Summer Samba
Encyclopedia
Summer Samba is a 1966
bossa nova
song by Brazil
ian composer Marcos Valle
, with English-language
lyrics by Norman Gimbel
; the original Portuguese lyrics came from Paulo Sérgio Valle, brother to the composer.
The song was first popularized by the Walter Wanderley Trio in 1966 — the album Rain Forest on which it was issued reached platinum status in 1970 — also reaching the U.S.
"Easy Listening" chart in versions by Johnny Mathis
, Vikki Carr
, and Connie Francis
during that same year. In fact, at least one source claims that three different versions were on the Billboard charts
at the same time in 1966. Allmusic has said of Wanderley's version, "His recording ... is regarded as perhaps a more definitive bossa tune than "Girl From Ipanema." Wanderley's version was the biggest seller in the U.S., reaching #26 on the Billboard Hot 100
in 1966, (#3 on the Easy Listening chart) , and is still a favourite on Adult Standards
radio stations.
Other notable versions include those by Astrud Gilberto
and by Bebel Gilberto
, both of which have been used in several television programs and in widely broadcast TV advertisements. As of the year 2000, the song had been recorded by more than 180 different artists worldwide.
The song was covered by Emma Bunton
in 2004 and was released as a b-side on the commercial CD single to her single "Crickets Sing For Anamaria
" (also written by Marcos Valle), taken from her critically acclaimed second album, Free Me.
This song features the Hammond B-3 organ, a staple of the sixties in the recording studio.
The song appears in the film Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
as well as Click. It also is a major theme in the game Destroy All Humans!
, largely as an intentional music joke as the video game is set in 1957, nine years before the song's release. The song is also heard in The Simpsons episode "The Otto Show" (S03E22) from Homer's
car radio while he is waiting Bart
and Milhouse who are listening Spinal Tap's
concert.
1966 in music
-Events:*January 3 – Hullabaloo shows promotional videos of The Beatles songs "Day Tripper" and "We Can Work it Out".*January 8 – Shindig! airs for the last time on ABC, with musical guests the Kinks and the Who...
bossa nova
Bossa nova
Bossa nova is a style of Brazilian music. Bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s, initially consisting of young musicians and college students...
song by Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian composer Marcos Valle
Marcos Valle
Marcos Kostenbader Valle is a Brazilian singer, songwriter and record producer. He has produced works in many musical styles, including bossa nova, samba, incidental music and fusions of American/European rock, soul and dance music with Brazilian styles.-Biography:Valle's talent was evident from...
, with English-language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
lyrics by Norman Gimbel
Norman Gimbel
Norman Gimbel is an American lyricist of popular songs, television and movie themes whose writing career includes such titles as "Sway", "Canadian Sunset", "Summer Samba", "The Girl from Ipanema", "Killing Me Softly With His Song", "Meditation" and "I Will Wait for You", along with an Oscar for...
; the original Portuguese lyrics came from Paulo Sérgio Valle, brother to the composer.
The song was first popularized by the Walter Wanderley Trio in 1966 — the album Rain Forest on which it was issued reached platinum status in 1970 — also reaching the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
"Easy Listening" chart in versions by Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis
John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
, Vikki Carr
Vikki Carr
Vikki Carr is an American singer and humanitarian from El Paso, Texas. She has performed in a variety of music genres, including jazz, pop and country, but has enjoyed her greatest success singing in Spanish.-Career:After taking the stage name 'Vikki Carr', she signed with Liberty Records in 1962...
, and Connie Francis
Connie Francis
Connie Francis is an American pop singer of Italian heritage and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1950s and 1960s. Although her chart success waned in the second half of the 1960s, Francis remained a top concert draw...
during that same year. In fact, at least one source claims that three different versions were on the Billboard charts
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
at the same time in 1966. Allmusic has said of Wanderley's version, "His recording ... is regarded as perhaps a more definitive bossa tune than "Girl From Ipanema." Wanderley's version was the biggest seller in the U.S., reaching #26 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in 1966, (#3 on the Easy Listening chart) , and is still a favourite on Adult Standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
radio stations.
Other notable versions include those by Astrud Gilberto
Astrud Gilberto
Astrud Gilberto is a Brazilian samba and bossa nova singer. She is well known for the Grammy Award-winning song "The Girl from Ipanema".-Biography:...
and by Bebel Gilberto
Bebel Gilberto
Bebel Gilberto is a Brazilian popular singer often associated with bossa nova. She is the daughter of João Gilberto and singer Miúcha. Her uncle is singer/composer Chico Buarque...
, both of which have been used in several television programs and in widely broadcast TV advertisements. As of the year 2000, the song had been recorded by more than 180 different artists worldwide.
The song was covered by Emma Bunton
Emma Bunton
Emma Lee Bunton is an English pop singer/songwriter and TV and radio presenter. She was a member of the 1990s girl group, the Spice Girls, in which she was known as Baby Spice as she was the youngest member. In 2010, she joined the judging panel on ITV's Dancing on Ice...
in 2004 and was released as a b-side on the commercial CD single to her single "Crickets Sing For Anamaria
Crickets Sing for Anamaria
"Crickets Sing for Anamaria" was originally a track from Brazilian singer Astrud Gilberto's album Windy, and was produced by the Homali Brothers, a Brazilian Latin jazz pop production team...
" (also written by Marcos Valle), taken from her critically acclaimed second album, Free Me.
This song features the Hammond B-3 organ, a staple of the sixties in the recording studio.
The song appears in the film Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, released in 1999, is the second film in the Austin Powers series that began with 1997's Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and continued with Austin Powers in Goldmember. The film was directed by Jay Roach, co-written by Mike Myers and screenwriter...
as well as Click. It also is a major theme in the game Destroy All Humans!
Destroy All Humans!
Destroy All Humans! is a video game developed by Pandemic Studios and published by THQ. It was released for the Xbox and PlayStation 2 on June 21, 2005. The game is set in the late 1950s in the U.S. and parodies the lifestyles, pop culture, and politics of this time period...
, largely as an intentional music joke as the video game is set in 1957, nine years before the song's release. The song is also heard in The Simpsons episode "The Otto Show" (S03E22) from Homer's
Homer Simpson
Homer Jay Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons and the patriarch of the eponymous family. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and first appeared on television, along with the rest of his family, in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
car radio while he is waiting Bart
Bart Simpson
Bartholomew JoJo "Bart" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the Simpson family. He is voiced by actress Nancy Cartwright and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
and Milhouse who are listening Spinal Tap's
Spinal Tap (band)
Spinal Tap is a parody heavy metal band that first appeared on a failed 1979 ABC TV sketch comedy pilot called "The T.V. Show", starring Rob Reiner...
concert.
External links
- Duet of Marcos Valle with Patricia Marx singing "Samba de Verão in the original Portuguese (retrieved 2008-05-08)