edit]

  • CKBE-FM David Tyler 1999.
  • A Bob the Builder version of the song also reached number one in the UK, and number two in Australia in 2001.
  • WHTZ DJ David Brody released a parody version named "Matzah No. 5" which aired on radio stations throughout the country. Performed by "Louie Bagel", the parody takes on various Jewish stereotypes. He also released a parody entitled "Bimbo No. 5" referring to the Monica Lewinsky scandal, wherein DJ Nelson imitates the voice of Bill Clinton. The song is commonly mis-attributed to both "Weird Al" Yankovic and Paul Shanklin. Also released was "Combo No.5"; the parody takes on ordering combo dinners from a Chinese take-away.
  • The British children's television programme Kerwhizz made a parody of the song (entitled: Racer Mod No. 5), which is sung by Kerwhizzitor, shown on the Cbeebies album Kerwhizz: The Album, in which he changed the ladies' names and replaced it with the three teams' names like Ninki and Pip, Twist and Snout and Kit and Kaboodle. Additionally, Kerwhizzitor replaced the lyrics of Bega's original song referring to a "liquor store around the corner" with a "three teams store" around the corner, his boys wanted some "orange juice" rather than "gin and juice," "flirting" was replaced by "racing," and the "beer buzz" referred to was changed to ker-razy questions.
  • A ninety-second cover version was created for the Korean rhythm dance game Pump It Up. A cover of the original Perez Prado version appeared in Guinness's famous 1998 "Swimblack" advertisement.
  • Max Raabe backed by the Palast Orchester included a vintage arrangement version of the song on their 2001 Superhits album.[28]
  • Filipino Jazz Singer Richard Poon also covered the song from the Filipino compilation album, 90's Music Comes Alive in 2012.
  • Aravindhan covered the song at his family's house on 15 February 2013.

Legacy[edit]

  • In a 2007 poll conducted by Rolling Stone to identify the 20 most annoying songs, this song was ranked sixth.[29]
  • This song was initially selected as the theme song of the 2000 Democratic National Convention, but this plan was scrapped due to the possibility for people to make associations with the Monica Lewinsky scandal.[30]
  • On September 11, 2010, Matthew Wilkening of AOL Radio ranked the Lou Bega cover of the song at number 95 on the list of the 100 Worst Songs Ever, claiming, "Can you imagine how bad Nos. 1 through 4 must have been? Let's all band together and make sure there's never a No. 6!" (Mambos Nos. 1–4 are actually nonexistent, as is "Mambo No. 6".)[31]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "ESTILO MUSICAL Mambo". American Sabor. Retrieved 6 February 2013.  (Spanish)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l ""Mambo No. 5 (a Little Bit of...)", in various singles charts". Lescharts. Retrieved 2009-08-05. 
  3. ^ Canada Adult Contemporary peak
  4. ^ Canada Dance peak
  5. ^ a b c "Lou Bega, Billboard charts". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-08-35. 
  6. ^ "Irish Singles Chart, database". Irishcharts. Retrieved 2009-08-05. 
  7. ^ Top Italian singles of 1999
  8. ^ a b "Single top 100 over 1999" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 29 April 2010. 
  9. ^ Billboard: Hits of the World, August 28, 1999
  10. ^ ""Mambo No. 5 (a Little Bit of...)", UK Singles Chart". Chartstats. Retrieved 2009-08-05. 
  11. ^ "1999 Australian Singles Chart". aria. Retrieved 2009-08-06. 
  12. ^ "1999 Austrian Singles Chart". Austriancharts. Retrieved 2009-08-06. 
  13. ^ "1999 Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart". Ultratop. Retrieved 2009-08-06. 
  14. ^ "1996 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart". Ultratop. Retrieved 2009-08-06. 
  15. ^ "1999 French Singles Chart". Snep. Retrieved 2009-08-06. 
  16. ^ "1999 Swiss Singles Chart". Hitparade. Retrieved 2009-08-06. 
  17. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1999". Retrieved 2010-08-28. 
  18. ^ "Les Meilleures Ventes Tout Temps de 45 T. / Singles" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 2013-04-19. 
  19. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. 
  20. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Bega, Lou – Mambo Nr.5" (in German). IFPI Austria.  Enter Bega, Lou in the field Interpret. Enter Mambo Nr.5 in the field Titel. Select single in the field Format. Click Suchen
  21. ^ "French single certifications – Lou Bega – Mambo No. 5" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. 
  22. ^ "Les Singles Diamant :" (in French). Infodisc.fr. Retrieved 18 June 2012. 
  23. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Lou Bega; 'Mambo Nr. 5 (A Little Bit Of ...)')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. 
  24. ^ "Dutch single certifications – Lou Bega – Mambo No. 5" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. 
  25. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1999" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. 
  26. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Lou Bega; 'Mambo No. 5')". Hung Medien. 
  27. ^ "British single certifications – Lou Bega – Mambo No. 5". British Phonographic Industry.  Enter Mambo No. 5 in the field Search. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Click Go
  28. ^ [1]. Superhits. 2001. RCA Local (Sony Music). Track 13.
  29. ^ Staff (July 2, 2007). "The 20 Most Annoying Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 12, 2012. 
  30. ^ The politics of music. It's showtime at the convention, CNN, August 14, 2000
  31. ^ Wilkening, Matthew (September 11, 2010). "100 Worst Songs Ever". AOL Radio. Retrieved December 18, 2010.  Text "main" ignored (help); Text "dl2" ignored (help); Text "sec1_lnk1" ignored (help); Text "169800" ignored (help)

External links[edit]

Lou Bega
Studio albums
Compilation albums
Singles
Related articles
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