Talk:La Bamba (song)

"La Bamba" means...
74.112.121.40 08:05, 18 March 2007 (UTC) says:

I read that La Bamba doesn't really have a translation, but after doing a google search, I've come across one that, in my opinion, comes close:

Note that "La Bamba" means "the hot chick," as in "bombshell." -DEQI (http://www.leoslyrics.com/listlyrics.php?id=4567) *It does not mean "hot chick". It's the name of the dance that is done to the song itself.


 * The meaning of the name of the alleged dance "la bamba" needs some interpretation of underlying meaning, as is often the case in folk songs. When you dance "la bamba", this implies you have "una pierna/cintura bamba", or "a loose leg/waist" (and it could go further into a naughtier interpretation, but let's leave it aside for lack of evidence). So "bailar la bamba" actually means "do the loose leg/waist dance". To do that dance, "necesitas una poca de gracia y otra cosita", meaning, "you need a bit of grace and something else" (hence the naughty interpretation). But it doesn't stop there: there's also a Spanish language pun involved, considering the verb "bambolear" (moving your waist in circles) also means to boast/brag. So, the person who dances la bamba can be understood as also bragging about not being a sailor, but the captain himself ("yo no soy marinero, soy capitán"). He's dancing la bamba and also doing "la bamba", get it? There you have the right spirit of the lyrics, Feel free to add to the article, if needed. - 187.20.71.73 (talk) 22:37, 23 March 2014 (UTC)


 * Isn’t it una polka de gracia? Meaning a polka that’s good. Because if it was “un poco de gracia” no one would say “una poca” the correct way is “un poco” But if it’s a reference to “una poca— as in una polka, then the lyrics make sense. Thoughts? 71.230.169.77 (talk) 02:39, 23 October 2022 (UTC)
 * @71.230.169.77 "una polka de gracia" could also mean "a free dance" perhaps. Oral histories, eh? 2A00:23C6:9026:E201:A56D:35B4:1610:A275 (talk) 08:11, 26 February 2023 (UTC)

Para vs. For
OK, cunning linguists, I am well aware that the normal translation of "para" in this specific usage is "in order to" or "for the purpose of". Now just try to sing it that way in English. "For" may be a bit archaic as a synonym of "in order to", but it flows better. Wahkeenah 13:07, 26 December 2005 (UTC)

Yes, but shouldn't it be argued that the purpose of this translation is not to show a reader how to sing the song in English, but rather give an accurate translation of the song? 69.138.71.41 03:47, 30 December 2005 (UTC)

I concur.


 * And I'm getting tired of fighting with illegal a-nones. Knock yourselves out. Wahkeenah 02:45, 4 February 2006 (UTC)
 * I agree with the "a-nones" in this case. If lyrics and a translation are provided (which they are not, so someone must have removed them), the translation should convey the best meaning of the lyrics, not the best way to sing it.--Rockero 22:43, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

Afro-Mexican
Why is this song an "Traditional Afro-Mexican" song? I mean come on there really is no need for afro with anything that relates to being a Latino! A Latino isn't of a particular race, a Latino can be a asian, african or native etc it does not matter their background because you are Latino! TeePee-20.7 13:38, 15 May 2007 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:LaBamba.jpg
Image:LaBamba.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

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BetacommandBot 04:43, 16 September 2007 (UTC)

Information All Wrong
La Bamba is an old son jarocho. Jarocho does have african influence but it is not direct. Its better to say it has an afro-cuban influence. Also it was never done on violin until Mariachi's hundreds of years later. and it was never done in son huasteco. harp and jarana would be best to say since those are the basic instruments of jarocho and i believe requinto wasnt really done until within a century. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Myke209 (talk • contribs) 21:33, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:LosLobosLaBamba.jpg
Image:LosLobosLaBamba.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot 20:42, 6 November 2007 (UTC)

Esperanto?
Do we have any proper sources (ie not just mirrors of Wiki) for the thing about dancing La Bamba in a circle at Esperanto youth conventions? Frankly, it reads like a hoax at the moment. If it isn't, it needs citations, fast. 86.132.140.178 (talk) 02:55, 20 December 2007 (UTC)

