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{{Short description|1977 song by Boney M.}}
{{Short description|Boney M. song from 1977}}
{{About|the single|the album|Ma Baker (album){{!}}''Ma Baker'' (album)}}
{{About|the single|the album|Ma Baker (album){{!}}''Ma Baker'' (album)|the woman who inspired the song|Ma Barker}}
{{Distinguish|Ma Barker}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
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| album        = [[Love for Sale (Boney M. album)|Love for Sale]]
| album        = [[Love for Sale (Boney M. album)|Love for Sale]]
| B-side        = "Still I'm Sad"
| B-side        = "Still I'm Sad"
| released      = May 1977<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Boney+M.&titel=Ma+Baker&cat=s|title=Boney M singles}}</ref>
| released      = May 1977<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Boney+M.&titel=Ma+Baker&cat=s|title=Boney M. - Ma Baker|first=Steffen|last=Hung|website=hitparade.ch}}</ref>
| recorded      =  
| recorded      =  
| studio        =  
| studio        =  
Line 32: Line 31:
}}
}}


"'''Ma Baker'''" is a song by [[disco]] group [[Boney M.]], released as a single in 1977. It was the first single of their second album ''[[Love for Sale (Boney M. album)|Love for Sale]]'' and their third consecutive chart-topper in (West) Germany.
"'''Ma Baker'''" is a song by [[disco]] group [[Boney M.]], released as a single in 1977. It was the first single off their second album ''[[Love for Sale (Boney M. album)|Love for Sale]]'' and their third consecutive chart-topper in (West) Germany.


The song was a huge success in Europe and Latin America, topping the charts in many countries there. It was a number 2 hit in the UK (only surpassed by [[Donna Summer]]'s "[[I Feel Love]]"). In the US, the song only reached number 96.
The song was a huge success in Europe and Latin America, topping the charts in many countries there. It was a number 2 hit in the UK (only surpassed by [[Donna Summer]]'s "[[I Feel Love]]"). In the US, the song only reached number 96.
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With a structure similar to Boney M.'s breakthrough single "[[Daddy Cool (Boney M. song)|Daddy Cool]]", using the same gimmick percussion, alternating answer-back vocals, and a spoken mid-part, the song opened with a snarling "Freeze, I'm Ma Baker, put your hands in the air and gimme all your money". Although it has never been officially credited, the voice was that of Linda Blake, the wife of Frank Farian's American friend Bill Swisher, who was a soldier in West Germany at the time.{{citation needed|date= December 2024}} Bill Swisher performed the spoken mid-part, announcing a bulletin from the FBI. He was used on several later Boney M. recordings, including "[[Rasputin (song)|Rasputin]]" and "[[El Lute / Gotta Go Home|El Lute]]".
With a structure similar to Boney M.'s breakthrough single "[[Daddy Cool (Boney M. song)|Daddy Cool]]", using the same gimmick percussion, alternating answer-back vocals, and a spoken mid-part, the song opened with a snarling "Freeze, I'm Ma Baker, put your hands in the air and gimme all your money". Although it has never been officially credited, the voice was that of Linda Blake, the wife of Frank Farian's American friend Bill Swisher, who was a soldier in West Germany at the time.{{citation needed|date= December 2024}} Bill Swisher performed the spoken mid-part, announcing a bulletin from the FBI. He was used on several later Boney M. recordings, including "[[Rasputin (song)|Rasputin]]" and "[[El Lute / Gotta Go Home|El Lute]]".


Farian re-recorded the song with [[Milli Vanilli]] in 1988, and reused both spoken voiceovers from the original song in the cover. Boney M.'s version was remixed the same year, 1993 and again in 1998. The song has been covered a number of times, including Banda R-15 and [[Knorkator]]. The "ma ma ma ma" chorus vocals were also sampled in [[Lady Gaga]]'s "[[Poker Face (Lady Gaga song)|Poker Face]]".<ref>{{cite web|first= Fraser |last= McAlpine |title= Lady GaGa – 'Poker Face' |website= [[BBC Online|The Chart Blog]] |date= 11 March 2009 |access-date= 26 December 2017 |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chartblog/2009/03/lady_gaga_poker_face.shtml}}</ref>
Farian re-recorded the song with [[Milli Vanilli]] in 1988, and reused both spoken voiceovers from the original song in the cover. Boney M.'s version was remixed the same year, 1993 and again in 1998. The song has been covered a number of times, including Banda R-15 and [[Knorkator]]. The "ma ma ma ma" chorus vocals were also sampled in [[Lady Gaga]]'s "[[Poker Face (Lady Gaga song)|Poker Face]]".<ref>{{cite web |first= Fraser |last= McAlpine |title= Lady GaGa – 'Poker Face' |website= [[BBC Online|The Chart Blog]] |date= 11 March 2009 |access-date= 26 December 2017 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chartblog/2009/03/lady_gaga_poker_face.shtml}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.music-news.com/news/UK/183383/Maizie-Williams-loves-hearing-Boney-M-samples|title=Maizie Williams loves hearing Boney M. samples|website=Music-News.com}}</ref>


