The best bossa nova songs
The top 3 according to 1 vote: Chega de Saudade · The Girl from Ipanema · Waters of March. (Updated Sep 26, 2023.)
The classics every list repeats (Cultura Genial, Letras, Esquina Musical): Jobim, Vinicius, João Gilberto and company.
Automatically translated (original in Português). See the original
Top 12
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1
Chega de Saudade
Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes; recorded by João Gilberto in 1958, ground zero of the genre.
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2
The Girl from Ipanema
Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, 1962. The bossa nova anthem; the version with Astrud Gilberto went worldwide.
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3
Waters of March
Tom Jobim, 1972. The duet with Elis Regina is considered one of the greatest Brazilian recordings.
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4
Desafinado
Tom Jobim and Newton Mendonça; made famous by João Gilberto.
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5
How Insensitive
Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, 1961. The most melancholic, about regret.
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6
Song of the Jet
Tom Jobim, 1962. Rio seen from above by a Carioca in love.
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7
Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado)
Tom Jobim. 'A little corner, a guitar…'; also known as Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars.
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8
O Barquinho (Little Boat)
Roberto Menescal and Ronaldo Bôscoli, 1961. A Rio summer on a little boat.
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9
Manhã de Carnaval
Luiz Bonfá and Antônio Maria. From the film Black Orpheus, Palme d'Or and 1959 Oscar winner.
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10
Samba da Bênção
Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes. 'It's better to be happy than sad'.
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11
Wave
Tom Jobim, 1967. Title track of his instrumental album recorded in the US.
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12
Água de Beber
Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes. One of the most recorded standards abroad.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (9)
Chega de Saudade com João Gilberto, ali nasceu a bossa nova em 1958.
Garota de Ipanema em primeiro, a música brasileira mais gravada do mundo.
Águas de Março com Elis e Tom é a gravação mais bonita da história.
Faltou Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar!
O Barquinho com a Nara Leão, delicadeza pura.
Manhã de Carnaval do filme Orfeu Negro, lindíssima.
Desafinado, «isto é bossa nova, isto é muito natural» 🎶
Samba do Avião, toda vez que pouso no Rio canto ela.
Wave do Tom Jobim, instrumental perfeito.