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Ritchie Valens
About La Bamba
"La Bamba" (pronounced [la ˈβamba]) is a Mexican folk song, originally from the state of Veracruz, best known from a 1958 adaptation by Ritchie Valens, a top 40 hit in the U. S. charts and one of early rock and roll's best-known songs. Valens' version of "La Bamba" is 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)—and 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 sung in a language other than English. "La Bamba" has been covered by numerous artists, most notably by Los Lobos, whose version was the title track of the 1987 film La Bamba and reached No. 1 in the U. S. and UK singles charts in the same year.more »
- Year:
- 2002
- 2:06
- 467Views
- Playlists:
- #1
- Occitan
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Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
Para bailar La BambaPara bailar La BambaSe necessita una poca de graciaUna poca de graciaPara mi, para ti, ay arriba, ay arribaAy, arriba arribaPor ti sere, por ti sere, por ti sereYo no soy marineroYo no soy marinero, soy capitanSoy capitan, soy capitanBamba, bambaBamba, bambaBamba, bamba, bamPara bailar La BambaPara bailar La BambaSe necessita una poca de graciaUna poca de graciaPara mi, para ti, ay arriba, ay arribaPara bailar La BambaPara bailar La BambaSe necessita una poca de graciaUna poca de graciaPara mi, para ti, ay arriba, ay arribaAy, arriba arribaPor ti sere, por ti sere, por ti sereBamba, bambaBamba, bambaBamba, bamba
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
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Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens (born Richard Steven Valenzuela; May 13, 1941 – February 3, 1959) was a Mexican-American singer, songwriter and guitarist. more »
3 fans
Sheet Music PDF Playlist
Written by: Bryan Smith
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Origins of the Song"La Bamba" is a traditional Mexican folk song that Ritchie Valens popularized in 1958. Though Valens was known for his rock and roll music, this particular song was influenced by a mix of indigenous, African, and Spanish sounds characteristic of the "Son Jarocho" music from Veracruz. |
Valens' InfluenceRitchie Valens was the first Latino rock and roll star and he couldn't speak Spanish, yet he adapted a Spanish song and turned it into a major hit - making "La Bamba" a symbol of the growing Hispanic influence in America. |
Records and RankingsValens' rendition of "La Bamba" peaked at number 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1959. In 2004, the song was ranked number 354 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. |
Representation in Popular CultureThe song's global popularity has led to its use in numerous movies, commercials and TV shows. Most notably, it featured in the 1987 biographical film "La Bamba," which traced Valens' life and rise to fame. |
New VersionIn 1987, the band Los Lobos covered "La Bamba" for the soundtrack of the movie based on Valens’ life. Their version reached number one in the U.S. and the UK, being the only song sung entirely in Spanish to reach that spot in the US until 2017. |
Tragic EndValens died in a plane crash in 1959 at the tender age of 17, known as "The Day the Music Died". This was a major loss to the music industry as Valens was considered one of the pioneers of the Chicano rock movement. |
LegacyEven after six decades, "La Bamba" continues to hold cultural significance. In 2019, Valens' version was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". |
Meaning"La Bamba" is a song for a traditional Mexican wedding dance. The lyrics don't tell a story but consist of playful verses, and the title is thought to refer to a kind of swing or rocking motion, like that of a ship or a dance. |
AchievementValens' take on "La Bamba" introduced the Mexican folk music tradition to a wide international audience, helping to break down cultural barriers in the music industry. |
Posthumous Hall of Fame InductionIn 2001, Ritchie Valens was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His contributions to rock, and particularly his rendition of "La Bamba," were cited as reasons for his induction. |
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