Mamunia
"Mamunia" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Paul McCartney and Wings | ||||
from the album Band on the Run | ||||
A-side | "Jet" | |||
Released | 28 January 1974 | |||
Recorded | September 1973 | |||
Studio | EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria | |||
Genre | Afro-soul[1] | |||
Length | 4:51 | |||
Label | Apple | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | Paul McCartney | |||
Wings singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Band on the Run track listing | ||||
9 tracks
| ||||
"Mamunia" is a song written by Paul and Linda McCartney that first appeared on Wings' 1973 album Band on the Run. It was also released as the B-side of the "Jet" single in the US, but was replaced by "Let Me Roll It" when "Mamunia" was being considered as a possible future A-side.[2][3][4]
Music and lyrics
"Mamunia" was written in Marrakesh early in 1973.[2] The title was inspired by the hotel Mamounia in which the McCartneys were staying at the time.[2][3][4] Mamounia means "safe haven" in Arabic.[2][3][4] According to author John Blaney, McCartney used the term as a "metaphor for rebirth."[2] "Mamunia" is one of several songs on Band on the Run, including the title track and "Bluebird," which espouse a theme of escape and freedom.[5] The song's verses use rain as a metaphor for the difficult times people face.[6] The song's message is not to complain about difficult times because everyone faces tough times and it's better to focus on your "safe haven" during those times.[6]
"Mamunia" was the first song recorded for Band on the Run in Lagos, Nigeria.[2][6] Paul McCartney sings the lead vocals and plays guitar and bass, Denny Laine plays guitar and sings backing vocals, and Linda McCartney provides backing vocals as well.[2] One of McCartney's roadies plays bass drum.[3] Like "Bluebird," "Mamunia" is primarily acoustic.[7] Music critic Robert Christgau described the song's intro as "Afro-soul."[8] The song and the refrain are in the key of A major and the verses are in the key of C major.[6] Authors Chip Madinger and Mark Easter describe the song as "so lightweight it'll float off" but note that it is "relentlessly melodic."[3]
Personnel
- Paul McCartney – lead vocals, guitar, bass guitar
- Linda McCartney – backing vocals, keyboards
- Denny Laine – backing vocals, guitar
Music video
A music video was made for "Mamunia" in July 1974.[3] Jim Quick was the producer.[3] The video is mostly animated, and Paul McCartney does not appear.[3] It was first shown on The Dave Cash Radio Show."[3] It appears on the 2007 video set The McCartney Years.[9]
Covers
Don Fleming covered "Mamunia" on his 2003 Band on the Run remake.[10] Larry Page covered the song on his mid-1990s albums John Paul George Ringo and Imagine.[11]
Critics comments
Professor Vincent Benitez described it as a "typical example of McCartney's style of pop music."[6] Blaney describes it as "a bright and breezy pop song, celebrating the good things in life and equally as delightful.[2] Mojo Magazine described it as "a pearl of naive wisdom."[12] Authors Robert Dimery and Michael Lydon described "Mamunia" as a "solid side-two track."[13] Paul McCartney biographer Peter Carlin claimed that "Mamunia" "takes a more laid-back approach to the sentiment in [The Beatles' song] 'Rain.'"[14]
References
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau, Dean of Americans Rock Critics". Robert Christgau's Website. The Christgau Consumer Guide.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Blaney, J. (2007). Lennon and McCartney: together alone: a critical discography of their solo work. Jawbone Press. pp. 85–87. ISBN 978-1-906002-02-2.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Madiger, C. & Easter, M. (2000). Eight Arms to Hold You. 44.1 Productions. p. 189. ISBN 0-615-11724-4.
- ^ a b c McGee, G. (2003). Band on the Run. Taylor Trade. pp. 56, 60, 203. ISBN 0-87833-304-5.
- ^ Rodriguez, R. (2010). Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years 1970–1980. Hal Leonard. p. 160. ISBN 978-0-87930-968-8.
- ^ a b c d e Benitez, V.P. (2010). The Words and Music of Paul McCartney: The Solo Years. Praeger. pp. 74–75. ISBN 978-0-313-34969-0.
- ^ Verna, P., ed. (13 March 1999). "Spotlight: Band on the Run". Billboard Magazine. p. 28. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- ^ Christgau, R. "Band on the Run". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- ^ "McCartney Unearths Live Clips, Videos For DVD". Billboard. 24 August 2007. Retrieved 8 October 2007.
- ^ Chadbourne, E. "Band on the Run". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
- ^ "Larry Page: Mamunia". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
- ^ The Mojo Collection: 4th Edition. Canongate. 2007. p. 322. ISBN 978-1-84767-643-6.
- ^ Dimery, R. & Lydon, M. (2010). 1001 albums you must hear before you die. Pennsylvania State University. p. 306. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
- ^ Carlin, P.A. (2009). Paul McCartney: A Life. Simon & Schuster. p. 234. ISBN 978-1-4165-6209-2.
- v
- t
- e
- Wild Life (1971)
- Red Rose Speedway (1973)
- Band on the Run (1973)
- Venus and Mars (1975)
- Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976)
- London Town (1978)
- Back to the Egg (1979)
- Wings over America (1976)
- Wings over Europe (2018)
- One Hand Clapping (2024)
- Wings Greatest (1978)
- Cold Cuts (unreleased)
- Wingspan: Hits and History (2001)
- "Give Ireland Back to the Irish"
- "Mary Had a Little Lamb" / "Little Woman Love"
- "Hi, Hi, Hi" / "C Moon"
- "My Love"
- "Live and Let Die" / "I Lie Around"
- "Helen Wheels" / "Country Dreamer"
- "Mrs. Vandebilt" / "Bluebird"
- "Jet" / "Mamunia"
- "Let Me Roll It"
- "Band on the Run" / "Zoo Gang"
- "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five"
- "Junior's Farm" / "Sally G"
- "Listen to What the Man Said" / "Love in Song"
- "Letting Go" / "You Gave Me the Answer"
- "Venus and Mars"/"Rock Show" / "Magneto and Titanium Man"
- "Silly Love Songs" / "Cook of the House"
- "Let 'Em In" / "Beware My Love"
- "Maybe I'm Amazed" / "Soily"
- "Seaside Woman"
- "Mull of Kintyre" / "Girls' School"
- "With a Little Luck" / "Backwards Traveller"/"Cuff Link"
- "I've Had Enough" / "Deliver Your Children"
- "London Town" / "I'm Carrying"
- "Goodnight Tonight" / "Daytime Nighttime Suffering"
- "Old Siam, Sir"
- "Getting Closer"
- "Arrow Through Me" / "Old Siam, Sir"
- "Rockestra Theme"
- "Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)"
- "Mama's Little Girl"
- "Big Barn Bed"
- "Little Lamb Dragonfly"
- "No Words"
- "Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)"
- "Call Me Back Again"
- "She's My Baby"
- "Must Do Something About It"
- "Warm and Beautiful"
- "Girlfriend"
- Wings University Tour (1972)
- Wings Over Europe Tour (1972)
- Wings 1973 UK Tour (May 1973)
- Wings Over the World tour (1975-1976)
- Wings UK Tour 1979 (1979)
- Wings Over the World (1979)
- Concert for Kampuchea (1980)
- Rockshow (1980)
- Back to the Egg (1981)
- Wingspan – An Intimate Portrait (2001)
- 1972 Wings Tour Bus
- Discography
- Songs
- McGear
- Concerts for the People of Kampuchea (album)
- Japanese Tears
- Standard Time
- Suzy and the Red Stripes
- The Oriental Nightfish
- Wide Prairie