Vagabond Synth Nerd’s Journal Vol. 136 - In Memory of Astrud Gilberto, the Eternal Diva - Part 1

Obituary of Bossa Nova Diva Astrud Gilberto

When I opened the morning paper on June 8, the obituary of Astrud Gilberto jumped out of the page at me.
Astrud was a Brazilian singer who wore many crowns, including Queen of Bossa Nova and Muse of Bossa Nova.
Born in Salvador in northeastern Brazil in 1940, Astrud Gilberto, 83, is best known for her worldwide hit “Girl from Ipanema”.
Astrud Gilberto died on June 5 at home in Philadelphia, USA, the media reported. I extend my deepest heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.

Astrud Gilberto (1966), CC0 1.0 (Source: Wikipedia)

How could anyone not listen to Astrud Gilberto sing?

Astrud was my favorite singer and the female singer I listened to the most in the bossa nova genre.
If you ask me if she is a good singer, she is not a singer with exceptional singing skills. If anything, I would classify her as a charming type of singer.
Her singing was not full of emotion, but rather she sang in a light and refreshing way, not sticky, and she gave the impression of a gentle breeze blowing from somewhere. I think that was her signature quality, and that her voice was most suited to the bossa nova genre.
Once you listen to it, you will want to listen to it again…. She was a one-of-a-kind singer who cast a spell on those who listened to her.
She had a certain beauty, and she was also lucky enough to have her international big break at the same time as the bossa nova boom. Astrud was not just a one-hit wonder, but she continued to be active worldwide for a long time without being confined to the bossa nova genre. It’s a great pity that we will not be able to hear her dreamy voice anymore.

Suddenly by chance… what is the story?

Astrud Gilberto married bossa nova maestro João Gilberto in 1959 and moved to the United States.
At the time of their marriage, Astrud was not singing professionally. Then, on a whim, she began to sing.

When Creed Taylor, a talented producer, visited Astrud and João Gilberto at their home, he overheard Astrud humming a tune while she was cooking in the kitchen. Creed Taylor liked the humming and suddenly came up with an English version of the “Girl from Ipanema,” which he decided to record…a story that is well known to many.
Then, in 1963, Astrud Gilberto stepped in front of the microphone to record the classic album of the century, Getz/Gilberto.

■ Recommended album: Getz/Gilberto (1964)

An eternal masterpiece that triggered a bossa nova boom around the world. It reached second place on the album chart in the U.S. It must have been a great accomplishment for this genre for a jazz album to reach No. 2 on the charts. In addition to the two singers, João Gilberto and Astrud Gilberto, the album also featured saxophonist Stan Getz, pianist Antônio Carlos Jobim, and other great musicians who would carry the history of bossa nova on their shoulders.

This album marked the first time Astrud recorded “Girl from Ipanema” as a professional singer. The fee was $120. The lyrics are sung in English, not in her native Portuguese. The English lyrics made their way from Brazil to the U.S. and became a big hit.
It was a refreshing, low-burning, one-of-a-kind song that intoxicated the world with Astrud’s unforgettable singing style.

Recommended Song: “The Girl from Ipanema”

One of the world's greatest songs. The title of the album, Getz/Gilberto, implies that Stan Getz and João Gilberto should be the main performers. However, João sings only the first chorus of “Girl from Ipanema,” the first song on the album. The rest of the song consists of the second chorus and the chorus part sung by Astrud, Stan Getz solo, Jobim's piano solo, and the last chorus also sung by Astrud. I had never paid attention to the composition of this song, but I was surprised that João Gilberto, the “Gertz/Gilberto” of the album's title, appeared so infrequently in the song. It’s also strange that João Gilberto sings the first chorus in Portuguese and Astrud sings the second chorus in English. But, it doesn’t sound strange at all. Is this due to her singing or the magic of Creed Taylor?

I think it was producer Creed Taylor's shrewd decision to select Astrud Gilberto for a supporting role, including this song.
I was surprised that Astrud Gilberto had the ticket to bridge the world, and I think it can be said that Astrud's singing was what bossa nova was all about. This is how overwhelming Astrud's singing was.

The “Girl from Ipanema” single was edited to start with Astrud's singing in the second chorus right after João's scatting. The single reached No. 5 on the U.S. singles chart.
The album won two Grammy Awards (Best Album/Best Engineer). “Girl from Ipanema” also won a Grammy for Best Record.

Musicians, Albums, and Recommendations featured in this issue

• Artist：Astrud Gilberto, João Gilberto
• Album：Getz/Gilberto
• Song Title: “ The Girl from Ipanema"

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