Bossa Nova Music: History, Hit Songs and Films

Other Bossa Nova Hits

Other songs in this genre were: "Bossa Nova Baby" (no. 8, 1963) by Elvis Presley from the film Fun In Acapulco. It's got the Brazilian beat, but it's still all Elvis.

Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66 had a few Bossa Nova-type songs on several of their albums, "Mas Que Nada" in particular. Mendes later produced the Brazil '66-sounding group, Bossa Rio ("With Your Love Now" and "Zazueira"). Joe Harnell (and His Orchestra) had a Top 20 hit with "Fly Me To The Moon-Bossa Nova" (no.14, Janury 1963).

"Our Day Will Come" by Ruby And The Romantics may not be a Bossa Nova song per se, but it has that sound, with a fantastic vocal by lead singer Ruby Nash. And of course, Edie Gorme had the huge hit "Blame It On The Bossa Nova."

Films with Bossa Nova Music

Besides Black Orpheus, the Bossa Nova mini-craze also spawned a few films with a related theme or feature: Pista de Grama, Pistoleiro Bossa Nova (1959), Copacabana Palace (1962), Fun in Acapulco (1963), Bossa Nova (a documentary, 1964), Get Yourself a College Girl (this featured an appearance by Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto-1964), and Man Outside, among others.

In the U.S., this genre later became regarded as elevator and lounge music.

Recently, there have been several well-done film and book reassessments that have restored the Bossa Nova to its rightful place in '60s music history.

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