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Pata Pata
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| "Pata Pata" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Artwork for German vinyl single | ||||
| Single by Miriam Makeba | ||||
| from the album Pata Pata | ||||
| B-side | "The Ballad of the Sad Young Men" | |||
| Released | 25 November 1967 | |||
| Recorded | 1967 | |||
| Length | 3:10 | |||
| Label | Reprise | |||
| Songwriters | Miriam Makeba and Jerry Ragovoy | |||
| Producer | Jerry Ragovoy | |||
| Miriam Makeba singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative release | ||||
A-side label of US vinyl single | ||||
"Pata Pata" is an Afro-pop dance song popularized internationally by South African singer Miriam Makeba. Its composition is credited to Makeba and Jerry Ragovoy. Her most popular recording of "Pata Pata" was recorded and released in the United States in 1967.[1][2] The song is considered by many to be Makeba's signature hit and it has since been recorded by many artists.
Origins
[edit]The song's title "Pata Pata" means "touch touch" in the Xhosa language, in which the song was originally written and sung.[2] "Pata Pata" was also the name of a style of dance that was popular in the shebeens of Johannesburg's Townships[3] in the mid-1950s. The dancer crouched before his partner and patted her body to the rhythm of the music as he rose up and she spun around, making hip circles.[4][5] In another version of the dance,
The male dancers stand in a row with their arms extended out to the front, palms to the floor, while the women pat each in turn in a manner resembling security search body-frisking, after which the men do the same to the women.[6]
Makeba's "Pata Pata" was not the only song inspired by the "Pata Pata" dance.[7] Her "Pata Pata" melody was based on an instrumental "Phatha Phatha" by Shumi Ntutu and Isaac Nkosi, which was in turn based on "Noma Kumnyama" by Alson Mkhize.[7] The popular 1956 "Ei Yow Phata Phata"[8] by Dorothy Masuka was distinctly different from Makeba's,[7] but in later years, Masuka made her own recording of the version made popular by Makeba. Masuka claimed that she herself had written it.[9]
Recordings
[edit]Makeba's "Pata Pata" was originally sung, recorded, and released in South Africa by Makeba's girl group The Skylarks[10] in either 1956[11] or 1959.[7]
In 1967, after establishing a successful singing career in the US, Makeba re-recorded the song with Jerry Ragovoy producing, and with an added spoken part in English. Ragovoy was then billed as the co-writer of the words and music.[12] It was released in the United States on Makeba's studio album of the same name.[2] It was also released as a single and peaked at #12 on 25 November 1967 on the Billboard chart. The flip side song was "Malayisha".[13]
This version's English language content includes a description of the origin of the dance:[14]
Pata Pata is the name of a dance [sat si pata pata] We do down Johannesburg way [sat si pata pata]
And everybody starts to move [sat si pata pata] As soon as Pata Pata starts to play - hoo [sat si pata pata]
The second spoken recitation goes:
"Every Friday and Saturday night, It's Pata Pata time. The dance keeps going all night long, til' the morning sun begins to shine."
The original (1967) version of "Pata Pata" is included on Pata Pata (released 1972), The Best of the Early Years (Miriam Makeba), a collection of 24 tracks released in 2002 by Wrasse, and the 40-track compilation Her Essential Recordings: The Empress of African Song (2006 Manteca).
In 1988, a duet version with Chayanne was recorded. It was included in the album Chayanne. In 1990, Makeba re-recorded the song for her own album Welela. Makeba also released a renovated version of the song, entitled "Pata Pata 2000", in her 2000 album Homeland.
