La Bamba (song)#Los Lobos version
{{Short description|Mexican folk song and dance}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
"La Bamba" ({{IPA|es|la ˈβamba|pron}}) is a Mexican folk song, originally from the state of Veracruz, also known as "La Bomba".{{cite web |url=https://www.45worlds.com/78rpm/78_search.php?sq=la+bomba&sm=tr |title=La bomba |publisher=45worlds.com}} The song is best known from a 1958 adaptation by Ritchie Valens, a top 40 hit on 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, and is the only song on the list not written or sung in English.
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, Afro-Mexican and Afro-Caribbean{{cite web | last=Meraji | first=Shereen Marisol | title=Through Slavery, Segregation And More, 'La Bamba' Has Been The Sound Of Survival | website=NPR | date=2018-10-14 | url=https://www.npr.org/2018/10/14/655833317/la-bamba-american-anthem-ritchie-valens-los-lobos-survival | access-date=2024-11-07}} musical elements.{{cite web |url=http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/page.basic/genre/content.genre/son_jarocho_789/en_US |title=Son Jarocho Music |work=National Geographic |access-date=March 30, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530022053/http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/page.basic/genre/content.genre/son_jarocho_789/en_US |archive-date=May 30, 2013 }} "La Bamba" likely originated in the last years of the 17th century in 1683 during a slave uprising known as the Bambarria. The song would be played at weddings with lyrics being encouraged to be made up, over 500-1000 known verses exist. The bride and the groom would tie a ribbon together on their toes and dance to La Bamba as a symbol of love, fistfights or knife fights would break out amongst guests as well. The word bamba is of African origin meaning wood referring to dancing on a wooden floor.{{cite web | title= | website=Library of Congress | url=https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/documents/LaBamba.pdf | access-date=2024-11-07}}{{cite web | last=Arrieta | first=Rolando | title='La Bamba' | website=NPR | date=2000-07-15 | url=https://www.npr.org/2000/07/15/1079558/npr-100-la-bamba | access-date=2024-11-07}} Initially, the song satirized the late and futile efforts made by the viceroy of Mexico to defend the citizens of the port of Veracruz from pirates. His ships were old and leaky, so a young sailor is frantically "dancing the bomba (water pump)", while bragging that, effectively, he is the captain, the most important person on the ship (for he, alone, keeps it afloat). The fast rhythm and hand movements of the dance comically imitate the action of pumping water. Likewise, its name also alludes to a dance of Spanish origin called bamba, which was popular at that time, whose name sounds close to "bomba".{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} The oldest known historical references come from the town of Alvarado, Mexico, where it apparently was performed with an atypically lively rhythm.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
"La Bamba" is typically played on one or two arpa jarochas (harps) along with guitar relatives the jarana jarocha and the requinto jarocho. Lyrics to the song vary greatly, as performers often improvise verses while performing. However, versions such as those by musical groups Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan and Los Pregoneros del Puerto have survived because of the artists' popularity. The traditional aspect of "La Bamba" lies in the tune, which remains almost the same through most versions. The name of the dance referenced within the song, which has no direct English translation, is presumably connected with the Spanish verb "bambolear", meaning "to sway", "to shake" or "to wobble".{{Cite web|url=https://www.spanishdict.com/translate/bambolear|title=Check out the translation for "bambolear"|website=Spanishdict.com|access-date=May 22, 2021}} In one traditional version of this dance performed at weddings and ballet folklórico shows, couples use intricate footwork to create a bow signifying their union.{{cite web | url=https://bailefolkclorico.weebly.com/history-of-the-art.html | title=History of the art }}
Early recordings
