“La Bamba”
Single by Ritchie Valens
A-side	"Donna"
Released	October 1958
Format	7"
Recorded	1958
Genre	Latin/rock/pop
Writer(s)	William Clauson
Producer	Bob Keane
Ritchie Valens singles chronology
"Come On, Let's Go" (1958) "Donna" / "La Bamba" (1958) "Fast Freight / Big Baby Blues" (1959)

“La Bamba”
Single by Los Lobos from the album La Bamba Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
B-side	"Charlena"
Released	1987
Format	CD single, 7"
Genre	Latin/rock/pop
Label	Warner Bros. Records
Writer(s)	William Clauson
Producer	Los Lobos
Los Lobos singles chronology
"Come On, Let's Go"/"Ooh! My Head" (1987) "La Bamba" (1987) "Down on the Riverbed" (1990)

"La Bamba" is a folk song whose origins can be traced to the Mexican state of Veracruz over 300 years ago. It is perhaps best known from a 1958 adaptation by Richie Valens, a top 40 hit the U.S. charts and one of early rock and roll's best-known songs. A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... Ritchie Valens (born Ricardo Steven Valenzuela, May 13, 1941 – February 3, 1959) was a pioneer of rock and roll and a forefather to the Latin Rock movement. ... “B-Sides” redirects here. ... Donna is a song written and sung by Ritchie Valens. ... For other uses, see October (disambiguation). ... Jan. ... A vinyl EP from Crop Circles. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Latin American music, or the music of Latin America, is sometimes called Latin music. ... This article is about the genre. ... For other uses, see Pop music (disambiguation). ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Ritchie Valens (born Ricardo Steven Valenzuela, May 13, 1941 – February 3, 1959) was a pioneer of rock and roll and a forefather to the Latin Rock movement. ... Donna is a song written and sung by Ritchie Valens. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... Los Lobos is an American rock band, heavily influenced by rock and roll, Tex-Mex, country music, folk, R&B, blues, and traditional Spanish and Mexican music such as boleros and norteños. ... La Bamba is an American biographical film released in 1987 written and directed by Luis Valdez. ... “B-Sides” redirects here. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... A CD single is a music single in the form of a compact disc. ... A vinyl EP from Crop Circles. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Latin American music, or the music of Latin America, is sometimes called Latin music. ... This article is about the genre. ... For other uses, see Pop music (disambiguation). ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Warner Bros. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Los Lobos is an American rock band, heavily influenced by rock and roll, Tex-Mex, country music, folk, R&B, blues, and traditional Spanish and Mexican music such as boleros and norteños. ... Folk music, in the original sense of the term, is music by and of the people. ... The United Mexican States (Estados Unidos Mexicanos or Mexico) comprises 31 states (estados) and one federal district (Distrito Federal), which contains the capital, Mexico City. ... Location within Mexico Country Capital Municipalities 212 Largest City Veracruz Government  - Governor Fidel Herrera Beltrán (PRI)  - Federal Deputies PRI: 6 PAN: 11 PRD: 2 Convergencia: 2  - Federal Senators PRD: 1 PAN: 1 Convergencia: 1 Area Ranked 11th  - Total 71,699 km² (27,683. ... Richard Steven Valenzuela (May 13, 1941 - February 3, 1959), better known as Ritchie Valens, was a pioneer of rock and roll and, as a Mexican-American, became the first Hispanic rock and roll star. ... Top 40 is a radio format based on frequent repetition of songs from a constantly-updated list of the forty best-selling singles. ...

Traditional origins

Influenced by Spanish flamenco and Afro-Mexican beats, the song uses the violin, jaranas, guitar, and harp, and is sung in falsetto. Lyrics to the song greatly vary, 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 due to the artists' popularity and have become the "definitive" versions. The traditional aspect of "La Bamba" lies in the tune itself, which remains the same through all versions. The name of the dance, which has no direct English translation, is presumably connected with the Spanish verb bambolear, meaning "to shake", or perhaps "to stomp". A dissenting view holds that the dance originated in or near one of the towns named Bamba in Angola or the DR Congo. Flamenco is a Spanish musical genre with strong, rhythmic undertones and is often accompanied with a similarly impassioned style of dance characterized by its powerful yet graceful execution, as well as its intricate hand and footwork. ... The term Afro-Mexican (Spanish: afromexicano) refers to Mexican citizens who are black or of African descent. ... For the Anne Rice novel, see Violin (novel). ... This article needs to be wikified. ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Harp (disambiguation). ... Falsetto (Italian diminutive of falso, false) is a singing technique that produces sounds that are pitched higher than the singers normal range, in the treble range. ... Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán is a Mariachi group that was founded in Tecalitlán, Jalisco, Mexico by Don Gaspar Vargas in 1897. ... Amadou Bamba, Muslim religious leader and founder of Mouridism Bamba snack, peanut butter snack food made in Israel Bamba, Congo, town in the Democratic Republic of Congo Bamba Crater, on the planet Mars, named after Bamba, Congo La Bamba This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages... The Democratic Republic of the Congo, called Zaïre between 1971 and 1997, is a nation in central Africa. ...

