"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 DÃÂaz & 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.
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 DÃÂaz. is used as verse part of Gipsy 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.
The word bamboleo means "wobble", "sway" or "dangle" in Spanish. The song's refrain, "bamboleo, bambolea, porque mi vida yo la prefier vivir asÃÂ", translates to: "Swaying, swaying, because I prefer to live my life this way."
Julio Iglesias performed Gipsy 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". 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 â Volare â Djobi Djoba â Pida Me La â Baila Me".
1987
1988 12" UK version
1988 US version
1988 long 12" version
UK: 87, in July 1989 (sometimes wrongly referred to as "Bambolero")