Antonio Carlos Jobim or Tom to his friends frequented a little cafe by Ipanema beach back in the early 60's  Almost everyday, a young woman, Helo would walk by to the cat calls and wolf whistles of the men. She was tall and tan and young and lovely. Tom Jobim was so in love that he wrote a song about her.  Years after the song became a hit, he even asked the young lady to marry him. Helo said no, partly because she was engaged, partly because Tom was married and much older.  

Normally bossa nova has a rather upbeat sound, but on this 11th album  1980 release by Tom Jobim, Terra Brasilis, Tom sounds as sad as he did when he was turned down by the girl from Ipanema.  He was 53 here, and his singing sounds as sad as the final album by Billie Holiday.  THe songs are all arranged with orchestral elements with full strings and wind instruments adding a lush sound to them.

Although I recognize many Brazilian standards on this album from the famous Girl from Ipanema, Quiet Nights and Quiet Stars (Corcovado) to Desafinada, the tone of the album is summed up in one song, Triste (sad).  Antonio Carlos Jobim's voice sounds so melancholy and emotional, the album almost sounds like a farewell. (He would live until 1994, recording 6 more albums.)  I felt like he was pouring his heart and soul into these songs with all his regrets and sorrows laid out in one 20 song album.  Although many songs are in Portuguese, there are a quite a few sung in English as well.

I will be the first to tell you that Tom Jobim's voice is not the beautiful voice of many crooners from Bennett to Sinatra, yet, his quiet sometimes crackling voice manages to convey such emotion that you can forget that his voice isn't the prettiest.   However, as he sings on Desfinida (off key in English)

If you say my singing is off key, my love
You would hurt my feelings, don't you see, my love ?
I wish I had an ear like yours,
A voice that would behave
All I have is feeling
And the voice God gave

One of his upbeat songs here is a funny pick up song, Two Kites.  Unlike the shy Tom Jobim that never did ask Helo out until after his song about her became successful world wide, he seems very relaxed as he almost speaks this song to some unnamed attractive carioco woman.

And by the way have you forgotten to say
Where you live, what's your name, what you do
In case you're free
We can go you and me to the zoo
And may I ask you what you to do with your days,
With your nights, with your time, with your life
Suppose I dare to ask what are you doing tonight
If you're free I can lend you these wings for a flight

It definitely has a 60s vibe, sounding like it comes out of some beach movie, but it is a fun song.  While we were listtening to the Beach Boys and the Beatles, I can imagine the folks in Brazil listening to this. 

Summary

In a way this album reminds me of Frank Sinatra's song When I was 17.  Tom Jobim looks back with this collection of songs at a lifetime of music, women and Brazil, some happy memories, some sad.  It has that bittersweet feel to it though that one gets remembering times gone by that only exist now in ones memories.

Other Brazilian Albums

Bebel Gilberto (2004)
Bebel Gilberto - Tanto Tempo
Bebel Gilberto - Tanto Tempo Remixes
Joao Gilberto Live in Montreux
Antonio Carlos Jobim - Terra Brasilis
Pure Brazil - The Girls of Ipanema
Gilberto / Getz
Diana Krall - Quiet Nights
Ceu
Sabrina Malheiros - New Morning
Seu Jorge - The Life Aquatic Sessions

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Reading or Studying