"Pata Pata" is a song by South African singer Miriam Makeba. "Pata Pata" was written by fellow southern African artist Dorothy Masuka and first recorded by Makeba in 1957 when she still lived in South Africa, but released in the United States ten years later, in 1967.
The song's title means "touch touch" in the Xhosa language, in which the song was originally written and sung. The song was released in the United States in 1967 for her studio album of the same name. In 1988, a duet version with Chayanne was made. It was included in the album Chayanne.
The original version of Pata Pata is included in Pata Pata (released 1972), The Best of the Early Years (Miriam Makeba), a collection of 24 tracks released in 2002 by Wrasse, and the 40 track compilation Her Essential Recordings: The Empress of African Song (2006 Manteca). Makeba released a renovated version of the song, entitled "Pata Pata 2000", in her 2000 album Homeland.
It was successful on the Billboard Hot 100, and peaked at No. 12. The song is considered by many to be Makeba's signature hit and the song has since been covered by many artists.
1966: Lynn Taitt (Merritone 7" single released by Federal Records) Rocksteady Instrumental1967: Wilson Simonal (Alegria Alegria Vol.1)1968: Señor Soul (Señor Soul Plays Funky Favorites)1968: El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico ("Pata Pata Jala Jala Boogaloo" album)1969: Tito Puente and His Orchestra ("The King Tito Puente / El Rey Tito Puente" album)1980: Osibisa (Mystic Energy album)1980: Sylvie Vartan (French Singer of Bulgarian origin : Tape Tape single excerpt from the album "Bienvenue solitude")1981: Prima Vera (Den 5te album)1986: Monitor (Estonian new wave band: Estonian version was titled "Idee")1988: Chayanne feat. Miriam Makeba (included in Chayanne)1989: Triple & Touch played this song live on tour with Björn Afzelius 1989 at Hovdala slott1997: Daúde1998: Coumba Gawlo1998: El General (Spanglish version)1999: Manu Dibango2000: Thalía (recorded it for her album Arrasando)2001: Yamboo (released with altered Spanish and English verses on their 2006 album Okama de Mapouka)2001: The Skatalites2002: Blue Monster & Bikki2002: Jonathan Butler (recorded a rendition of this song from his album Surrender)2004: D'jaa2004: Helmut Lotti2006: Tony Esposito2007: African Jazz Pioneers2008: Smood2009: Shikisha2010: DJ Happy Vibes, Lira2011: Arielle Dombasle feat. Mokobé (released on her album Diva Latina)2011: African Ladies (cover version for video game Just Dance 3 on Wii, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3)2011: Milk & Sugar feat. Miriam Makeba (made a remix with Makeba),2012: Lorraine Klaasen (A Tribute to Miriam Makeba)2015: Playing for Change2016: Pink MartiniThe song has also been covered by Angélique Kidjo, DJ Mellow-D, Howard Carpendale & La Lupe.
