Popular bossa nova songs: a roundup of recommended classic BGM

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.

How InsensitiveWes Montgomery

Wes Montgomery – how insensitive (insensatez)

The song “How Insensitive,” with lyrics by Vinicius de Moraes and music by Antonio Carlos Jobim, is known in Japan as “Obakasan” (The Fool), but it’s more famous by its English title.

As with their other signature songs, the English lyrics were written by Norman Gimbel.

Retrato Em Branco e PretoNey Matogrosso & Raphael Rabello

Ney Matogrosso e Rafael Rabello – Retrato em branco e preto

It is one of the bossa nova masterpieces by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Chico Buarque.

Its Japanese title is “A Portrait in Black and White,” and it features a very complex chord progression and a beautiful yet challenging melody rich in chromaticism, making it especially popular among jazz-oriented musicians.