Bim-Bom
Encyclopedia
"Bim Bom" is considered the first bossa nova
song. It was composed by João Gilberto
around 1956. The song wasn't recorded until July 1958 when Gilberto released it under Odeon Records
along with his version of the first produced bossa nova
song, "Chega de Saudade", which had been released by Elizete Cardoso
earlier that year.
Gilberto wrote the song on the banks of the São Francisco river
as he watched laundresses passing by, balancing loads on their heads. Inspired by the swaying of their steps, Gilberto reproduced their rhythm with "Bim-Bom".
The only lyrics of the song, apart from Bim-bom-bim, are roughly translated as This is all of my song / And there's nothing more / My heart has asked that it be this way. Bossa nova
would come to be known for the relaxed simplicity of its lyrics as is exemplified in "Bim-Bom".
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. It was composed by João Gilberto
João Gilberto
João Gilberto Prado Pereira de Oliveira, known as João Gilberto , is a Brazilian singer and guitarist. His seminal recordings, including many songs by Antônio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, established the new musical genre of Bossa nova in the late 1950s.-Biography:From an early age, music...
around 1956. The song wasn't recorded until July 1958 when Gilberto released it under Odeon Records
Odeon Records
Odeon Records was a record label founded in 1903 by Max Straus and Heinrich Zuntz of the International Talking Machine Company in Berlin, Germany. It was named after a famous theatre in Paris, whose classical dome appears on the Odeon record label....
along with his version of the first produced 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, "Chega de Saudade", which had been released by Elizete Cardoso
Elizete Cardoso
Elizeth Moreira Cardoso , was a singer and actress of great renown in Brazil....
earlier that year.
Gilberto wrote the song on the banks of the São Francisco river
São Francisco River
The São Francisco is a river in Brazil. With a length of , it is the longest river that runs entirely in Brazilian territory, and the fourth longest in South America and overall in Brazil...
as he watched laundresses passing by, balancing loads on their heads. Inspired by the swaying of their steps, Gilberto reproduced their rhythm with "Bim-Bom".
The only lyrics of the song, apart from Bim-bom-bim, are roughly translated as This is all of my song / And there's nothing more / My heart has asked that it be this way. 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...
would come to be known for the relaxed simplicity of its lyrics as is exemplified in "Bim-Bom".