Pensador's Blog

Although my taste for music is pretty varied, during different stages of my life I have found myself listening more to one genre than another. The only one that has been pretty constant is Bossa Nova, most probably because it is Brazilian and for that reason it reminds me of the positive aspects of the Brazilian culture.

Bossa Nova

Bossa Nova is a style originated from Brazil in the 1960s. To put it simply, it is the combination of Samba and Jazz. (I’m talking about Brazilian Samba, not the ballroom dance style that bears the same name.) You will notice the beat is pretty much the same from song to song; what really makes a difference is the chords and the lyrics.

Last updated on the 7th of September, 2009.

Here are a few songs along with renditions by known and not-so-known artists.

• Deixa – music by Baden Powell, lyrics by Vinícius de Moraes.
  • Baden Powell
  • Bossa Jazz Trio (a jazzier version)
• Este Seu Olhar – music and lyrics by Antonio Carlos “Tom” Jobim
  • Antonio “Toquinho” Pecci Filho
• Tarde em Itapoã – lyrics by Vinícius de Moraes, music by Antonio “Toquinho” Pecci Filho
  • Antonio “Toquinho” Pecci Filho & Gilberto Gil
• O Samba da Minha Terra – music and lyrics by Dorival Caymmi
  • João Gilberto
• Samba de Verão – music by Marcos Valle, lyrics by Paulo Sérgio Valle
  • Marcos Valle & Andy Willians
  • Julia Simões
  • Caetano Veloso
• Abraço no Bonfá – music by João Gilberto
  • João Gilberto
  • Gabriel Godoi Trio
• O Barquinho – music & lyrics by Roberto Menescal & Ronaldo Boscoli
  • Muito Natural
  • Luiz & Cícero
    
• O Grande Amor – music and lyrics by Antonio Carlos “Tom” Jobim & Vinícius de Moraes
  • Bruno Elisabetsky & Daniel Ring
  • Zimbo Trio

And last, but not least, Garota de Ipanema. A song by Antonio Carlos “Tom” Jobim. It appears that it was the first Bossa Nova song to leave Brazil and to show the rest of the world the new trend. It’s been overplayed and overheard, so I didn’t include on the list above.