"La Bamba" has its origin in the state of Veracruz, Mexico.{{cite news |title='La Bamba': conoce el origen de esta popular canción veracruzana |url=https://heraldodemexico.com.mx/tendencias/2021/3/24/la-bamba-conoce-el-origen-de-esta-popular-cancion-veracruzana-274931.html |access-date=October 22, 2021 |work=El Heraldo de México |date=March 24, 2021 |language=es}} The oldest recorded version known is that of Alvaro Hernández Ortiz,{{cite web |title=Revisiting La Bamba, the Ritchie Valens Biopic That Underscores the Myth of the American Dream |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/revisiting-la-bamba-the-ritchie-valens-biopic-that-underscores-the-myth-of-the-american-dream/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=October 21, 2021 |date=August 27, 2020}} who recorded the song under the name El Jarocho. His recording was released by Victor Records in Mexico in 1938 or 1939, and was reissued on a 1997 compilation by Yazoo Records, The Secret Museum of Mankind Vol. 4.[http://www.originals.be/en/originals.php?id=3343 Arnold Rypens, The Originals] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924061703/http://www.originals.be/en/originals.php?id=3343 |date=September 24, 2015 }}. Retrieved April 13, 2015
According to a 1945 article in Life, the song and associated dance were brought "out of the jungle" at Veracruz by American bandleader Everett Hoagland, who introduced it at Ciro's nightclub in Mexico City. It became popular, and the song was adopted by Mexican presidential candidate Miguel Alemán Valdés who used it in his successful campaign. Later in 1945, the music and dance were introduced at the Stork Club in New York City by Arthur Murray.{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sUsEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Fiesta+movie+bamba&pg=PA140|title=Life Dances La Bamba in Mexico City|magazine=Life|page=140|date=October 15, 1945|access-date=May 22, 2021|via=Google Books}} A popular version by Andrés Huesca (1917–1957) and his brother Victor, billed as Hermanos Huesca, was issued on Peerless Records in Mexico around 1945–46. Huesca re-recorded the song for RCA Victor in 1947,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QWBPAQAAQBAJ&dq=peerless+records+mexico+bamba&pg=PA461|title=Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings|first=Steve|last=Sullivan|page=461|date=October 4, 2013|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=9780810882966|access-date=May 22, 2021|via=Google Books}} and the same year the song featured as a production number in the MGM musical film Fiesta, performed by a group called Los Bocheros. The song was featured in the 1946 Mexican movie Rayando el Sol starring Pedro Armendáriz.{{cn|date=October 2022}}
The Swedish-American folk singer William Clauson recorded the song in several languages in the early and mid-1950s. He claimed to have heard the song in Veracruz, and in performance slowed down the tempo to encourage audience participation.[http://www.sunkit.com/william-clauson/ Mats Johansson, Magnus Nilsson, "William Clauson", sunkit.com]. Retrieved April 13, 2015[http://www.williamclauson.com/bio/ Biography, William Clauson official site]{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121130813/http://www.williamclauson.com/bio/ |archive-date=November 21, 2008}}. Retrieved April 13, 2015 Another version, "somewhat bowdlerized", was recorded by Cynthia Gooding on her 1953 Elektra album, Mexican Folk Songs.[http://www.richieunterberger.com/gooding.html Richie Unterberger, Liner notes for reissue of Cynthia Gooding's Mexican Folk Songs]. Retrieved April 13, 2015
Ritchie Valens version
{{Infobox song
| name = La Bamba
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Ritchie Valens
| album = Ritchie Valens
| A-side = Donna
| released = October 1958
| recorded = 1958
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 2:06
| label = Del-Fi
| writer = Traditional, adapted by Ritchie Valens
| producer = Bob Keane
| prev_title = Come On, Let's Go
| prev_year = 1958
| title = Donna
| title2 = La Bamba
| next_title = Fast Freight / Big Baby Blues
| next_year = 1959
}}
Ritchie Valens learned the song in his youth, from his cousin Dickie Cota. In 1958 he recorded a rock and roll flavored version of "La Bamba",{{Gilliland |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19763/m1/ |title=Show 14 – Big Rock Candy Mountain: Rock 'n' roll in the late fifties. [Part 4]}} together 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).Ritchie Valens, "Ritchie Valens in Come On. Let's Go" Del-Fi Records, liner notes It was originally released as the B-side of "Donna", on the Del-Fi label.[https://books.google.com/books?id=bDIwZ8BieWcC&dq=valens+%22la+bamba%22+B-side&pg=PA651 María Herrera-Sobek , Celebrating Latino Folklore: An Encyclopedia of Cultural Traditions, ABC-CLIO, 2012, p.651]
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 subsequently agreed to do so. The song ranked No. 98 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Rock and Roll in 1999, and No. 59 on VH1's 100 Greatest Dance Songs in 2000. Furthermore, Valens' recording of the song was inducted into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame and the Grammy Hall of Fame.