Reception
[edit]Makeba's 1967 version was successful on the Billboard Hot 100, and peaked at No. 12.[15]
On the night she died, Miriam Makeba performed "Pata Pata" just before she collapsed on stage.[16][17]
Charts
[edit]| Charts (1967) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 12 |
| US Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles[18] | 7 |
| Venezuela | 1 |
| Iceland | 12 |
Other versions
[edit]- 1966: Lynn Taitt (Merritone 7" single released by Federal Records) Rocksteady Instrumental[19]
- 1967: Porfi Jiménez recorded his version of "Pata Pata" which made it into the Record World Miami Hit Single Parade in April 1968.[20]
- 1967 Ann-Christine to Finnish
- 1967: Wilson Simonal (Alegria Alegria Vol.1)
- 1967: Señor Soul released the song as a single, Double Shot 122.[21] It also appears on the album, Señor Soul Plays Funky Favorites.[22]
- 1968: Los Rockin Devils (Pata-Pata Psicodelico Días)[23]
- 1968: El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico ("Pata Pata Jala Jala Boogaloo" album)
- 1968: The Supremes ("T.C.B." soundtrack album and TV broadcast)
- 1968: Braňo Hronec Orchestra (TV music film "Desať a štvrť")
- 1969: Tito Puente and His Orchestra ("The King Tito Puente / El Rey Tito Puente" album)
- 1980: Osibisa (Mystic Energy album)
- 1980: Sylvie Vartan (French singer of Bulgarian origin: "Tape Tape" single from the album Bienvenue Solitude)
- 1981: Prima Vera (Den 5te album)
- 1985: Otto Waalkes in his Film Debut (Otto – der Film)[24]
- 1988: Chayanne feat. Miriam Makeba (included in Chayanne II)
- 1989: Triple & Touch played this song live on tour with Björn Afzelius 1989 at Hovdala slott
- 1997: Daúde
- 1998: Coumba Gawlo
- 1998: El General (Spanglish version)
- 1999: Manu Dibango
- 2000: Thalía (recorded it for her album Arrasando)
- 2001: The Skatalites
- 2001: Yamboo (The group used the chorus for their song's refrain)
- 2002: Jonathan Butler (recorded a rendition of this song from his album Surrender)[25][26]
- 2004: Helmut Lotti
- 2005: Bakithi Kumalo (instrumental version on his album This is me)[27]
- 2006: Tony Esposito[28]
- 2006: Dan Zanes on his album Catch That Train!
- 2007: African Jazz Pioneers
- 2010: DJ Happy Vibes, Lira
- 2011: Arielle Dombasle feat. Mokobé (released on her album Diva Latina)
- 2011: African Ladies (cover version for video game Just Dance 3 on Wii, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3)
- 2011: Milk & Sugar feat. Miriam Makeba (made a remix with Makeba),
- 2012: Lorraine Klaasen (A Tribute to Miriam Makeba)
- 2015: Playing for Change
- 2016: Pink Martini
- The song has also been recorded by Angélique Kidjo and Howard Carpendale.
- 2022: Sun-El Musician and Msaki version
- 2022: Herb Alpert (instrumental version on his album Sunny Side of the Street)[29]
- 2024: The global pop group Now United covered the song.
Popular culture
[edit]- In 2009, Honda used the song in a television commercial for their 2010 Accord Crosstour.
- The song was used in an episode of Season 2 of the HBO television series The White Lotus.
- The song was used in Season 1 of Veronica Mars.
References
[edit]- ^ Nkrumah, Gamal (17 November 2001). "Mama Africa". Profile. Cairo, Egypt: Al-Ahram Weekly. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
- ^ a b c "Pata Pata Miriam Makeba – Watch The Video And Read The Lyrics". African-music-safari.com. 6 December 2015. Archived from the original on 12 October 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
- ^ "King Kong, Kwela, And The Shebeen Queens". New Internationalist. 1 April 1981. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
- ^ Tenaille, Frank (2002). Music is the Weapon of the Future: Fifty Years of African Popular Music. Chicago Review Press. ISBN 9781556524509.
- ^ Ansell, Gwen (28 September 2005). Soweto Blues: Jazz, Popular Music, and Politics in South Africa. A&C Black. ISBN 9780826417534.
- ^ Lucia, Christine (26 March 2009). The World of South African Music: A Reader. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN 9781443807791.
