Mamunia
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"Mamunia" | ||||||||||||
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File:Mamunia cover.jpg | ||||||||||||
Single by Paul McCartney and Wings | ||||||||||||
from the album Band on the Run | ||||||||||||
A-side | "Jet" | |||||||||||
Released | 28 January 1974 | |||||||||||
Format | 7" single | |||||||||||
Recorded | September 1973 Lagos, Nigeria |
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Genre | Soft rock | |||||||||||
Length | 4:51 | |||||||||||
Label | Apple Records | |||||||||||
Writer(s) | Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney | |||||||||||
Producer(s) | Paul McCartney | |||||||||||
Paul McCartney and Wings singles chronology | ||||||||||||
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"Mamunia" is a song credited to 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.[1][2][3]
Music and lyrics
"Mamunia" was written in Marrakesh early in 1973.[1] The title was inspired by the hotel Mamounia in which the McCartneys were staying at the time.[1][2][3] Mamounia means "safe haven" in Arabic.[1][2][3] According to author John Blaney, McCartney used the term as a "metaphor for rebirth."[1] "Mamunia" is one of several songs on Band on the Run, including title track and "Bluebird," which espouse a theme of escape and freedom.[4] The song's verses use rain as a metaphor for the difficult times people face.[5] The song's message is to not complain about difficult times because everyone faces tough times and it's better to focus on your "safe haven" during those times.[5]
"Mamunia" was the first song recorded for Band on the Run in Lagos, Nigeria.[1][5] 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.[1] One of McCartney's roadies plays bass drum.[2] Like "Bluebird," "Mamunia" is primarily acoustic.[6] Music critic Robert Christgau described the song's intro as "Afro-soul."[7] The song and the refrain are in the key of A major and the verses are in the key of C major.[5] Authors Chip Madinger and Mark Easter describe the song as "so lightweight it'll float off" but note that it is "relentlessly melodic."[2]
Personnel
- Paul McCartney - lead vocals, guitar, bass guitar, percussion
- Linda McCartney - backing vocals, keyboards moog synthesizer
- Denny Laine - backing vocals, guitar
Critics comments
Professor Vincent Benitez described it as a "typical example of McCartney's style of pop music."[5] Blaney describes it as "a bright and breezy pop song, celebrating the good things in life and equally as delightful.[1] Mojo Magazine described it as "a pearl of naive wisdom."[8] Authors Robert Dimery and Michael Lydon described "Mamunia" as a "solid side-two track."[9] Paul McCartney biographer Peter Carlin claimed that "Mamunia" "takes a more laid-back approach to the sentiment in [The Beatles' song] 'Rain.'"[10] 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."[11]
Music video
A music video was made for "Mamunia" in July 1974.[2] Jim Quick was the producer.[2] The video is mostly animated, and Paul McCartney does not appear.[2] It was first shown on The Dave Cash Radio Show."[2] It appears on the 2007 video set The McCartney Years.[12]
Covers
Don Fleming covered "Mamunia" on his 2003 Band on the Run remake.[13] Larry Page covered the song on his mid-1990s albums John Paul George Ringo and Imagine.[14]
References
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