The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)

"The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)"
Single by Las Ketchup
from the album Hijas del Tomate
Language
B-side "Remix"
Released 10 June 2002 (2002-06-10)
Recorded 2002
Studio Lolmang
Genre
Length 3:32
Label
Songwriter(s) Manuel Ruiz
Producer(s) Manuel Ruiz
Music video
"The Ketchup Song (Asereje) (Spanglish Version)" on YouTube

"The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" is the debut single by Spanish pop group Las Ketchup, taken from their debut studio album Hijas del Tomate (2002). It was released on 10 June 2002, and became an international hit later that year.

In addition to the original Spanish version, the song exists in forms with Spanglish and Portuguese verses, although the nonsensical chorus is identical in all three versions. This song reached number-one in the United Kingdom, as well as 26 other countries worldwide. As of 2006, the song has sold over 7 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time.[1]

The song tells the story of a pimp-like gypsy (afrogitano) with mystical qualities. Just after its release, the song became controversial because of conspiracy theories that it had cryptic references to Satanism, the devil and Hell.[2] The song's dance routine was a novelty in the early 2000s. Furthermore, the song and its dance moves were featured in the 2012 game Just Dance 4.

Background

Las Ketchup was first introduced to Columbia Records through Shaketown Music, a small record label in Córdoba, Andalusia, who sent out the group's demo to a number of different record companies.[3] The demo featured the songs "Asereje" and "Kusha Las Payas". When A&R Javier Portugués and Columbia director Raúl López listened to the demo, they stared at each other in delight exclaiming, "Wow, this is fantastic!"[3] At first the intention was to arrange a distribution deal with ShakeTown Music but upon hearing the song they realised its international potential and so negotiated for Las Ketchup to sign with Sony.[3]

Composition

The song is written in the key of Eb minor and follows the chord progression of Ebm–Db–B–Abm–Bb7 in the chorus. The pre-chorus uses an altered chord (B minor), or a modal interchange, as the cadence.[4] According to Pandora.com, the song features "mixed acoustic and electric instrumentation, humorous lyrics, and electric guitar riffs".[5]

Content

The Ketchup Song is about a man called Diego who enters a night club. The DJ, being a friend of his, puts Diego's favorite song on, “Rapper's Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang. Diego becomes excited and tries to sing but is unable to do so due to the fact that he is a non native English speaker. Instead he sings the following to the lines of the Sugarhill Gang's song:

I said a hip hop, The hippie to the hippie: Aserejé, ja deje tejebe tude jebere
 the hip-hip-hop, a you don't stop: tu de jebere sebiunouva (seibiunouva)
the rock it to the bang bang boogie say up jumped the boogie: majabi (majavi) an de bugui
to the rhythm of the boogie, the beat: an de buididipí

Music video

The music video was shot at Palm Beach, Estepona in Spain, at Chiringuito bar.

The video starts with the female band members laying out a carpet on the ground and putting the bar stools on display to set up their musical show. They then serve people exotic beverages at the beach bar. A male bar attendant with dreadlocks enthusiastically pours drink in a glass and juggles a bottle around. Meanwhile, more and more beach-goers are shown drawing in to the bar, to watch the trio's performance. In some shots of the video, the trio would be performing near wooden window frames which are laid individually on the sandy beach.

During the song's chorus, the band members perform their signature dance moves of this song, alongside other visitors who also joyously participate. The band is then assisted to stand up on a table, where they execute their Asereje dance in front of a larger, jubilant crowd who gleefully jive in to the dance. By the end of the video, the crowd becomes jam-packed and in multitudes, with the young and old dancing to the song near the beach bar.[6]

Dance routine

For the first dance move, the hands must be held open facing down and continuously waving them over another two times for six beats. The second involves tossing the thumb over the shoulder twice, right before spinning one's arm around each other while raising from the waistline to face level. The last move of the dance involves placing the back of one's hand on the forehead and the palm of the other hand on the back of the head while knocking one's knees together a couple of times.[7]

Critical reception

Andy Thomas from Drowned In Sound gave the song a 9 out of 10, stating, "The Ketchup Song is better than the Macarena...", while acknowledging that the song is "not smart, it's not clever, and it's not going to get a single positive review outside of the teeny bop press." Thomas described the song's band members (Las Ketchup) as "three slightly odd looking women from Spain who are the proud exponents of this year's Macarena. It's got dance moves (wiggle your hands, thumb a lift, raise your arms, knock your knees together) and a sunny video where the trio serve drinks in a beach bar."[8]

Commercial performance

The song reached the top of the charts in virtually every country it charted, except for the Billboard chart, where it peaked at number 54. In France, the song reached number-one for eleven weeks and eventually sold 1,310,000 copies, making it the best-selling single of 2002, and the second best-selling of the 21st century in the country, behind "Un Monde parfait" by Ilona Mitrecey.[9] Furthermore, the song was the 50th best-selling single of the 2000s in the UK.[10]

Controversy

The controversy that sparked was rooted in the title of the song, "Aserejé", which—if broken down—supposedly makes reference to a demonic being. The letter 'A' in Spanish means (to); ser (be); and hereje (heretical),[11] although the lyrics in the chorus interpolate the first verse of "Rapper's Delight", a 1979 hip hop song by The Sugarhill Gang.

