About the song
“The Girl From Ipanema,” performed by Astrud Gilberto and Stan Getz, is a timeless classic that beautifully captures the essence of bossa nova, a genre that emerged from Brazil in the late 1950s and early 1960s. This enchanting song was written by the legendary Antônio Carlos Jobim, with Portuguese lyrics by Vinícius de Moraes and English lyrics by Norman Gimbel.
Released in 1964 as part of the album “Getz/Gilberto,” the song quickly became a global sensation, helping to popularize bossa nova around the world. The album itself is a landmark in jazz and Latin music, featuring the masterful tenor saxophone of Stan Getz and the evocative vocals of Astrud Gilberto, whose delicate and airy singing style became synonymous with the bossa nova sound.
“The Girl From Ipanema” tells the story of a beautiful girl who walks by the beaches of Ipanema, a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro. The song’s smooth melody and poetic lyrics paint a vivid picture of her grace and charm, captivating listeners with its serene yet melancholic tone.
The single reached impressive heights on the charts, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning a Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1965. This success was a significant achievement, showcasing the global appeal of Brazilian music and the seamless blend of jazz and bossa nova.
Astrud Gilberto’s tender and understated vocal performance, combined with Stan Getz’s soulful saxophone, created a magical synergy that has ensured “The Girl From Ipanema” remains one of the most beloved and enduring songs of all time. Its legacy continues to influence musicians and delight audiences, bridging cultural gaps and bringing the warm, breezy sounds of Brazil to ears worldwide.
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 já vi passar
Ah, por que estou tão sozinho?
Ah, por que tudo é tão triste?
Ah, a beleza que existe
A beleza que não é só 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