The traditional "La Bamba" was often played during weddings in Veracruz, where the bride and groom performed the accompanying dance. Today this wedding tradition is mostly lost, but the dance survives through the popularity of ballet folklórico. The dance is performed in much the same way, displaying the newlywed couple’s unity through the performance of complicated, delicate steps in unison as well as through creation of a bow from a listón, a long red ribbon, using only their feet. Location within Mexico Country Capital Municipalities 212 Largest City Veracruz Government  - Governor Fidel Herrera Beltrán (PRI)  - Federal Deputies PRI: 6 PAN: 11 PRD: 2 Convergencia: 2  - Federal Senators PRD: 1 PAN: 1 Convergencia: 1 Area Ranked 11th  - Total 71,699 km² (27,683. ... A woman dancing folklórico in the traditional dress of Jalisco Baile folklórico, literally folk dance, is a collective term for traditional Latin American dances that emphasize local folk culture. ...

The "arriba" (literally "up") part of the song suggests the nature of the dance, in which the footwork, called "zapateado", is done faster and faster as the music tempo accelerates. The repeated lyric "Yo no soy marinero" ("Lit: I am not a sailor") refers to Veracruz's marine locale and the husband's promise that he will remain faithful to his wife.

At many gatherings, including the youth conventions of Esperanto (IJK, Internacia Seminario), one traditionally dances to La Bamba in a circle. People dance in the circle and people dance out of it. The people within the circle can take a place in the outer circle by kissing one of the people dancing in it, after this ritual one swaps places. Multiple versions are used for this, Spanish as well as partly or completely sung in Esperanto.^{[citation needed]} This article is about the language. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Internacia Seminario (IS) (English: International Seminar) is the most important Esperanto youth meeting organized by the German Esperanto Youth (GEJ) at the end of every year in a different German city, December 27 to January 3. ...

Valens' version

The traditional song inspired Ritchie Valens' rock and roll version "La Bamba" in the 1950s. Valens' "La Bamba" infused the traditional tune with a rock beat, making the song accessible to the population of the United States and earning it (and Valens) a place in rock history. The song features simple verse-chorus form. Valens learned the Spanish lyrics phonetically, as he had been raised from birth speaking English. Valens' version of La Bamba is ranked number 345 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It is the only song on the list not sung in English. Ritchie Valens' tapping into a Mexican folk song unwittingly paved the way for Twist and Shout and all the other songs based on it since 1962. The first version of the song below is as sung by Richie Valens: Ritchie Valens (born Ricardo Steven Valenzuela, May 13, 1941 – February 3, 1959) was a pioneer of rock and roll and a forefather to the Latin Rock movement. ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... The 1950s decade refers to the years 1950 to 1959 inclusive. ... Verse-chorus form is a musical form common in popular music and predominate in rock since the 1960s. ... This article is about the music magazine. ... ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Please Please Me track listing Side one I Saw Her Standing There Misery Anna (Go to Him) Chains Boys Ask Me Why Please Please Me Side two Love Me Do P.S. I Love You Baby Its You Do You Want to Know a Secret? A Taste of Honey...

Lyrics

SPANISH:

Para bailar La Bamba Para bailar La Bamba, Se necesita una poca de gracia, Una poca de gracia, pa' mí, pa' tí y Arriba, arriba.. y arriba, arriba Por tí seré por tí seré por tí seré.

Yo no soy marinero Yo no soy marinero Soy capitán soy capitán soy capitán Ba Ba Bamba Ba Ba Bamba Ba Ba Bamba

ENGLISH

In order to dance La Bamba, In order to dance La Bamba, you need a little grace A little grace for me, for you and up up, and up up I'll be there for you, I'll be there for you, I'll be there for you

I am not a sailor, I am not a sailor I am a captain, I am a captain

Another common version is:

SPANISH

A para bailar La Bamba, A para bailar La Bamba, se necesita, una poca de gracia. Una poca de gracia, y otra cosita. Ay, arriba, arriba. Ay, arriba, arriba, arriba ire! Yo no soy marinero; por tí, seré.

ENGLISH

In order to dance La Bamba, In order to dance La Bamba, you need a little grace. A little grace, and a little something extra. Hey! Jump, jump, jump we go! I am not a sailor; for you I will be

There are many other variations and additional verses.

