"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]
"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]
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." [9] Authors Robert Dimery and Michael Lydon described "Mamunia" as a "solid side-two track." [10] Paul McCartney biographer Peter Carlin claimed that "Mamunia" "takes a more laid-back approach to the sentiment in [The Beatles' song] ' Rain.'" [11] Author Tim Riley concurs the song's relationship to "Rain," calling it a "pale rewrite of Lennon's "Rain," but praises its "smart two-key framework." [12]
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. [13]
Don Fleming covered "Mamunia" on his 2003 Band on the Run remake. [14] Larry Page covered the song on his mid-1990s albums John Paul George Ringo and Imagine. [15]
"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]
"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]
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." [9] Authors Robert Dimery and Michael Lydon described "Mamunia" as a "solid side-two track." [10] Paul McCartney biographer Peter Carlin claimed that "Mamunia" "takes a more laid-back approach to the sentiment in [The Beatles' song] ' Rain.'" [11] Author Tim Riley concurs the song's relationship to "Rain," calling it a "pale rewrite of Lennon's "Rain," but praises its "smart two-key framework." [12]
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. [13]
Don Fleming covered "Mamunia" on his 2003 Band on the Run remake. [14] Larry Page covered the song on his mid-1990s albums John Paul George Ringo and Imagine. [15]