The daughter of a Brazilian mother and a German father, Gilberto was raised in Rio de Janeiro and moved to the USA in the early 1960s. In her mid-teens, she became part of (her own words) a "musical clan" when she met João Gilberto, whom she described as the clan's musical "guru". She married him a few months later, in 1959. She frequently sang duets with him, or sang while he accompanied her on guitar, and he acted as her musical tutor. She also sang publicly with her husband in a concert at the Rio de Janeiro Faculty of Architecture, but did not sing professionally at that time.
The couple moved to the United States in 1963, where she performed on the influential Getz/Gilberto album with João Gilberto, Stan Getz and Antonio Carlos Jobim. While rehearsing "The Girl from Ipanema", João asked her to sing a verse in English, and then persuaded Getz to include this in the final recording. Getz agreed, and Astrud's professional career began. After the recording Getz told Astrud it would make her famous, and was proved correct.
In the mid-1960s the couple divorced.
The success of Gilberto's vocal work on the song "The Girl from Ipanema" quickly turned her into a jazz star, and soon she started recording solo. She started as an interpreter of Brazilian bossa nova and American jazz standards, but started recording her own compositions in the 1970s.
Gilberto's recordings exposed the nations of the World to the sensuality of Brazilian music and to her unique vocal interpretations of American music, such as "The Shadow of your Smile", "It Might as well be Spring", "Fly Me to the Moon", "Look to the Rainbow" (from her album of the same title, with Gil Evans), "Love Story", etc...
Following the hit with "Ipanema", her recording career quickly took off. Her first solo effort, "The Astrud Gilberto Album", was an immediate best-seller and was itself nominated as album of the year. Her next albums were all chart-toppers and were released on a yearly schedule. Her talents were much in demand in other areas as well as she appeared in two motion pictures, "The Hanged Man" and "Get Yourself a College Girl" and also recorded the soundtrack for "The Deadly Affair", arranged by Quincy Jones. She made appearances in all of the popular US television shows of the time, and had TV specials built around her in Europe, Japan and Africa. For many years she was the voice of Eastern Airlines, having recorded award-winning commercials.
In the early seventies, Gilberto revealed another facet of her talents, her songwriting, which was introduced on the albums "Astrud Gilberto Now" (1972) and "That Girl From Ipanema" (1977). On the "That Girl from Ipanema" album, Gilberto recorded one of her songs, "Far Away" (with lyrics by Hal Shaper), as a duet with the legendary Chet Baker. As she has revealed in interviews, this was one of the most rewarding events of her career, since Baker had been one of Gilberto's idols dating back to her teenage years. In 1976, one of her compositions, "Live Today" (co-written with Jerome Schur), received an award at the Tokyo Music Festival.
In the early eighties, Gilberto formed a group, a sextet comprised of piano, bass, drums, trombone, guitar and percussion. Her son, Marcelo Gilberto, joined her group as bassist. With this group format, she toured Europe, Japan, Canada, and the United States. With the aid of Marcelo's valuable musical contributions, she polished the group's arrangements and entered a different phase in her career, as her music became more diversified and her songwriting more proliferous. Her shows, from the beginning of her career up to her last public appearance (2001), have been usually sold out and at many venues she has broken the house record in attendance. Seeking for a way to overcome her stage fright, which was sometimes overwhelming, Gilberto attended the Stella Adler School of Acting, for a couple of years, in the early eighties. The experience was helpful. Although still shy, Gilberto learned to control the stage fright to the extent that she can "live with it".
Her album "Astrud Gilberto Plus The James Last Orchestra", released in 1987, solidified her career as songwriter. The album includes a few of her own original compositions of which "Champagne & Caviar", "Amor e Som" and "I'm nothing without you" (Astrud's lyrics to A.C. Jobim's melody) are best known. The release of this album combined with the reissuing of some of her early records as CDs has created a whole new generation of fans for Astrud Gilberto all over the world, in addition to her already large number of followers. The "Astrud Gilberto Plus the James Last Orchestra" album was extremely well received by critics, as well as fellow artists.
In 1990, Gilberto, along with her sons Marcelo Gilberto and Gregory Lasorsa, formed Gregmar Productions, Inc. In the years that followed, Gilberto toured extensively, developing her live show and writing new material.