Lyrics
It seems a little futile to me to cite lyrics, since there are about as many variants as there are Jaraneros -- and not just little variants as the ones cited here. That's in the nature of the Son Jarocho, which is a largely improvised genre. The song can go on and on, and since it is mostly sung by two or three singers in turn, each can contribute his or her own verses, respond to the verses of the others', and so on. Obviously, recorded versions feed back into the oral and improvised tradition and most audiences expect to hear the familiar marinero-verse at one point, but the tradition of improvisation is going strong. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 200.56.76.160 (talk) 15:10, 11 September 2008 (UTC)

Opening Paragraph Needs Work
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.

What does that mean, "in the media business years"?

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.

This doesn't make sense to me, either. I would edit it, but I don't know what the author(s) is trying to communicate here. Oswald Glinkmeyer (talk) 02:42, 18 March 2009 (UTC)

Cover versions
I don't think Selena should have an infobox unless it's an important enough release to be discussed in the Main Article.Hbrackett (talk) 16:03, 19 September 2009 (UTC)
 * I moved the listy section to the talk page.  Mahanga Talk 18:12, 9 December 2009 (UTC)

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 doing so, Ritchie Valens became the last of the three singers of the February 3, 1959 plane crash to  have a song sung, written or adapted by them to hit No. 1 (See That'll Be The Day  (Buddy Holly) and Running Bear (J.P. "Big Bopper" Richardson)).

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 1975, the song appeared on the New Riders of the Purple Sage album Oh, What a Mighty Time.

In 1979, a frenetic punk rendition was included on The Plugz' debut album, Electrify Me.

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 Spanish manager Rafael Benítez 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.

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 Barack 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 döntőkben 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 :


 * Bobby Darin
 * Mike Berry (1963)
 * The Nashville Teens (1964)
 * Dean Reed (1965)
 * Unit 4 + 2 (1965)
 * The Crickets (1965)
 * Shirley Bassey (1965)
 * The Sandpipers (1966)
 * The Ventures  (1966) -  instrumental version
 * Willie Bobo (1967)
 * Trini Lopez (1966)
 * Dusty Springfield (1968)
 * Neil Diamond (1966)
 * The Merrymen, 1966
 * Antonia Rodriguez (1978) - a  'disco' version
 * Baccara (1978)
 * The California Raisins (1987)
 * Selena (1988)
 * Rory Gallagher (1993-1994  tour)
 * Chan Romero (1996, recorded 1959)
 * The Tokens
 * Allsortz (2000)
 * Clay Walker (2001)
 * Helmut Lotti, 2000
 * 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
 * Mattias Eklundh
 * Henry Mancini and The Royal  Philharmonic Orchestra
 * Deer Tick
 * The Wiggles (2008)
 * Drake Bell  (2008)
 * Yuri for her album Mi Hijita Linda (2008)
 * Tito and Tarantula
 * Nickasaur! (2009)
 * Khalil Fong (2009)

Besides all cover versions, many listeners have noted that the song Twist and Shout is very similar to La Bamba.

Dubious
"the tune itself.. remains the same through all versions"

i don't think this is quite true. the tune (as in the melody) varies between versions from what i've heard. the "rock versions" (Ritchie Valens et al.) are different, but i'd say traditional versions differ as well. k kisses 15:46, 17 June 2010 (UTC)

i'm happy now. k kisses 15:23, 22 January 2011 (UTC)
 * Happy is good. Carptrash (talk) 15:31, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

Selena's version?
Why was she removed from the other version's section? She recorded the song for her album And the Winner Is... which was later remixed for her album Anthology. AJona1992 (talk) 00:51, 21 February 2011 (UTC)

Writer(s)
The Ritchie Valens version and the Los Lobos version each list different writers in the Infobox, but to my knowledge they sing the same song. (Valens: Beau Ryan; Los Lobos: William Clauson)

--CltNC830 (talk) 01:53, 23 April 2011 (UTC)

