Mambo No. 5 Explained

Mambo No. 5
Artist:Pérez Prado
Released:1950
Recorded:1949
Genre:Mambo, jive dance
Length:3:42

"Mambo No. 5" is an instrumental mambo and jazz dance song originally composed and recorded by Cuban musician Dámaso Pérez Prado in 1949 and released the next year.[1]

German singer Lou Bega sampled the original for a new song released under the same name on Bega's 1999 debut album, A Little Bit of Mambo.[2]

Lou Bega version

Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of...)
Cover:Mambo No. 5.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Lou Bega
Album:A Little Bit of Mambo
Genre:
Next Title:I Got a Girl
Next Year:1999

German singer Lou Bega recorded a cover of the song and released it in April 1999 as the first single from his debut album, A Little Bit of Mambo (1999). His version became a summer hit during 1999 in most of Europe.[5] Later that year, it experienced success in the United Kingdom, North America, and Oceania. In France, it set a record by staying at number one for 20 weeks.[6] The song reached number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 on 2 November 1999, giving Bega his only top-40 hit in the United States.

Critical reception

Elisabeth Vincentelli from Entertainment Weekly rated the song with a B minus, adding, "All of a sudden, mambo is hot again, and the unlikely city of Munich is on the Latin-music map. For this we have to thank the Ugandan-Italian Bega and his German producing team, who have hit pay dirt by tacking new lyrics onto an old Perez Prado song. While purists scream murder, the upbeat tune and bouncy, '80s-style synthesizers will rule weddings for years to come."[7]

Copyright dispute

The song became the subject of a seven-year copyright trial between Prado's estate, the music publisher Peermusic, and Bega's producers. Bega had only used riffs (which by German law cannot be registered for copyright) from Prado's original and written the entire lyrics, so Bega's producers went to court in order to gain access to all the song's proceedings from Peermusic representing Prado's estate. However, after seven years the Federal Court of Justice of Germany ruled in favor of Peermusic and Prado's estate in 2008, based upon the fact that Bega's producers had sought a royalty agreement with Peermusic prior to releasing the song. Because of Bega's significant contributions to his version, the court's final ruling declared it a new song co-written by Prado and Bega.[8]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Mambo No. 5", directed by Joern Heitmann, features Lou Bega singing and dancing with flappers.[9] An alternate music video aired on Disney Channel, featuring clips from various Disney films and television series, with newly recorded lyrics by Bega dealing with the featured characters.[10]

Track listings

  1. "Mambo No. 5" (radio edit) – 3:39
  2. "Mambo No. 5" (extended mix) – 5:14
  3. "Mambo No. 5" (enhanced CD-ROM video) – 3:42
  1. "Mambo No. 5" (radio edit) – 3:39
  2. "Mambo No. 5" (extended mix) – 5:14
  3. "Mambo" (Havanna club mix) – 5:48
  4. "Mambo" (The Trumpet) – 6:01
  1. "Mambo No. 5" (radio edit) – 3:39
  2. "Beauty on the TV Screen" – 4:03

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1999)Peak
position
Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)[11] 1
Czech Republic (IFPI)[12] 1
Denmark (Tracklisten)[13] 1
Europe (European Hot 100)[14] 1
Greece (IFPI)[15] 1
Hungary (Mahasz)[16] 1
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[17] 1
Italy (Musica e dischi)[18] 1
US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard)[19] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1999)Position
Australia (ARIA)[20] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[21] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[22] 2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[23] 4
Brazil (Crowley)[24] 14
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[25] 7
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[26] 22
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[27] 6
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[28] 2
France (SNEP)[29] 1
Germany (Official German Charts)[30] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[31] 4
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[32] 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[33] 1
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[34] 3
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[35] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[36] 6
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[37] 1
UK Singles (OCC)[38] 4
UK Airplay (Music Week)[39] 32
US Billboard Hot 100[40] 42
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[41] 30
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[42] 19
US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)[43] 38
Chart (2000)Position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[44] 86
France (SNEP)[45] 82
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[46] 53
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[47] 70

