LISTENING IN: Memories of Giraffes in Amsterdam
Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “The Girl from Ipanema” (“Garota de Ipanema”) was recorded by Astrud Gilberto, João Gilberto and Stan Getz, and released in 1964 as part of the album Getz/Gilberto. The album won the 1965 Grammy Awards for Best Album of the Year, Best Jazz Instrumental Album – Individual or Group and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, and a single of the song reached number one on the Pop Standard chart and was named Record of the Year. And what the hell does that have to do with giraffes in Amsterdam?
Several years ago, Vicki Borenstein and I spent a weekend in Amsterdam (on the way to World Travel Market in London) and decided to enjoy the Sunday Jazz Brunch at our hotel. The Girl from Ipanema was playing as we went in – and we discovered it was a favourite of us both. The band must have loved it too – or they picked up on our enthusiasm – because they played it several more times during our brunch.
We were seated beside a large picture window facing the street when I casually looked out to see (to my surprise) two giraffes walking slowly by. I know it was Amsterdam, but truly we had been fuelled by nothing stronger than half a glass of champagne. I gestured wildly at Vicki to look out and she saw them too along with a couple of very tall men (it finally registered that they were on stilts) and people in costumes and finery on horseback. We watched open mouthed and it finally clicked – it was the annual Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) Welcome Parade. Meanwhile the Jazz band yet again played ‘The Girl from Ipanema’ and we drank a couple more glasses of champagne.
The whimsy of that morning seemed to continue through that trip as Jobim’s haunting tune played at several venues we were at, both in Amsterdam and in London.
It was a lovely experience a great trip and we always remember it when we play the Getz/Gilberto album – as we just did.
There was not a good video of Getz, Astrud and João Gilberto, so I’ve used a recording with still images.
Just thought you might enjoy. Cheers!
Lyrics
Olha que coisa mais linda mais cheia de graça
É ela menina que vem que passa
Num doce balanço caminho do mar
Moça do corpo dourado do sol de Ipanema
O seu balançado é mais que um poema
É a coisa mais linda que eu já vi passar
Ah, porque estou tão sozinho
Ah, porque tudo é tão triste
Ah, a beleza que existe
A beleza que não é só minha
Que também passa sozinha
Ah, se ela soubesse
Que quando ela passa
O mundo sorrindo se enche de graça
E fica mais lindo por causa do amor
all and tan 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 gently
That when she passes Each one she passes goes, ah
Oh, but he watches so sadly
How can he tell her he loves her
Yes, he would give his heart gladly
But each day, when she walks to the sea
She looks straight ahead, not at him
Tall, and tan, and young, and lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
And when she passes He smiles, but she doesn’t see
Oh, but he sees her so sadly
How can he tell her he loves her
Yes, he would give his heart gladly
But each day, when she walks to the sea
She looks straight ahead, not at him
Tall, and tan, and young, and lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
And when she passes he smiles, but she doesn’t see
She just doesn’t see, no she just doesn’t see
But she doesn’t see, she doesn’t see, no she just doesn’t see
By: Antonio Carlos Jobim with lyrics in Portuguese by Vinicius de Moraes and in English by Norman Gimbel
First published at Travel Industry Today
