La Bamba
Mexican folk classic
La Bamba is a traditional Mexican folk song from Veracruz, widely known through Ritchie Valens's 1958 rock and roll adaptation.
The song became one of the first Spanish-language recordings to achieve mainstream success in the United States.
A bamba is a style of dance from the son jarocho tradition, and the lyrics invite someone to dance it: Para bailar la bamba se necesita una poca de gracia—to dance the bamba you need a little grace.
- rock and rollRhythm-heavy fifties pop
- 1950sDecade after WWII
- MexicanOf or from Tenochtitlan's successor
- Mexican folkTraditional people and customs
- folk songTraditional community music
Ritchie Valens · guitar · dancing · dance floor · wedding · fiesta · Veracruz · mariachi · Los Lobos · tragedy · plane crash · Buddy Holly · Spanish · rhythm · party · celebration · teen idol · jukebox
- 80s HitsBillie Jean, Beat It, Thriller, Like a Virgin, Don't Stop Believin
- Latin RockMolotov, Santana, Carlos Santana, Zoe, Virus
- Famous SongsJingle Bells, Silent Night, Amazing Grace, Auld Lang Syne, Ode to Joy
- biopicsbiopic, biopics, Lincoln, Gandhi, biographical drama
- oldiesElvis, golden oldies, Hound Dog, oldies, Johnny B. Goode
- Mexican Musicmariachi, ranchera, norteno, corrido, regional Mexican
language in popular music
La BambaJohnny B. Goode