Decade-end charts

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
Germany19 April 1999CDAriola
Finland10 May 1999[49]
Sweden[50]
United States17 August 199912-inch vinylRCA[51]
United Kingdom23 August 1999[52]
Japan22 September 1999CD[53]

Bob the Builder version

Mambo No. 5
Cover:BobtheBuilderMamboNo5.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Bob the Builder
B-Side:"Super Spud" (Spud's dub)
Length:3:14
Label:
Producer:Grant Mitchell
Prev Title:Can We Fix It?
Prev Year:2000
Next Title:Big Fish Little Fish
Next Year:2008

On 3 September 2001, BBC Records released a novelty version of the song sung by British actor Neil Morrissey, who provided the voice of Bob for children's television show Bob the Builder. It features background vocals from Rob Rackstraw and Kate Harbour, who voiced several other characters on the show.[54] This cover radically changed the lyrics to fit the theme of the show, making numerous references to construction, repairs and roadway maintenance, as well as the show's characters. The women's names from Bega's version are also replaced with types of construction supplies and building tasks, e.g., timber, saw, waterproofing and tiling.

Chart performance

On 9 September 2001, the song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Bob the Builder's second number-one single on the listing after "Can We Fix It?". In doing so, Bob became the first novelty act to top the UK chart with more than one single.[55] Following the 11 September attacks, the song was removed from the BBC Radio 2 playlist due to its lyrics about building construction, with the station's executive music producer Colin Martin describing the song as being "too frivolous in light of the news that was breaking".[56] [57] The song earned a gold certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 12 October 2001 for shipping over 400,000 units. At the end of 2001, it was ranked as the UK's 17th-best-selling single.

In Ireland, the song first appeared on the Irish Singles Chart at number 13 on 13 September and peaked at number four the following week.[58] [59] It remained in the top 50 for 10 weeks in total. At the end of the year, the song came in at number 42 on Ireland's year-end chart. "Mambo No. 5" debuted at number three on the Australian Singles Chart on 4 November 2001 and reached number two on 18 November. After staying at the position for another week, the song descended the chart, spending nine more weeks in the top 50. It was Australia's 26th-most-successful hit of the year and shipped over 70,000 copies, allowing it to receive a platinum certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

Track listing

  1. "Mambo No. 5"
  2. "Super Spud" (Spud's dub)
  3. "Mambo No. 5" (karaoke music)
  4. "Mambo No. 5" (video CD-ROM)

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2001)Position
Australia (ARIA)[61] 26
Ireland (IRMA)[62] 42
UK Singles (OCC)[63] 17

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United Kingdom3 September 2001BBC[64]
Australia22 October 2001CDUniversal Music Australia[65]

Ome Henk parody

In 1999, Dutch TV character Ome Henk took a parody of the song called "Mambo Nr 6" to number 17 on the Dutch Top 40.[66] The lyrics referred to the medicine prescribed to him, which causes hallucinations of the girls he mentions in the song. A parody of commercials for the fictional product is also heard.

