Full Answer
What kind of music is La Bamba?
Traditional versions. "La Bamba" is a classic example of the son jarocho musical style, which originated in the Mexican state of Veracruz and combines Spanish, indigenous, and African musical elements.
What is the meaning of Bamba dance?
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". A traditional huapango song, "La Bamba" is often played during weddings in Veracruz, where the bride and groom perform the accompanying dance.
What is La Bomba dance?
Known as the dance of slaves, this dance was usually performed on sugar planatations. Sugar plantations were placed along the coast, which is the reason la Bomba is is spread out along the sea. 8 The instrumentation of Bomba usually consists of one large drum, a buleador, and a maraca used by the main singer.
What is La Bamba by Ritchie Valens?
"La Bamba" is a traditional Mexican folk song that became a hit for the young rocker Ritchie Valens after he died in a plane crash on February 3, 1959 along with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper.
What style is La Bamba?
folk music style"La bamba" is a son jarocho, a folk music style from the Veracruz region of Mexico. String instruments like the jarana jarocha, the requinto jarocho, the arpa jarocha, and the leona are commonly featured.
How do you do La Bamba dance?
4:358:19LA BAMBA Song and Dance | Easy Mexican Folk Dance for KidsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo la bamba is a mexican folk dance that involves stomping our feet and kicking our feet alright soMoreSo la bamba is a mexican folk dance that involves stomping our feet and kicking our feet alright so we start with three stomps and a kick it's going to look like.
What is the Mexican dance style?
The Jarabe Tapatio is often referred to as the National Dance of Mexico. This popular dance is a dance which represents courtship. The costumes for the Mexican Hat Dance are colorful and traditional.
What is the song structure of La Bamba?
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.
Where did the La Bamba dance originated?
The song 'La Bamba', a traditional folk song and dance, was originally a song sung by African slaves in Veracruz as they worked, since many of the enslaves brought to Mexico by the Spaniards, came from Angola and Congo, with the Africans who originated the song hailing from the MBamba peoples of Angola.
Who made salsa dance?
It was primarily developed by Puerto Ricans and Cubans living in New York in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Different regions of Latin America and the United States (including countries in the Caribbean) have distinct salsa styles of their own, such as Cuban, Puerto Rican, Colombian, and New York styles.
What culture is bachata?
Bachata is a genre of Hispanic music that originated in the Dominican Republic in the first half of the 20th century.
Is bachata a Mexican dance?
Bachata is a style of dance that originated in the Dominican Republic. It is danced widely all over the world but not identically. The basics to the dance are three-step with a Cuban hip motion, followed by a tap including a hip movement on the 4th beat.
What are Spanish dances called?
FlamencoFlamenco – the Dance of Spain.
What does play La Bamba mean?
'Play La Bamba Baby' – an homage to Joey Moss and Ben Stelter – was the latest giant orange sign to turn up in support of the Edmonton Oilers.Giant 'Play La Bamba Baby' shows up at Walterdale Bridge | CTV Newshttps://edmonton.ctvnews.ca › play-la-bamba-baby-newes...https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca › play-la-bamba-baby-newes...Search for: What does play La Bamba mean?
Is La Bamba a Mexican song?
"La Bamba" (pronounced [la ˈβamba]) is a Mexican folk song, originally from the state of Veracruz, also known as La Bomba. The song is best known from a 1958 adaptation by Ritchie Valens, a Top 40 hit in the U.S. charts.La Bamba (song) - Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › La_Bamba_(song)https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › La_Bamba_(song)Search for: Is La Bamba a Mexican song?
How do you pronounce the song La Bamba?
1:454:19How to sing La Bamba. - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou.MoreYou.How to sing La Bamba. - YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com › watchhttps://www.youtube.com › watchSearch for: How do you pronounce the song La Bamba?
What does the song "arriba" mean?
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. A repeated lyric is "Yo no soy marinero, soy capitán", meaning "I am not a sailor, I am the captain"; Veracruz is a maritime locale.
What does "mbamba" mean in Spanish?
The name of the dance, which has no direct English translation, is presumably connected with the Spanish verb "bambolear", meaning "to sway", "to shake" or "to wobble". Or the name may perhaps be derived from the Kimbundu word "mbamba" meaning "master" as in someone who does something adeptly or skillfully.
