For the month of January, I’m selecting some of the most memorable and influential songs of the 60’s. While they all hail from the same decade, these are some of my favorite songs of any era. They remind me that the 60’s were so much more than just Woodstock and psychedelic rock. It was a flourishing period for blues, folk, progressive and straight-ahead rock. #31DaysOf60sSongs
I was first introduced to Getz/Gilberto and the iconic “The Girl From Ipanema” from an old girlfriend. I was a recent college grad living in New York City. Life was moving so fast. But that Bossa Nova record helped slow things down a little for me. It helped me to see the old beauty of New York – to appreciate all the landmarks, personas and stories that helped shape it. During that time I was listening to a lot of Euro dance variations like the Daft Punk world of French house. It was the soundtrack of the clubs my crew frequented. So, listening to Getz/Gilberto in my old girlfriend’s upper westside prewar apartment was a welcome reprieve. Everyone knows “The Girl From Ipanema”, but the record has many other gems, including “Corcovado”.
“Corcovado” is a beautiful mesh of two worlds. Written by Antonio Carlos Jobim, it has been rearranged and recorded by several dozen artists from all kinds of genres. On this version, Stan Getz’s smooth sax adds a smoky jazz room feel to the Bossa Nova bed from Jobim’s piano and Joao Gilberto’s acoustic guitar. Gilberto’s wife Astrud joins him on vocals that are as majestic as the quiet nights and stars that are paid homage to in the lyrics. “Corcovado” is a beautiful love song that intermingles various cultures and genres to establish an unforgettable mood.
“Da janela vê-se o Corcovado. O Redentor que lindo.”