In 1992, Gilberto received the "Latin Jazz USA Award for Lifetime Achievement" for her outstanding contribution to Latin jazz music.
In 1995, the first project by Gregmar studios was released on an album as tribute to Jobim on the label Ps Flag/BMG ("Heirs To Jobim"). The song, "Forever Green", one of Jobim's last compositions before passing away, features saxophonist Michael Brecker. In that same year, in a sold-out Thursday night appearance, Astrud Gilberto became the first "Jazz" Artist to sing at the trendy "House of Blues" in Los Angeles, which had until then presented Blues and Rock acts, exclusively. She has also broken house records at the very popular "Jazz Cafe" club in London.
In early 1996 the first album from Gregmar was released in the Asian territories, including Japan, on the Pony Canyon label. It is comprised of various live performances recorded in NYC in 1989, for which is called "Astrud Gilberto - Live in New York".
The "Desafinado" duet with George Michael, in the Fall of 1996 included on the "Red Hot & Rio" album, gained international attention, and exposed the Bossa Nova style to a large number of Pop music fans. "Desafinado" has also been included on George Michael's 1999 release "Ladies and Gentlemen, The Best of George Michael".
Also in 1996, Gilberto recorded a duet with the famous European vocalist, French Pop star, Ettienne Daho. The song, "Les Bordes de Seine", included on Daho's "Eden" album, was co-written by Daho and Gilberto and was particularly well received by "Hip-Hop" fans.
In late 1997, a studio album (also by Gregmar Productions), produced by Astrud and Marcelo Gilberto, was released in the Asian territories by the Pony Canyon label. Comprised entirely of Astrud Gilberto's original compositions (with the exception of just one American standard), the album bears the title of "Temperance". Yet to be released outside of Asia, the album features guests Michael Franks and the New York Voices.
Gilberto's sold-out performances at the "House of Blues", and her legendary shows at NYC's SOB's continued to be musical "happenings" to her fans up until 2001, when she decided to take indefinite time off the "road", in order to be able to spend more time with her family, and do more writing and painting (she is also a fine art artist (click here to view some of her artwork).
Gilberto's style has been a strong influence in contemporary music. Many artists have revealed the fact that they have been inspired by her musical style, among them: Basia (who recorded a tribute to Astrud, a song named "Astrud"), Sade, Sinead O'Connor, Michael Franks, Pat Metheney, and Suzanne Vega. Several "avant-garde" groups have also professed having Astrud as their "inspiring muse".
Gilberto's work as songwriter has gradually but surely developed from a "side thing" in the beginning of her career, to an integral part of it, in the later years. Since the mid-eighties, her live shows featured a large number of her own original compositions, to which audiences have been just as receptive as they have always been to old standards such as "The Girl from Ipanema", "One Note Samba", or "Quiet Nights".
Gilberto's 2002 "Jungle" album release, is a showcase of her songwriting, as it features ten original new compositions.
In April 2002, Gilberto was inducted into the "International Latin Music Hall of Fame".
In November 2008, Gilberto was awarded by the Latin Recording Academy the "Lifetime Achievement" Grammy Award.
Champagne And Caviar
Astrud Gilberto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As summer in Hawaii, as stars up in the sky
Your love fits me, like my designer jeans
Like flowers in the Spring, like a movie on the screen
'Cause you and I are an item
Nothing can break us, nothing can make us fall apart
We're forever mated like champagne and caviar
We are as one, as Carson and TV
As Englishmen and tea, as fishermen and sea
We're just as strong as cages in a zoo
As strong as crazy glue, or red dye number two
'Cause you and I are an item
Nothing can break us, nothing can make us fall apart
We're forever mated like champagne and caviar
We seem to blend like guys do
Like spices in a stew, like Fred and Dooby-doo
We're here to stay, as long as Everest
Or cowboys in the west, together we're the best
'Cause you and I are an item
Nothing can break us, nothing can make us fall apart
We're forever mated like champagne and caviar
We stick together, like champagne and caviar
We are an item, like champagne and caviar
The lyrics to Astrud Gilberto's "Champagne and Caviar" paint a vivid picture of the strong, unbreakable bond between two people. The song compares their love to various other pairs that are known for their perfect combination, such as apple pie and summertime in Hawaii, stars up in the sky, and flowers in the spring. They fit together like designer jeans, and their love is as captivating as a movie on the screen. The chorus highlights the strength and longevity of their relationship as nothing can break them; they are forever mated like champagne and caviar.
