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Bamboléo

For other uses, see Bamboleo (disambiguation).
"Bamboléo"
Single by Gipsy Kings
from the album Gipsy Kings
LanguageSpanish
Released
  • 12 July 1987 (US)
  • 31 March 1988 (UK/Hispanic)
Recorded1987
GenreRumba flamenca
Length3:25
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)
Gipsy Kings singles chronology
"Djobi Djoba"
(1987) 		"Bamboléo"
(1987)
Music video
"Bamboléo" on YouTube

"Bamboléo" is a 1987 Spanish language song by Gitano-French band Gipsy Kings, from their eponymous album. The song was written/adapted by band members Tonino Baliardo, Chico Bouchikhi (J. Bouchikhi), Nicolas Reyes and Venezuelan composer Simón Díaz & Brazilian composer André Filho. It was arranged by Dominique Perrier.

The now iconic song has been a worldwide hit for the Gipsy Kings and has since been covered by many artists, both in Spanish and in other languages.

Origin

[edit]

The song is a loose cover and an amalgam (combination) of two older songs by different authors, Caballo Viejo and Bamboleô.

1980 Venezuelan folk song "Caballo Viejo" by Simón Díaz.[1] is used as verse part of Gypsy Kings' song. However, original lyrics are heavily changed (shortened, with addition of completely new verses that completely changed the theme/meaning of the original song), so in this part it is a very loose cover.

The refrain/chorus is based on Bamboleô by André Filho, recorded by Carmen Miranda in 1931.[2][3]

The word bamboleo means "wobble", "sway" or "dangle" in Spanish. The song's refrain, "bamboleo, bambolea, porque mi vida yo la prefier vivir así", translates to: "Swaying, swaying, because I prefer to live my life this way."

Julio Iglesias performed Gypsy Kings' amalgam as "Caballo Viejo (Bamboleo)", Celia Cruz as "Bamboleo", and many more. Umboza's song "Sunshine", their biggest hit in the UK, is based on a sample of "Bamboléo".[4] In 2006 the Tony Evans Dancebeat Studio Band recorded the samba version for the album Latin Heat 2 - Dancebeat 4 (Tema International Ltd).

The Gipsy Kings included the song again on their album Greatest Hits as track 3. The final track on the same album (track 18) also uses the song in a medley of hits as "Bamboléo – Volare – Djobi Djoba – Pida Me La – Baila Me".

Track listing

[edit]

1987

  • A-side: "Bamboléo" – 3:28
  • B-side: "Quiero Saber" – 4:09

1988 12" UK version

  • A-side: "Bamboléo"
  • B-side: "Bamboléo" (single version) – 3:25 / "Quiero Saber" – 4:10

1988 US version

  • A-side: "Bamboléo" – 3:28
  • B-side: "Bamboléo" (LP version) – 3:28

1988 long 12" version

  • A-side: "Bamboléo" (Latin single) – 3:45)
  • B-side: "Bamboléo" (Latin extended version) – 7:17

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Bamboléo"
Chart (1987–1989) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[5] 19
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[6] 12
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] 23
France (SNEP)[8] 7
Germany (GfK)[9] 18
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] 9
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 5
US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)[12] 6

UK: 87, in July 1989 (sometimes wrongly referred to as "Bambolero")

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "Bamboléo"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[13] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[14] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Sullivan, Steve (2013). Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings. Scarecrow Press. pp. 143–145. ISBN 9780810882966. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  2. ^ "Dicionário Cravo Albin da Música Popular Brasileira". Archived from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  3. ^ Carmen Miranda – The Ultimate Collection (2001)
  4. ^ Video on YouTube
  5. ^ "Gipsy Kings – Bamboléo". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Gipsy Kings – Bamboléo" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Gipsy Kings – Bamboléo" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Gipsy Kings – Bamboléo" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Gipsy Kings – Bamboléo" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 22, 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Gipsy Kings – Bamboléo" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Gipsy Kings Chart History (Hot Latin Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  13. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Gypsy Kings – Bamboleo". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  14. ^ "British single certifications – Gypsy Kings – Bamboleo". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 11 June 2021.