Extremely honored to perform Jobim's "Desafinado" (1957) at California Jazz Conservatory with my talented vocalist friend Ella D.
Recorded at California Jazz Conservatory, Berkeley. August 2023.
Piano: Ross
Drum: Jack
Bass: Paul
"Desafinado" holds a unique place in the bossa nova repertoire, both for its musicality and its lyrics. The title "Desafinado" translates to "Off-Key" or "Slightly Out of Tune" in English, and the song cleverly and metaphorically addresses criticisms aimed at the then-new bossa nova style.
The lyrics are a subtle and poetic response to critics who accused bossa nova musicians of not knowing how to sing samba traditionally or of playing their guitars as if they were "out of tune." In the song, the singer acknowledges being "off-key" but defends the emotion and newness of the sound, emphasizing the heart and soul put into the music. Essentially, the lyrics suggest that there's more to music than just adhering to traditional sounds and norms.
In a broader sense, "Desafinado" is also about romantic rejection, where the singer's love and passion are not reciprocated, similar to how the new style of music (bossa nova) wasn't initially accepted by traditionalists.
The song, thus, serves as a metaphor for both musical innovation and the timeless theme of unrequited love.
Lyrics in Portugese
Se você disser que eu desafino, amor
Saiba que isto em mim provoca imensa dor
Só privilegiados têm ouvido igual ao seu
Eu possuo apenas o que Deus me deu
Se você insiste em classificar
Meu comportamento de antimusical
Eu mesmo mentindo devo argumentar
Que isto é bossa nova, que isto é muito natural
O que você não sabe, nem sequer pressente
É que os desafinados também têm
coração
Fotografei você na minha Rolleiflex
Revelou-se a sua enorme ingratidão
Só não poderá falar assim do meu amor
Ele é o maior que você pode encontrar (,viu?)
Você com a sua música esqueceu o principal
Que no peito dos desafinados
No fundo do peito, bate calado
No peito dos desafinados também bate um coração
About The Song
"Desafinado," which translates to "Slightly Out of Tune" or "Off-Key" in English, is a bossa nova classic composed by the legendary Brazilian musician Antônio Carlos Jobim, with lyrics penned by Newton Mendonça. First recorded in the late 1950s, it played an integral role in introducing the bossa nova style beyond Brazil, especially to audiences in the United States.
The song captures the essence of the bossa nova spirit - a gentle fusion of samba rhythms and modern jazz harmonies, combined with introspective lyrics. The title "Desafinado" itself is a nod to the novel harmonies of bossa nova, which might have sounded 'off-key' to traditionalists, and yet these so-called "off-key" sounds became the signature of the genre.
This brief history touches on the song's significance and the vast influence it has had in shaping global music tastes. Enjoy listening, and let yourself be transported to the balmy beaches and dreamy landscapes that this masterpiece evokes.