The Girl from Ipanema is one of the most famous and iconic songs of Brazilian music. Written by Antôni Carlos Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes in 1962, the song tells the story of a girl who walks down Vinícius de Moraes street in Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, and catches the attention of the men who observe her.
Since then, the song has been recorded by countless artists around the world, becoming a true classic of Brazilian popular music. Its elegant melody and poetic lyrics have won the hearts of many people over the years, and the song continues to be one of the greatest symbols of Brazilian culture.
The piano is an instrument that stands out for its versatility and rich sound. The skill of an arranger can be fundamental in transforming an already known song into something new and exciting. In this sense, This song offers numerous possibilities of piano arrangement, allowing the instrument to stand out in different moments of the song.
One of the most striking features of the song is its sophisticated and elegant harmony which is a true example of Tom Jobim’s genius as a composer. The way the notes combine creates a feeling of lightness and fluidity, which is perfectly complemented by Vinícius de Moraes’ lyrics.
The Girl from Ipanema is a song that lends itself to numerous possibilities of piano arrangement. The sophisticated and elegant harmony of the song, combined with its poetic lyrics, creates a unique and engaging atmosphere that can be explored in many ways by the pianist. The piano arrangement is an opportunity to bring a new interpretation to the song, creating something new and exciting from a classic of Brazilian music.
The solo piano arrangement in the following video explores the sophisticated harmony of the song in a gentle way. It is suitable for a piano bar as background music, but also convenient for any any ocasion and performances. The arrangement is in the original key of F major.
Lyrics
Tall, and tanned, and young, and lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking and
When she passes, each one she passes goes: Ah!
When she walks, she’s like a samba
That swings so cool and sways so gentle that
When she passes, each one she passes goes: Uh!
Oh, but I watch her so sadly
How can I tell her I love her?
Yes, I would give my heart gladly
But each day, when she walks to the sea
She looks straight ahead, not at me
Tall, and tanned, and young, and lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking and
When she passes, I smile, but she doesn’t see
Doesn’t see
Olha que coisa mais linda, mais cheia de graça
É ela, menina que vem e que passa
Num doce balanço a caminho do mar
Moça do corpo dourado, do Sol de Ipanema
O seu balançado parece um poema
É a coisa mais linda que eu já vi passar
Oh, but I watch her so sadly
Ah, por que tudo é tão triste?
Yes, I would give my heart gladly
But each day, when she walks to the sea
She looks straight ahead, not at me
