La Bamba - Los Lobos (1987) 7/24/23

There's a lot of history behind today's :Great Song of 1987. First of all, it was also a Great Song of 1939 and 1958.

"La Bamba" began as a Mexican folk song from the state of Veracruz, where it it became incredibly popular as a wedding dance song. (There is no direct English translation of "La Bamba," but it means something along the lines of "shake or wobble").

Around 1938 or 1939, the song was released as a 78 RPM record by Alvaro Hernandez Ortiz, which made the song even more popular, as it became a hit in other areas of Mexico outside of Veracruz.

In 1958, Ritchie Valens, at 17, was just starting his rock and roll career with an eye on both Mexican and American success. He knew the song well, and was convinced, quite reluctantly, to record a rock and roll version of the song to be released on the "B" side of his ballad, "Donna." (He wasn't sure that a "rocking" version of "La Bamba would honor his Mexican heritage).

He needn't have worried. Although the song wasn't the main release, it took hold in Mexico, The US, and even Canada!

Sung completely in Spanish, It charted at #22 on the Hot 100, and #1 in Toronto!

The song's--and Ritchie's popularity soared, which led to him tour with Buddy Holly, which led to...well...you know.

In 1987, the Ritchie Valens biopic "La Bamba " was a big box office hit, (starring Lou Diamond Phillips as Ritchie) and when the Los Lobos version of the song was released as a single from the soundtrack, it exploded all over the world.

The song charted in 17 countries, reaching #1 in 11 of them! In the US alone, the song Hit #1 on the Hot 100 and Latin Charts, #4 on the Adult Contemporary Chart, and #11 on the Mainstream Rock Chart.

Over the years, "La Bamba" has racked up an impressive number of Kudos.

Ritchie's version spent several years on Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" It's also on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of 500 songs that were influential in shaping rock and roll.

The Los Lobos version won the 1988 MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film. (Lou Diamond Phillips also appeared in the video."

"La Bamba:" from humble beginnings as a Mexican folk song to a Great Song of the '30s, '50s, '80s...and of all time!

Los Lobos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLAWPrCUQQ0

Ritchie Valens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BycLmWI97Nc

Alvaro Hernandez Ortiz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4HypRxLcmM

Tomorrow: When the wind sway(ze)...