|
|
|
|
La Bamba (song)
|
| |
|
| |
"La Bamba" La Bamba is a traditional song of the Huasteca region, with greater attachment to the state of Veracruz, is the son jarocho genre and is known popularly as the anthem of Veracruz. Although there is a version circulated in the media business years popularized in 1958 by the singer of Mexican descent born in the U.S. Ritchie Valens. Son of bamba within its traditional context are a couple of calls to the dance a man and a woman, there are communities where the dance of two or more couples.
The verse that is sung at La Bamba is a very broad topic, verses are sung to women and funny situations that happen in the life of the inhabitants of the state of Veracruz in Mexico.
uenced by Spanish flamenco and Afro-Mexican rhythms, the song uses the violin, jaranas, guitar, and harp.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'La Bamba (song)' Start a new discussion about 'La Bamba (song)' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
"La Bamba" La Bamba is a traditional song of the Huasteca region, with greater attachment to the state of Veracruz, is the son jarocho genre and is known popularly as the anthem of Veracruz. Although there is a version circulated in the media business years popularized in 1958 by the singer of Mexican descent born in the U.S. Ritchie Valens. Son of bamba within its traditional context are a couple of calls to the dance a man and a woman, there are communities where the dance of two or more couples.
The verse that is sung at La Bamba is a very broad topic, verses are sung to women and funny situations that happen in the life of the inhabitants of the state of Veracruz in Mexico.
Traditional origins
Influenced by Spanish flamenco and Afro-Mexican rhythms, the song uses the violin, jaranas, guitar, and harp. 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 because of 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".
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.
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, soy capitán" (lit: "I am not a sailor, I am a captain"), 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.
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 a much wider population and earning it (and Valens) a place in rock history. 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. Valens obtained the lyrics from his aunt Ernestine Reyes and 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 magazines list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It is the only song on the list not sung in English. The song also ranked #98 in VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Rock and Roll and #59 in VH1's 100 Greatest Dance Songs of Rock and Roll, both done in 2000.
Charts
Cover versions
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 charts and the Australian charts.
In 1956, Harry Belafonte made a studio recording of La Bamba.
In 1960, La Bamba was included in the album Belafonte Returns To Carnegie Hall LSO6007, playing time 8:06.
In 1986, "La Bamba" featured as the background music to a British TV ad for the Vauxhall Nova motor car.
In fall, 1987, the Grateful Dead incorporated "La Bamba" within their version of "Good Lovin'" during several concerts.
In 1988, Latin superstar Selena released the song on her album entitled Preciosa.
In 1988, song parody writer/performer "Weird Al" Yankovic wrote and recorded a parody of "La Bamba" entitled "Lasagna". The original tune is played with Italian instruments to fit the parody's theme.
In 1988, Alvin and the Chipmunks included a version of the song, sung in their signature style, on their album Born to Rock.
In 2000, the German-Portuguese singer Marco da Silva released "La Bamba"
In 2001, country music superstar Clay Walker covered this song in his Tex Mex style on his album Say No More.
In 2003, the song was successfully covered in France by the Star Academy 4 (#2 in France, #1 in Belgium, #11 in Switzerland).
In 2004, fans of Liverpool Football Club adapted the lyrics of "La Bamba" into a song celebrating their new Spanish manager Rafael 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. It has been updated and changed several times to accommodate the transfer of players. Xabi Alonso is the only player whose name has remained in the chant.
In 2005, the Japanese J-ska band Yum!Yum!ORANGE recorded a ska punk cover released in their third album Orange Funky Radio. That same year, Paul Shanklin released a satire about U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy goofing up the names Osama bin Laden and then-freshman Senator Barrack Obama.
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 döntokben elhangzott dalok).
In 2007, the game Rayman Raving Rabbids featured this song on the jukebox.
In 2007, a cover by Leon Thomas III was featured on the soundtrack of the film August Rush.
The cover by Los Lobos is one of the featured songs in the game Guitar Hero World Tour in the final gig at Times Square and also Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades.
More cover versions :
Trivia
Tom Miller collected over 80 versions of La Bamba for his Rhino Records compilation The Best of La Bamba.
"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.
In popular culture
- The song is featured in the film
Alien vs. Predator. The Los Lobos version is featured in Guitar Hero World Tour.
Charts for covers
Parodies of La Bamba
The Proud Family, Lacienega was having a party and her dad booked Trini Lopez instead of Jennifer Lopez and when Zoey says Trini Lopez, Dijonay says some guy singing "La Bambi".
Mario Party 7, there is a mini game titled "La Bomba".
- Weird Al Yankovic made a cover of the song titled "Lasagna". It's featured on his
Even Worse album.
External links
|
| |
|
|
