One of the most popular bossa nova compositions, “Garota de Ipanema” (The Girl from Ipanema) by Jobim and Vinícius was written in 1962, but it was the recording by Stan Getz featuring João Gilberto’s wife Astrud singing for the first time in English that became a worldwide hit and won the 1965 Grammy award for record of the year.
The real girl who inspired the song was nineteen-year-old Heloísa Eneida Menezes Paes Pinto, who became a national celebrity because of it. Jobim and Vinícius first had the idea to write a tribute to Hêlo after seeing her pass by the Bar Velosa (now the Bar Garota de Ipanema) where they spent much time. Subsequently the two retired to Jobim’s home to develop the final version.
“The Girl from Ipanema” is the second most recorded song in history, with recordings by the biggest names in pop and jazz, including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Pat Metheny, and even Archie Shepp.