Comments on: Lost in translation: the girl from Ipanema

By: raincityjazz

raincityjazz — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 18:44:19 +0000

Dymphna, your point is so well taken. Serenity comes when we not only accept that we cannot own every good and beautiful thing, but also that ultimately, we can own nothing. Feelings of love, awe, respect, empathy, accomplishment and duty are the best things in life; freely available to any and all, anywhere, any time. Imbibe of them freely and be eternally wealthy!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 07:00:00 +0000

ana beatriz calvante carvalho tavares foi o puta de ipanema sempre

By: Ymarsakar

Ymarsakar — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 07:00:00 +0000

American version=Witty, plenty of refrain and repetition, as well as supreme visualization. Catchy. Light

Brazile Version=Philosophical perspective bordering on the sublime, almost melancholy. Color orientated.

A commentary on thedifferences in culture perhaps.

By: TmjUtah

TmjUtah — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 07:00:00 +0000

I have a terrible confession to make.

Good thing it's on a most-likely dead thread, eh?

The melody from "Girl From Ipanema" is the soundtrack to my life.

Waiting to step off the ramp as a young Marine.

Standing in the line at the DMV.

Contemplating a piece of steel on the anvil.

In position over a waterhole on opening day.

Stuck in traffic.

It drives my wife NUTS.

I have no desire to change the situation at all, though.

Da - - da da da
Da - - da da....

By: Bookworm

Bookworm — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 07:00:00 +0000

That’s one of my favorite childhood songs, and the lyrics, whenever I hear them, instantly transport me back to lovely summers on the beach.

Funnily enough, I read this the evening after I’d explained to my children that we don’t listen to modern pop music in the house because I, as a mother, simply cannot allow them to hear songs that are “nasty” (they’re little). I explained that songs from my youth were about love (most songs), or silliness (Marzy Dotes), or places, or other things. Modern songs, I said, are about violence and hate, and are mean about women, and whine a lot. The lovely Girl from Ipanema just brings home how correct I think I was in describing music from the past.

By: Clive Davis

Clive Davis — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 07:00:00 +0000

Lovely post, Neo. There’s a story about how Stan Getz made a point of trying to stop Astrud Gilberto receiving any royalties. My friend Gene Lees wrote about that, and many other Getz misdemeanours, in his “Jazzletter”. I know he takes a dim view of the English lyrics of Ipanema. He knew Jobim well, and spent time in Rio collaborating with him (he’s responsible for the lovely “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars”, aka “Corcovado”). BTW, the best version of Jobim’s songs I’ve heard lately is by the Morelenbaum-Sakamoto group. Their CDs “Casa” and “A Day in New York” are gems.

By: Huan

Huan — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 07:00:00 +0000

The story of the woman to sing this song, Astrud Gilberto, is lovely and interesting as well.

By: an unrepentant kulak

an unrepentant kulak — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 07:00:00 +0000

Thank you for this delightful treat! Having long and tirelessly enjoyed the famous “Getz-Gilberto” album, I’ve often wondered at the specifics of the Portuguese lyrics to this song (and the rest), which to my ears only roll by as lovely sounds. But I’d not have guessed that there was so much more to be found in the original words. The new translation you provided adds another dimension to my love of this classic — I’ve just pasted a copy into the song’s “Lyrics” field in my iTunes library for future reference.

A related recent acquisition that I’ve been enjoying very much is Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd’s (instrumental) “Jazz Samba”. I’ve also loved Bebel’s two albums so far (“Next to You” is a song she sings in English, but it still leaves me teary-eyed with a lump in my throat). I look forward to looking into ambisinistral’s other recommendations. Thanks for the link!

By: Dymphna

Dymphna — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 07:00:00 +0000

The story on YARGB was moving, wasn't it?

Your translation, particularly,

Ah, why am I so alone
Ah, why is everything so sad
The beauty that exists
The beauty that is not mine alone
that also passes by on its own...

is the sum of the human condition from the first moment we recognize "not-I" and want to possess it. The person who can move beyond wanting to possess beauty -- the great view from the terrace, the beautiful face, the intensely haunting song -- without also desiring in some way to have it is the person who has moved to serenity...

Some few of us do.

Meanwhile, whether or not the story of the sadness that lies in wait for the girl from Ipanema is the old familiar sorrows that accumulate with the passage of time. Often, I think Shakespeare knew them too well and only pasted on his redemptive endings, as if in a hurry to get past them.

By: terrye

terrye — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 07:00:00 +0000

Thanks for noticing us.

My favorite poet is Edgar Allen Poe.

Years ago I had a chance to hear a reading of Poe by none other than the late Vincent Price.

Vincent Price reading the Raven was one of those things you just do not forget.