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Los Lobos — La Bamba
Album: La Bamba: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1513









Released: 1990
Length: 2:46
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Para bailar la bamba
Para bailar la bamba
Se necesita una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia pa' mí pa' ti
Y arriba y arriba
Ay arriba y arriba
Por ti seré, por ti seré, por ti seré

Yo no soy marinero
Yo no soy marinero, soy capitán
Soy capitán, soy capitán

Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba

Para bailar la bamba
Para bailar la bamba
Se necesita una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia pa' mí pa' ti
Ay y arriba y arriba

Para bailar la bamba
Para bailar la bamba
Se necesita una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia pa' mí pa' ti
Y arriba y arriba
Ay arriba y arriba
Por ti seré, por ti seré, por ti seré

Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Comments (129)add comment
 maryte wrote:

I keep hearing "I'm not the marinara..."


Too funny!   GREAT TUNE!
Posted 1 month ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 smartn1 wrote:

I sing this quite often in the shower. Instant 8 from me. 




Its a shower 9 from me. Great fun
Posted 1 year ago by naturalman    [ Reply ]
Arriba!!   
Posted 1 year ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
I sing this quite often in the shower. Instant 8 from me. 
Posted 2 years ago by smartn1    [ Reply ]
Years ago when I was 'turning on' some of my various Mexican in-laws to Los Lobos, they would invariably crinkle their noses at the white guy's idea of good Mexican music and I would say "No no, they aren't just 'La Bamba', you should hear what else they do." All these years later I hear the song and y'know, it's just a really good cookin' version of a pop song. :-)
Posted 3 years ago by ExpatLarry    [ Reply ]
 johnrah wrote:
Reminds me of being in the Hinterland of Guyana at the Amerindian celebrations and the Minister for Amerindian affairs jumped up on stage and played this song. 
 
Gracías johnrah.  Your story reminded me of my first few minutes of not-nearly-as-adventurous  travel with my fiance on the Estrella de Oro bus out of the Cancún terminal heading to Mérida.  We were the only non-locals on the bus and it must have showed.  The kid behind me stopped playing the Mexican éxitos  on his cassette boom box and slipped in Pink Floyd's Dark Side of The Moon.  This served the triple  purpose of welcoming us, slipping us into a more exploratory frame of mind, and allowing me to leverage my 5 years of poorly learned Spanish to nervously tell him "¡Gracias!".
Posted 4 years ago by jamesat43    [ Reply ]
they did play it at the end of the Rose Parade this year.
Posted 4 years ago by xtalman    [ Reply ]
I always wish they would not play this song in concert and my wish came true last summer.  They did not play La  Bamba.  My reasoning is:  they are a fantastic band that is so much more than a good cover song.  They have a rich catalogue of their own stuff.
Thanks LosLobos for not playing LaBamba.
Posted 5 years ago by khardog145    [ Reply ]
Reminds me of being in the Hinterland of Guyana at the Amerindian celebrations and the Minister for Amerindian affairs jumped up on stage and played this song. 
Posted 5 years ago by johnrah    [ Reply ]
Great cover of a classic song.

Changing the channel now. Can't hear it anymore
Posted 5 years ago by Angry_Old_Man    [ Reply ]
Well, this cover probably put Los Lobos on the radar for most Americans, like me. But, I thank RP for showing us that the band had many more, even better songs.
Posted 5 years ago by MrStatenIsle    [ Reply ]
Haven't heard this in years !

First, LOL.
Second, so many memories... Good and bad, mainly bad.
Solid 8.

LLRP
Posted 5 years ago by ExploitingChaos    [ Reply ]
7 -> 8 - Most Excellent
Posted 5 years ago by Tomasni    [ Reply ]
I keep hearing "I'm not the marinara..."
Posted 6 years ago by maryte    [ Reply ]
It's just good music.
Posted 6 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
whenever i hear this song i can't stop thinking what's enough is enough
Posted 6 years ago by semaca    [ Reply ]
 stegokitty wrote:
Okay, so we had a Buddy Holly song, and now Richie Valenz (via Los Lobos), shall we be partaking of some Big Bopper in the next RP track?

    trailhead wrote:

Well, today, Bill appears to be in the middle of a cinco de mayo set.