- ^ a b c d Allingham, Rob (2009). "From "Noma Kumnyama" to "Pata Pata": A history". African Music. 8 (3): 117–131. doi:10.21504/amj.v8i3.1831. JSTOR 20788931.
- ^ Gallo Music (2 April 2015), El Yow Phata Phata, archived from the original on 16 March 2021, retrieved 10 September 2017
- ^ "The Originals © by Arnold Rypens - PHATHA PHATHA". www.originals.be.
- ^ Monahan, Kevin (13 September 2012). "Monahan's Song of the Week: Miriam Makeba: Pata Pata (1967)". Monahan's Song of the Week. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
- ^ Williams, Pat (6 July 2017). A personal memoir of South Africa's legendary musical. London: Granta Books. ISBN 978-1846276538.
- ^ Popular Music: An Annotated Index of American Popular Songs. London: Gale / Cengage Learning. 1 June 1987. ISBN 0810318091.
- ^ "Miriam Makeba". Billboard.
- ^ "Miriam Makeba – Pata Pata" – via genius.com.
- ^ Harris, Craig. "Miriam Makeba | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
- ^ CELEAN JACOBSON. "South African musical legend Miriam Makeba dies". sandiegouniontribune.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
- ^ "SINGER MIRIAM MAKEBA DIES AFTER COLLAPSING ON STAGE". Amoeblog. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 373.
- ^ "Lynn Taitt". Reggaerecord.com. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ Record World, April 13, 1968 - Page 43 MIAMI — SINGLE — HIT PARADE, 8. PATA PATA Porfi Jimenez ( Velvet)
- ^ 45Cat - Señor Soul - Discography, USA
- ^ Record World, April 12, 1968 - Page 14 record world ALBUM REVIEWS, SENOR SOUL PLAYS FUNKY FAVORITES
- ^ "Los Rockin Devil's Discography". losrockindevils.com. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
- ^ "Dummer Sack". YouTube. 3 June 2010. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
- ^ Matt Collar (18 June 2002). "Surrender – Jonathan Butler | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
- ^ "Guest CD Review of Jonathan Butler - Surrender on Warner Bros. Jazz @ jazzreview.com". Archived from the original on 19 October 2006. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
- ^ "This is me". AllMusic.
- ^ "Search Results for "pata pata" mp3 download | LegalSounds.com". Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ Herb Alpert - Sunny Side of the Street Album Reviews, Songs & More |, AllMusic, retrieved 5 April 2023
Pata Pata
View on GrokipediaOrigins and Composition
Development in South African Townships
"Pata Pata" originated as a popular dance style in the shebeens—unlicensed informal bars—of Johannesburg's Black townships during the mid-1950s, amid the social restrictions of apartheid-era segregation.[1][4] The dance involved partners lightly touching or patting each other on the arms and body, with the Xhosa term "pata" translating to "touch" or "light touch," evoking playful physical interaction in these vibrant, underground social spaces where Black South Africans gathered despite legal prohibitions on alcohol sales and public assembly.[1][5] Miriam Makeba, raised in Johannesburg townships like Prospect and Sophiatown, drew from this local culture to compose the song as a descriptive anthem for the dance, blending Xhosa lyrics with emerging township jive rhythms influenced by marabi, kwela, and African jazz traditions prevalent in shebeens.[6][7] She first recorded it with her vocal group The Skylarks in 1959, releasing it locally as "Phatha Phatha" on the Gallotone label, a variation capturing the song's call-and-response structure and infectious energy that mirrored township party vibes.[1] This early version gained traction in urban Black communities, played on jukeboxes and at gatherings, though some accounts place an initial single release as early as 1956, highlighting discrepancies in archival records from the era's limited documentation.[8] The song's development reflected township resilience, transforming a simple dance craze into a musical expression of joy and defiance against apartheid's dehumanizing policies, which confined Black residents to overcrowded, under-resourced areas like Soweto and Alexandra while suppressing cultural outlets.[1] Makeba later described it as an "insignificant ditty" compared to her political works, yet its roots in shebeen culture underscored how township music fostered communal identity and subtle resistance through everyday celebration.[8] By the late 1950s, as Makeba's career rose, "Pata Pata" embodied the fusion of traditional Xhosa elements with urban improvisation, setting the stage for its evolution beyond South Africa's borders.[7]Lyrics, Meaning, and Musical Style
