MUSIC
Who was ‘The Girl from Ipanema’, the song featuring Astrud Gilberto?
The Brazilian singer, who was one of the great voices of bossa nova, has died at the age of 83, but the classic tune will live on forever.
The music world is in a state of mourning as it has lost a beloved figure. Astrud Evangelina Weinert (Salvador de Bahía, 1940), known professionally as Astrud Gilberto, has passed away at the age of 83. This sad news was announced by her granddaughter, Sofia Gilberto, on social media.
Sofia’s post pays tribute to Astrud as the genuine artist who introduced the new bossa nova of Ipanema to the world. She was a pioneer and the best in her craft. At the young age of 22, Astrud lent her voice to the English version of “Garota de Ipanema” and achieved international acclaim. The post concludes by stating that Astrud will forever remain in our hearts, and in this moment, it is important to celebrate her life and legacy.
This artist, born to a German father and a Brazilian mother, was renowned for her exceptional vocal talent in popular Brazilian musical genres such as bossa nova and samba. At the young age of 22, she became a prominent figure with her performances in “The Girl from Ipanema” and “Corcovado,” both of which became major hits in Brazilian music and served as inspiration for other artists in the genre. One of these songs marked a significant turning point in her career, leading to collaborations with esteemed artists including Ennio Morricone, George Michael, and Chet Baker, among others. However, starting in the 1980s, her musical activity slowed down due to various hiatuses.
Astrud Gilberto received notable recognition throughout her career. She was honored with the Latin Jazz USA Award for Lifetime Achievement, inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 2002, and released her final album, “Jungle,” although it did not achieve significant success.
Astrud Gilberto’s involvement in the world of music began with her marriage to João Gilberto at the age of 19. A transformative trip to New York with her husband had a profound impact on her life. She joined João Gilberto, composer Antonio Carlos Jobim, and saxophonist Stan Getz in the United States to record a bossa nova album. With her fluency in English, Astrud became the main vocalist for “The Girl from Ipanema,” although she was not initially credited for her contribution to the musical production. Five years after her divorce from João Gilberto, Astrud entered into a relationship with Stan Getz.
Who was The Girl from Ipanema?
‘The Girl from Ipanema’, composed in the early 1960s by Brazilian musicians Antônio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, with English lyrics by Norman Gimbel, became an international hit and has since become one of the most recognized and recorded songs in the world.
The story behind the song is rooted in the vibrant beachside neighborhood of Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In the early 1960s, Jobim and de Moraes frequented a bar called Veloso, located near Ipanema Beach. It is said that one day, while sitting in the bar, they saw a beautiful young woman named Helô Pinheiro, who would often walk by on her way to the beach. Enchanted by her elegance and beauty, they were inspired to write a song about her.
The lyrics of ‘The Girl from Ipanema’ describe the allure and charm of this unnamed girl as she passes by, captivating everyone with her grace and golden beauty. The song encapsulates the atmosphere and spirit of Ipanema, a place known for its stunning beaches and fashionable residents. It remains an enduring classic, symbolizing the essence of Brazilian music and the allure of the girl from Ipanema.
What are the lyrics to The Girl from Ipanema?
The English song’s lyrics are as follows:
Tall and tan and young and lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking and
When she passes, each one she passes goes: Aah
When she walks, she’s like a samba
That swings so cool and sways so gentle that
When she passes, each one she passes goes: Ooh
Ooh, but I watch her so sadly
How can I tell her I love her?
Yes, I would give my heart gladly
But each day, when she walks to the sea
She looks straight ahead, not at me
Tall and tan and young and lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking and
When she passes, I smile, but she doesn’t see, doesn’t see
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 parece um poema
É a coisa mais linda que eu já vi passar
Ooh, but I watch her so sadly
Aah, por que tudo é tão triste?
Yes, I would give my heart gladly
But each day, when she walks to the sea
She looks straight ahead, not at me
Tall, tan, young, lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking and
When she passes, I smile, but she doesn’t see
Por causa do amor
She just doesn’t see
Nem olha para mim
She never sees me
Por causa do amor