As CAKE says, "I don't know much about Cinco De Mayo, I'm never sure What it's all about"  But I sure love Los Lobos (and CAKE) 

 
And today, same pairing, mid-December.  Ya just never can tell. 
 
Posted 6 years ago by JeriF    [ Reply ]
This is just so bad in comparison to the original Ritchie Valens I grew up listening to from my mom's 45 (rpm) collection.
Posted 7 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
 stegokitty wrote:
Okay, so we had a Buddy Holly song, and now Richie Valenz (via Los Lobos), shall we be partaking of some Big Bopper in the next RP track?

 
Well, today, Bill appears to be in the middle of a cinco de mayo set.

As CAKE says, "I don't know much about Cinco De Mayo, I'm never sure What it's all about"  But I sure love Los Lobos (and CAKE) 
Posted 7 years ago by trailhead    [ Reply ]
Okay, so we had a Buddy Holly song, and now Richie Valenz (via Los Lobos), shall we be partaking of some Big Bopper in the next RP track?
Posted 8 years ago by stegokitty    [ Reply ]
{#Drummer}
Posted 8 years ago by Triattack    [ Reply ]
This is nice, didn't expect it :P
Posted 8 years ago by Triattack    [ Reply ]
Thank God for PSD
Posted 8 years ago by ClueLeZ    [ Reply ]
 joetekubi wrote:
I like Los Lobos a lot, but it's time to delete this from any playlist in existence.

 
You need to discover PSD, so the rest of us can revel in the joy.
Posted 8 years ago by LizK    [ Reply ]
With all due respect to Ritchie Valens I like the Los Lobos version quite a lot more
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
RIP Ritchie Valens too, just like to Buddy Holly on the previous song ....   Today is the day the music died. Feb 3rd.
Is Chantilly Lace or Don MacLean next Bill?

 
Posted 8 years ago by bseib    [ Reply ]
I like Los Lobos a lot, but it's time to delete this from any playlist in existence.
Posted 8 years ago by joetekubi    [ Reply ]
I would like this song if I had only heard it fourteen thousand times.
Posted 9 years ago by ppopp    [ Reply ]
 clickfaster wrote:
So far the set has been Buddy Holly and now Los Lobos (doing Valens' La Bamba).  What's next?  Chantilly Lace or American Pie?

 
I'll throw my sombrero up for that!   {#Daisy}
Posted 9 years ago by LizK    [ Reply ]
Me encanta Los Lobos , hay tal cosa como mucho !

also love Google's translation app
Posted 9 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
y una poquita de gracia y arriba y arriba...{#Sunny}
Posted 9 years ago by joanot    [ Reply ]
Play something form the Kiko album. It's a good one. 
Posted 9 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Great Middle 8
Posted 9 years ago by Ouchita    [ Reply ]
Eight days until LL is here and we have four great seats! {#Clap}
Posted 10 years ago by Carl    [ Reply ]
So far the set has been Buddy Holly and now Los Lobos (doing Valens' La Bamba).  What's next?  Chantilly Lace or American Pie?
Posted 10 years ago by clickfaster    [ Reply ]
{#Bananajam}   {#Bananajam}    {#Bananajam}....... am enjoying this
Posted 10 years ago by Peter_Bradshaw    [ Reply ]
{#Bananajam}Si si!
Posted 10 years ago by helenofjoy    [ Reply ]
¡SOY CAPITÁN SOY CAPITÁN!
 
Posted 11 years ago by HombreDeMezcal    [ Reply ]
Yep, Buddy Holly followed up by Los Lobos covering the great Richie Valens. Still terrific songs half a century the authors died. Amazing how those guys hit it big without walking their crotch around the stage while cursing and snarling. Popular music has come a long way. Whether the trajectory is evolution or devolution is, well, debatable - at best.
Posted 11 years ago by ottovonb    [ Reply ]
As I remember it, this song was an intentional challenge to the "race record" powers that were at the time.  This was socially ground breaking stuff.... as well as wonderful music.
Posted 11 years ago by old_shep    [ Reply ]
Transducers need cooling again !!
 
