I hate ‘sampling’ almost as much as I hate plagiarism. I’m not sure which one Jennifer Lopez is guilty of, but it’s one or the other.
Oddly, the first time I heard this tune was in a “Visit Israel” commercial. Apparently, its name is “Lambada”. (Funny. It doesn’t look Jewish.)
According to Wikipedia, “The “Lambada” song was actually an unauthorized translation of the 1981 song “Llorando se fue” (which means: Crying he/she went away), from the Bolivian group Los Kjarkas.”
You can hear that version below.
A Japanese version with a slightly faster beat, more like what I remember, is here:
Here’s an “official” Lambada version from 1989. It’s official in the sense that Kaoma made it an international hit, and Los Kjarkas sued Kaoma for plagiarism and won.
This is the Jennifer Lopez version (“rip-off”?) called “On The Floor”. In my opinion, it’s over-produced and not nearly as appealing as any of the previous versions of this melody.
So call it “Llorando se fue”, call it “Lambada” … Or maybe just call it “stolen”.
Creative bankruptcy: It’s not just for two-bit lounge acts anymore.
Thinkwing Radio with Mike Honig 
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nice detective work. i went looking for this because, get this, an ice cream truck in my neighbourhood plays this melody. i figured he hadn’t downloaded a j-blow ringtone. thanks for clearing it up.
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Thanks for your kind comments. I knew there was a rip-off/sample/homage/plagiarism somewhere in this tune as soon as I heard it. I’m gratified that you feel I did you a small public service.
Mike
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Now it’s just plastic music.. pick up a not well known good song, tweek it a bit, modern sonds, computer style and not played by real musicians and with unmeaningful lyrics.. e really hate this music..
ourofuheriuhfr on the floor,
iuhriuhfriuehf on the floor,
oijrofiejrfoiejroijr on the floor…..
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it is true, Kaoma’s group was very popular in Brazil in late 80’s …
I remember listening to this music in California and I said it to my friend… heyyy J-Lo copied the melody from a Brazilian song hahah, but I didn’t even know that Kaoma had copied from a Bolivian group LOLLL … btw I’m Brazilian :P
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To be honest, 99% of music is borrowed, it’s just whether you decide to call it “stolen” or “inspired/influenced.” The remaining 1% is brushed under the rug and labeled weird or hipster, only to be dug up by music execs 10 years later. That’s just how things go.
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It is true that there is very little new under the sun, but there is a difference between “inspired/influenced” and stolen or licensed.
Many composers — even great ones — ‘steal’ from their own previous work. (James Horner is one of the more notorious for that. Listen to scores from “Aliens 2” and “Wrath of Khan” or “Battle Beyond the Stars”.) Other composers have ‘sounds’ which are recognizeable. (Bernard Herrmann and Danny Elfman, for two.)
Then there is ‘sampling”, which (IMHO) is simply a form of creative bankruptcy masquerading a ‘homage’.
In the case of “On The Floor”, the melody is a straight ‘lift’, which if not licensed is stolen.
All of which is of course in my humble opinion.
Mike
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