Ma Baker

"Ma Baker" is a song by disco group Boney M., released as a single in 1977. It was the first single of their second album Love for Sale and their third consecutive chart-topper in Germany.

The song was a huge success in Europe and Latin America, topping the charts in many countries there. It was a number 2 hit in the UK (only surpassed by Donna Summer's "I Feel Love"). In the U.S, the song only reached number 96.

Composition and structure
Frank Farian's assistant Hans-Jörg Mayer discovered a popular Tunisian folkloric song, "Sidi Mansour" while on holiday, and rewrote the song into a disco track.

The lyrics by Fred Jay were inspired by the told story of legendary 1930s US outlaw Ma Barker, although the name was changed into "Ma Baker" because "it sounded better". The story of Ma Barker is controversial, and many details on the song are based on what was told at the time, instead of recorded history. Some differences are the fact there are no records that she introduced any of her sons to crime (the opposite is more probable), and only one of them died with her. Similarly, their death didn't happen during a bank robbery; instead, they were found in a vacation house and died on a day-long shootout with the FBI.

With a structure similar to Boney M.'s breakthrough single "Daddy Cool", using the same gimmick percussion, alternating answer-back vocals, and a spoken mid-part, the song opened with a snarling "Freeze, I'm Ma Baker, put your hands in the air and gimme all your money". Although it has never been officially credited, the voice was that of Linda Blake, the wife of Frank Farian's American friend Bill Swisher, who was a soldier in Germany at the time. Bill Swisher performed the spoken mid-part, announcing a bulletin from the FBI. He was used on several later Boney M. recordings, including "Rasputin" and "El Lute".

Farian re-recorded the song with Milli Vanilli in 1988, and reused both spoken voiceovers from the original song in the cover. Boney M.'s version was remixed the same year, 1993 and again in 1998. The song has been covered a number of times, including Banda R-15 and Knorkator. The "ma ma ma ma" chorus vocals were also sampled in Lady Gaga's "Poker Face".

1993 remix
Following the remix of "Brown Girl in the Ring", Farian remixed "Ma Baker" in 1993. While a modest club hit, it failed to enter the European charts. "Borsalino" and "The Most Wanted Woman" are two dub mixes of the track. The new remix was included in the compilation album More Gold - 20 Super Hits Vol. II.

12"
Side A – Gangster Side B – Fashion
 * "Ma Baker (Remix '93)" (BMG 74321 15940 1, 1993)
 * 1) "Ma Baker (Remix '93)" (Bonnie & Clyde mix) – 5:25
 * 2) "The Most Wanted Woman" – 3:30
 * 1) "Borsalino (Trainee Mix)" – 4:55
 * 2) "Ma Baker (Remix '93)" (Radio Edit) – 3:58

CD

 * "Ma Baker (Remix '93)" (BMG 74321 15940 2, 1993)
 * 1) "Ma Baker (Remix '93)" (Radio Edit) – 3:58
 * 2) "Ma Baker (Remix '93)" (Bonnie & Clyde mix) – 5:25
 * 3) "Borsalino (Trainee Mix)" – 4:55
 * 4) "The Most Wanted Woman" – 3:30

1998 remix
In 1998, a new remix of "Ma Baker" by Sash! started to chart as a 12" single. Just as the CD-single was about to follow, it was withdrawn, and a new version appeared, re-titled "Somebody Scream! Ma Baker" featuring Horny United. The single was a Top 30 hit in Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and even peaked at no. 6 (two weeks) in Finland and no. 10 in Sweden. When released in the UK in April, it peaked at no. 22. The accompanying video featured a young woman, kickboxing, training with a gun, the only relation to the original group being her watching the original 1977 video of "Ma Baker" on a TV set.

12"
Side A Side B Side C Side D
 * Boney M. / Horny United Feat. Boney M. - "Ma Baker" / "Somebody Scream - Ma Baker" (2 x 12", Logic Records/Lautstark/BMG 74321 64561 1, 1999)
 * 1) Boney M. "Ma Baker" (Extended Vocal Edit) – 5:26
 * 1) Boney M. "Ma Baker" (Disco Dub Edit) – 5:35
 * 1) Horny United "Somebody Scream" (Massive Mix) – 7:30
 * 2) Horny United "Somebody Scream" (Screamless Mix) – 6:16
 * 1) Horny United "Somebody Scream - Ma Baker" (Full Vocal Mix)
 * 2) Horny United "Somebody Scream - Ma Baker" (Ma Baker House Mix)

CD

 * Boney M vs. Sash!: "Ma Baker" (BMG 74321 63942 2, 1998)
 * 1) "Ma Baker" (Tokapi Radio Edit) – 3:24
 * 2) "Ma Baker" (Original Edit) – 3:35
 * 3) "Ma Baker" (Extended Vocal Edit) – 5:26
 * 4) "Ma Baker" (Disco Dub Edit) – 5:35


 * Boney M. vs. Sash!/Horny United Featuring Boney M.: "Ma Baker"/"Somebody Scream" (BMG 74321 64561 2, 1999)
 * 1) Boney M. vs. Sash! "Ma Baker" (Extended Radio Edit) – 4:54
 * 2) Boney M. vs. Sash! "Ma Baker" (Disco Dub Edit) (5:32)
 * 3) Horny United Featuring Boney M. "Somebody Scream (Ma Baker)" (Radio Edit) (Oliver Wallner, Re-Run) – 4:17
 * 4) Horny United Featuring Boney M. "Somebody Scream (Ma Baker)" (Massive Mix) (Oliver Wallner, Re-Run) – 6:59

12"
Side A Side B
 * Boney M. vs. Horny United "Ma Baker/Somebody Scream" (Logic Records 74321 65387 1, 1999)
 * 1) "Ma Baker" (Club Mix by Horny United)
 * 1) "Somebody Scream" (Beatroute Star Bar Mix by DJ Slammer & Mark Bambach)
 * 2) "Somebody Scream" (Cosmic People Mix)

CD

 * Boney M. vs. Horny United "Ma Baker/Somebody Scream" (Logic Records 74321 65387 2, 1999)
 * 1) "Ma Baker/Somebody Scream" (Radio Edit) – 3:06
 * 2) "Ma Baker" (Sash! Radio Edit) – 3:27
 * 3) "Somebody Scream" (Massive Club mix) – 7:31
 * 4) "Ma Baker" (Sash! 12" Mix) – 4:55

In popular culture
The song's 'Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma' line is alluded in the opening lines and in between verses in Lady Gaga's hit 'Poker Face'. The song is also featured in the final episode of the sixth series of the television show Black Mirror, in which the demon character takes on the appearance of Boney M. member Bobby Farrell.