Posted 11 years ago by msymmes    [ Reply ]
Los Lobos is on the Oct Legendary Blues Cruise and so am I!!!
Posted 11 years ago by shellbella    [ Reply ]
Better than the original?   Just putting it out there...
Posted 11 years ago by msymmes    [ Reply ]
Hey Bill,

Since this follows Buddy Holly, do you have Chantilly Lace in the queue?  And maybe dig up the Richie Valens original for us to hear too! 
Posted 11 years ago by bseib    [ Reply ]
{#Bananapiano}   A very good cover !

 
Posted 11 years ago by msymmes    [ Reply ]
I'm guessing the Big Bopper will be next.
Posted 11 years ago by clickfaster    [ Reply ]
{#Jump}
Posted 12 years ago by shellbella    [ Reply ]
 Rockit wrote:
Wow a Mexican theme. Anyone for a Burrito?
 
Wha? Shouldn't you be playing hockey or eating caribou or something?
Posted 12 years ago by scraig    [ Reply ]
Wow a Mexican theme. Anyone for a Burrito?
Posted 12 years ago by Rockit    [ Reply ]
Seeing them this Saturday night at the Green River Music Festival!!!{#Bananasplit}
Posted 12 years ago by markg063    [ Reply ]

Such a promising career...  Such a tragedy....  
"I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" had to be the final downfall for Lou.


Posted 12 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
Nice segue from Mexican Radio to La Bamba. Cute.{#Bananajumprope}
Posted 12 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
This may help:-

https://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/r/ritchie_valens/la_bamba.html
Posted 12 years ago by hbs47    [ Reply ]
 romeotuma wrote:


Esta canción es buena para los oídos...
 
Eso es: ¡sorpréndeme!
Posted 12 years ago by Bleyfusz    [ Reply ]
 johnjconn wrote:
What's a La Bamba?
No hablas espanol
 
"La Bamba" refers to a type of dance {#Bananasplit}
Posted 12 years ago by Falcon    [ Reply ]
Sorry It's not mariachi, it's huapango, a Veracruz "son". 

jone_ston wrote:
I love the mariachi epilogue on this version. It brings a lot more complexity and interest to an otherwise ho-hum song.
 


Posted 12 years ago by Euskadita    [ Reply ]
Massive and massively overplayed pop hit but if you put on the headphones and check out the instrumentation you'll respect it a little more... and yeah then the outro really takes it into the stratosphere.
Posted 12 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:
I can't make out a word he's saying.
It's like he's singing in a different language! 
 
I found that if I turn it up LOUD I can understand it quite well.
Posted 12 years ago by Tizmself    [ Reply ]
You should play something from Los Monkeys.
Posted 12 years ago by lordlab    [ Reply ]
I love the mariachi epilogue on this version. It brings a lot more complexity and interest to an otherwise ho-hum song.
Posted 12 years ago by jone_ston    [ Reply ]
I love that outro guitar.
Posted 12 years ago by TJS    [ Reply ]
This is like one of the best songs ever.
Posted 12 years ago by lordlab    [ Reply ]
bseib wrote:
I suppose "Chantilly Lace" is coming next in your playlist Bill...?  {#Smile}
You should have played Ritchie Valens original, although I understand your love of covers...

 Now Playing:
Los Lobos - La Bamba
Buddy Holly - Well All Right
 

Looks like Bill likes that running order, as it's repeating right now! {#Angel}
Posted 12 years ago by glowworm    [ Reply ]
 romeotuma wrote:


Esta canción es buena para los oídos...
 

De acuerdo......... 
Posted 12 years ago by hencini    [ Reply ]
"Most Excellent" sums this up quite nicely.  
Posted 12 years ago by hencini    [ Reply ]
Please, play any other song performed by Los Lobos rather than this one.
Posted 12 years ago by iTuner    [ Reply ]
{#Dancingbanana}{#Drummer}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Bananajam}{#Bananapiano}{#Motor}{#Bananajumprope}{#Bananasplit}{#Dance}
Posted 12 years ago by shellbella    [ Reply ]
De acuerdo.(I agree), pero esta version de Los Lobos incluyo un pasaje de la cancion original de Vera Cruz.(but this version did include a passage from the original folk version from Vera Cruz, Mexico. It's all good. (Esta bien Todo)/
 bseib wrote:
I suppose "Chantilly Lace" is coming next in your playlist Bill...?  {#Smile}
You should have played Ritchie Valens original, although I understand your love of covers...

