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

Adam Neely

5,470,627 views

Brazilian bossa nova isn't elevator music, it's actually really complicated! Let's find out why!
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Sources:
https://bit.ly/32moHOP

Thanks to Martina da Silva for being the voice of the Girl from Ipanema!
http://martinadasilvamusic.com/

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

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20 Comments

@AdamNeely Creator 6 years ago (edited) Pinned

🎹 What song should I do a deep dive into next?
🚀 Get CuriosityStream & Nebula to watch the best documentaries and even more Girl from Ipanema analysis! https://curiositystream.com/adamneely

@moonlit_poem 3 years ago

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

@stadbab 3 years ago

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.

@pedrokz8.0 5 years ago

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

@A.l.a.c. 2 years ago

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.

@livs9899 5 years ago

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

@luciddreams4091 5 years ago

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

@rodrigomendonca1777 5 years ago

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

@raullara9015 2 years ago

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

@anDrExcel 5 years ago

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

@ArmandoMorel 5 years ago

Weird fact: the name "Ipanema" comes from the Tupi-Guarani language "Ypanema", which means "stinky water"

@mannadew 5 years ago

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"

@niemand3774 3 years ago

That song is often bashed to be "Elevator Music". Simply because everybody knows it. But it is far more! Thanks for making that clear!!

@guilherme1272 5 years ago

You have no idea how CUTE it sounds to us Brazilians when people sing properly in Portuguese with just a little "grace accent"" Congratz to the singer!

@PaulMenking 6 years ago

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

@jnm92 5 years ago

I taught myself Brazilian Portuguese on Duolingo just to sing bossa ❤️

@dfreeman120 3 years ago

I played this song on a tour of Japan in 75’ as the MD/ keyboardist for the great Astrid Gilberto. Was great to know her ❤

@Lainey64332 3 years ago (edited)

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

@arualucard 5 years ago

música: aAaaaAaAh porquê tudo é tão triste??

moça cantando: 😁😁😃😄😆

letra: 💀😭😢🥀😟😟

@bettorup_ 6 years ago

Fun fact: The 'quiet singing' style of Bossa Nova music originated out of necessity. Many jam sessions between young (American Jazz-influenced) Brazilian musicians happened at crowded apartments late at night. The quiet singing and corresponding chill style of Bossa Nova was literally born of not wanting to wake the neighbors.