What was the number 98 song in VH1?
The song ranked No. 98 in VH1 's 100 Greatest Songs of Rock and Roll in 1999, and No. 59 in VH1's 100 Greatest Dance Songs in 2000. Furthermore, Valens' recording of the song was inducted into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame.
What is the traditional dance of Veracruz?
A traditional huapango song, "La Bamba" is often played during weddings in Veracruz, where the bride and groom perform the accompanying dance. Today this wedding tradition is observed less often than in the past, but the dance is still popular, perhaps through the popularity of ballet folklórico. The dance is performed displaying ...
When was El Jarocho first recorded?
Although an obscure and possibly non-existent 1908 Mexican recording has been cited, the earliest certain recording of the song is that by Alvaro Hernández Ortiz, credited as El Jarocho, which was released on the Victor label in Mexico in about 1939 (Victor 76102).
Where did La Bamba originate?
Traditional versions. "La Bamba is a classic example of the son jarocho musical style, which originated in the Mexican state of Veracruz and combines Spanish, indigenous, and African musical elements. The song is typically played on one or two arpa jarochas (harps) along with guitar relatives the jarana jarocha and the requinto jarocho.
Who played Valens in the 1987 movie?
The music video for Los Lobos' version, directed by Sherman Halsey, won the 1988 MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film. It featured Lou Diamond Phillips (who played Valens in the film named after the song ).
Why was Ritchie Valens reluctant to sing in Spanish?
He felt it was demeaning to his culture. And he was reluctant to sing in Spanish because his accent wasn't very good.
Why did Keane choose La Bamba?
"We needed a flip side for it, obviously," Keane says, "so I chose 'La Bamba' because it was all in Spanish and I figured `Nobody's gonna play that,' because we didn't want any mixed air play, you know.".
When did Ritchie Valens start touring the Midwest?
In early January, 1959, Valens began a tour of the Midwest called the Winter Dance Party. The winter was harsh that year and the tour was disorganized. The buses were not heated adequately, they kept breaking down and getting stuck in the snow. Ritchie Valens hated the cold and was miserable doing the four-state tour.
Why do the bride and groom tie a ribbon together?
The bride and groom try to tie a ribbon together with their toes while dancing "La Bamba" as a symbol of their love for each other. "La Bamba's" origin may go back even further, according to Beverly Mendheim, author of the book "Ritchie Valens: The 1st Latino Rocker.".
Who played La Bamba with Ritchie?
"The first time I heard "La Bamba" with Ritchie was I was driving up to San Francisco with him for his first television appearance up there," Keane says. "He was in the backseat strumming his guitar all the way up there.
When did La Bamba start?
Courtesy of the artist. Ritchie Valens. Courtesy of the artist. It was the late 1950s when a 17-year-old boy took an old Mexican folk song and set it to a rock 'n' roll beat. "La Bamba" made rock 'n' roll history when it became the first Latin-based song to cross over to the pop and rock audience. That teen-ager, Ritchie Valens, was made famous.
Where did La Bamba come from?
"La Bamba" is originally an 18th-century folk song that comes from the Verracruz region on the Mexican Gulf Coast. It also refers to a dance performed mainly at weddings.
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Contests of improvisations to la bamba, widely danced in the Mexican Gulf Coast area, also contribute to the merriment of the Veracruz huapango.
role in American Indian culture
Contests of improvisations to la bamba, widely danced in the Mexican Gulf Coast area, also contribute to the merriment of the Veracruz huapango.
What does "Para bailar la bambo se necessita una poca de
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.". A little translation: The verses start with a man telling his fiancée, "I'm not a sailor, I'm a captain," indicating his big ambitions.
What is the song La Bamba?
Songfacts®: "La Bamba" is a traditional Mexican folk song that became a hit for the young rocker Ritchie Valens after he died in a plane crash on February 3, 1959 along with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. The song is very popular with Mariachi bands and is often played at weddings.
What was the first song with all Spanish lyrics to hit #1 in America?