Aserejé, ja, de je, de jebe tu de jebere sebiunouva, majabi an de bugui an de buididipi reportedly means "Asejeré" (Spanish: un ser hereje—"a heretic being"), ja (ha), deje, dejebe tu dejebe (deja tu ser—leave your being); if connected, it reads un ser hereje ja deja tu ser, or, "a heretic being ha leave your being."[2][11] Other lyrics like No es cosa de brujería que lo encuentre to' los días (pecando) por donde voy caminando ("It's not witchcraft the fact that I find him (sinning) everyday wherever I walk through") supposedly make references to a demonic being, just like Diego tiene chulería ("Diego has natural charm"), which some critics say it literally means that the Devil is a beautiful angel.

The Spanish lyrics, such as, Mira lo que se avecina, a la vuelta de la esquina viene Diego ("Look what's coming up, around the corner comes Diego") supposedly signifies Diego as some kind of messenger.[11] Con la Luna en las pupilas ("With the moon in his pupils") supposedly means Diego can only be seen at night; Y donde más no cabe un alma ("And there, where no soul can be squeezed in") supposedly means hell; Y el DJ que lo conoce toca el himno de las doce ("And the DJ that knows him [the messenger] plays the midnight hymn") is supposedly a reference to Satanic rituals, which usually occur at midnight.

The group members, however, have insisted that the song is in large parts nonsensical rather than satanical.[11]

Track listings

CD maxi
No.TitleLength
1."The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" (Spanglish Version)3:32
2."The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" (Spanish Version)3:32 Song (Aserejé)
4.Untitled (Motown Club Single Edit)3:41
CD maxi
No.TitleLength
1."The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" (Crystal Sound Xmas mix)3:50
2."The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" (Karaoke Version)3:44
3."The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" (Chiringuito Club mix)5:30
4."The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" (video – Crystal Sound Xmas mix) 

Charts and sales

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[58] 3× Platinum 210,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[59] 2× Platinum 60,000*
Belgium (BEA)[60] 5× Platinum 250,000*
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[61] 2× Platinum 20,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[62] Platinum 15,483[62]
France (SNEP)[63] Diamond 1,750,000[64]
Germany (BVMI)[65] 2× Platinum 1,000,000^
Greece (IFPI Greece)[66] 2× Platinum 40,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[67] Platinum 50,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[68] Platinum 60,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[69] 2× Platinum 20,000*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[70] 6× Platinum 60,000*
Sweden (GLF)[71] 4× Platinum 120,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[72] 3× Platinum 120,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[73] Platinum 600,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Rouge version

"Ragatanga"
Single by Rouge with Las Ketchup
from the album Rouge
Language
  • Portuguese
  • Spanish
Released 22 October 2002 (2002-10-22)
Format CD single
Recorded 2002
Genre Dance-pop
Length 3:18
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Rick Bonadio (Portuguese version only)
Rouge singles chronology
"Não Dá pra Resistir"
(2002)		 "Ragatanga"
(2002)		 "Beijo Molhado"
(2003)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help

"Ragatanga" is a song by the Brazilian girl group pop Rouge. It is an adapted version in Portuguese of the song "The Ketchup Song", of the group Las Ketchup. Launched only in Brazil and Portugal in the same year as the original, it was one of the most successful songs of that year in Brazil and is the group's biggest success, with the song being played over 15 times a day in Brazilian radios during that time. It spent 11 weeks in first place in the Brazilian radios.

Background and composition

In selecting the tracks for the group's first album, Liminha went to a meeting with Sony representatives from around the world and commented that he needed a repertoire for a group that would release in Brazil, receiving from Spain the song "Asereje", sung Las Ketchup. But the song, however, hardly came on the album. "The list of songs was ready when I heard about Ragatanga," said Alexandre Schiavo, vice president of marketing for Sony Music Brasil.[74]

Hence, Rick Bonadio made a version and transformed it into Ragatanga, whose refrain, "Aserehe ra de re De hebe tu de hebere seibiunouba mahabi", does not mean anything, according to Schiavo. In Schiavo's explanation, it's the crap that people who do not know English usually sing. "The thing that Las Ketchup teenagers invented," he says. Bonadio says: "the secret of a good version is to have fidelity to the original, not to try to invent".[75] The Brazilian version has a mix of Spanish and Portuguese, since it counts on the participation of Las Ketchup.[74]