The song was listed at number 354 in the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine,{{cite magazine |title=La Bamba ranked #17 on Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs List |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=December 11, 2003 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-151127/ritchie-valens-la-bamba-34872/ |access-date=October 21, 2021}} being the only non-English language song included in the list.{{cite book |last1=Bender |first1=Steven |title=Comprende?: The Significance of Spanish in English-only Times |date=2008 |publisher=Floricanto Press |isbn=978-1-888205-08-4 |page=113 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1HAqAQAAIAAJ&q=ritchie+valens+500+greatest+rolling+stone+345 |access-date=October 22, 2021 |language=en}} It was also 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).{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|publisher=Ticknor & Fields|isbn=0899190251|chapter=A Basic Record Library: The Fifties and Sixties|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bk-cg70/basics.php|access-date=March 16, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com}} Valens was inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.{{cite journal |title=Celebrating Hispanic Live History: Linda Ronstadt Brings Mariachi To The Masses With 'Canciones de Mi Padre' |journal=Pollstar |date=September 30, 2021 |url=https://www.pollstar.com/article/celebrating-hispanic-live-history-machito-mario-bauz-and-chano-pozo-imbue-jazz-with-latin-flair-148822 |access-date=October 22, 2021}} In 2018, Valens' version was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".{{cite news |last=Andrews |first=Travis M. |date=March 20, 2019 |title=Jay-Z, a speech by Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and 'Schoolhouse Rock!' among recordings deemed classics by Library of Congress |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/jay-z-a-speech-by-sen-robert-f-kennedy-and-schoolhouse-rock-among-recordings-deemed-classics-by-library-of-congress/2019/03/19/f7eb08ea-4a58-11e9-9663-00ac73f49662_story.html?|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=March 25, 2019}} It is also included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of 500 songs that were influential in shaping rock and roll.{{cite web |title=500 Songs That Shaped Rock |url=https://www.infoplease.com/culture-entertainment/music/500-songs-shaped-rock |website=Infoplease |publisher=FEN Learning |access-date=November 16, 2020}}
=Charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Weekly chart performance for Ritchie Valens' recording ! scope="col"| Chart (1959–1987) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=319}}
| style="text-align:center;"|87 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Flanders|13|artist=Ritchie Valens|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"|Canada (CHUM Chart){{cite web|url=http://chumtribute.com/59-02-02-chart.jpg| title=CHUM Hit Parade – February 2, 1959}}
| style="text-align:center;"|1 |
| {{single chart|France|32|artist=Ritchie Valens|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|49|artist=Ritchie Valens|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|22|artist=Ritchie Valens|rowheader=true}} |
Los Lobos version
{{Infobox song
| name = La Bamba
| cover = La Bamba Los Lobos.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Los Lobos
| album = La Bamba Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
| language = Spanish
| B-side = Charlena
| released = June 20, 1987
| recorded = 1986
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 2:54
| label = Warner Bros.
| writer = Ritchie Valens
| producer = Los Lobos
| prev_title = Come On, Let's Go
| prev_title2 = Ooh! My Head
| prev_year = 1987
| next_title = Down on the Riverbed
| next_year = 1990
}}
The music video directed by Sherman Halsey{{cite book |last1=Morris |first1=Chris |title=Los Lobos: Dream in Blue |date=2015 |publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=978-1-4773-0852-3}} won the 1988 MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film; it also featured Lou Diamond Phillips, the actor who played Valens in the 1987 film La Bamba.{{cite web |title=In 1987 Los Lobos brings back 'La Bamba' in their energized version to the top of the charts |url=https://www.popexpresso.com/2021/08/29/in-1987-los-lobos-brings-back-la-bamba-in-their-energized-version-to-the-top-of-the-charts/ |website=popexpresso.com |access-date=September 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909151519/https://www.popexpresso.com/2021/08/29/in-1987-los-lobos-brings-back-la-bamba-in-their-energized-version-to-the-top-of-the-charts/ |archive-date=September 9, 2021 |url-status=live}} The song was also the fourth wholly non-English language song to top the Billboard Hot 100.
