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When bossa nova exploded on the American music scene in
the early 1960s, this lilting song was its anthem. Jazz saxophonist
Stan Getz made the records that launched bossa nova, or 'the new thing' in
the United States. His inspiration came from some recordings that guitarist
Charlie Byrd had brought back from a Brazilian tour. Among them was one of
'Desafinado', written by Antonio Carlos Jobim, with Portuguese words by
Newton Mendonça.
Jesse Cavanaugh and Jon Hendricks made the literal translation of
'Desafinado'
—
'slightly out of tune'
—
the basis for their American lyrics. The song was a hit, and bossa nova was
here to stay.
( notes from " The
Incomparable Como" Readers Digest UK
compilation 1975 )
Notes:
~ Brazilian
instrumental popularized in the United States
by tenor
saxophonist Stan Getz and guitarist Charlie Byrd (Verve).
For English lyrics "Jessie Cavanaugh" is a
pseudonym for music publisher Howard S. Richmond
|