Charts

Kent Music Report front cover 11 October 1976 The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by a music enthusiast, David Kent from the early 1970s through to 1998. ... Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart and the one of the most important singles charts in middle-europe. ... The Syndicat National de lEdition Phonographique (SNEP) is the inter-professional organisation which protects the interests of the French record industry. ... The Irish Singles Chart is the Irish music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. ... The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists in New Zealand. ... VG lista is a norwegian record chart. ... “British Hit Singles” redirects here. ... “Hot 100” redirects here. ... Hot Country Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. ... The Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart is the most important music chart for Spanish language singles in the American music market. ... The Mainstream Rock Tracks chart is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music but are not modern rock (that is, alternative) stations, which are counted in the Modern Rock Tracks chart. ... The Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart (formerly known as Adult Contemporary Singles and only Adult Contemporary) lists the most popular songs weekly calculated by airplay and occasionally sales. ... The United World Chart is a worldwide chart issued every week by Media Traffic, using both sales (digital and physical) and airplay to determine the most popular albums and singles worldwide. ...

Cover versions

This article or section may contain an inappropriate mixture of prose and timeline. Please help convert this timeline into prose or, if necessary, a list.

The Los Lobos version of the song, released in as part of the soundtrack of the 1987 movie La Bamba about Valens' life, concludes with the traditional ever-faster instrumentation, instead of the "bamba-bamba, bamba-bamba..." fadeout of Valens' version. The single went to No. 1 on the Billboard charts. It also went to No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart and the Australian ARIA Chart. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Prose is writing distinguished from poetry by its greater variety of rhythm and its closer resemblance to everyday speech. ... Los Lobos is an American rock band, heavily influenced by rock and roll, Tex-Mex, country music, folk, R&B, blues, and traditional Spanish and Mexican music such as boleros and norteños. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... La Bamba is an American biographical film released in 1987 written and directed by Luis Valdez. ... In audio engineering, a fade is a gradual increase or decrease in the level of an audio signal. ... “British Hit Singles” redirects here. ... The Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry. ...

One of the last versions is from the German-Portuguese singer Marco da Silva, released in 2000. Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ...

In 1986, "La Bamba" featured as the background music to a British TV ad for the Vauxhall Nova motor car. Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... 2003 Vauxhall Corsa 2004 Opel Corsa The Corsa is a small car or supermini produced by General Motors in Europe. ...

In 1988, Latin superstar Selena released the song on her album entitled Preciosa. Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... For the movie based on the life of the singer, see Selena (film). ... Preciosa was the last album released by Selena Y Los Dinos before signing on to EMI Latin. ...

In 1988, song parody writer/performer "Weird Al" Yankovic wrote and recorded a parody of "La Bamba" entitled "Lasagna". Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the musician. ... Lasagna is a song by Weird Al Yankovic. ...

In 2001, country music superstar Clay Walker covered this song in his Tex Mex style on his album "Say No More". Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the American country music singer. ...

In 2004, fans of Liverpool Football Club adapted the lyrics of "La Bamba" into a song celebrating their new Spanish manager Rafa Benitez and the Spanish players he brought to the club. The song's popularity grew and became an anthem of their UEFA Champions League win in 2005. Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Liverpool Football Club is the most successful English football team, having won 4 European Cups and 18 league (English Premier League, formerly First Division) titles. ... Liverpools coach Rafael Benitez holds the trophy after Liverpools victory in the UEFA Champions League in Istanbul, Turkey 25th May, 2005. ... European Cup redirects here. ...

In 2005, the Japanese J-ska band Yum!Yum!ORANGE recorded a ska punk cover released in their third album Orange Funky Radio. Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Japanese ska or J-ska is ska (スカ) or ska punk music made in Japan by Japanese artists with lyrics in the Japanese language or in English. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

In 2006, it was performed in the Hungarian version of Pop Idol competition (local name: Megasztár) by Magdolna Rúzsa, a Serbia-born Hungarian singer. Her recording was also released on her first CD album (A döntőkben elhangzott dalok). Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Magdolna Rúzsa or simply Magdi Rúzsa (Hungarian: Rúzsa Magdolna) (born 28 November 1985 in Vrbas, Vojvodina, Serbia) is a Hungarian singer who won the title of the third season of Megasztár in 2006. ... A döntÅ‘kben elhangzott dalok is the debut album from Hungarian singer, Magdolna Rúzsa. ...

In 2007 a cover by Leon Thomas III was featured on the soundtrack of the film August Rush. Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... August Rush is a 2007 Academy Award-nominated drama directed by Kirsten Sheridan and written by Nick Castle, James V. Hart, Kirsten Sheridan and Paul Castro, and produced by Richard Barton Lewis. ...

