8 Songs Millennials Don’t Know Are Remakes
5. Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega
In 1999, Lou Bega, a struggling German songwriter, struck gold with this monster hit that reached number 1 in the UK, Australia and nearly every chart in Europe. It set a record by staying number 1 in France for 20 weeks.
But with huge success comes a huger lawsuit. The song became part of a copyright battle between Bega’s producers, and the estate of Damaso Perez Prado. Prado originally wrote it as an instrumental mambo and jive dance song in 1949.
And though Bega only riffs from the original and added lyrics to his version, the court
declared it a new song co-written by Prado and Bega. If only Prado was alive to
know how much money – and how much hatred the song has generated.
In 2007, a poll conducted by Rolling Stone to
pick The 20 Most Annoying Songs, Mambo No. 5, was number 6.