=Charts=
==Weekly charts==
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Weekly chart performance for Los Lobos' cover ! scope="col"| Chart (1987) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Australia (Australian Music Report){{cite magazine|url=https://i.imgur.com/F7ais40.jpg|title=National Top 100 Singles for 1986|magazine=Kent Music Report|issue=650|date=December 1986|via=Imgur|access-date= January 24, 2023}}
| style="text-align:center;"|1 |
|---|
| {{Single chart|Austria|3|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true}} |
| {{Single chart|Flanders|2|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true}} |
| {{Single chart|Canadatopsingles|1|chartid=0869|rowheader=true|access-date=April 23, 2025}} |
| scope="row"|Europe (European Hot 100 Singles){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1987/M&M-1987-10-17.pdf|date=October 17, 1987|title=European Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=4|issue=41|page=17|access-date=September 24, 2023}}
|style="text-align:center;"|2 |
| scope="row"| Finland (Suomen virallinen singlelista){{cite book|url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=152|first=Timo|last=Pennanen|year=2021|title=Sisältää hitin – 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021|section=Los Lobos|page=152|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|access-date=July 2, 2022|language=fi}}
| style="text-align:center;"|1 |
| {{Single chart|France|1|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"|Greece (IFPI){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1987/M&M-1987-12-12.pdf|date=December 12, 1987|title=Top 3 in Europe|magazine=Music & Media|volume=4|issue=49|page=16|access-date=September 24, 2023}}
| style="text-align:center;"|1 |
| {{Single chart|Ireland2|1|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true|access-date=September 24, 2023}} |
| scope="row"|Italy (Musica e dischi){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1987/M&M-1987-12-12.pdf|date=December 12, 1987|title=Top 3 in Europe|magazine=Music & Media|volume=4|issue=49|page=16|access-date=September 24, 2023}}
| style="text-align:center;"|1 |
| {{Single chart|Dutch40|2|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true}} |
| {{Single chart|Dutch100|2|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true}} |
| {{Single chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true|access-date=April 23, 2025}} |
| {{Single chart|Norway|4|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"|Portugal (IFPI){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1987/M&M-1987-10-24.pdf|date=October 24, 1987|title=Top 3 in Europe|magazine=Music & Media|volume=4|issue=42|page=20|access-date=September 24, 2023}}
| style="text-align:center;"|1 |
| scope="row"|Spain (AFYVE){{cite book |last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st |date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}
| style="text-align:center;"|1 |
| {{Single chart|Sweden|3|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true}} |
| {{Single chart|Switzerland|1|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|rowheader=true}} |
| {{Single chart|UKsinglesbyname|1|artist=Los Lobos|artistid=22438|rowheader=true|access-date=April 23, 2025}} |
| {{Single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=Los Lobos|rowheader=true|access-date=April 23, 2025}} |
| {{Single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|4|artist=Los Lobos|rowheader=true|access-date=April 23, 2025}} |
| {{Single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|57|artist=Los Lobos|rowheader=true|access-date=April 23, 2025}} |
| {{Single chart|Billboardlatinsongs|1|artist=Los Lobos|rowheader=true|access-date=April 23, 2025}} |
| {{Single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|11|artist=Los Lobos|rowheader=true|access-date=April 23, 2025}} |
| scope="row"|Zimbabwe (ZIMA)* Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
| style="text-align:center;"|1 |
| {{Single chart|West Germany|7|artist=Los Lobos|song=La Bamba|songid=1658|rowheader=true}} |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!Chart (2016) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Poland|75|chartid=1980|year=2016|rowheader=true|access-date=May 23, 2016}} |
==Year-end charts==
=Certifications and sales=
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for Los Lobos' cover}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=Los Lobos|title=La Bamba|region=Canada|relyear=1987|certyear=1987}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|relyear=1987|relmonth=06|award=Gold|artist=Los Lobos|title=La Bamba|certyear=1987|region=France|source=infodisc}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Los Lobos|title=La Bamba|region=Spain|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|access-date=4 January 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|award=Silver|artist=Los Lobos|title=La Bamba|region=United Kingdom|relyear=2004|certyear=2022|id=18373-6095-1|access-date=September 23, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|nocert=true|salesamount=2,000,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FhMEAAAAMBAJ&dq=La+Bamba&pg=PA103|title=On Kiko, Los Lobos plays stark, mostly blues-tinged rock 'n' roll with occasional ethnic overtones|magazine=Orange Coast|page=103|date=August 1992|access-date=March 24, 2025}}}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}
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".{{Cite web|url=http://www.belafontetracks.ca/cd_reissues_1.htm|title=CD Reissues 1|website=belafontetracks.ca|access-date=2019-07-20|archive-date=July 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720134007/http://www.belafontetracks.ca/cd_reissues_1.htm|url-status=dead}}
- In 1961, The Tokens covered the song on their album "The Lion Sleeps Tonight".
- In 1963, Trini Lopez released the song at the A-side of a single as "La Bamba part I" with on the B-side "La Bamba part II". A second single in 1963 contains "La Bamba" with B-side "Granada". The song is also included at his 1963 live album Trini Lopez at PJ's.
