About the song
“The Girl from Ipanema,” originally titled “Garota de Ipanema” in Portuguese, is an iconic Brazilian bossa nova and jazz song that captivated audiences worldwide during the mid-1960s. Composed in 1962 by AntĂ´nio Carlos Jobim with Portuguese lyrics by VinĂcius de Moraes, its English adaptation by Norman Gimbel helped propel it to international acclaim. The song’s allure lies not only in its smooth bossa nova rhythms but also in its evocative lyrics that paint a vivid picture of the beauty and allure of the girl from Ipanema.
The journey of “The Girl from Ipanema” began with its first commercial recording in 1962 by Pery Ribeiro, but it was the 1964 version featuring Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto that skyrocketed its popularity. Astrud Gilberto’s delicate, untrained voice, chosen for the English rendition due to her fluent English, turned out to be a perfect match for the song’s laid-back melody and romantic lyrics. This rendition reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Easy Listening chart for two weeks, solidifying its place in music history.
Beyond its initial success, “The Girl from Ipanema” has endured as one of the most recorded songs globally. Its enchanting melody, infused with influences from blues and Tin Pan Alley, has graced numerous films and music compilations, securing its status as a musical classic. In recognition of its cultural significance, the song was inducted into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001 and added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2004.
Variations in key and interpretation have characterized the song’s diverse renditions, with Brazilian performances often favoring Dâ™ and American versions typically in F. Its enduring popularity is evidenced by covers from music legends such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nat King Cole, each adding their unique flair to the timeless melody.
“The Girl from Ipanema” not only represents the pinnacle of bossa nova’s international appeal but also serves as a cultural ambassador for Brazilian music, captivating listeners with its dreamy melody and poetic imagery. Its legacy continues to resonate through generations, ensuring its place among the most cherished and celebrated songs in music history.
Video
Lyrics
Olha que coisa mais linda, mais cheia de graça
É ela, menina, que vem e que passa
Num doce balanço a caminho do mar
Moça do corpo dourado, do sol de Ipanema
O seu balançado é mais que um poema
É a coisa mais linda que eu jĂ¡ vi passar
Ah, por que estou tĂ£o sozinho?
Ah, por que tudo Ă© tĂ£o triste?
Ah, a beleza que existe
A beleza que nĂ£o Ă© sĂ³ minha
Que também passa sozinha
Ah, se ela soubesse que quando ela passa
O mundo sorrindo se enche de graça
E fica mais lindo por causa do amor
Tall and tan and young and lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
And when she passes
Each one she passes goes “ah!”
When she walks she’s like a samba that
Swings so cool and sways so gently
That when she passes
Each one she passes goes “ah!”
Oh, but he watches her so sadly
How can he tell her he loves her?
Yes, he would give his heart gladly
But each day when she walks to the sea
She looks straight ahead not at him
Tall and tan and young and lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
And when she passes he smiles
But she doesn’t see
Tall and tan and young and lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
And when she passes
Each one she passes goes “ah!”
When she walks she’s like a samba that
Swings so cool and sways so gently
That when she passes
Each one she passes goes “ah!”
Oh, but he watches her so sadly
How can he tell her he loves her?
Yes, he would give his heart gladly
But each day when she walks to the sea
She looks straight ahead not at him
Tall and tan and young and lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
And when she passes he smiles
But she doesn’t see
She just doesn’t see
No, she doesn’t see
She just doesn’t see