"The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" | ||||||||||
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Single by Las Ketchup | ||||||||||
from the album Hijas del Tomate | ||||||||||
B-side | Remix | |||||||||
Released | 10 June 2002 | |||||||||
Recorded | 2002 in Lolmang Studios | |||||||||
Genre | ||||||||||
Length | 3:32 | |||||||||
Label | ||||||||||
Writer(s) | Manuel Ruiz | |||||||||
Producer(s) | Manuel Ruiz | |||||||||
Las Ketchup singles chronology | ||||||||||
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"The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" is the debut single by Spanish pop group Las Ketchup, taken from their debut studio album Hijas del Tomate (2002). It was released on 10 June 2002, and became an international hit later that year.
In addition to the original Spanish version, the song exists in forms with Spanglish and Portuguese verses, although the nonsensical chorus is identical in all three versions. This song reached number-one in the United Kingdom, as well as 26 other countries worldwide. As of 2006, the song has sold over 7 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time.
The song tells the story of a pimp-like, gypsy (afrogitano) with mystical qualities. Just after its release, the song became controversial because of rumors that it had emphatic references to Satanism, the devil and the inferno. The song's dance routine was a novelty in the early 2000s. Furthermore, the song and its dance moves were featured in the 2012 game Just Dance 4.
Las Ketchup was first introduced to Columbia Records through Shaketown Music, a small record label in Córdoba, Andalusia, who sent out the group's demo to a number of different record companies. The demo featured the songs "Asereje" and "Kusha Las Payas". When A&R Javier Portugués and Columbia director Raúl López listened to the demo, they stared at each other in delight exclaiming, "Wow, this is fantastic!" At first the intention was to arrange a distribution deal with ShakeTown Music but upon hearing the song they realised its international potential and so negotiated for Las Ketchup to sign with Sony.
The song is written in the key of Eb minor and follows the chord progression of Ebm–Db–Cb–Abm–Bb7 in the chorus. The pre-chorus uses an altered chord (B minor), or a modal interchange, as the cadence. According to Pandora.com, the song features "mixed acoustic and electric instrumentation, humorous lyrics, and electric guitar riffs".