Paloma Blanca

Not to be confused with Palomita Blanca or Blanca Paloma.

"Paloma Blanca" (Spanish for "white dove"), often called "Una Paloma Blanca", is a song written by Dutch musician George Baker (under his real name, Johannes Bouwens) and first recorded and released by his band, George Baker Selection. The single—the title track of the group's fifth album—was released in 1975 with "Dreamboat" (or "Dream Boat") as its B-side.^[1] The song was a hit throughout Europe, reaching No. 1 in Austria, Finland, Flanders, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland, and it also topped the charts of New Zealand and South Africa.

"Paloma Blanca"
Single by George Baker Selection
from the album Paloma Blanca
B-side	"Dreamboat"
Released	1975 (1975)
Length	3:27
Label	Negram Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Johannes Bouwens
Producer(s)	Hans Bouwens
George Baker Selection singles chronology
"Sing a Song of Love" (1974) "Paloma Blanca" (1975) "Morning Sky" (1975)

In the United States, the song became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Easy Listening Singles chart on 14 February 1976 (becoming that chart's overall No. 1 song for 1976), peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, and reached No. 33 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. In Canada and the United Kingdom, "Paloma Blanca" peaked at No. 10, and in Australia, it reached No. 2. The song sold over two million copies worldwide.^[2]

Meaning

Baker has been quoted as saying the song is about "a poor South American farmer who works hard all day and then sits by a tree and dreams of being a white bird with its freedom."^[3]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1975–1976) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] 2 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[7] 6 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8] 10 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[9] 1 Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[10] 36 Denmark (IFPI)[11] 15 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[12] 1 Italy (Germano Ruscitto)[13] 10 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[14] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] 1 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[16] 1 Norway (VG-lista)[17] 1 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[18] 1 Spain (El Gran Musical)[19] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[20] 1 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] 1 UK Singles (OCC)[22] 10 US Billboard Hot 100[23] 26 US Easy Listening (Billboard)[24] 1 US Hot Country Singles (Billboard)[25] 33 US Cash Box Top 100[26] 22 West Germany (GfK)[27] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1975) Rank Australia (Kent Music Report)[28][29] 11 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[30] 2 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[31] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[32] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[33] 1 New Zealand (RIANZ)[34] 4 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[35] 6 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[36] 2 West Germany (Media Control)[37] 1 Chart (1976) Rank Australia (Kent Music Report)[38] 94 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[39] 110 US Easy Listening (Billboard) [40] 1 US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)[41] 157

Cover versions

Following the George Baker Selection's success, the song was widely covered. In the UK, where the group took "Paloma Blanca" to a number 10 chart peak, the recording by Jonathan King achieved number five.^[42]

In 1976, English Scrumpy and Western band the Wurzels created a cover version titled "I Am a Cider Drinker" that contains a number of references to rural West Country life, including scrumpy, rabbit stew, combine harvesters and evenings at the local pub. The single was a number-three hit on the UK singles chart.^[43] A remastered version was produced in 2007, with an accompanying video.

See also

• List of number-one hits of 1975 (Germany)
• List of number-one singles (Sweden)
• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1976 (U.S.)