Legacy

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ESTILO MUSICAL Mambo. American Sabor. 6 February 2013. es. https://web.archive.org/web/20130517042221/http://www.americansabor.org/es/musicians/styles/mambo. 17 May 2013. dead.
  2. Web site: Mambo No. 5 - Perez Prado and his Orchestra. Internet Archive. 1950.
  3. News: Best Of '99: 'Mambo No. 5' Singer Lou Bega Endured Doubts, Rejections. https://web.archive.org/web/20170813234604/http://www.mtv.com/news/519614/best-of-99-mambo-no-5-singer-lou-bega-endured-doubts-rejections/. dead. 13 August 2017. MTV. 3 July 2017. en.
  4. The Great War Against the Single Edition. Hit Parade Music History and Music Trivia. Slate. Molanphy. Chris. September 29, 2017. July 9, 2023.
  5. Web site: Las canciones del verano en España desde 1970. Elle. es. 25 July 2019. 30 April 2020.
  6. Web site: 'Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of...)' by Lou Bega. Shauna W. PopCrush. 4 June 2012. 29 January 2021.
  7. Vincentelli, Elisabeth (10 Sep 1999). "This Week: Music". Entertainment Weekly. Issue 502.
  8. Web site: Throwback Thursday- Lou Bega 'Mambo No. 5' (1999). Hot 104.7. 26 January 2017 .
  9. Web site: Joern Heitmann. Kinetic Media. 30 August 2020 . 7 December 2022.
  10. Web site: The Mambo Man. Disney Records. 7 December 2022.
  11. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20050407221908/http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/1999.pdf. April 7, 2005. Canadian Top 20 in 1999. Cross Canada Countdown. November 13, 2023.
  12. Web site: Hitparada radia 2000. IFPI. cs. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/19990829142859/http://www.ifpicr.cz/radio.htm. 29 August 1999. 21 July 2020.
  13. Billboard 31 July 1999. Billboard. Danyel Smith. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. 1999. 0006-2510. 11 July 2013.
  14. Billboard 14 August 1999. Billboard. Danyel Smith. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. 1999. 0006-2510. 11 July 2013.
  15. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 16. 33. 10. 14 August 1999. 7 May 2018.
  16. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 16. 30. 10. 24 July 1999. 7 May 2018.
  17. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 341 Vikuna 16.9. – 23.9. 1999). Dagblaðið Vísir. Timarit.is. is. 10. 17 September 1999. 13 July 2018.
  18. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 16. 37. 14. 11 September 1999. 28 November 2019.
  19. Web site: Lou Bega awards on Allmusic . Allmusic . 11 July 2013.
  20. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1999. ARIA. 29 January 2021.
  21. Web site: Jahreshitparade Singles 1999. de. 9 July 2020.
  22. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1999. Ultratop. nl. 6 August 2009.
  23. Web site: Rapports annuels 1999. Ultratop. fr. 6 August 2009.
  24. Web site: Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 1999. April 3, 2018. Crowley Broadcast Analysis. January 30, 2022.
  25. RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 7 January 2019.
  26. RPM 1999 Top 100 Adult Contemporary. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 7 January 2019.
  27. RPM 1999 Top 50 Dance Tracks. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 7 January 2019.
  28. Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1999. Music & Media. 17. 1. 11. 1 January 2000. 7 February 2020.
  29. Web site: Tops de L'année Top Singles 1999. SNEP. fr. 9 July 2020.
  30. Web site: Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1999. GfK Entertainment. de. 21 April 2018.
  31. Web site: Single top 100 over 1999. Top40. nl. 29 April 2010.
  32. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 2000. MegaCharts. nl. 10 October 2019.
  33. Web site: End of Year Charts 1999. Recorded Music NZ. 7 February 2020.
  34. Web site: Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1999. Romanian Top 100. ro. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20050122081829/http://www.rt100.ro/topul-anului-1999.html. 22 January 2005.
  35. Web site: Tabla 16. CD-Singles Más Vendidos en 1999. Table 16. Top Selling CD-Singles in 1999. AFYVE. es. 206. 11 November 2021. Click on Música grabada.
  36. Web site: Årslista Singlar, 1999. Sverigetopplistan. sv. 9 July 2020.
  37. Web site: Swiss Year-End Charts 1999. de. 9 July 2020.
  38. Web site: Yearly Best Selling Singles. British Phonographic Industry. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100924031612/http://bpi.co.uk/assets/files/yearly%20best%20selling%20singles.pdf. 24 September 2010. 22 July 2020.
  39. Web site: Most Broadcast of 1999: Airplay Top 50. Music Week. 31. 22 January 2000. 24 April 2022.
