1. Srta. Rivas Español
LA BAMBA
The traditional "La Bamba" was often played during weddings in Veracruz,
where the bride and groom performed the accompanying dance. Today this
wedding tradition is mostly lost, but the dance survives through the popularity of
ballet folklórico. The dance is performed in much the same way, displaying the
newlywed couple’s unity through the performance of complicated, delicate steps
in unison as well as through creation of a bow from a listón, a long red ribbon,
using only their feet.
The "arriba" (literally "up") part of the song suggests the nature of the dance, in
which the footwork, called "zapateado", is done faster and faster as the music
tempo accelerates. The repeated lyric "Yo no soy marinero" (Lit: "I am not a
sailor") refers to Veracruz's marine locale and the husband's promise that he
will remain faithful to his wife.
Valens' version
The traditional song inspired Ritchie Valens' rock and roll version "La Bamba" in
the 1950s. Valens' "La Bamba" infused the traditional tune with a rock beat,
making the song accessible to the population of the United States and earning it
(and Valens) a place in rock history. The song features simple verse-chorus
form. Valens learned the Spanish lyrics phonetically, as he had been raised
from birth speaking English. Valens' version of La Bamba is ranked number 345
on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It is the
only song on the list not sung in English. Ritchie Valens' tapping into a Mexican
folk song unwittingly paved the way for Twist and Shout and all the other songs
based on it since 1962. The first version of the song below is as sung by Richie
Valens:
ESPAÑOL
“Para bailar ___ Bamba Para bailar ___ Bamba, Se necesita ____ poca de
gracia, _____ poca de gracia, pa' mí, pa' ti y Arriba, arriba.. y arriba, arriba Por
ti seré por ti seré por ti seré.
___ no _____ marinero, ___ no _____ marinero, _____ capitán, _____ capitán,
_____ capitán Ba Ba Bamba Ba Ba Bamba Ba Ba Bamba”.
INGLÉS
“In order to dance ___ Bamba, In order to dance ___ Bamba, you need a little
grace A little grace for me, for you and up up, and up up For you I'll be, For you
I'll be, For you I'll be
I am not a sailor, I am not a sailor I am a captain, I am a captain Ba Ba Bamba
Ba Ba Bamba Ba Ba Bamba''.