Mamunia

"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]

Not to be confused with Mamuniyeh.

"Mamunia"
Single by Paul McCartney and Wings
from the album Band on the Run
A-side"Jet"
Released28 January 1974
RecordedSeptember 1973
StudioEMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria
GenreAfro-soul[1]
Length4:51
LabelApple
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Paul McCartney
Wings singles chronology
"Mrs Vandebilt"
(1973)		 "Mamunia"
(1974)		 "Band on the Run"
(1974)
Band on the Run track listing
9 tracks
Side one
  1. "Band on the Run"
  2. "Jet"
  3. "Bluebird"
  4. "Mrs. Vandebilt"
  5. "Let Me Roll It"
Side two
  1. "Mamunia"
  2. "No Words"
  3. "Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)"
  4. "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five"

Music and lyrics

"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 to not 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]

Personnel

Critics comments

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]

Music video

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]

Covers

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]

References
  1. Robert C. Robert Christgau, Dean Of Americans Rock Critics. Robert Christgau's Website. The Christgau Consumer Guide. https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/crm7404.php
  2. Blaney, J. (2007). Lennon and McCartney: together alone: a critical discography of their solo work. Jawbone Press. pp. 85–87. ISBN 978-1-906002-02-2.
  3. Madiger, C. & Easter, M. (2000). Eight Arms to Hold You. 44.1 Productions. p. 189. ISBN 0-615-11724-4.
  4. McGee, G. (2003). Band on the Run. Taylor Trade. pp. 56, 60, 203. ISBN 0-87833-304-5.
  5. Rodriguez, R. (2010). Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years 1970–1980. Hal Leonard. p. 160. ISBN 978-0-87930-968-8.
  6. Benitez, V.P. (2010). The Words and Music of Paul McCartney: The Solo Years. Praeger. pp. 74–75. ISBN 978-0-313-34969-0.
  7. Verna, P., ed. (13 March 1999). "Spotlight: Band on the Run". Billboard Magazine. p. 28. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  8. Christgau, R. "Band on the Run". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  9. The Mojo Collection: 4th Edition. Canongate. 2007. p. 322. ISBN 978-1-84767-643-6.
  10. Dimery, R. & Lydon, M. (2010). 1001 albums you must hear before you die. Pennsylvania State University. p. 306. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
  11. Carlin, P.A. (2009). Paul McCartney: A Life. Simon & Schuster. p. 234. ISBN 978-1-4165-6209-2.
  12. Riley, T. (2002). Tell Me Why: The Beatles: Album By Album, Song By Song, The Sixties And After. Da Capo. pp. 354, 358. ISBN 978-0-306-81120-3.
  13. "McCartney Unearths Live Clips, Videos For DVD". Billboard. 24 August 2007. Retrieved 8 October 2007.
  14. Chadbourne, E. "Band on the Run". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  15. "Larry Page: Mamunia". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
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