Sunday, January 22, 2012

Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v23VDKNH3oY]


From this performance, it's pretty obvious why Bega didn't have a string of hits.  He seems to struggle with keeping the lyrics in time, much less in tune. He really raps the performance more than sings it, but on the album it's not really that kind of song. His mangers or handlers or whoever it is must have made this observation, too, because there are a few other live performances on YouTube where it really looks like he's lip syncing, but who am I to speculater.


 Regardless, I can't dislike a good song due to a bad performance. The hook is really catchy, and I do like the horns a lot.  This was a huge hit upon its release, climbing to #3 on the Hot 100. It is his only Top 40 hit to date. The song was originally written and recorded by Dámaso Pérez Prado. I also didn't know that Bega was German.

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