"Pata Pata" translates to "touch touch" in isiXhosa, the language in which the song's core lyrics are sung, and it refers to a communal dance originating in Johannesburg's townships during the mid-1950s, where participants lightly touch each other's sides while moving in sync.[9][1] The lyrics evoke the joy of this dance performed in informal shebeens—unlicensed bars in segregated black communities—often continuing until dawn, with phrases like "sasa" (meaning "now") urging immediate participation and "pata pata" instructing the touch-and-step motion.[8][10] In its 1967 international release, English verses were added to explain the dance, broadening accessibility while preserving the Xhosa chorus's rhythmic incantation.[9] The song's meaning centers on escapist celebration amid apartheid's restrictions, capturing township youth culture's resilience through unpretentious fun rather than overt protest, though its global success later amplified awareness of South African oppression.[1] Miriam Makeba described it as a simple ditty from her early career, not initially political, but its infectious energy symbolized defiance for exiled artists like herself.[8] Some arrangements, such as choral adaptations, modify lyrics for educational purposes, substituting Xhosa terms like "saguquka" (to change) with approximations, though purists note deviations from the original's phonetic authenticity.[5] Musically, "Pata Pata" embodies township jive, a lively South African genre from the 1950s fusing marabi jazz, Zulu folk elements, and urban improvisation, driven by accordion-like guitar riffs, handclaps, and percussive foot-stomps mimicking dance steps.[11] Its style features call-and-response vocals led by Makeba's versatile timbre—shifting from husky lows to bright highs—over a mid-tempo groove that prioritizes groove and communal rhythm over complex harmony, aligning with mbaqanga's later evolution but rooted in pre-apartheid urban pop.[7] The 1967 version enhances this with Western production, adding bass and subtle reverb for international appeal, yet retains the raw, dance-floor urgency of its township origins.[1]Recordings and Releases
Original 1957 South African Version
The original South African version of "Pata Pata" was recorded by Miriam Makeba in 1957, featuring her vocals accompanied by basic instrumentation typical of township jazz ensembles of the era, including acoustic guitar, bass, and percussion to evoke the lively rhythms of Johannesburg's urban dance halls.[2] Sung primarily in Xhosa, the song's title translates to "touch touch," directly referencing a popular close-contact dance performed in the city's segregated black townships, where participants would lightly touch knees and hips in a playful, synchronized manner.[12] This version captured the raw, communal energy of the dance without the polished production or English-language additions found in later recordings, emphasizing Makeba's clear, emotive delivery over a mid-tempo groove blending traditional African call-and-response patterns with emerging mbaqanga influences.[1] Released locally in South Africa the same year, the track gained traction through radio play on stations catering to black audiences and live performances in shebeens and community gatherings, though its distribution was limited by the apartheid regime's restrictions on non-white artists and music.[13] Makeba, then in her early 20s and performing with groups like The Skylarks, drew from authentic township culture to compose the melody and lyrics, which instruct dancers on the steps—"Saguquka sathatha thatha njalo pata pata"—while evoking the social bonding of the Pata Pata routine amid the era's oppressive conditions.[14] Unlike the 1967 international re-recording, this iteration lacked overt commercial adaptations, retaining its unadorned folk authenticity and serving as an early showcase of Makeba's ability to fuse indigenous sounds with accessible pop appeal for domestic listeners.[15] The 1957 recording's significance lies in its documentation of pre-exile South African musical expression, predating Makeba's banishment in 1960 following her international advocacy against apartheid, after which the song's local availability diminished due to government censorship of her work.[8] Archival references indicate it was issued on domestic labels targeting urban black markets, though exact pressing details remain sparse, reflecting the informal recording industry under segregation.[2] This version's unamplified joy and rhythmic simplicity contrasted sharply with the systemic racial controls of the time, positioning it as a subtle act of cultural preservation rather than overt protest.1967 International Version and Production