 Now Playing:
Los Lobos - La Bamba
Buddy Holly - Well All Right
 


Posted 13 years ago by Kokoloco53    [ Reply ]
Viva Los Lobos {#Dancingbanana}
Posted 13 years ago by d-don    [ Reply ]
I suppose "Chantilly Lace" is coming next in your playlist Bill...?  {#Smile}
You should have played Ritchie Valens original, although I understand your love of covers...

 Now Playing:
Los Lobos - La Bamba
Buddy Holly - Well All Right


Posted 13 years ago by bseib    [ Reply ]
Los Lobos is always fresh and groovy!
Posted 13 years ago by misterbearbaby    [ Reply ]
So in Mexico, La Bamba is an old song from Veracruz, but in Peru, "bamba" is slang for something fake, like knock-off designer goods or pirated DVDs.

And there's your Latin American language lesson for the day!! {#Smile}

Lila Downs also does a good cover of the song, with extra lyrics about how they make mole in Oaxaca.

Posted 13 years ago by ceviche    [ Reply ]
I can't make out a word he's saying.
It's like he's singing in a different language! 
Posted 13 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]

Los Lobos are mas bueno!  I love this band and they are highly underrated in my opinion.  They wrote one a recent song made popular by Robert Plant...."Angel Dance". 



Posted 13 years ago by bluecshells    [ Reply ]
Cute segue. 
Posted 13 years ago by ubuntourist    [ Reply ]
 to_the_eleven wrote:
some Big Bopper next?

Los Lobos - La Bamba
Buddy Holly - Well All Right
 
Precisely what I was wondering.  Kinda glad BillG didn't take it there though.  Kinda a dark place to be.

Posted 13 years ago by nerakdon    [ Reply ]
some Big Bopper next?

Los Lobos - La Bamba
Buddy Holly - Well All Right
Posted 13 years ago by to_the_eleven    [ Reply ]
{#Guitarist}{#Bananajam}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Drummer}{#Dancingbanana}{#Bananapiano}

Posted 13 years ago by DD rabbi_phil    [ Reply ]
si  !!!
{#Bananajam}
Posted 13 years ago by cattail321    [ Reply ]
 Danny_G wrote:
MY UPLOAD !!!

 
Well, thank you very much!  And congratulations.  Um, do I need to call the fire department to pry you off the ceiling? *grinning*

Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
 donnyballgame wrote:
Now that's a tribute playlist if I ever heard one. Nice.
 
Agreed.  The first song I ever heard from Los Lobos was "La Bamba," and I just didn't like it at all. And then I heard "Will the Wolf Survive?" and after that, I came here and heard so much Los Lobos music that I smacked myself in the forehead for thinking they were just a one-hit wonder.  These guys are so amazing, I'm saving my money to buy all their CDs. (Starting with "Kiko and the Lavender Moon," and we'll see what happens next.)

I hated Los Lobos, once.  Now, they're one of my favorite groups.  Thank you, RadioParadise! *hugs you*

Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
This is a great rendition of a great song but I never could get over how much these guys do NOT look like "The Wolves."
Posted 13 years ago by forge    [ Reply ]
I find now that I don't hear this song every 5 minutes like I did when I lived in Albuquerque, I can now enjoy it again.

 
Posted 13 years ago by Nerubo    [ Reply ]
Los Lobos - La Bamba
Ritchie Valens - Come On Let's Go
Buddy Holly - Well All Right

Okay, I admit it. I was expecting "Chantilly Lace." Not quite the day the music died, but an awful lot of it was prematurely snuffed out. RIP 52 years later.
Posted 13 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
Now that's a tribute playlist if I ever heard one. Nice.
Posted 13 years ago by donnyballgame    [ Reply ]
Wouldn't the Ritchie Valens version be more appropriate for today? 
Posted 13 years ago by gratefulgator    [ Reply ]
I remember translating this song for high school spanish!! {#Bananajam}
Posted 13 years ago by WayUpNorth    [ Reply ]
Timeless songs and melodies{#Roflol} Bravo RP!
Posted 13 years ago by Netto    [ Reply ]
Every good meal needs just a little cheese. Too much gives you indigestion, but a little is much appreciated.
Posted 14 years ago by planet_lizard    [ Reply ]
the acoustic part is SO good...
Posted 14 years ago by sunny_day    [ Reply ]
"Can't understand. Just what does he say?  I'm on a Mexican radio."
Posted 14 years ago by ubuntourist    [ Reply ]
srsly?
Posted 14 years ago by dreadpixie    [ Reply ]

