The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)

For the song by Stompin' Tom Connors, see Ketchup Song (Stompin' Tom Connors song).
"The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)"
Single by Las Ketchup
from the album Hijas del Tomate
B-side Remix
Released 29 July 2002
Recorded 2002 in Lolmang Studios
Genre Latin pop
Length 3:32
Label
Writer(s) Manuel Ruiz
Producer(s) Manuel Ruiz
Certification See certifications below
Las Ketchup singles chronology
"The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)"
(2002)
"Kusha Las Payas"
(2003)
Music sample
Las Ketchup – "The Ketchup Song" (Spanish Version)

"The Ketchup Song" is the English title of the song "Aserejé" (pronounced [aseɾeˈxe]) recorded by the Spanish pop group Las Ketchup, which was an international hit in 2002. It was released in July 2002 as the lead single from their debut album, Hijas del Tomate. The song exists in three versions, Spanish, a version in a mixture of English and Spanish, described as "Spanglish," and a version in Portuguese. The chorus is identical in the 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.[1]

Background

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.[2] 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!"[2] 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.[2]

Content

The song tells the story of a pimp-like "Afro-gypsy, Rastafari" character named Diego who walks into a crowded nightclub at midnight, and the DJ, as he sees Diego walk in, plays the "twelve-o'clock anthem", "the song he desires most". The chorus is reminiscent of Spanish, but actually is a nonsensical distortion of the 1979 rap hit "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang[3]

I said a hip, hop, the hippie to the hippie
Aserejé ja de je de jebe
the hip-hip-hop, a you don't stop
tu de jebere sebiunouva (seibiunouva)
the rock it to the bang bang boogie say up jumped the boogie
majabi (majavi) an de bugui
to the rhythm of the boogie, the beat
an de buididipí

Adaptation

For the release in Brazil, a version of song was sung in Portuguese and featured a Brazilian girl group named Rouge, alongside Las Ketchup. This pushed the album's sales up and eventually led to over two million copies sold in Brazil alone.

Critical reception

In France, the song reached number-one for eleven weeks and eventually sold 1,310,000 copies, making it the best-selling single of 2002, and the second best-selling of the 21st century in the country, behind "Un Monde parfait" by Ilona Mitrecey.[4] The song was the 50th best-selling single of the 2000 decade in UK.[5]

Controversy and supposed Satanic references

In 2002, the song became controversial because of rumors that The Ketchup Song made references to Satanism, the angel Lucifer (the Devil), the inferno, and the like. The rumor is rooted in the title of the song, "Aserejé", which—if broken down—supposedly makes reference to a demonic being. The letter 'A' in Spanish means (to); ser (be); and hereje (heretical).[6][7]

Other lyrics like Mira lo que se avecina, a la vuelta de la esquina viene Diego ("Look what's coming up, around the corner comes Diego") supposedly signifies Diego as some kind of messenger.[6] Con la Luna en las pupilas ("With the moon in his pupils") supposedly means Diego can only be seen at night; Y donde más no cabe un alma ("And there, where no soul can be squeezed in") supposedly means hell; Y el DJ que lo conoce toca el himno de las doce ("And the DJ that knows him [the messenger] plays the midnight hymn") is supposedly a reference to Satanic rituals, which usually occur at midnight. Aserejé, ja, de je, de jebe tu de jebere sebiunouva, majabi an de bugui an de buididipi reportedly means "Asejeré" (Spanish: un ser hereje — "a heretic being"), ja (the letters of Jehovah), deje, dejebe tu dejebe (deja tu ser — leave your being); if connected, it reads un ser hereje Jehová deja tu ser, or, "a heretic being Jehovah leave your being."[6][7] Other lyrics like No es cosa de brujería que lo encuentre to' los días (pecando) por donde voy caminando ("It's not witchcraft the fact that I find him (sinning) everyday wherever I walk through") supposedly make references to a demonic being, just like Diego tiene chulería ("Diego has natural charm"), which some critics say it literally means that the Devil is a beautiful angel.

The group members, however, have insisted that that the song is in large parts nonsensical rather than satanical.[6]

Track listings

CD maxi
No. Title Length
1. "The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" (Spanglish Version) 3:32
2. "The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" (Spanish Version) 3:32 Song (Aserejé)
4. Untitled (Motown Club Single Edit) 3:41
CD maxi
No. Title Length
1. "The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" (Crystal Sound Xmas mix) 3:50
2. "The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" (Karaoke Version) 3:44
3. "The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" (Chiringuito Club mix) 5:30
4. "The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" (video – Crystal Sound Xmas mix)  

Charts and sales

Weekly charts

Chart (2002) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[8] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[9] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[11] 1
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[12] 1
Denmark (Tracklisten)[13] 1
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[14] 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[15] 1
France (SNEP)[16] 1
Germany (Official German Charts)[17] 1
Greece (IFPI)[18] 1
Hungary (Single Top 40)[19] 1
Ireland (IRMA)[20] 1
Italy (FIMI)[21] 1
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[22] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[24] 1
Norway (VG-lista)[25] 1
Poland (Polish Singles Chart)[26] 1
Portugal (Portuguese Singles Chart)[27] 1
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[28] 1
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[29] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[30] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] 1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[32] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[33] 54
US Hot Latin Songs (Billboard)[34] 1
US Tropical Songs (Billboard)[35] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2002) Position
Australian Singles Chart[36] 5
Austrian Singles Chart[37] 2
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart[38] 1
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[39] 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[40] 1
French Singles Chart[41] 1
Irish Singles Chart[42] 3
Swiss Singles Chart[43] 1
UK Singles Chart[44] 8
Swedish Singles Chart[45] 1
Chart (2003) Position
Australian Singles Chart[46] 8
Austrian Singles Chart[47] 23
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[48] 62
French Singles Chart[49] 24
Swiss Singles Chart[50] 45
UK Singles Chart[51] 171

