"No Tengo Dinero" (English: "I Have No Money") is the debut single of Danish musical group Los Umbrellos, considered to be their signature song. It was released by FLEX Records (now part of EMI) on 14 May 1997. Based on the theme of 1960 film Never on Sunday by Greek composer Manos Hatzidakis, the lyrics were written by Jay and Richie Balmorian and group member Al Agami. It was produced by Kenneth Bager, Michael Pfundheller and Jan Elhøj, with additional production handled by Cutfather & Joe.
The song became a top-five hit in Denmark, Italy, New Zealand and Switzerland. In Austria, the song reached number one for 10 weeks, received a platinum certification from IFPI, and was the highest-selling single of 1998. The song also peaked at number 31 on Canada's RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and number 42 on the US Billboard Hot 100; it stayed on the latter chart for 27 weeks without entering the top 40.[2] As of August 2003, the single had sold 800,000 copies worldwide.[3] Unlike "No Tengo Dinero", the band's following releases enjoyed no chart success, thus Los Umbrellos were named a one hit wonder. In 2017, Billboard magazine ranked "No Tengo Dinero" among "The 100 Greatest Pop Songs of 1997".[1]
Background
In 1995, Jan Elhøj and Anders Hansen, of rap-comedy duo Angry Ass, made a song called "Frikadeller og krebinetter" (Danish for "Meatballs and pork patties") which incorporated the theme of 1960 film Never on Sunday, composed by Manos Hadjidakis.[4][5] The song was presented to Kenneth Bager, owner of FLEX Records, who immediately saw its potential.[3] Bager sought to find the right people to work on the track. He enlisted Ugandan rapper Al Agami to write the rap lyrics, while songwriters Richie and Jay Balmorian wrote the Spanish and English chorus.[5] Danish singer Shirley arranged the backing vocals for the chorus. Finally, Kenneth Bager, Jan Elhøj, and Michael Pfundheller produced the track.[3] Bager then presented "No Tengo Dinero" to FLEX Records' parent label, EMI, but they were not interested in the song. It was then re-produced by the Danish producers Cutfather and Joe Belmaati (of Cutfather & Joe), and finally EMI agreed to release the song.[3] Before the release of the song, Kenneth Bager wanted to find two female backing singers for the Los Umbrellos project. Michael Pfundheller personally knew dancer Grith Højfeldt, while Mai-Britt Vingsøe was contacted through modelling agency Scandinavian Models.[3][4] All three members of Los Umbrellos finally met at the cover shooting for the single.[4]
In June 2017, Billboard magazine ranked "No Tengo Dinero" number 96 in their list of "The 100 Greatest Pop Songs of 1997". Andrew Unterberger wrote, "About a year and change before Ricky Martin took over in earnest, Danish trio Los Umbrellos delivered a Latin Pop explosion as imagined by McG; all beach bunnies, gaudy primary colors and kitschy Spanglish cheese. Probably for the best that America held out for the real(er) thing, though the list of songs with choruses in any language catchier than "No Tengo Dinero" is muy bajo."[1]
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Poulsen, Mikkel Rytter (22 August 2003). "Bag om et sommerhit 9: Flæskesteg og frikadeller – og en Bager" [Behind a summer hit 9: Roast pork and meatballs – and a Bager]. Politiken (in Danish). Copenhagen: JP/Politikens Hus A/S.
↑ No Tengo Dinero (European CD single liner notes). Los Umbrellos. FLEX Records. 1997. EMI 8682362.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
↑ No Tengo Dinero (Japanese CD single liner notes). Los Umbrellos. EMI Music Japan. 1997. TOCP-40046.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
1 2 No Tengo Dinero (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Los Umbrellos. Virgin Records, FLEX Records. 1998. VUSCD 135, 7243 8 85353 2 8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
↑ No Tengo Dinero (UK CD single liner notes). Los Umbrellos. FLEX Records, Virgin Records. 1998. VUSCD 139, 7243 8 95320 2 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
↑ No Tengo Dinero (UK cassette single sleeve). Los Umbrellos. FLEX Records, Virgin Records. 1998. VUSC 139, 7243 8 95320 4 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
↑ No Tengo Dinero (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Los Umbrellos. FLEX Records, EMI Records. 1997. V25H-38619, 7243 8 38619 2 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
↑ No Tengo Dinero (US CD single liner notes). Los Umbrellos. FLEX Records, EMI Records. 1997. E25D-58663, 7243 8 58663 2 6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
↑ No Tengo Dinero (US cassette single sleeve). Los Umbrellos. FLEX Records, EMI Records. 1997. 4KM-58663, 7243-8-58663-4-0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
↑ No Tengo Dinero (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Los Umbrellos. FLEX Records, EMI Records. 1997. S7-724381973172.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
↑ No Tengo Dinero (Australian CD single liner notes). Los Umbrellos. EMI Music Australia. 1997. 7243 8 85428 2 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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