Commercial performance

"Ragatanga" became a viral success in Brazil, winning the charts quickly and quickly. The song reached the first position of the radios, remaining for 11 consecutive weeks in the first place.[76]

Legacy

"Ragatanga" was a resounding hit in Brazil, making Rouge not only popular in Brazil, but in some parts of the world. The single was taken as the song that boosted sales of the band's first album. In two months in the stores, the album reached the mark of 730,000 sold copies and became favorite to the title of commercial champion of 2002.[77] Besides, the song did not leave the top of the charts. The song was also considered as the reason for the tickets for the group's debut on November 14, 2002, at ATL Hall in Rio de Janeiro, to be exhausted. By that time, the album had already reached the mark of 950 thousand copies.[78]

Billboard magazine, which features the biggest names in the music world, brought a photo story of the Rouge in the October 2002 issue. The report showed production details, a crossover of hits on the radio, and talks a little about the first tour they did for Brazil. In addition to talking about the hits "Ragatanga" and "Não Dá pra Resistir", he also spoke about the international career, in which Rouge performed in Argentina with great success, and the intention to launch the group's CD in Chile and Peru.

Music video

On August 31, he premiered the music video for "Ragatanga".[79] The video for "Ragatanga" is simple, counting on the girls dancing the choreography of the song, on a giant stage, while the lyrics of the chorus are displayed in the clip. The participation of the band Las Ketchup in the video clip, is obtained from the original music video. The choreography was also imported from Spain, but according to the girls, "We added a new movement, which is the sign of asking for a ride."[77]

Covers and other versions

In 2012, singer Kelly Key made a cover of the song, for the collection Festa Kids (2012). The re-recording was harshly criticized by Internet users for making the song "bland" and was compared on the internet with the ex-Latino husband for re-recording hits. In 2013, in a concert held in a nightclub in São Paulo, singer Wanessa summoned Li Martins, to sing some songs, among them "Ragatanga".[80] Still in 2013, the song "Ramón" by girlband Girls (formed and produced by the same producer of Rouge, Rick Bonadio), included in the first studio album of the band, was compared to "Ragatanga" due to its Latin rhythm and the protagonist of the song, which is already being considered the new Diego.[81]

Track listings

CD Single
  1. "Ragatanga (Aserejé)" (Album Version)
  2. "Ragatanga (Aserejé)" (Radio Edit)
  3. "Ragatanga (Aserejé)" (Memê's Da Carnival Beat Remix)
  4. "Ragatanga (Aserejé)" (Cuca Rnb Mix)
CD Single (Remixes)
  1. "Ragatanga (Aserejé)" (Memê's Summer Heat Mix) - 4:09
  2. "Ragatanga (Aserejé)" (Da Carnival Beat Mix) - 4:09

