Lo, other contemporary Latin artists such as Don Omar and Wisin & Yandel have interpolated parts of “Llorando se fue” and “Lambada” in their own music. This is the basis of “On the Floor’s” melody, and it comes from French-Brazilian pop group Kaoma ’s 1988 song “Lambada,” a global hit that went on to top Billboard ’s Hot Latin Songs chart in March of 1990 and sold more than 5 million copies worldwide.Īt the time, “Lambada” was just one of more than a dozen covers released throughout the ’80s of “Llorando se fue,” a popular 1981 tune by Bolivian folk band Los Kjarkas. Jackie Cox acknowledged the instrumentation in “On the Floor” in the first seconds of her final lip sync, gesturing as if she were playing an accordion and getting a chuckle out of Ross Mathews in the process. The chorus is built on a sample from a 1988 Brazilian hit, which sampled another popular song. Read up on a few fun facts you might’ve not known about J. Given RuPaul’s Drag Race Live! ’s (pre-pandemic) dominance of the Las Vegas Strip, it was a fitting choice to honor an icon who has her own legacy in Vegas with a lip sync to one of her most successful songs. Be sure to use the corresponding hashtags for your pick to win: #TeamJaida, #TeamCrystal, or #TeamGigi. With less than two weeks to go until season 12’s unprecedented virtual finale, it’s still anyone’s game at this point, and each of the final three queens are sure to make a strong case for why they should be crowned America’s Next Drag Superstar. Today, all versions of the song, including Omar’s and Lopez’s, cite the brothers as the writers of the song, although the roster of co-writers of “On the Floor” includes Pitbull and RedOne, while “Taboo” includes Omar.Why Hayley Kiyoko Thinks Her 'Celebrity Drag Race' Transformation Changed Her For Good When the song became a smash, the original writers, brothers Gonzalo and Ulises Hermosa, successfully sued for a share of the royalties. Kaoma took credit for the composition and gave it Portuguese lyrics and the beat and instrumentation of the lambada, an urban Brazilian rhythm known for its sensual, hip-to-hip grinding dance. The original version is “Llorando se Fue,” written and performed by Bolivian folk group Kjarkas, which used an Andean flute instead of an accordion. “Plus, danceable Brazilian music is super catchy.”Īnd as it turns out, Kaoma’s “Lambada” wasn’t the first recording of the song. “Good music revives every so often,” says Rogelio Alfonso, PD for Miami’s Clear Channel-owned WMGE (Mega 94.9), which plays all three tracks, as do several other Miami stations, including top 40 WHYI (Y-100). digital track sales of 2 million, according to Nielsen SoundScan. 3 on the Hot 100 in May and has generated U.S.
9 on Hot Latin Songs in May.įinally, there is Jennifer Lopez’s hit “On the Floor,” featuring Pitbull, which sports the melodic hook of “Lambada,” with Lopez singing new English lyrics to the original melody. Then there’s Don Omar’s “Taboo,” a Portuguese/Spanish version of the original that peaked at No. First up was Edward Maya and Vika Jigulina’s soulful dance track “Stereo Love,” which entered the Hot 100 last October at No.
The song’s ascent was aided by the lambada dance craze that preceded the song’s release, as well as two cheesy 1990 movies - “Lambada” and “The Forbidden Dance” - that sought to capitalize on the popularity of the Brazilian dance style.įast-forward 20 years and the sounds of “Lambada” are back with not one but three charting songs featuring the melody of the 1990 hit. Jennifer Lopez performs at the 2011 Wango Tango concert in Los Angeles May 14, 2011.