Lou Bega’s “Mambo No. 5,” a 1999 smash that topped the pop charts in most global territories, is one of the most love-it-or-hate-it songs of all time — Stephen King‘s wife definitely falls in the latter camp. The author recently spoke to Rolling Stone to promote his latest novel, “Holly,” and revealed his wife once threatened to divorce him due to his love of the infamous track.
“Oh, yeah. Big time,” King said when asked if the rumors about his love for “Mambo No. 5” are true. “My wife threatened to divorce me. I played that a lot.”
“I had the dance mix,” the author continued. “I loved those extended play things and I played both sides of it. And one of them was just total instrumental. And I played that thing until my wife just said, ‘One more time, and I’m going to f*cking leave you.'”
King must’ve stopped, as he’s been happily married to Tabitha King since 1971. The couple has three children together, including the writers Joe Hill and Owen King. The author said his wife’s ultimatum arrived while he was writing “11/22/63,” his 2011 novel about a time traveller who tries to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
“Mambo No. 5,” recorded by Bega, a German singer, was rooted in a 1949 instrumental single by Dámaso Pérez Prado that Bega sampled for his rewritten vocal rendition, which called out women’s names (“A little bit of Monica…”). It was the performer’s only significant hit, peaking at No. 3 in the U.S. while going all the way to No. 1 in the U.K., Canada, Italy, France and more than 20 other countries.
King detailed more of his daily listening in the interview. “When I write, there are things that I can listen to a lot,” he said. “And a lot of it is techno stuff or disco stuff, but techno in particular. There’s this group called LCD Soundsystem, and I love that. Fatboy Slim is somebody else. I can just listen to that stuff. If you tried to write and listen to Leonard Cohen, how the f*ck would you do that? Because you’d have to listen to the words and you’d have to listen to what he’s saying. But with some of the techno stuff, or KC and the Sunshine Band, Gloria Gaynor, it’s all good.”
What is King currently listening to? “Lately, I think that I’ve been sort of stuck on Foghat and Bob Seger, people like that,” he said. “But I’ve also been listening to a fair amount of country music. So a lot of Travis Tritt and Alan Jackson, people like that.”
King’s new book, “Holly,” is now available for purchase.
FAQs
The Misery writer continued, "I had the dance mix. I loved those extended play things, and I played both sides of it. And one of them was just total instrumental. And I played that thing until my wife just said, 'One more time, and I'm going to f---ing leave you.
Is Stephen King still married to his wife? ›
He might be known as one of the world's most notable horror writers, but Stephen King isn't the only author in the family — his wife, Tabitha King, is an accomplished writer and philanthropist, too. The couple met in college, married in 1971 and have split their time between their home state of Maine and Florida.
Did Stephen King listen to Mambo No. 5? ›
Stephen King has recalled how his love of Lou Bega's hit song “Mambo No 5” was so extreme his wife threatened to “leave” him over it.
What is the meaning of mambo number 5? ›
Beyond the list of women's names and the trumpet hook sampled from mambo legend Pérez Prado, the song is really about the sloppy, mistake-prone journey of finding love as a young adult. “So what can I do?” he sings. “I really beg you, my Lord. To me, flirting is just like a sport.”
Who originally sang mambo Number 5? ›
5" is an instrumental mambo and jazz dance song originally composed and recorded by Cuban musician Dámaso Pérez Prado in 1949 and released the next year. German singer Lou Bega sampled the original for a new song released under the same name on Bega's 1999 debut album, A Little Bit of Mambo.
Who does Stephen King live with? ›
Stephen lives in Maine and Florida with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.
Does Stephen King have a child? ›
Stephen and wife Tabitha King have been married since January 1971, and have three children together: Naomi, Joe and Owen. Both Stephen and Tabitha are successful authors, so it makes sense that reading and writing have always played a huge role in the family's life.
Why is Stephen King's it so scary? ›
Both his books and adaptations are riddled with lines and moments that hint at what's to come. This is why King's stories have an overarching sense of doom and dread. Unlike most horror novels and films, it's not the uncertainty of danger that has you on edge, but exactly when that danger will finally happen.
What celebrity was obsessed with Mambo No. 5? ›
It's not uncommon to have a favorite song, even after you've played it to death. However, horror writer Stephen King has admitted he was nearly divorced due to his obsession with Mambo No. 5.
How rich is Stephen King? ›
King's net worth is $500 million. Often referred to as the King of Horror, King has published more than 60 novels and sold more than 350 million copies worldwide. Some of King's most popular books include “The Shining,” “Carrie,” “Misery” and “Salem's Lot.” King released his latest novel, “Holly,” in September 2023.
Mambo is a Latin dance of Cuba which was developed in the 1940s when the music genre of the same name became popular throughout Latin America. The original ballroom dance which emerged in Cuba and Mexico was related to the danzón, albeit faster and less rigid.
Is mambo Hispanic? ›
The mambo is a favorite of ballroom audiences because of its high energy level and infectious rhythms. The Mambo dance originated as a mixture of Afro-Caribbean and Latin American cultures. The word “mambo” denotes an African origin, particularly from the Congo region.
What does mambo mean in music? ›
Mambo is a Cuban music style that derives from the danzón tradition. In many Latin American countries, the style is referred to as danzón-mambo. Mambo combines elements of popular Latin dance genres with the musical sophistication of the son Cubano genre—the bedrock of the broader musical style known as salsa.
When was Mambo No. 5 a hit? ›
The song, released in 1999 as part of Bega's album A Little Bit of Mambo, became an instant, record-breaking hit everywhere from Australia to the UK, Germany, France and the US. The only problem was in the eyes of the Prado estate Mambo No. 5 wasn't a brand new, catchy track at all.
What year was mambo number 5 a hit? ›
Lou Bega's “Mambo No. 5,” a 1999 smash that topped the pop charts in most global territories, is one of the most love-it-or-hate-it songs of all time — Stephen King's wife definitely falls in the latter camp.
Is mambo a Cuban music? ›
Mambo is a genre of Cuban dance music pioneered by the charanga Arcaño y sus Maravillas in the late 1930s and later popularized in the big band style by Pérez Prado.
Why did Stephen divorce his first wife? ›
Hawking's case, his marriage ended somewhat amicably because he understood he couldn't provide her companionship like before, and she couldn't be his round clock care provider. She was quite religious, too, and he wasn't. But apparently, she still supported him even when they found new loves in their life.
How many children do Stephen King and his wife have? ›
King's wife Tabitha and their three kids, Joe, Naomi, and Owen sat down with Susan Dominus to share what it was like to grow up with the guy who wrote Carrie. A few tidbits: King used to have his kids record books on tape for him to listen to in the car.
What does Stephen King's daughter do? ›
What is Naomi King disability? ›
Naomi was born with a chronic deficit of the hormone adrenaline, and their ongoing health problems have made a full-time ministry impossible.
