Bongo Bong

1999 single by Manu Chao From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Bongo Bong" is the first solo single by Manu Chao, from his debut album, Clandestino. It is a remake of "King of Bongo", a track from Manu Chao's previous band, Mano Negra. The title and lyrics are taken from the 1939 jazz song "King of Bongo Bong" by Black American trumpeter Roy Eldridge. It also uses the background music from Black Uhuru's song "Bull ina di Pen", from their 1984 album, Anthem. The song is part of a medley with "Je ne t'aime plus" on Clandestino. Moreover, the music has been reused for other songs, such as "Mr. Bobby", which was first released on this single before being re-recorded for Chao's second album, Próxima Estación: Esperanza, and "Homens", from the same record.

B-side
  • "Je ne t'aime plus"
  • "Mr. Bobby"
  • "Mentira..."
  • "Bienvenido a Tijuana"
Released1999
GenreReggae[1]
Length2:38
Quick facts Single by Manu Chao, from the album Clandestino ...
"Bongo Bong"
Single by Manu Chao
from the album Clandestino
B-side
  • "Je ne t'aime plus"
  • "Mr. Bobby"
  • "Mentira..."
  • "Bienvenido a Tijuana"
Released1999
GenreReggae[1]
Length2:38
LabelVirgin
SongwriterManu Chao
Producers
  • Manu Chao
  • Renaud Letang
Manu Chao singles chronology
"Bongo Bong"
(1999)		 "Clandestino"
(2000)
Music video
"Bongo Bong" on YouTube
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The song is about a bongo player from the Congo.[2]

Track listing

European CD single
  1. "Bongo Bong" – 2:38
  2. "Je ne t'aime plus" (with Anouk) – 2:02
  3. "Mr. Bobby" – 2:57
  4. "Mentira..." – 4:37
  5. "Bienvenido a Tijuana" – 2:43
European maxi-CD single
  1. "Bongo Bong" – 2:38
  2. "Je ne t'aime plus" (with Anouk) – 2:02
  3. "Mr. Bobby" – 2:57
  4. "Bienvenido a Tijuana" – 2:43

Charts

Weekly charts

More information Chart (1999–2000), Peak position ...
Chart (1999–2000) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[3]4
France (SNEP)[4]40
Germany (GfK)[5]7
Italy (Musica e dischi)[6] 3
Italy Airplay (Music & Media)[7] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[8]27
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9]42
Poland (Music & Media)[10] 18
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[11]45
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[12]15
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Year-end charts

More information Chart (1999), Position ...
Chart (1999) Position
Europe Border Breakers (Music & Media)[13] 49
Italy (Musica e dischi)[14] 33
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More information Chart (2000), Position ...
Chart (2000) Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[15] 38
Europe Border Breakers (Music & Media)[16] 9
Germany (Official German Charts)[17] 57
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] 97
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Certifications

More information Region, Certification ...
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[19] Platinum 100,000‡
Spain (Promusicae)[20] Gold 30,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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Robbie Williams version

Quick facts Single by Robbie Williams, from the album Rudebox ...
"Bongo Bong and Je ne t'aime plus"
Single by Robbie Williams
from the album Rudebox
B-side"Lovelight" (Dark Horse Mix)
Released22 January 2007
Recorded2006
New York City, US
GenrePop
Length4:48
Label
Songwriters
  • Manu Chao
  • Anouk Khelifa
ProducerMark Ronson
Robbie Williams singles chronology
"Lovelight"
(2006)		 "Bongo Bong and Je ne t'aime plus"
(2007)		 "She's Madonna"
(2007)
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In 2006, English singer Robbie Williams recorded a version of the song that combined "Bongo Bong" with "Je ne t'aime plus", which appeared on his 2006 album, Rudebox. It was released as a single of its own in 2007. The track was produced by Mark Ronson and included vocals by Lily Allen.

Track listing

European CD single
  1. "Bongo Bong and Je ne t'aime plus" – 4:48
  2. "Lovelight" (Dark Horse Mix) – 6:25

Personnel

Charts

More information Chart (2007), Peak position ...
Weekly chart performance for "Bongo Bong and Je ne t'aime plus"
Chart (2007) Peak
position
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100) 14
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[21] 45
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[22]77
Turkey (Turkey Top 20)[23] 4
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References

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