  40. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 1999. 28 August 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090709044506/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1999. 9 July 2009.
  41. Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1999. Airplay Monitor. 7. 52. 47. 24 December 1999.
  42. Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1999. Airplay Monitor. 7. 52. 54. 24 December 1999.
  43. Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 1999. Airplay Monitor. 7. 52. 53. 24 December 1999.
  44. Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2000. Music & Media. 17. 52. 9. 23 December 2000. 8 February 2020.
  45. Web site: Tops de L'année Top Singles 2000. SNEP. fr. 9 July 2020.
  46. Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 2000. Airplay Monitor. 8. 51. 48. 22 December 2000.
  47. Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2000. Airplay Monitor. 8. 51. 54. 22 December 2000.
  48. Web site: Top 100 singles of the 1990s. Lwin. Nanda. Jam!. https://web.archive.org/web/20000829070927/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100_1990.html. 29 August 2000. 26 March 2022.
  49. Web site: Lou Bega: Mambo No.5. click2music.fi. fi. https://web.archive.org/web/20050113111339/http://www.click2music.fi/product.asp?prd=185&art=87. 13 January 2005. 30 November 2023.
  50. Web site: Lou Bega: Mambo No.5. click2music.se. sv. https://web.archive.org/web/20020622232207/http://www.click2music.se/product.asp?prd=185&art=87. 22 June 2002. 29 November 2023.
  51. Hot 100 Singles Spotlight. Pietroluongo. Silvio. Billboard. 111. 35. 105. 28 August 1999. The only commercial single planned so far is a 12-inch vinyl version, which hit retail Aug. 17..
  52. New Releases – For Week Starting 23 August, 1999. Music Week. 29. 21 August 1999. 22 July 2021.
  53. Web site: マンボ No.5 ルー・ベガ. Mambo No. 5 Lou Bega. Oricon. ja. 9 October 2023.
  54. Mambo No. 5. 2001. UK enhanced CD single liner notes. BBC Records. WMSS 6044-2, 6849 116044 2 9.
  55. Web site: Week Ending September 15th 2001. Masterson. James. UK Chart Watch. 9 September 2001. 3 March 2021.
  56. Radio Acts with Tact to Remove Innapropriate Tracks. Music Week. 3. 22 September 2001.
  57. Web site: Stop spreading the news.... Lynskey. Dorian. The Guardian. 20 September 2001. 13 August 2021.
  58. Web site: Top 50 Singles, Week Ending 6 September 2001. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20181003140814/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2001&year=2001&week=36. 3 October 2018. 9 September 2022.
  59. Web site: Top 50 Singles, Week Ending 13 September 2001. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20190716010915/https://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2001&year=2001&week=37. 16 July 2019. 9 September 2022.
  60. Mambo No. 5. 2001. Australian maxi-CD single liner notes. BBC Records, Universal Music Australia. 116 044-2.
  61. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2001. ARIA. 26 December 2020.
  62. Web site: Ireland – Top Singles for 2001. Allcharts. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120505011812/http://allcharts.org/music/years/ireland-singles-2001.htm. 5 May 2012. 16 December 2018.
  63. Web site: The Official UK Singles Chart 2001. UKChartsPlus. 21 May 2018.
  64. New Releases – For Week Starting September 3, 2001: Singles. Music Week. 23. 1 September 2001. 16 August 2021.
  65. Web site: The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 22nd October 2001. ARIA. 24. 22 October 2001. dead. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020220130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/issue608.PDF. 20 February 2002. 16 August 2021.
  66. Web site: Ome Henk – Mambo Nr. 6. Dutch Top 40. 2 April 2021.
  67. Web site: Latin GRAMMY Hall Of Fame. Latin Grammy Award. Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. 19 August 2014. 2001. 5 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150205122045/http://www.latingrammy.com/en/node/21337. dead.
  68. Web site: The politics of music - It's showtime at the convention . Archives.cnn.com . 1 April 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714233958/http://edition.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/08/14/convention.music/ . 14 July 2014 .
  69. Web site: Fenton . Ben . Clinton has his final fling with Hollywood . The Telegraph . 19 September 2018 . 13 August 2000.
  70. Web site: 'A long 16-year wait': Channel 4 confirms India v England Test TV rights. 3 February 2021. the Guardian.
  71. TommyAndreasen . Tommy Andreasen. 1152209562080071681 . Yep. We're simple people. . July 19, 2019 . October 29, 2023.

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