'Girl from Ipanema:' Re-imagining a classic for today's Rio

Get Nadine White's Race Report newsletter for a fresh perspective on the week's news Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Let me tell you ‘bout a different Rio / The one I’m from, but not the one that you know,” Brazil’s biggest pop star, Anitta sings over a trap beat. “There really is a secret — an enchantment,” says de Moraes’ daughter Georgiana, a singer who often performs “The Girl from Ipanema." “But," he added, "that’s how the system worked, and it’s clear that, without English lyrics, those songs never would have broken through American provincialism.” RIO TODAY “The Girl from Ipanema” didn't just break through; it became a smash hit, which led Brazil to treasure the original. “I think it’s necessary for people outside Brazil to embrace Brazilian music, funk music and whatever we do, for Brazilian people themselves to think we have a good thing here in our hands.” By scrubbing “Ipanema” from the lyrics, Anitta already succeeded where Gimbel failed.