Peak
3
Weeks
22
Score
4,799
Chart Year
1999
This song was originally done in 1952 by the Cuban-Mexican bandleader Perez Prado. Known as the 'King of the Mambo,' Prado recorded numerous mambos and when he ran out of inspiration, he would simply number them, and "Mambo No 5" was one of a series of 8. Perez Prado's version was instrumental and in 1999 German pop musician Lou Bega added lyrics to it, transforming it into a love song for several women, namely Angela, Pamela, Sandra, Rita, Monica, Erica, Tina, Mary and Jessica. It was reported that the girls he mentioned were all Lou's former girlfriends but it is probably beyond coincidence that eight of the girls in the song have names that happen to end in "A." On VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders, Lou Bega said: "When I wrote the song, I believed it could be the thing it is today. All people hate it completely, that's what I thought. I knew it wouldn't swim in the middle because it was too different from all the stuff that was outside, so I'm quite happy with it. Mambo makes you happy, Latin music makes you happy, its sexual, its erotic, energetic, I think that's the point." This was a #1 hit in Germany for over 10 weeks and when import copies started to sell in the UK, RCA released it and it went to the top. It was also a record 20 weeks #1 in France and topped the charts in most other European countries. >> Bob The Builder, who is a cartoon character, had a #1 UK hit with his version of this song. Bega told Fox News that the story behind the song was a simple one. "I dated a lot of pretty nice ladies when I was younger," he said. "These names of my past, you know, just came to me and I wrote it down, got the melody and the rest is history." Asked if he had a favorite, Bega replied, "My favorite is Sandra, that's why she was the one in the sun." This was the theme song for the 2000 Democratic Convention (Bill Clinton's party), until someone noticed the line, "A little bit of Monica in my life." In The Office episode "The Dundies" (2005), Michael Scott sings this in a clip of the previous Dundie Awards. He changes the names to women who work at Dunder Mifflin. The song shows up again a few episodes later in "The Fire" as Michael's ringtone. It was also used in these TV series: Fresh Off The Boat ("Vice Mommy" - 2019) Scorpion ("Super Fun Guys" - 2014) The Simpsons ("The Ziff Who Came To Dinner" - 2004) And in these movies: What Men Want (2019) The Grinch (2018) A Simple Favor (2018) Iron Man 3 (2013)
Ladies and gentleman, this is mambo number five One, two, three, four, five everybody in the car, so come on Let's ride to the liquor store around the corner The boys say they want some gin and juice But I really don't wanna, beer bust like I had last week I must stay deep because talk is cheap I like Angela, Pamela, Sandra and Rita And as I continue you know they are getting sweeter So what can I do I really beg you my Lord To me is flirting it's just like sport, anything fly It's all good let me dump it please set in the trumpet A little bit of Monica in my life, a little bit of Erica by my side A little bit of Rita is all I need, a little bit of Tina is what I see A little bit of Sandra in the sun, a little bit of Mary all night long A little bit of Jessica here I am, a little bit of you makes me your man Mambo number five Jump up and down and move it all around Shake your head to the sound, put your hand on the ground Take one step left and one step right One to the front and one to the side Clap your hand once and clap your hands twice And if it looks like this then you are doing it right A little bit of Monica in my life, a little bit of Erica by my side A little bit of Rita is all I need, a little bit of Tina is what I see A little bit of Sandra in the sun, a little bit of Mary all night long A little bit of Jessica here I am, a little bit of you makes me your man Trumpet, the trumpet Mambo number five A little bit of Monica in my life, a little bit of Erica by my side A little bit of Rita is all I need, a little bit of Tina is what I see A little bit of Sandra in the sun, a little bit of Mary all night long A little bit of Jessica here I am, a little bit of you makes me your man I do all, to fall in love with a girl like you 'Cause you can't run and you can't hide You and me gonna touch the sky Mambo number five
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 28, 1999 | 63 | 63 |
| 2 | Sep 4, 1999 | 35 | 91 |
| 3 | Sep 11, 1999 | 16 | 110 |
| 4 | Sep 18, 1999 | 11 | 115 |
| 5 | Sep 25, 1999 | 6 | 120 |
| 6 | Oct 2, 1999 | 4 | 122 |
| 7 | Oct 9, 1999 | 4 | 122 |
| 8 | Oct 16, 1999 | 5 | 121 |
| 9 | Oct 23, 1999 | 5 | 121 |
| 10 | Oct 30, 1999 | 4 | 122 |
| 11 | Nov 6, 1999 | 4 | 122 |
| 12 | Nov 13, 1999 | 3 | 123 |
| 13 | Nov 20, 1999 | 3 | 123 |
| 14 | Nov 27, 1999 | 4 | 122 |
| 15 | Dec 4, 1999 | 4 | 122 |
| 16 | Dec 11, 1999 | 8 | 118 |
| 17 | Dec 18, 1999 | 13 | 113 |
| 18 | Dec 25, 1999 | 18 | 108 |
| 19 | Jan 1, 2000 | 32 | 94 |
| 20 | Jan 8, 2000 | 35 | 91 |