The Girl From Ipanema is a far weirder song than you thought

Brazilian bossa nova isn't elevator music, it's actually really complicated! Let's find out why!

Sources:

Thanks to Martina da Silva for being the voice of the Girl from Ipanema!

0:00 Introduction
2:42 A brief history of Bossa Nova
8:35 Melodic sequences
13:25 The Blues countermelody
17:43 Harmony and ambiguity
24:29 Bridge comparison Ribeiro vs. Gilberto
27:25 Context and poetic deletion

(⌐■_■)

⦿ Adam Neely T-shirts! ⦿

⦿ SUPPORT ME ON PATREON ⦿

⦿ FOLLOW ME ON THE INTERNETS ⦿

⦿ Check out some of my music ⦿

Peace,
Adam

[AdamNeely]

🎹 What song should I do a deep dive into next?

[stadbab]

when i was in highschool i had a friend whose dog HATED this song. he was normally super friendly and sweet, but if you so much as hummed it around him he would start growling. that dog apparently had no appreciation for bossa nova.

[pedrokz.]

I'm a simple Brazilian, I see my culture on the title, I click

[A.l.a.c.]

In Portuguese the lyrics are much more romantic and talks about beauty, love, grace and simplicity. They are not expecting anything from the girl, like in the English version, they are just contemplating her passing as a moment of grace, beauty and lonely sadness for them. It's like a devotion. Vinícius was a very romantic Don Juan type of man.
I love "Onde Anda Você", btw.

[timothybruggeman]

After having studied Portuguese for a while and listening to the Portuguese lyrics, I was astonished to find that the lyrics are not a direct translation to the English lyrics you hear Astrud Gilberto sing. Here it is, translated literally:

Look, such a sight, so beautiful,
So filled with grace,
It's her, this girl who comes and who passes,
With a sweet swing, on her way to the sea.
Girl with body of gold
From the sun of Ipanema,
Her swing
Is more than a poem,
Is a sight more beautiful
Than I have ever seen pass by.

Ah, why am I so alone?
Why is there so much sadness?
This beauty that exists,
This beauty that is not only mine,
That also passes by alone.

Ah, if she but knew,
That when she passes by,
The world smiles,
Is filled with grace,
And becomes more beautiful,
Because of love.

[livs]

Video: **has something from Brazil in the title**
Brazilians: Hah, you just activated my trap card!

[rodrigomendonca]

strange fact: Tom and Vinicius wrote this song based on experiences they had in a bar in Rio de Janeiro that still exists and is in the neighborhood of Ipanema, they watched the same girl pass by this bar on the way to the beach and because they thought she was very beautiful they decided to write this song, this girl is still alive and is called Helô Pinheiro. Legend says that they wore drunk while watching Helô

[Lizzy-tgtz]

i feel like most americans label bossa nova as "elevator music" whenever they hear it which is so annoying to me cause it's such a gorgeous genre of music :( it's a perfect mix of some of my favorite parts of music. the syncopation, american jazz influence, and instrumentation are all amazing and just because it's not fast and exciting by pop standards, it's "elevator music"

[thhall]

I was a Texan American living in Salvador Bahia Brazil when this song was released and on the airwaves. It powerfully blessed my 7 year old soul. I am still mesmerized by it at age 67. Your exposition today further explains why this song is so uniquely wonderful. Thank you. I am saddened by Astrud Gilberto's recent death. By a wonderful coincidence (for me), she was born in Salvador Bahia Brazil.

[AndreGames]

Oh, and the lyrics are "o mundo inteirinho", not "o mundo sorrindo"
"Inteirinho" is a diminutive for "whole"

[thebrickthathitjasongrace]

As a Brazilan, it’s honestly just about a lovesick man who wishes a girl would notice him, he isn’t obsessed with her or anything he just is infatuated

[luciddreams]

Me watching this knowing nothing about music theory: mmm yes chords

[raullara]

morrendo aqui com as distorçoes numa letra tao deboa como se fosse de terror e é literalmente uma gostosa andando na praia

[CarlosAndradeVisom]

Hi Adam
I am a recording engineer producer who has had the opportunity to record many times and befriend Tom Jobim and I must say that your observation on deletion, at the end of the video, was one of Tom’s highest priorities when playing and composing. It always called my attention how excited he would get when showing me a full chord from where he would Start to take notes out of so the chord would resonate better, opening space to melodies that would complement it.
Congratulations. This was an amazing study.

[rafaelbassvieira]

I'm a brazilian musician that spent almost 12 years in courses and conservatories here in São Paulo since my teens. I find very funny that I did not got such deep explanation os this classic here, the conservatory is a subsidiary of Berklee and the teachers hold the real book as the holy grail. Thank you for going after so many details about this song and respecting it's culture (I see your portuguese and salute you for it). Huge fan of your work and only wish you the best.

[PaulMenking]

Adam “it actually goes a little bit deeper than that” Neely

[ronnie]

The Girl from Ipanema Sung by Astrud Gilberto in 1960. Became a huge hit in 1963. Astrud died in June 2023 aged 83 in the US.
This song has always been one of my favourites. Thank you Astrud.

[melpot]

Its actually about this girl named Helô that Tom and Vinicius watched passing them as they were in a bar, she was so beautiful and just passed by everyone without needing anyone elses praise to confirm her beauty, which in itself made her even more beautiful. They were also drunk whilst writing.
Edit: she’s actually still alive to this day, Helô, the woman the song is about

[yomama]

I was obsessed with bossa nova in middle school. Its so calming, interesting and beautiful. Portuguese is a wonderful language to listen to. Agua de beber and aguas de marco were my faves.

[otavionunes]

"Ah, por que tudo é tão triste?"
- Ela cantava, com o maior sorriso no rosto