==Charts==
==Charts==
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[[Category:Ultratop 50 Singles (Flanders) number-one singles]]
[[Category:Ultratop 50 Singles (Flanders) number-one singles]]
[[Category:Songs about criminals]]
[[Category:Songs about criminals]]
[[Category:Songs about real people]]
[[Category:Songs about Chicago]]
[[Category:Songs about Chicago]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Ma Barker]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Ma Barker]]
[[Category:Songs about mothers]]
[[Category:Songs about mothers]]

Latest revision as of 11:01, 19 October 2025

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"Ma Baker" is a song by disco group Boney M., released as a single in 1977. It was the first single off their second album Love for Sale and their third consecutive chart-topper in (West) Germany.

The song was a huge success in Europe and Latin America, topping the charts in many countries there. It was a number 2 hit in the UK (only surpassed by Donna Summer's "I Feel Love"). In the US, the song only reached number 96.

Composition and structure

Frank Farian's assistant Hans-Jörg Mayer discovered a popular Tunisian folkloric song, "Sidi Mansour" while on holiday, and rewrote the song into a disco track.

The lyrics by Fred Jay were inspired by the told story of 1930s US outlaw Ma Barker, although the name was changed into "Ma Baker" because "it sounded better".[1]

With a structure similar to Boney M.'s breakthrough single "Daddy Cool", using the same gimmick percussion, alternating answer-back vocals, and a spoken mid-part, the song opened with a snarling "Freeze, I'm Ma Baker, put your hands in the air and gimme all your money". Although it has never been officially credited, the voice was that of Linda Blake, the wife of Frank Farian's American friend Bill Swisher, who was a soldier in West Germany at the time.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Bill Swisher performed the spoken mid-part, announcing a bulletin from the FBI. He was used on several later Boney M. recordings, including "Rasputin" and "El Lute".

Farian re-recorded the song with Milli Vanilli in 1988, and reused both spoken voiceovers from the original song in the cover. Boney M.'s version was remixed the same year, 1993 and again in 1998. The song has been covered a number of times, including Banda R-15 and Knorkator. The "ma ma ma ma" chorus vocals were also sampled in Lady Gaga's "Poker Face".[2][3]

Charts

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Sales and certifications

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1993 remix

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Following the remix of "Brown Girl in the Ring", Farian remixed "Ma Baker" in 1993. While a modest club hit, it failed to enter the European charts. "Borsalino" and "The Most Wanted Woman" are two dub mixes of the track. The new remix was included in the compilation album More Gold - 20 Super Hits Vol. II.

Germany

12"

  • "Ma Baker (Remix '93)" (BMG 74321 15940 1, 1993)

Side A – Gangster

  1. "Ma Baker (Remix '93)" (Bonnie & Clyde mix) – 5:25
  2. "The Most Wanted Woman" – 3:30

Side B – Fashion

  1. "Borsalino (Trainee Mix)" – 4:55
  2. "Ma Baker (Remix '93)" (Radio Edit) – 3:58

CD

  • "Ma Baker (Remix '93)" (BMG 74321 15940 2, 1993)
  1. "Ma Baker (Remix '93)" (Radio Edit) – 3:58
  2. "Ma Baker (Remix '93)" (Bonnie & Clyde mix) – 5:25
  3. "Borsalino (Trainee Mix)" – 4:55
  4. "The Most Wanted Woman" – 3:30

1998 remix

Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". In 1998, a new remix of "Ma Baker" by German production team Sash! started to chart as a 12-inch single. Just as the CD single was about to follow, it was withdrawn, and a new version appeared, re-titled "Somebody Scream! Ma Baker" featuring Horny United. The single was a top-30 hit in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland. In Finland, New Zealand, and Sweden, it entered the top 10. When released in the UK in April, it peaked at no. 22. The accompanying video featured a young woman, kickboxing, training with a gun, the only relation to the original group being her watching the original 1977 video of "Ma Baker" on a TV set.

Charts

Weekly charts

Template:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chart
Chart (1998–1999) Peak
position
Poland (Music & Media)[23] 3

Year-end charts

Chart (1999) Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[24] 97
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[25] 35
France (SNEP)[26] 56
Sweden (Hitlistan)[27] 61

In popular culture

The song is featured in the final episode of the sixth series of the television show Black Mirror, in which the demon character takes on the appearance of Boney M. member Bobby Farrell.[28]

See also

References

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