- In 1965, Dusty Springfield recorded the song for her second album, Ev'rything's Coming Up Dusty. It was also included on You Don't Have To Say You Love Me in 1966, which was more or less an American re-issue of the previous album.{{cite web |last1=Eder |first1=Bruce |title=Ev'rything's Coming Up Dusty Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/evrythings-coming-up-dusty-mw0000307813 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=July 13, 2022}}
- In 1985, Canadian children's singer Charlotte Diamond included her version of the song on her Juno Award-winning debut album 10 Carrot Diamond. Diamond's version is perhaps best known for appearing in the children's television series Ants in Your Pants.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw0SQNG0UaI&list=RDIw0SQNG0UaI&start_radio=1|title=Charlotte Diamond-LA BAMBA|date=January 5, 2011 |via=YouTube|access-date=January 5, 2011}}
- In 1987, Selena covered the song for her album And the Winner Is..., which it was released as a single the same year. Her version reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs.{{Cite magazine |last=devops |date=January 2, 2013 |title=Hot Latin Songs |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/latin-songs/ |access-date=2024-03-05 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}
- In 1988, "Weird Al" Yankovic performed a parody of the song titled "Lasagna" for his album Even Worse.
- A song from a Bosnian pop-rock band Crvena jabuka "Sviđa mi se ova stvar" released in 1988, is heavily influenced by "La Bamba".
- Texas rock band Los Lonely Boys have frequently performed "La Bamba" in concert. They cite Valens as an influence in their music.{{cite web|last1=Herman|first1=Valli|title=Texas, with an East L.A. Edge / Los Lonely Boys for "Heaven" from "Los Lonely Boys" |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-feb-13-tm-lonelyboys07-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=February 13, 2005 |access-date=June 21, 2016}}{{cite web |last1=Sauro |first1=Tony|title=Los Lonely Boys are family boys |url=http://www.recordnet.com/article/20140727/A_ENTERTAIN/407260307/0/wap&template=wapart |website=Recordnet.com |publisher=Local Media Group, Inc. |access-date=June 21, 2016}}
- A Star Academy 3 version of "La Bamba" reached No. 3 in France on December 13, 2003,{{cite magazine |title=Hits of the World |magazine=Billboard |date=December 13, 2003 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bQ8EAAAAMBAJ&dq=star+academy+la+bamba&pg=PA54 |language=en |via=Google Books}} In January 2004, it reached No. 5 in Wallonia, Belgium.{{cite magazine |title=Hits of the World |magazine=Billboard |date=January 17, 2004 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gg8EAAAAMBAJ&dq=star+academy+la+bamba&pg=PA45 |access-date=September 9, 2021 |language=en |via=Google Books}}
- In 2006, Ubisoft made a cover of this song for the game Rayman Raving Rabbids.
- Wyclef Jean and Dora the Explorer performed "La Bamba" at the 2010 Mega Music Fest on Nickelodeon.{{Cite news|date=September 14, 2008|title=Breakthrough Spanish song still going strong|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-bamba-idUKN1242390820080914|access-date=2020-06-01}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
- The Belgian Electronic band "Telex", the trio who made the worldwide successful "Moskow Diskow," also created a downbeat electronic cover of it, which is the final track in their final album "How Do You Dance?".
- A live recording of the song by Rory Gallagher features on the posthumously released 2003 album Meeting with the G-Man.
- In 2020, the song was adapted by the Brazilian children's musical brand Mundo Bita as part of the album Rádio Bita.{{cite web | url=https://tribunaonline.com.br/entretenimento/segredo-do-sucesso-do-mundo-bita-84799 | title=Segredo do sucesso do Mundo Bita | date=December 7, 2020 }}
- The National Hockey League (NHL)'s Edmonton Oilers have adopted Los Lobos' cover version of the song as the song played after every home win at Rogers Place as a tribute to Joey Moss and Ben Stelter.{{cite news|last=Merola|first=Lauren|title='La Bamba' singers wish Oilers good luck in Western Conference Final|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/la-bamba-singers-wish-oilers-good-luck-in-game-4-334506462|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=NHL.com|date=June 6, 2022|access-date=June 16, 2024}}{{cite press release|title=NHL Morning Skate for June 16|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-morning-skate-for-june-16|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=NHL.com|date=June 16, 2024|access-date=June 16, 2024|quote=Edmonton and its thousands of fans inside and outside Rogers Place celebrated the win by playing Los Lobos' 1987 cover of "La Bamba," which has a much deeper meaning to the franchise than simply being a victory song. "La Bamba" was the favorite tune of longtime Oilers dressing room attendant Joey Moss, who passed away in 2020. Moss was born with Down syndrome and began working for the team during the 1984–85 season, with his influence still felt in Edmonton through the ICE District Plaza adjacent to Rogers Place being nicknamed the "Moss Pit". The song also had a connection to young Oilers superfan Ben Stelter, who passed away in 2022 after a courageous battle with brain cancer. Stelter shared a special bond with Connor McDavid and captured the hearts of players and fans with his catchphrase "Play La Bamba, baby!", which is still used around Rogers Place.}}
See also
References
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