Rock & Roll Made In Mexico from Evolution to Revolution

Rock N Roll Made In Mexico | MySpace Music Videos
Posted 14 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
To say that I'm tired of this tune is an under, under....underst......zzzzzzzzz.
Posted 14 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
 Giselle62 wrote:
I remember an early punk band L.A. used to do an even faster version—-Los Plugz. This is great, too.
 
Thanks for the reminder to go dig up some Plugz. Lots of good stuff from them and I don't have any of it.

Posted 14 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
Se necessita una poca de gracias - es verdad!
Posted 14 years ago by Shaken_Bake    [ Reply ]
Trini Lopez made me sick of this one ! {#Laughing}

Posted 14 years ago by HazzeSwede    [ Reply ]
I remember an early punk band L.A. used to do an even faster version—-Los Plugz. This is great, too.
Posted 14 years ago by Giselle62    [ Reply ]
saw them do this in a FREE concert under the arch in St. Louis a few years ago.  the crowd went WILD!! very uncharacteristic for St. Louians.   they were GREAT!!
Posted 14 years ago by musickat    [ Reply ]
 handyrae wrote:
Whee! Chair dancing!
 

Me too! Wheeee! This is me rolling across the floor and twirling on the chair. This is me not writing my report. This is me feeling guilty... Whatever.
Posted 15 years ago by Rotterdam    [ Reply ]
 flyboy wrote:
first

 
And?  No comment on the song?
You quit, just like Saracudda did last week!!!!

Posted 15 years ago by countyman    [ Reply ]
{#Dancingbanana}¡Arriba, Arriba!
Posted 15 years ago by ndg    [ Reply ]
Haven't heard this one in a looooong time.
Posted 15 years ago by kylemichael    [ Reply ]
Loved it once.  Now I just feel like I'm in a cheezy Tex-Mex restaurant. 
Posted 15 years ago by nickhanks    [ Reply ]
*sigh*  Yes, it's a great song. But come on. Way overplayed. Way way way. Los Lobos has some other great, not overplayed tunes.
Posted 15 years ago by revt    [ Reply ]
A good time to do some errands. The last 5-6 songs have just thrown me off, sorry.
 
Posted 15 years ago by michaelgmitchell    [ Reply ]
 Danny_G wrote:
MY UPLOAD !!!

 
Thanks! YEEEEE-HA!

Posted 15 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
ala...guay... 
Posted 15 years ago by 2noir    [ Reply ]
Yeay!{#Dancingbanana}

Posted 16 years ago by Candela    [ Reply ]
Arriba Veracruz !!!

(photo removed at request of owner)
Posted 16 years ago by marcucho    [ Reply ]
MY UPLOAD !!!

Posted 16 years ago by Danny_G    [ Reply ]
Does anyone remember La Bamba '87? I listened to that so much I wore the cassette out.
Posted 16 years ago by Zeito    [ Reply ]
lingchih wrote:
More Los Lobos is always a great idea.
Oh yeah!
Posted 16 years ago by garthwb    [ Reply ]
MinMan wrote:
While I like Los Lobos; please make this tune go away! Way overplayed in the 1980's.
Is Bill on a personal mission to resuscitate the reputation of '80s music? This'll help do it - love Los Lobos! 9
Posted 16 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
Whee! Chair dancing!
Posted 16 years ago by handyrae    [ Reply ]
flyboy wrote:
first
Hey, no fair, I wanted to be first!!
Posted 16 years ago by Ericac    [ Reply ]
More Los Lobos is always a great idea.
Posted 16 years ago by lingchih    [ Reply ]
Didn't know until recently that this was the "B" side of Richi Valens's "Donna," also a massive hit. Pretty cool.
Posted 16 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
While I like Los Lobos; please make this tune go away! Way overplayed in the 1980's.
Posted 16 years ago by MinMan    [ Reply ]
This is a classic and great tune. Nice follow-up to Mexican Radio.
Posted 16 years ago by Ericac    [ Reply ]