![US vinyl release of Pata Pata][float-right] The 1967 international version of "Pata Pata" was re-recorded by Miriam Makeba in the United States, adapting the original 1957 South African track for global audiences. Produced by Jerry Ragovoy, the session incorporated American production techniques to enhance its appeal, including an English-language spoken introduction by Makeba explaining the song's dance origins as a township touch game.[16][17] This version appeared on Makeba's album Pata Pata, her debut release for Reprise Records following her departure from RCA Victor, with the album issued in 1967.[17] The single, backed by "The Ballad of the Sad Young Men," was released by Reprise in July 1967 under catalog number 0606.[18] Ragovoy, known for soul and R&B productions, arranged and conducted elements to blend Makeba's Xhosa vocals with Western instrumentation, contributing to its crossover success.[17][19] Recording took place amid Makeba's rising U.S. career, leveraging her exile status and advocacy against apartheid to position the track as both entertainment and cultural export. The production emphasized rhythmic percussion and call-and-response elements from the original, while polishing the sound for radio play.[16] This iteration, distinct from the earlier Gallo Records release, propelled "Pata Pata" to international recognition, peaking on U.S. charts and establishing Makeba as a world music pioneer.[17]Subsequent Re-releases and Remasters
The album Pata Pata, featuring the title track as its lead single, has seen multiple reissues and remastering projects following its 1967 debut on Reprise Records. In 2014, Music On Vinyl released a limited-edition 180-gram vinyl reissue in stereo format (MOVLP909), preserving the original album sequencing while targeting audiophile collectors.[20] A landmark remaster occurred in 2019 when Strut Records, as part of its Original Masters reissue series, produced the Definitive Remastered Edition. Sourced directly from the original 1966 reel-to-reel tapes held in the Warner archives, this version was mastered by engineer The Carvery at The Blue Proving Ground in London, yielding enhanced clarity in Miriam Makeba's vocals and the instrumental arrangements without altering the analog warmth.[21][22] For the first time commercially, it included both mono and stereo mixes across a two-LP or CD set, with the mono reflecting the original single's production intent and stereo offering expanded spatial depth. Released on September 6, 2019, the edition also featured new liner notes by Makeba's biographer Nomsa Mwamuka and high-resolution reproductions of session photography.[23] Digital platforms have hosted subsequent remasters, including a 2017 version of the full album on services like Spotify, derived from high-resolution transfers of the Reprise masters.[24] In 2024, Universal Music Group issued a remastered edition of the compilation The Unforgettable Miriam Makeba, incorporating an updated transfer of "Pata Pata" with refined dynamics and reduced noise floor, as showcased in official visualizers.[25] These efforts have ensured the track's accessibility across formats, with the Strut remaster particularly praised for fidelity to the source material by audio specialists.[26]Commercial Performance
Chart History
"Pata Pata" by Miriam Makeba, released internationally in 1967, achieved its primary commercial success on United States charts. The single debuted at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 7, 1967, reached a peak position of number 12 on November 25, 1967, and remained on the chart for 11 weeks, exiting at number 32 on December 16, 1967.[27] It also peaked at number 36 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and number 7 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart during the same period.[28] These positions marked the song as Makeba's highest-charting single in the US, reflecting its crossover appeal amid the era's pop and soul markets.[29] The track did not enter major international charts outside the US for its original release, including no position in the UK Singles Chart top 50 in 1967.[30] Later re-entries, such as in 2020 following renewed interest, peaked at number 60 on the UK Official Singles Sales Chart and number 54 on the Downloads Chart for one week each, but these were driven by digital streams rather than physical sales tied to the 1967 version.[30]| US Chart (1967) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 | 12 |
| Billboard Adult Contemporary | 36 |
| Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | 7 |
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