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Bossa Nova Music: History, Hit Songs and Films

© Patricia Jacobs

The Bossa Nova (means the new beat or new way) is a style of Brazilian music that was first heard in the late 1950s (starting around 1958) within the small clubs and cafes along the Copacabana and Ipanema beachfront districts of Rio de Janeiro.

Early Bossa Nova Music

Antonio Carlos Jobim, along with Joao Gilberto and Luis Bonfa, composed and performed the first Bossa Nova soundtrack for the film Black Orpheus.

The first well-known Bossa Nova song was "Chega de Saudade", perfomed by Gilberto and written by Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes (1958). The music is derived from the samba, but has more complex harmonies and is highly influenced by jazz.

The Bossa Nova genre is primarily composed of songs, while the instrumental music is called samba-jazz. It's most commonly performed on the guitar, and often on the piano. Drums are not a vital part of the sound; sometimes there are full orchestral accompaniments. And the rhythm always sways.

Bossa Nova Dance Steps

The Bossa Nova dance originated around 1960, and became popular by 1962 through the mid-60s in the U.S. The Bossa Nova can be danced solo or in couples -- just follow these steps:

1. Place one hand on the stomach.

2. With the other hand held up, do a slight side sway with hip motion.

3. Forward on left foot (your partner follows opposite foot)

4. Close the right foot to left foot without changing weight to that foot (the partner follows opposite foot)

5. Now right foot back (partner opposite foot)

6. Close the left foot to right foot changing weight to that foot (the partner does opposite foot)

7. Repeat starting with opposite foot.

Antonio Carlos Jobim's Pens First Bossa Hits

Probably the best-known Bossa Nova song is "The Girl From Ipanema", written by Antonio Carlos Jobim and sung by Astrud Gilberto with Stan Getz (no. 15, 1964).

Jobim also co-wrote "Desafinado" (it means "off key" or "slightly out of tune") and "One Note Samba", which has been recorded by numerous artists, most notably by Stan Getz, who had a big instrumental hit with the former song (no. 15, 1962).

The best version of "Desafinado" was by Pat Thomas on MGM Records, circa 1963.According to an anonymous fan, Pat Thomas was an aspiring singer in the Chicago area at that time, working in several top nightclubs there.Promotional copies were being passed around, and rumor had it that Miss Thomas was going to be a huge star, but it didn't happen.