La Bamba

by

Ritchie Valens

Album: Ritchie Valens      Released: 1959

US Chart: 22     UK Chart: 49

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This was the biggest hit for Valens, who died in a plane crash in 1959 along with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. It was released shortly after his death.

Valens' version is a reworking of a traditional Mexican folk song. It is popular with Mariachi bands and often played at weddings.

The lyrics are in Spanish. "Para bailar la Bamba se necessita una poca de gracia" means "To dance La Bamba you need to have a little grace." Valens didn't speak Spanish.

This song is about the dance "La Bamba". It's not necessarily teaching the audience how to do the dance, but it's expressing the artist's feelings about the dance - a generally good one, as assumed because of what he says about it and the beat/rhythm of the song. (thanks, Amber - Anchorage, AK)

The Title does not have a literal translation. "Bambolear" means "To Swing."

This was used as the title to a 1987 movie about Valens starring Lou Diamond Phillips.

This was released as the B-side of "Donna."

Mexican group Los Lobos covered this for the 1987 movie. Their version went to #1 in the US, becoming the first song with all Spanish lyrics to do so.

Weird Al Yankovic recorded a parody of this song called "Lasagna," which is all about Italian food. (thanks, Steph - SoCal, CA)

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Comments:

In answering Jim from Kansas City re: guitarist on recording of La Bamba, according to Bob Keane,who was Ritchie's record producer the following are the musicians of record in this recording: Rene Hall Buddy Clark Carole Kaye and the legendary drummer Rock & Roll Hall a Famer: The Great EARL PALMER, along with Richie of course. One last note if anyone listens to this recording does anyone else hear a piano.
- louis rodriguez, lancaster, CA

Valens was supposed to ride a bus to the show he was attending with Buddy Holly and Big Bopper. He had a cold and the bus was not heated. Valen's was worried about whether or not he would be able to proform if he had a sore throat or lost his voice so he was invited to take the plane with the show headliners.
- Linc, Beaumont, TX

RE: Carol Kaye: Carol says that she did play on "La Bamba," her first recording session, but she played rhythm guitar. Richie himself played the lead. She was using her Gibson Super 400 guitar, which she soon traded in on a Jazzmaster.
- Johnny, Hershey, PA, PA

I love the movie it's so cool.Ritchie Valens had alot hits during his time especially "la bamba" was the besssst.I admire him so much he's the best I wish that he could still be alive. R.I.P Ritchie Valens.The best forever.
- ivette, la, CA

"Bamba", is pocho (border slang) for "luck" -"pura bamba" would mean that you just lucky had good luck instead of talent.
- Mark, Houston, TX

As a native speaker, I don't think his pronounciation is all that bad for an American (North, Central, South) speaker. Only a Spanish Castillian snob would think it's horrendous, but the Brits could say the same about American English pronounciation.
- Mark, Houston, TX

The song refers to a traditional Mexican wedding dance. The dance is a display of unity. The couple performs complicated steps around a ribbon and the steps eventually ties the ribbon into a knot. This is where the expression "tying the knot" comes from. I first learned about this in my high school Spanish class. ~Scarrie -Minneapolis,MN
- Scarrie, Minneapolis, MN

Like Buddy Holly & The Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens also goes down in 50s Rock & Roll history! with this song. ( May they all rest in peace )! Harry Belafonte also did a version of La Bamba.
- Noel, Christchurch, New Zealand

wow this song is amazing! i can't believe how amazing it is. like oh shoot its so great. nottt hahahahahaha i never even heard it actaully. my brother of 45 years of age told me that its a great song but i never heard it. so i just thought i'd leave a comment on it. it seems like a wonderful song, title and all but i will soon look forward to listening to it. =]
- Emily, westchester, OH

This song seems very far ahead of its time. Latin influence on popular music in the 50's and '60's resulted in stuff like the tango and cha-cha; certainly nothing in rock. And then La Bamba comes along, like nothing else before. I think it was a significant factor in rock music later in the '60's and beyond. One of my favorites, and I always felt that it marked something of a fundamental change in popular music.
- Mark, Lancaster, OH

i think if you want to know anything about the song, like what it means, the lyrics and translations, you should look up Los Lobos not Ritchie Valens because they actually performed it and basically made their own version -Emily LV, NJ
- Amber, Anchorage, AK

Jim, The guitar on Valen's La Bamba was played by a woman, Carol Kaye. Carol is one of the most famous Los Angles session musicians, who was part of Phil Spector's studio band, the Wrecking Crew. She is best known as the bass player on tons of hits for the Beach Boys, Monkees, Ray Charles and many others. http://www.carolkaye.com/www/library/guitarhits.htm
- Joe, Kent, CT

There was also a version of La Bamba recorded by Trini Lopez.
- Howard, St. Louis Park, MN

Even when Valens couldn't speak Spanish, trust me, he did a greater job with the language than many other "hispanic artists"...
- Antonio, Monterrey, Mexico

I think that the Los Lobos version is actually better than the original.
- Nathan, Defiance, OH

I think it's worth mentioning that while La Bamba may have earned the right to be considered the Latin legend's biggest hit due to it's general staying power and it's unofficial status as his signature song, the song you mention as it's B-side (?), (Oh) Donna, peaked 20 places higher on the Billboard pop chart. Like later acts like the Goo Goo Dolls and Mr. Big, it was the love ballad that actually proved more successful, at least in the emergence period of the artist.
- Brian, Meriden, CT

Who played the guitar solo on Ritchie's La Bamba,was it Ritchie or some other musician?I know that it sounds way ahead of its time.
- Jim, Kansas City, MO

I dont care about his accent..this was probably the first classic guitar riff...EVER! It was before the Beatles, before Zeppelin, and this riff is still one of the most recognizable.
- Matt, Millbrae, CA

I think La Bamba is such a beautiful song;it is captivating.Even before I could speak spanish,and so didnt know what the song was saying, I connected with La Bamba.Ritchie Valens(R.I.P)used his voice and instruments to re-do a magical peice.La Bamba is one of those songs that will always live on;sounding new and full of vibes each time.Los Lobos also did a good job.
- Latoya, St.Ann,Jamaica, Other

Valens couldn't speak Spanish, and his pronunciation was so bad that the record was used in Spanish classes as an example of how to tell an American accent. We got calls when we played Los Lobos' version from people saying that the band didn't know how to sing the song!
- Keith, SLC, UT

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