Bossa Nova

In The Begining
Bossa Nova has become a part of the American jazz tradition. Bossa Nova songs are a very common part of any high school jazz ensemble. But Bossa Nova music is quite far from an American tradition. Its origins are traced back to brazil in the 1850’s, and it was not really introduced to musicians in the U.S until 1962.9 At this time in the united states, when samba musicians in Brazil combined their music style with a style of “Cool Jazz” that was coming out of California at the time.1 Literally translated the words bossa nova mean New Beat, and

that is exactly what it was, a new musical beat and a new style of music that immediately gained immense popularity with Brazil’s upper and middle classes. Bossa Nova musicians started by playing in wealthy neighborhoods of Brazil, the songs were mostly about beautiful girls and falling in love as opposed to its cousin that Samba, whose songs at the time were mostly about political struggle. But in the coming century the texture of Bossa Nova would change with the social climate of Brazil.9

A vehicle for social change
In the 60’s Bossa Nova was considered a harmless music, that is, the musicians of Bossa Nova did not write songs of political protest. But somehow, the musical style spawned the birth of the prostest music in Brazil that is considered responsible for the political turmoil that eventually led to a military coup in Brazil in 1964.9 During all the political turmoil, Bossa Nova Musicians began to write songs with a much stronger political message, and some were almost considered social guides and leaders, in a similar manner to Bob Dylan was in the United

States at this time. After the Coup of 1964 Bossa Nova continued to change. The Topic Of many songs shifted towards protest at the new Military government. Bossa Nova was no longer a music of the upper class, it was a music of the people of Brazil. 9
Although it was originally a music for the Upper Class bossa nova has always had many parallels to the country of its origin. It was created in a time of growth and relative prosperity for Brazil and then the “second style”, created after 1964 was during a time of struggle, and the lyrics of the songs support this.

Bossa Nova Today
Today Bossa Nova is beginning to celebrate a return to popularity. The adults of today had parents who loved Bossa Nova, and true to all human nature, as kids they rebelled against things that their parents stood for, but those kids are now becoming adults and beginning to re-embrace Bossa Nova as part of their country’s tradition, as well as, appreciate it and enjoy is purely for its musical brilliance. Famous Bossa Nova Composers include, Antonio Carlos

Jobim, one of the founding fathers of Bossa Nova, and Sylvia Telles, who is considered by many to be the most talend Brazilian singer in the 1950’s and1960’s.1 In the united states Bossa Nova has received to recent, rather secret infamy in the form of “Soul Bossa Nova” by Quincy Jones, which has been featured in the opening credits of all three Austin Powers Movies. Stan Getz is also a famous Bossa Nova Musician from the United States.