I bet you have already heard the song "The Girl from Ipanema", and now that even the "Girl from Candem" has recorded her unique version of this Bossa classic, Bossa Nova is still surely in good hands!
In Brazil, to do something with "bossa" is to do it with particular charm and natural flair, as in an innate ability. In 1932, Noel Rosa used the word in a samba, which went "O samba, a prontidão e outras bossas / São nossas coisas, são coisas nossas" ("The samba, the readiness and otherbossas / Are our things, are things from us").
As yet, the exact origin of the term "bossa nova" remains uncertain. What is certain is that the term "bossa" was used to refer to any new "trend" or "fashionable wave" within the artistic beach-culture of late 1950s Rio de Janeiro. The term finally became known and widely used to refer to a new music style, a fusion of samba and jazz, when the now famous creators of "bossa nova" referred to their new style of work as "a bossa nova", as in "the new thing." (adapted from Wikipedia)
This music style originated on the 50's, in the wealthy neighborhoods that sprouted along the beaches of the city of Rio de Janeiro and both its music and lyrics were composed by middle and upper-class musicians and marketed to the same economic group. For this reason, bossa nova was criticized by some for emphasizing a carefree way of living that little resembled the life of most Brazilians, the great majority of which belonged to the working class.
Indeed, bossa nova compositions often spoke of love, the beach, and beautiful women and seemed to be a depiction of the author's bohemian life rather than a tale of Brazilians' daily struggles as usually happened with samba, a music genre popular among the working class. "The Girl from Ipanema," which became popular outside of Brazil both in its original Portuguese form and in translation, is a perfect example of a bossa nova song. (adapted from eassortment article)
The Ministry of Culture team recognizes the historical value and contribution of the genre in the composition of national identity. It considers that the new commemorative day will contribute to the institutional goal of recognition, promotion and protection of Brazilian culture, and render homage to a great icon of the music of the country.
Bossa nova was born in Brazil in the late 50's, as a new way of playing and singing the samba, a soft and minimalist way. Over the years, it became one of the Brazilian musical movement known all over the world, associated with names such as João Gilberto, Vinicius de Moraes, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Luiz Bonfa.Some music critics highlight the influence of American jazz from the postwar period, as one of the influences of this new way of composing and singing in Brazil. An embryo of the movement were the meetings of musicians from middle class, in the southern Rio, especially in the apartment of the singer Nara Leão this meeting, the group of friends gathered to hear and make music. Among the participants were Billy Blanco, Carlos Lyra, Roberto Menescal, Sergio Ricardo, Chico Feitosa, Joao Gilberto, Luis Carlos Vines, Ronaldo Boscoli, among others. (adapted from article published on Ministry of Culture website)
Did you know that the "Girl from Ipanema" who inspired the composers really exists? Yes, her name is Helô Pinheiro, she was just seventeen and she would stroll past the popular Veloso bar-café, not just to the Ipanema beach ("each day when she walks to the sea"), but in the everyday course of her life. She would sometimes enter the bar to buy cigarettes for her mother and leave to the sound of wolf-whistles.
In the winter of 1962, the composers watched the girl pass by the bar, and it is easy to imagine why they noticed her—Helô was a 173-cm (five-foot eight-inch) brunette, and she attracted the attention of many of the bar patrons. Since the song became popular, she has become a celebrity. [adapted from wikipedia)
 |
| Helô Pinheiro at 17 years old |
Here you can appreciate photos of Helô Pinheiro when she was just a "passer by" in Ipanema Beach and how she looks today. Still very pretty!
No comments:
Post a Comment