Seems like Will Clauson  could not have written La Bamba if the song has been around since the early 1900's. As far as Beau Ryan, who was Beau Ryan? Was it just a made up name that Richie Valens used for writer of the song? The article states Veracruz as the place of origin. However, the original writer could have been from Spain, France, or could have been from anywhere in Europe, not necessarily from Veracruz. Either way, I would still like to know who the writer Beau Ryan actually is, that seems like a much bigger mystery than La Bamba. Beau Ryan obviously sounds like a French name, maybe the song did originate in France. Southern France would be an area where a song like La Bamba could have easily originated. I think there are a lot of possibilities here and the article does no justice to the fact that little is know about La Bamba or the original writer. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Dotrecords (talk • contribs) 07:09, 19 September 2014 (UTC)

After doing some research, it seems likely that Will Clauson is the person that put his own words to the traditional La Bamba melody, possibly in the 1950's. If this is true, then we may have found a lyric writer for the popular version of the song, but still no composer. Still searching copyright and public domain archives for any name matching Beau Ryan (pre 1950) for any music whatsoever, so far haven't found anything.


 * This article states that Willie Clauson was "the guy who brought the world “La Bamba.”" It says that he "discovered the fisherman’s song “La Bamba” when he was in Veracruz. He slowed it down, simplified it, sang it, then gave it to Ritchie Valens who…well, you know the rest."   In my view, that claim could be added to the article - but it would be helpful to have some more sources attesting to Clauson's involvement.  Ghmyrtle (talk) 09:20, 12 April 2015 (UTC)
 * Much more info on Clauson's own website here :"It was Will who first made 'La Bamba' a major hit. It was originally music for dancing to the rapid percussive sound of foot stamping with harp and guitar accompaniment. While touring Mexico, Will so enjoyed seeing it performed that he decided to make a singable song out of it for his international audience. He slowed the tempo down to allow the audience to join in, recorded the song in a variety of languages, and by popular demand, closed nearly all of his innumerable concerts with everyone taking part." He has his own article on Swedish Wikipedia here.  Ghmyrtle (talk) 09:25, 12 April 2015 (UTC)
 * Record sleeve here. And here is his (sadly, undated) performance.   Ghmyrtle (talk) 09:33, 12 April 2015 (UTC)

I've seen these claims stating that Will Clauson wrote some lyrics for the traditional La Bamba melody. The only problem is that in 1947 La Bamba was featured in the film "Fiesta" with a major portion of lyrics already in place. It is very unlikely that Clauson had anything to do with La Bamba prior to 1947, so any lyrics that Clauson wrote were probably just additional lyrics and more of an arrangement of the lyrics than anything else. Luis Martinez Serrano is credited as the composer of the "La Bamba" featured in the movie "Fiesta" in 1947. Serrano also has a copyright on some "traditional Mexican songs" dating back to 1950. So it is highly probable that Serrano took the traditional folk melody of La Bamba, put lyrics to it in 1947 for the film "Fiesta" and stamped his name on the entire composition. However, there is no indication that Serrano actually composed the song, because in the copyright record it is stated that he was copyrighting "traditional Mexican songs". Maybe you could do that in 1950, but not nowdays. Today you would only be able to copyright the arrangement, not the actual song. So, I'm actually just correcting myself, because I previously stated that Clauson was probably the lyric composer. What I meant was that his version of the lyrics or arrangement of the lyrics were used for the modern version of the song that Richie Valens sang. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Dotrecords (talk • contribs) 09:59, 12 April 2015
 * I think it would be useful to add these claims - suitably referenced of course - to the article, without trying to come to a definitive view on which ones are, in fact, accurate. I'll try and put together a brief article on Clauson in the next few days, and can add his claims then, but it would be useful if you could add to this article the information you have about Serrano and Fiesta as well. Incidentally, if Belafonte recorded it in 1956, I don't know whether his version pre-dated or post-dated Clauson.  Ghmyrtle (talk) 10:32, 12 April 2015 (UTC)
 * PS: William Clauson. Ghmyrtle (talk) 11:18, 13 April 2015 (UTC)
 * PPS: Do you know anything about this version by Juanita Linda, apparently recorded in 1954?   Ghmyrtle (talk) 11:25, 13 April 2015 (UTC)
 * PPPS: Aha! - much more information here.  And here is the version by Andres Huesca (Hermanos Huesca).  Ghmyrtle (talk) 11:36, 13 April 2015 (UTC)

I was checking out the Hermanos Huesca version which led me back to the Son Jarocho. I guess then the article here remains pretty accurate because it would probably go back to the 1800's and an original composer or group of composers would be nearly impossible to find. It could be any combination of indigenous tribal music with many possibilities of Spanish origin, especially Andalusia. I will get links for the copyright info I was referring to earlier, regarding Luis Martinez Serrano and his copyrights of "Traditional Mexican Songs". It is probably important because he is one of the composers falsely credited with writing La Bamba along with Will Clauson and of course, Beau Ryan.
 * The reference to "Beau Ryan" was added in this anonymous edit in 2009 - which seems to be pure vandalism. Sadly, it lasted on the page for a couple of years before being removed here.  The references to Clauson being the writer are more understandable, but still wrong.  I don't know what writing credits were given on Clauson's own recordings of the song in the early 50s.  The "correct" version should be something like "Trad., arr. Valens", for his version - which is effectively what appears on early copies of the DelFi single.  At least this discussion has prompted me to do a bit of research and writing on pre-Valens versions.  Ghmyrtle (talk) 08:51, 14 April 2015 (UTC)

Ok, because I had looked it up on Discogs after I saw it in the article and it still shows the same credit, Beau Ryan. http://www.discogs.com/Various-This-Is-Radio-Strummer/release/5026278 under a various artists compilation with the Richie Valens version of La Bamba. Maybe Discogs got it from Wikipedia somehow back when that edit was active? Thats weird. But I totally agree that Traditional arr. Valens or adapted by Richie Valens are both correct.

Disney's The Three Caballeros
I have heard that this song is featured in Disney's film "The Three Caballeros", under the name "Lilongo". Here is a link to the song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie-qfEqOHiw Does anyone know if this is actually a version of "La Bamba" or is it a completely different song?--Jpcase (talk) 21:52, 10 September 2011 (UTC)

I just cut this out
from the Other Versions section. because while the Beatles might have ripped off the riff, ( and we would need a reference for that claim, "Just listen to it" is not good enough) - I don't believe that that can be called "sampling." can it? Einar aka Carptrash (talk) 18:17, 1 December 2014 (UTC)
 * "'The intro to the 1963 song Twist and Shout by The Beatles samples La Bamba. '

I Just removed
this good faith edit from the Traditional versions section. Perhaps we can figure out how to use the information and the source? Want to try?
 * " from Africa was usually sung by the Angolan and Congolese slaves Rogers, C.V. (Sep., 2006). Improving the Visibility of Afro-Latin Culture in the Spanish Classroom.  Hispania, 89 (3): 562-573ore been incorporated to Latin America musical element . "

Carptrash (talk) 14:53, 1 March 2015 (UTC)

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Public domain lyrics
Is there a public domain version of the song lyrics that we can use here (or on Wikisource)? Qzekrom (talk) 02:52, 19 February 2019 (UTC)

Significant Bruce Springsteen cover ignored
Bruce Springsteen made a cover which is a significant mash-up of "La Bamba" and "Twist and Shout". This was completely disregarded in the "La Bamba" page. Here is the link to the amazing live performance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXvGbWO_DIk werldwayd (talk) 14:45, 4 January 2021 (UTC)

No musicological discussion
Sadly, we have here another article on a song that omits basic information such as time. Is it 4-4 in any or all versions, for example? Kdammers (talk) 03:33, 9 March 2022 (UTC)

Public domain recordings
The Internet Archive has a few 78 rpm recordings of this song that ought to be in the public domain by now. Assuming there are no copyright issues, perhaps someone could upload one of them to Wikimedia Commons and insert it into this page? Here's one example, recorded by Los Tres Vaqueros in 1945. -- 86.31.99.47 (talk) 21:03, 10 May 2022 (UTC)