Popular bossa nova songs: a roundup of recommended classic BGM

Ela é CariocaAdriana Calcanhotto

Adriana Calcanhotto – Ela é Carioca

One of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s classic bossa nova songs is known in Japanese as “She’s a Carioca.” Incidentally, João Gilberto also released an album with the same title that includes this song.

“Carioca” refers to people who live in Rio de Janeiro, much like how “New Yorker” refers to someone from New York.

Blue BossaJoe Henderson

Joe Henderson – Blue Bossa

Blue Bossa was not born in Brazil; it is said that jazz musician Kenny Dorham created it by fusing hard bop—a subgenre of jazz—with bossa nova.

Tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson performed it on his album, and it has since become a jazz standard.

One Note SambaAntonio Carlos Jobim

One Note Samba (Samba de Uma Nota So) (Album Version)

The original title “Samba de Uma Nota Só” is one of the representative bossa nova songs, composed with lyrics by Antônio Carlos Jobim and Newton Mendonça.

Unusually, Jobim is said to have also written the English lyrics, and worldwide it may be better known by the name “One Note Samba.” As the title suggests, its simple main melody—made up of a series of notes at the same pitch—is striking.

Chovendo Na RoseiraGal Costa

Gal Costa – Chovendo Na Roseira

This song is one of Antônio Carlos Jobim’s masterpieces, known in Japanese as “Rain Falling on Roses.” It has a challenging melody with delicate intervals that could easily sound unstable if handled poorly, yet it’s a very beautiful piece.

However, since it’s a waltz in 3/4 time, it may not be strictly considered bossa nova.

Você e euKay Lyra

Kay Lyra (com o pai Carlos Lyra) – “Você e eu”

This song, known in Japanese as “You and I,” is one of the bossa nova classics by Carlos Lyra and Vinicius de Moraes.

The lyrics by Moraes are very beautiful and full of a joyful, happy atmosphere.

By the way, the singer, Kay Lyra, is Carlos Lyra’s daughter.

Samba de AviãoMiúcha

Tom Vinícius Toquinho e Miúcha 08 – Samba de Avião

This song is one of the bossa nova masterpieces by Antônio Carlos Jobim, known in Japanese as “Jet Plane Samba.” It’s said that Jobim loved watching planes taking off and landing at the airport in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and he composed this piece inspired by the view from a plane about to arrive in Rio.

A FelicidadePauline Croze

Pauline Croze – A Felicidade (Session acoustique) ft. Vinícius Cantuária

One of the bossa nova masterpieces by Antônio Carlos Jobim, “A Felicidade,” means “happiness.” It served as the theme song for the renowned Franco-Brazilian-Italian co-production film “Black Orpheus,” and its poignant lyrics—saying that sorrow has no end, while happiness does—seem to hint at the film’s very content.

Agua De BeberSophie Milman

Sophie Milman – Agua De Beber

This is a song by Antônio Carlos Jobim, one of the most iconic Brazilian musicians of the 20th century.

Known in Japanese as “Oishii Mizu” (“Fresh Water”), it was given English lyrics by Norman Gimbel, just like “The Girl from Ipanema.” It’s a song that conveys the idea that love is as essential to life as water.

Eu Quero Um SambaLisa Ono

EU QUERO UM SAMBA (Samba of Joy)

This song is known in Japanese as “Joyful Samba,” and it’s a piece that clearly showcases João Gilberto’s batida technique—his distinctive method of conveying samba rhythm using only the guitar, earning him the title “god of bossa nova.” The singer, Lisa Ono, could very well be called one of Japan’s leading bossa nova vocalists.

MeditationNova

Baila Nova – Meditação (Meditation) – Antonio Carlos Jobim

It is one of the early bossa nova masterpieces, composed and written by Newton Mendonça and Antônio Carlos Jobim.

Unusually for a Jobim piece, the title does not appear in the lyrics; in Japanese it is known as “Meditation.” Although it is a song about heartbreak, it carries no sense of despair—rather, it is gentle and serene.