More cover versions :

• Mike Berry (1963)
• Dean Reed (1965)
• Unit 4+2 (1965)
• The Sandpipers (1966)
• The Ventures (1966) - instrumental version
• Willie Bobo (1967)
• Trini Lopez (1966)
• Dusty Springfield (1968)
• Neil Diamond (1969)
• Antonia Rodriguez (1978) - a 'disco' version
• Baccara (1978)
• Selena (1988)
• Clay Walker (2001)
• Wyclef Jean feat. Ro-K & Gammy (October 5, 2004)
• Bubba Hernandez and Alex Meixner aka Polka Freak Out feat. Scrote and Zebar (November 16, 2007)
• Lila Downs
• Henry Mancini and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Mike Berry (born Michael Bourne, on September 24, 1942) is an English actor and singer best known for his appearances as Mr Spooner on Are You Being Served?. Berry was born in Northampton. ... Dean Cyril Reed (September 22, 1938 – June 13, 1986) was an American actor, singer and songwriter who lived a great part of his adult life in South America, then in Communist East Germany. ... Unit 4 + 2 was a British pop band, which had a number one hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1965 with the song, Concrete and Clay. The track topped the UK chart for one week. ... The Sandpipers were a US easy listening trio/quartet who carved a little niche for themselves in the world of 60s folk rock. ... Walk Dont Run (1960) The Ventures are a rock instrumental band formed in 1958, by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, two Seattle masonry workers. ... Willie Bobo (February 28, 1934 - September 15, 1983, real name: William Correa) was an American jazz percussionist. ... Trini Lopez (born May 15, 1937) is a Mexican-American singer and guitarist. ... Dusty Springfield OBE (16 April 1939–2 March 1999) was a popular English singer whose career spanned four decades. ... Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actor. ... Baccara is a female musical duet that was very successful in the decades of 1970 and 1980. ... For the movie based on the life of the singer, see Selena (film). ... This article is about the American country music singer. ... Nelust Wyclef Jean (IPA: ) (born October 17, 1972) is a Haitian-American rapper, guitarist, producer, and member of the hip hop trio The Fugees. ... Lila Downs Lila Downs (born 1968 in Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca, Mexico) is a Mexican singer. ... Henry Mancini (April 16, 1924 – June 14, 1994), was an Academy Award winning American composer, conductor and arranger. ...

Trivia

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Tom Miller collected over 80 versions of La Bamba for his Rhino Records compilation The Best of La Bamba. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Tom Miller is an author primarily known for travel literature. ...

"Come a Little Bit Closer" by Jay and the Americans, later recorded by Johnny Duncan and Janie Fricke, has the same tune in part of its chorus. Jay and the Americans were a pop music group popular in the 1960s. ... Johnny Duncan the US country music artist was born in Dublin, Texas on October 5, 1938. ... Janie Fricke (b. ...

Whos That Girl (OST) track listing Whos That Girl (1) Causing a Commotion (2) Whos That Girl is a song by American singer Madonna for her 1987 movie Whos That Girl and on the subsequent, various artists soundtrack Whos That Girl. ... This article is about the American entertainer. ... This is a list of the number one hits in the UK Singles Chart, from its inception in 1952 to the present. ... is the 209th day of the year (210th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... HIStory track listing I Just Cant Stop Loving You is a popular ballad by singers Michael Jackson and Siedah Garrett. ... Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958), commonly known as MJ as well as the King of Pop, is an American musician, entertainer, and pop icon whose successful career and controversial personal life have been a part of pop culture for the last three decades. ... Siedah Garrett (born June 24, 1960 in Los Angeles California) is an American, R&B singer and Academy Award and Grammy-nominated songwriter. ... Whos That Girl (OST) track listing Whos That Girl (1) Causing a Commotion (2) Whos That Girl is a song by American singer Madonna for her 1987 movie Whos That Girl and on the subsequent, various artists soundtrack Whos That Girl. ... This article is about the American entertainer. ... “Hot 100” redirects here. ... This is a list of number-one hits in the United States by year from the Billboard Hot 100. ... is the 241st day of the year (242nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... HIStory track listing I Just Cant Stop Loving You is a popular ballad by singers Michael Jackson and Siedah Garrett. ... Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958), commonly known as MJ as well as the King of Pop, is an American musician, entertainer, and pop icon whose successful career and controversial personal life have been a part of pop culture for the last three decades. ... Siedah Garrett (born June 24, 1960 in Los Angeles California) is an American, R&B singer and Academy Award and Grammy-nominated songwriter. ... Soy Como Quiero Ser is the first album recorded by mexican singer Luis Miguel on his actual label Warner Music. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart is the most important music chart for Spanish language singles in the American music market. ... is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ...

External links

• "La Bamba" Explained or the Music of Veracruz
• "La Bamba" information on Rolling Stone
• Music video for Los Lobos' cover of "La Bamba" at YouTube