The 7 best Brazilian bossa nova songs

Bossa nova is a type of music originating in Brazil that has crossed borders. Born in the middle-class neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro in the 1950s, he became very popular even outside of Brazil during the 1970s. Most of the best bossa nova songs are already world famous.

Samba together with other Brazilian rhythmic patterns were the origin of a music that incorporated many jazz elements. From this combination a new musical genre was created with soft and vaguely defined melodies, characterized by a certain subtlety and sophistication.

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Top 7 Brazilian Bossa Nova Songs

Bossa nova represents one of the most unique and enduring sounds in Latin music history. His compositions and lyrics convey a sensitivity that seeks a certain simplicity and sincerity. Sweetness and melancholy combine to create a style of music that could not be understood without its emotional side.

Some of the most famous bossa nova artists Vinicius de Moraes, Tom Jobim, Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso. Below we will find pieces by these and other magnificent musicians from the South American country in a great selection of the best Brazilian bossa nova songs.

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1. Garota de Ipanema - Roberto Carlos and Caetano Veloso

Antonio Carlos Jobim (Tom Jobim) Y Vinicius de MoraesThey are legendary figures belonging to the beginning of the bossa nova times. They composed this and other songs that are already classics of the genre.

Garota of Ipanema it is perhaps the most popular bossa nova song ever recorded. In fact, it is the most world-famous Brazilian song after Stan Getz and João Gilberto recorded it in 1964. Today it is performed by different great singers of the genre, such as Roberto Carlos Y Caetano Veloso.

To listen to the song:

2. Song of Ossanha - Baden Powel and Vinícius de Moraes

Vinicius de Moraes he was one of the pioneers and best lyricists of the bossa nova movement. Many of his works were with Tom Jobim, who gave rise to pieces like “Garota de Ipanema” as we have seen, but he also collaborated a lot with Baden powell, a legendary afro samba guitarist.

Song of Ossanha, is inspired by the songs dedicated to the gods of Candomblé, an Afro-Brazilian animist-based religion. It belongs to the beginnings of bossa nova and has a notable African influence, perhaps not so present in other popular songs of the genre.

To listen to the song:

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3. Chega de saudade - João Gilberto

Chega De Saudade was created in 1957 by the talented Antonio Carlos Jobim Y Vinicius de Moraes. The song became a hit after it appeared on João Gilberto's album, also called Chega De Saudade.

João Gilberto he intimately sings this famous song that talks about "saudades". Saudade is a unique word in Portuguese, and it is very difficult to translate it into Spanish or any other language. It can simply mean "missing" someone, but it also describes a sense of longing and pain caused by someone (or something) that is not around.

To listen to the song:

4. Drinking water - Astrud Gilberto

"Água de Beber" is another classic of bossa nova composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim and with lyrics written by Vinicius de Moraes. It is one of the bossa nova songs that has been most successfully translated and adapted into English, being the translation by Norman Gimbel.

The version that Astrud gilberto recorded in 1965 with Antonio Carlos Jobim was the version that reached the maximum popularity, being today a reference of bossa nova and performed by many artists and orchestras.

To listen to the song:

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5. Eu e a Brisa - Jonny Alf

Johnny alf He is one of the most underrated artists in bossa nova history, but just as important as some of the more familiar names. The journalist Ruy Castro declared that he was the "true father of bossa nova", while Tom Jobim greatly admired him and called him "Genialf"

Eu e a Brisa It is one of the most successful songs of Johnny Alf, a song that shows that he was an excellent composer, pianist and singer.

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6. Samba de verão - Marcos Valle

Marcos Valle he is a popular singer and guitarist with a long musical career. He is well known for playing in different Brazilian musical genres such as bossa nova or samba, although his sound has been influenced by other genres such as rock and funk.

In 1966 Marcos Valle wrote Samba de verão, a song that has come to be interpreted by different famous artists of the genre such as Bebel Gilberto and Caetano Veloso. Here is a lively version of Samba de verão that Marcos Valle performed with Cris Delanno:

To listen to the song:

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7. Aguas de março - Elis Regina and Antonio Carlos Jobim

Marco Waters It is one of the best known bossa nova songs, but also one of the most famous in the history of Brazilian music. Without a doubt, the most famous version is the one recorded by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Elis Regina in 1974.

Elis regina She is considered by many to be the greatest of the artists that Brazil has produced. She had a peculiar grace, for she was energetic and lively but at the same time warm and sweet. She was one of the architects when it came to popularizing samba and bossa nova, and she was very loved by everyone. She unfortunately passed away at 36 years old.

To listen to the song: