'Mambo No. 5' was originally a 1949 instrumental dance piece composed and recorded by Cuban bandleader Pérez Prado, often called "King of the Mambo." He couldn't have known that 50 years later, Lou Bega would sample it, add lyrics including a string of girls' names, and turn it into a pop music hit.

German singer Bega actually started out as a rapper, but after spending some time in Miami, he developed a love for Latin music. With the help of a couple of producers, he came up with a reworked version of 'Mambo No. 5' and released it on his 1999 debut album, 'A Little Bit of Mambo.'

The song would reach No. 3 in the U.S., but Americans weren't the only ones taken with the danceable tune. It topped almost every chart in continental Europe, and it was especially beloved in France -- there, 'Mambo No. 5' set a record by staying at No. 1 for an astonishing 20 weeks.

Bega's version has since been covered multitudes of times, most notably (if puzzlingly) by Radio Disney and Bob the Builder. And in sports arenas around the world, you can still hear the song in all its name-checking glory.

Oh, and in case you ever need them for a bar bet, the ladies mentioned in the song are Angela, Pamela, Monica, Erica, Rita, Tina, Sandra, Mary and Jessica.

Listen to Lou Bega's Version of 'Mambo No. 5'

Listen to Pérez Prado's Version of 'Mambo No. 5'

More From PopCrush