La Bamba (song)

"La Bamba" comes from the Mexican state of Veracruz and belongs to the son jarocho tradition, a style that blends Spanish (Andalusian), Indigenous, Afro-Mexican, and Afro-Caribbean influences. The song is usually played on one or two arpa jarochas (harps) along with the string instruments jarana jarocha and requinto jarocho. While the melody stays the same, the lyrics are often improvised by performers, so they can vary widely. Some versions have survived thanks to the popularity of groups like Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan and Los Pregoneros del Puerto.

The word "Bamba" has no direct English translation, and its origin is unclear. It might come from the Spanish verb "bambolear," meaning to sway, shake, or wobble. Others link it to Africa through the slave trade—either the Bamba people of Central Africa or the Bambara people of West Africa. Ritchie Valens biographer Beverly Mendheim told NPR that it is an African name meaning "wood," connected to people dancing on a wooden floor.

In a traditional wedding and ballet folklórico version of the dance, couples use intricate footwork to form a bow that symbolizes their union. This is also where the custom of improvising lyrics comes from: wedding guests personalize the song for the newlyweds. However, this sometimes led to fights if the new lyrics were insulting, and weapons could even be drawn.

The song originally satirized the late, futile efforts of Mexico's viceroy to defend Veracruz from pirates. His ships were old and leaky, so a young sailor frantically "dances the bomba (water pump)," bragging that he is effectively the captain for keeping the ship afloat. The fast rhythm and hand movements of the dance comically imitate pumping water. The name also alludes to a Spanish dance called bamba, popular at the time, which sounds close to "bomba." The oldest known historical references come from Alvarado, Mexico, where it was apparently performed with a lively rhythm.

Early recordings

The oldest known recorded version is by Álvaro Hernández Ortiz, who recorded it in 1938 under the name El Jarocho. His recording was released by Victor Records in Mexico in 1938 or 1939 and reissued on a 1997 Yazoo Records compilation, The Secret Museum of Mankind Vol. 4. According to a 1945 Life article, American bandleader Everett Hoagland brought the song and dance "out of the jungle" at Veracruz to Ciro's nightclub in Mexico City. It became popular and was adopted by Mexican presidential candidate Miguel Alemán Valdés for his successful campaign.

Later in 1945, Arthur Murray introduced the music and dance at the Stork Club in New York City. A popular version by the Hermanos Huesca (Andrés and Victor) was issued on Peerless Records in Mexico around 1945–46; Huesca re-recorded it for RCA Victor in 1947. That same year, the song appeared as a production number in the MGM musical film Fiesta, performed by Los Bocheros, and it was featured in the 1946 Mexican movie Rayando el Sol starring Pedro Armendáriz. Swedish-American folk singer William Clauson recorded the song in several languages in the early and mid-1950s, claiming to have heard it in Veracruz and slowing the tempo to encourage audience participation. Cynthia Gooding recorded a "somewhat bowdlerized" version on her 1953 Elektra album Mexican Folk Songs.

Ritchie Valens version

Ritchie Valens learned "La Bamba" from his cousin Dickie Cota. In 1958, he recorded a rock and roll version with session musicians Buddy Clark (string bass), Ernie Freeman (piano), Carol Kaye (acoustic rhythm guitar), René Hall (Danelectro six-string baritone guitar), and Earl Palmer (drums and claves). It was originally released as the B-side of "Donna" on the Del-Fi label.

The song uses a simple verse-chorus form. Valens, proud of his Mexican heritage, was hesitant at first to merge "La Bamba" with rock and roll but eventually agreed. In 1999, VH1 ranked it No. 98 on its 100 Greatest Songs of Rock and Roll, and in 2000, No. 59 on its 100 Greatest Dance Songs. Valens's recording was inducted into both the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame and the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Rolling Stone listed it at number 354 on its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, making it the only non-English song on that list. It was also included in Robert Christgau's "Basic Record Library" of 1950s and 1960s recordings. Los Lobos recorded a version that became the title track of the soundtrack to the 1987 biopic La Bamba about Valens, and their rendition topped many charts that year.