Stephen King, the mastermind behind some of the most spine-chilling tales of the past half-century, has recently shared a bone-chilling revelation that has nothing to do with his horror novels.
In an interview with Rolling Stone to promote his latest book, Holly, King unabashedly admits his devotion to the catchy rhythms of Lou Bega’s 1999 hit, “Mambo No. 5.” His infatuation with the summer anthem ran so deep that it nearly drove a wedge in his marriage.
When asked about the rumors surrounding his love for Bega’s music, King wholeheartedly confirms, “Oh, absolutely. I was a huge fan. My wife actually threatened to divorce me over it. I played that song so much.”
Unveiling more details, the author of Misery confessed, “I had the dance mix. I reveled in those extended play versions, and I played both sides of the record. One of them was purely instrumental, and I just couldn’t get enough of it. I played it relentlessly until my wife reached her breaking point and warned me, ‘One more time, and I swear I’m leaving.'”
Oh, the addictive power of those dance mixes, Stephen! Poor Tabitha King.
Originally an instrumental track released by Cuban musician Dámaso Pérez Prado in 1949, “Mambo No. 5” was revitalized in the summer of ’99 by German singer Lou Bega, who added updated lyrics that even a talented writer like King could appreciate. Lines like “I like Angela, Pamela, Sandra, and Rita / And as I continue, you know they gettin’ sweeter” surely struck a chord.
Ah, the memories of 1999. Thankfully, we’ve moved on.
While “Mambo No. 5” reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and claimed the top spot in numerous other charts, its longevity was undeniable. EW gave the song a B- review but predicted its reign at weddings for months to come, thanks to its upbeat tune and infectious ’80s-style synthesizers.
Months? Ha! Try years. But if Angela, Pamela, Sandra, or Rita served as muses for Stephen King’s twisted tales, then perhaps the song isn’t entirely without merit.
However, it must be noted that, objectively speaking, the song is, well, pretty bad.