Decade-end charts

(2000–2009) Position
Australian Singles Chart[52] 11
German Singles Chart[53] 8

All-time charts

Chart Position
France (SNEP)[54] 6

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[55] 3× Platinum 210,000
Austria (IFPI Austria)[56] 2× Platinum 0
Belgium (BEA)[57] 5× Platinum 250,000
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[58] 2× Platinum 20,000
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[59] Platinum 15,483[59]
France (SNEP)[60] Diamond 1,750,000[61]
Germany (BVMI)[62] 2× Platinum 1,000,000
Greece (IFPI Greece)[63] 2× Platinum 40,000
Japan (RIAJ)[64] Platinum 50,000
Netherlands (NVPI)[65] Platinum 60,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[66] 2× Platinum 30,000
Norway (IFPI Norway)[67] 6× Platinum 60,000
Sweden (GLF)[68] 4× Platinum 120,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[69] 3× Platinum 120,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[70] Platinum 600,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Chart successions

Order of precedence
Preceded by
"Le vent nous portera" by Noir Désir
Italian FIMI number-one single
27 July 2002 – 14 September 2002 (8 weeks)
Succeeded by
"All the Things She Said" by t.A.T.u.
Preceded by
"Without Me" by Eminem
Swiss number-one single
25 August 2002 – 3 November 2002 (11 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Dilemma" by Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland
Preceded by
"Dansplaat" by Brainpower
Belgian (Flanders) number-one single
31 August 2002 – 16 November 2002 (12 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Dilemma" by Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland
Preceded by
"Perdono" by Tiziano Ferro
Dutch number-one single
31 August 2002 – 26 October 2002 (9 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Dilemma" by Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland
Preceded by
"J'ai demandé à la lune" by Indochine
Belgian (Wallonia) number-one single
7 September 2002 – 28 December 2002 (17 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Paris Latino" by Star Academy
Preceded by
"Lumessakahlaajat" by Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus
Finnish number-one single
9 September 2002 – 21 October 2002 (7 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Etsit muijaa seuraavaa" by Gimmel
Preceded by
"A Little Less Conversation" by Elvis Presley vs JXL
Swedish number-one single
9 September 2002 – 2 January 2003 (17 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Tu es foutu" by In-Grid
Preceded by
"Inch'Allah" by MC Solaar
"Marie" by Johnny Hallyday
"Plus haut" by Whatfor
French SNEP number-one single
14 September 2002 – 9 November 2002 (9 weeks)
23 November 2002 (1 week)
7 December 2002 (1 week)
Succeeded by
"Marie" by Johnny Hallyday
"Plus haut" by Whatfor
"Marie" by Johnny Hallyday
Preceded by
"Mensch" by Herbert Grönemeyer
German number-one single
20 September 2002 – 1 November 2002 (7 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Dilemma" by Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland
Preceded by
"Without Me" by Eminem
Eurochart Hot 100 number-one single
21 September 2002 – 11 January 2003 (17 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Lose Yourself" by Eminem
Preceded by
"Mensch" by Herbert Grönemeyer
Austrian number-one single
29 September 2002 – 15 December 2002 (12 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Der Steuersong (Las Kanzlern)" by Die Gerd Show
Preceded by
"Complicated" by Avril Lavigne
Norwegian VG-Lista number-one single
30 September 2002 – 30 December 2002 (15 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Lose Yourself" by Eminem
Preceded by
"Positivity" by Suede
Danish number-one single
4 October 2002 – 8 November 2002 (6 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Right Here Next to You" by Jon
Preceded by
"Complicated (Avril Lavigne song)" by Avril Lavigne
"Unbreakable" by Westlife
Irish IRMA number-one single
12 October 2002 (1 week)
16 November 2002 – 23 November 2002 (2 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Dilemma" by Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland
"Dirrty" by Christina Aguilera featuring Redman
Preceded by
"The Logical Song" by Scooter
"Dilemma" by Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland
Australian ARIA number-one single
13 October 2002 (1 week)
17 November 2002 – 24 November 2002 (2 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Dilemma" by Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland
"Born to Try" by Delta Goodrem
Preceded by
"The Long and Winding Road / Suspicious Minds" by Will Young & Gareth Gates
UK number-one single
19 October 2002 (1 week)
Succeeded by
"Dilemma" by Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland
Preceded by
"No Me Enseñaste" by Thalía
U.S. Billboard Hot Latin Tracks number-one single
9 November 2002 – 30 November 2002 (4 weeks)
Succeeded by
"El Problema" by Ricardo Arjona
Preceded by
"The Tide Is High" by Atomic Kitten
New Zealand RIANZ number-one single
17 November 2002 – 19 January 2003 (10 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Lose Yourself" by Eminem
Preceded by
"Jenny from the Block" by Jennifer Lopez
Canadian number-one single
15 February 2003 – 1 March 2003 (3 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera

References

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