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La Bamba (song)

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"La Bamba" (pronounced [la ˈβamba]) is a Mexican folk song, originally from the state of Veracruz, also known as "La Bomba".[1] The song is best known from a 1958 adaptation by Ritchie Valens, a Top 40 hit in 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.

"La Bamba" has been recorded by numerous artists, notably by Los Lobos whose version was the title track of the 1987 film La Bamba, a bio-pic about Valens; their version reached No. 1 in 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, and African musical elements. The song is typically played on one or two arpa jarochas (harps) along with guitar relatives the jarana jarocha and the requinto jarocho.[2] 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".[3] In one traditional version of this dance performed at weddings and ballet folklórico shows, couples utilize intricate footwork to create a bow signifying their union.[4]

Early recordings

"La Bamba" has its origin in the state of Veracruz, Mexico.[5] The oldest recorded version known is that of Alvaro Hernández Ortiz,[6] who recorded the song with the name of "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.[7]

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.[8] 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,[9] 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.[citation needed]

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.[10][11] Another version, "somewhat bowdlerized", was recorded by Cynthia Gooding on her 1953 Elektra album, Mexican Folk Songs.[12]

Ritchie Valens version

"La Bamba"
Single by Ritchie Valens
from the album Ritchie Valens
A-side"Donna"
ReleasedOctober 1958
Recorded1958
Genre
Length2:06
LabelDel-Fi
Songwriter(s)Traditional, adapted by Ritchie Valens
Producer(s)Bob Keane
Ritchie Valens singles chronology
"Come On, Let's Go"
(1958) 		"Donna" / "La Bamba"
(1958) 		"Fast Freight / Big Baby Blues"
(1959)

Ritchie Valens learned the song in his youth, from his cousin Dickie Cota.[13] In 1958 he recorded a rock and roll flavored version of "La Bamba",[14] 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).[15] It was originally released as the B-side of "Donna", on the Del-Fi label.[13]

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 then agreed. The song ranked No. 98 in VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Rock and Roll in 1999, and No. 59 in 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,[16] being the only non-English language song included in the list.[17] 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).[18] Valens was inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.[19] 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".[20] 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.[21]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for Ritchie Valens' recording
Chart (1959–1987) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[22] 87
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[23] 13
Canada (CHUM Chart)[24] 1
France (SNEP)[25] 32
UK Singles (OCC)[26] 49
US Billboard Hot 100[27] 22

Los Lobos version

"La Bamba"
Single by Los Lobos
from the album La Bamba Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
LanguageSpanish
B-side"Charlena"
ReleasedJune 20, 1987
Recorded1986
Genre
Length2:54
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Ritchie Valens
Producer(s)Los Lobos
Los Lobos singles chronology
"Come On, Let's Go" / "Ooh! My Head"
(1987) 		"La Bamba"
(1987) 		"Down on the Riverbed"
(1990)

The music video directed by Sherman Halsey[28] 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 of the same name.[29] The song was also the fourth wholly non-English language song to top the Billboard Hot 100.

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Los Lobos' cover
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[74] Platinum 100,000^
France (SNEP)[75] Gold 500,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[76] Silver 200,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Other notable versions

See also

References

  1. ^ "La bomba". 45worlds.com.
  2. ^ "Son Jarocho Music". National Geographic. Archived from the original on May 30, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  3. ^ "Check out the translation for "bambolear"". Spanishdict.com. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  4. ^ "History of the art".
  5. ^ "'La Bamba': conoce el origen de esta popular canción veracruzana". El Heraldo de México (in Spanish). March 24, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  6. ^ "Revisiting La Bamba, the Ritchie Valens Biopic That Underscores the Myth of the American Dream". Pitchfork. August 27, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  7. ^ Arnold Rypens, The Originals Archived September 24, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 13, 2015
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  11. ^ Biography, William Clauson official siteArchived 2008-11-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 13, 2015
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  14. ^ Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 14 - Big Rock Candy Mountain: Rock 'n' roll in the late fifties. [Part 4]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
  15. ^ Ritchie Valens, "Ritchie Valens in Come On. Let’s Go" Del-Fi Records, liner notes
  16. ^ "La Bamba ranked #17 on Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs List". Rolling Stone. December 11, 2003. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  17. ^ Bender, Steven (2008). Comprende?: The Significance of Spanish in English-only Times. Floricanto Press. p. 113. ISBN 978-1-888205-08-4. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
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