Charts

Chart (2002) Peak
position
Brazil (Brasil Hot 100 Airplay)[82] 1

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bakker, Sietse (2006-02-27). "Las Ketchup to represent Spain!". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  2. 1 2 "Prohiben 'Aserejé' hasta en la TV". Terra Networks (in Spanish). 4 April 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Interview With Javier Portugués". HitQuarters. 11 Nov 2002. Retrieved 3 Jun 2011.
  4. ↑ http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0055224
  5. ↑ https://www.pandora.com/las-ketchup/barbie-girls/aserje-ketchup-song
  6. ↑ https://www.thelocal.es/20160621/whatever-happened-to-las-ketchup-music-world-music-day
  7. ↑ Walters, Brian (1 May 2004). Call to Prayer: My Travels in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Virtualbookworm Publishing. pp. 148–. ISBN 978-1-58939-592-3.
  8. ↑ http://drownedinsound.com/releases/5610/reviews/5042
  9. ↑ "Top 100 des singles les plus vendus du millénaire en France, le top 10 final!". Chartsinfrance, PureCharts. 13 September 2014. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
  10. ↑ Radio 1 Official Chart of the Decade, as broadcast on BBC Radio 1 on Tuesday 29 December 2009, presented by Nihal
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Tachan de satánicas a Las Ketchup". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). 15 October 2002. Archived from the original on 29 April 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  12. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Las Ketchup – The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  13. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Las Ketchup – The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  14. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Las Ketchup – The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  15. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Las Ketchup – The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  16. ↑ "Las Ketchup Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  17. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Las Ketchup – The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)". Tracklisten.
  18. ↑ "Las Ketchup – Chart history" European Hot 100 for Las Ketchup.
  19. ↑ "Las Ketchup: The Ketchup Song" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
  20. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Las Ketchup – The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" (in French). Les classement single.
  21. ↑ "Musicline.de – Las Ketchup Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  22. ↑ "Greek peak". Web.archive.org. 1 December 2002. Archived from the original on 2002-12-01. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  23. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  24. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 46, 2002". Irish Singles Chart.
  25. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Las Ketchup – The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)". Top Digital Download.
  26. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Las Ketchup" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  27. ↑ "Charts.nz – Las Ketchup – The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)". Top 40 Singles.
  28. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Las Ketchup – The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)". VG-lista.
  29. ↑ "Nielsen Music Control". Archived from the original on 2007-10-15.
  30. ↑ "Top40-charts.com". Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Romanian Top 100". Archived from the original on 18 January 2008. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  32. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  33. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Las Ketchup – The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" Canciones Top 50.
  34. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Las Ketchup – The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)". Singles Top 100.
  35. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Las Ketchup – The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)". Swiss Singles Chart.
  36. ↑ "Las Ketchup: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  37. ↑ "Las Ketchup Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  38. ↑ "Las Ketchup Chart History (Hot Latin Songs)". Billboard.
  39. ↑ "Las Ketchup Chart History (Tropical Songs)". Billboard.
  40. ↑ "2002 Australian Singles Chart". aria. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  41. ↑ "2002 Austrian Singles Chart" (in German). Austriancharts. Archived from the original on 12 March 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  42. ↑ "2002 Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  43. ↑ "2002 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  44. ↑ The first is the list of the best-selling domestic singles of 2002 in Finland, the second is that of the foreign singles:
  45. ↑ "2002 French Singles Chart" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on 10 May 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  46. ↑ "2002 Irish Singles Chart". IRMA. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  47. ↑ "2002 Swiss Singles Chart" (in German). Swisscharts. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  48. ↑ "2002 UK Singles Chart" (PDF). ChartsPlus. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  49. ↑ "2002 Swedish Singles Chart". ChartsPlus. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  50. ↑ "2003 Australian Singles Chart". aria. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  51. ↑ "2003 Austrian Singles Chart" (in German). Austriancharts. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  52. ↑ "2003 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  53. ↑ "2003 French Singles Chart" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on 12 August 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  54. ↑ "2003 Swiss Singles Chart" (in German). Swisscharts. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  55. ↑ "2003 UK Singles Chart" (PDF). ChartsPlus. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  56. ↑ "ARIA Chart Sales : End of Decade Singles Top 100" (PDF). Aria.com.au. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  57. ↑ "Die ultimative Chart Show | Hits des neuen Jahrtausends | Download". RTL.de. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  58. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2002 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  59. ↑ "Austrian single certifications – Las Ketchup – The Ketchup Song" (in German). IFPI Austria. Enter Las Ketchup in the field Interpret. Enter The Ketchup Song in the field Titel. Select single in the field Format. Click Suchen. 
  60. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2002". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
  61. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Las Ketchup – The Ketchup Song (Asereje)". IFPI Denmark. Click on næste to go to page 50 if certification is from the official website.
  62. 1 2 "Las Ketchup" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  63. ↑ "French single certifications – Las Ketchup – The Ketchup Song (Asereje)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  64. ↑ "Les Singles Diamant :" (in French). Infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
  65. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Las Ketchup; 'The Ketchup Song')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  66. ↑ "Greek single certifications – Las Ketchup – The Ketchup Song" (in Greek). IFPI Greece.
  67. ↑ "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 2003年1月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. January 2003 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan. 520: 13. March 10, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  68. ↑ "Dutch single certifications – Las Ketchup – The Ketchup Song (Asereje)" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter The Ketchup Song (Asereje) in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  69. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Las Ketchup – The Ketchup Song". Recorded Music NZ.
  70. ↑ "Norwegian single certifications – Las Ketchup – The Ketchup Song" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
  71. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2003" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
  72. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Las Ketchup; 'The Ketchup Song')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  73. ↑ "British single certifications – Las Ketchup – The Ketchup Song". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type The Ketchup Song in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  74. 1 2 "A explosão do Rouge". ISTOÉ Gente. 22 October 2002. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  75. ↑ "Rouge: crônica de um sucesso anunciado". Estadão. 22 October 2002. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  76. ↑ ""Foi tenso", revela integrante do Rouge sobre retorno". 22 April 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  77. 1 2 "Veja Online: Aserehe ra de re..." 13 November 2002. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  78. ↑ "Ingressos para o show do Rouge estão esgotados". 12 April 2002. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  79. ↑ "Popstars mostra pocket show da banda Rouge". Terra Networks. 31 August 2002. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  80. ↑ "Wanessa e Lissah Martins cantam e dançam "Ragatanga"; veja o vídeo". 24 September 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  81. ↑ "Feitas para bombar!". 22 October 2002. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  82. ↑ "Hot 100 Brasil 1999-2013" (PDF). Ivete Sangalo News. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
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