‘The Girl from Ipanema’ turns 50

Washington Times ^ | 07/21/2012 | JULIANA BARBASSA

[iowamark]

Helôise Pinheiro, the "Girl from Ipanema"

Five minute original version

Three minute US release

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Aah...

[Caipirabob]

Brasilians have more words for how a woman sways her hips when she walks than Eskimos have words for snow. It all depends on you local resources, I suppose. : )

[mylife]

Simply the best song ever.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Carlos Jobim composed some incredible tunes. It wasn’t just the rhythms (and he wasn’t the only Bossa composer, of course) he used, he had some very innovative chord changes.

[bergmeid]

The melody alone evokes wonderful memories of Rio de Janeiro. Love those bossa nova tunes.

[katana]

And any man who has ever been to Brazil knows why ...

[Huskrrrr]

Submitted for your approval:

For the best collection of bachelor pad music from the fifties and sixties. Hundreds of hours of free downloads.

http://www.retrococktail.org/

[Tax-chick]

I liked the version by Petula Clark on “The Muppet Show.”

[colinhester]

Approved!

[leaning conservative]

When this song comes on the world becomes right for a few minutes. Thanks!

[StevieB]

I was sitting in front of a bar on Ipanema Beach in 1977, and then that year’s version of The Girl walked by. It was enjoyable!

[BerryDingle]

Interesting. I didn't recognize the title immediately and thought you may have meant The Beaver from Ipana.

Bucky Beaver Circus Star (Commercial)

[M1903A1]

Luxuriamusic.com is a great streaming-audio source of that genre too.

[NY Attitude]

Later

[elcid1970]

“Brusha, brusha, brusha”

;^)

[JoeProBono]

[Paradox]

LOL, in the three minute version, at :30, the Sax player you see is none other than John Roberts.

[imardmd1]

Thanks! Reminiscing on a special time of life — learned bossa nova when it appeared at dances in my college days, about ‘56 — taught to dance, really dance by my girl friend Hedi, who had toured with the Jose Greco troupe — this tune became popular a bit later — always one of my most favorite compositions — just close ones eyes and travel back to a different time and culture — hmmmm — play this again — thinking of the beautiful girls in the flower of youth — and dancing together as we used to — thanks ————

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I think my favorite version is by Sergio Mendez & Brazil ‘66, because is has the rich instrumentation and a good vocalist.

There’s a lot of arrangements out there that just don’t work as well.

I should add the parody lyrics:

Short and fat and pale and ugly
The guy from Ipanema is leering
And when a girl passes, each time she passes
Goes “Ewwwww!”