The Los Lobos remake of this song was the first song with all Spanish lyrics to hit #1 in America. It was a huge break for the band, which was playing weddings in the Los Angeles area just a few years earlier. Ritchie Valens was just 17 when this song was released, and was the same age when he died.
When was La Bamba released?
This song was only a modest hit when it was released in November 1958, but it became far more popular when the Ritchie Valens biopic La Bamba was released in 1987. The movie was a big deal because it was the first major, mainstream Hollywood film with a Hispanic subject. The movie was released in the United States in both Spanish ...
What does the song "Bambolear" mean?
The title does not have a literal translation. The closest associated word is "Bambolear," which means "To Swing.".
What is the refrain of "Up and up and up I'll go"?
At this point, he's climbing for the heavens, then comes the refrain where he says, "Up and up and up I'll go.". The song if filled with the optimism of youth, and hit the mark with the teenage audience that consumed this early rock. This song was only a modest hit when it was released in November 1958, but it became far more popular when ...
Where was Richard Valenzuela born?
Valens was born Richard Valenzuela in Pacoima, California to Mexican-Indian parents. He didn't speak fluent Spanish, but could understand his mother and speak a fair Spanglish. He did, however, make a huge impact on the Hispanic audience in the United States, who saw one of their own become the first rock star.
What is the Spanish version of La Bamba?
So, for all those gringos who have been singing along to ''La Bamba'' for years and have not known what they are singing, here are the words to ''La Bamba'' in Spanish and English. The translation is by Molina and is from the Los Lobos recording of the Ritchie Valens version: Spanish: Para bailar la bamba. para bailar la bamba.
What is the song "La Bamba" about?
8 on the Billboard chart. The movie is about Valens` life , and Dave Kehr and Gene Siskel both have given it three stars. But what explains the ''La Bamba'' song mania?
Where did La Bamba come from?
By combining the original with rock and roll he made it popular in this country.''. According to Saldivar, ''la bamba'' originated in the Mexican state of Vera Cruz. ''It`s a Jaracho song-a type of music mostly played with a small guitar and a harp. It`s fiesta music-party music. Kind of like an old-time disco.
When was the ''Ritchie Valens'' written?
It`s a cultural symbol, dating back to the 1830s. Nobody seems to know who wrote it.''. Americans like it because it takes them back to the `60s, says Pepe Saldivar, also of WOJO. ''Ritchie Valens changed it,'' says Saldivar. ''He didn`t speak Spanish, so he abbreviated it a little bit.
Overview
"La Bamba" is a Mexican folk song, originally from the state of Veracruz, also known as La Bomba. The song is best known from a 1958 adaptation by Ritchie Valens, a Top 40 hit in the U.S. charts. Valens's version is ranked number 345 on Rolling Stone magazine′s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
"La Bamba" has been covered by numerous artists, notably by Los Lobos whose version was the t…
Early recordings
La Bamba has its origin in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. The oldest recorded version known is that of Alvaro Hernández Ortiz, who recorded the song with the name of "El Jarocho". His recording was released on the Victor label in Mexico in 1938 or 1939, and was reissued on a 1997 compilation by Yazoo Records, The Secret Museum Of Mankind Vol. 4.
According to a 1945 article in Life magazine, the song and associated dance were brought "out o…
Ritchie Valens version
Ritchie Valens learned the song in his youth, from his cousin Dickie Cota. In 1958 he recorded a rock and roll version of "La Bamba", together with session musicians Buddy Clark (string bass); Ernie Freeman (piano); Carol Kaye (acoustic rhythm guitar); René Hall (Danelectro six-string baritone guitar); Earl Palmer (drums and claves); Ritchie Valens (vocals, lead guitar). It was originally released as the B-side of "Donna", on the Del-Fi label.
Other notable versions
• In 1960, Harry Belafonte's live version of the song was released on his album Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall. His previously recorded but unreleased studio version from 1958 was included in a 2001 compilation, Very Best of Harry Belafonte, under the title "Bam Bam Bamba".
• In 1985, Canadian children's singer Charlotte Diamond released a cover of the song that is perhaps best known for appearing in the children's television series Ants in Your Pants.
See also
• Bambera
• La Bamba, a 1987 film
• La Bamba, soundtrack from film homonymous