The second verse continues with comparisons to couples who complement each other perfectly, like Carson and TV, Englishmen and tea, fishermen and the sea. Their bond is strong as cages in a zoo, crazy glue, or red dye number two. The verses lead back to the chorus, emphasizing the unbreakable nature of their love with the hushed intimacy of "we're here to stay, as long as Everest or cowboys in the west, together we're the best." The song ends with the affirmation that they are an item, forever bound like champagne and caviar.
Overall, the song is a poetic tribute to a strong yet delicate love that is as fragrant and delicious as champagne and caviar. It is a message of hope and faith in the power of true love that transcends all obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
You are, to me, as good as apple pie
You're someone I value and appreciate a lot, just like how many people love apple pie.
As summer in Hawaii, as stars up in the sky
You're just as wonderful and important to me as the warm, tropical island paradise of Hawaii and the shining stars in the night sky.
Your love fits me, like my designer jeans
Your love complements and fits me perfectly, just like my favorite and well-fitting designer jeans do.
Like flowers in the Spring, like a movie on the screen
Being with you and experiencing your love is as refreshing and joyful as seeing the beautiful, blooming flowers of springtime or watching an engaging and entertaining movie on the big screen.
'Cause you and I are an item
Nothing can break us, nothing can make us fall apart
We're forever mated like champagne and caviar
Our relationship is incredibly strong and unbreakable. We're a perfect match, like the luxurious and classic pair of champagne and caviar.
We are as one, as Carson and TV
As Englishmen and tea, as fishermen and sea
We are completely united and inseparable like iconic pairs such as Johnny Carson and television, English people and their love for tea, and fishermen and the deep, blue sea.
We're just as strong as cages in a zoo
As strong as crazy glue, or red dye number two
Our bond is super strong and unbreakable, like the cages that safely hold wild animals in a zoo, the incredible adhesive qualities of crazy glue, or the intense, bright color of red dye number two.
'Cause you and I are an item
Nothing can break us, nothing can make us fall apart
We're forever mated like champagne and caviar
Once again, our relationship is incredibly strong and unbreakable. We're a perfect match, like the luxurious and classic pair of champagne and caviar.
We seem to blend like guys do
Like spices in a stew, like Fred and Dooby-doo
Our personalities and vibes blend together seamlessly, just like how the flavors and spices mingle together in a delicious stew or how the classic cartoon characters Fred and Scooby Doo are the perfect duo.
We're here to stay, as long as Everest
Or cowboys in the west, together we're the best
We're in it for the long haul, just like the towering Mount Everest or the iconic cowboys of the Western United States. Together, we make an unbeatable team.
'Cause you and I are an item
Nothing can break us, nothing can make us fall apart
We're forever mated like champagne and caviar
We stick together, like champagne and caviar
We are an item, like champagne and caviar
Once again, our relationship is incredibly strong and unbreakable. We're a perfect match, like the luxurious and classic pair of champagne and caviar. We stick together no matter what and are a solid, ideal unit just like this iconic duo.
Writer(s): Astrud Gilberto
Contributed by Noah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mitch keong swa
Champagne & Caviar
Astrud Gilberto
You are, to me, as good as apple pie
As summer in Hawaii, as stars up in the sky
Your love fits me, like my designer jeans
Like flowers in the Spring, like a movie on the screen
[Chorus: Astrud Gilberto]
Cause you and I are an item
Nothing can break us, nothing can make us fall apart
We're forever mated like champagne and caviar
[Verse 2: Astrud Gilberto]
We are as one, as Carson and TV
As Englishmen and tea, as fishermen and sea
Were just as strong as cages in a zoo
As strong as crazy glue, or red dye #2
[Chorus: Astrud Gilberto]
Cause you and I are an item
Nothing can break us, nothing can make us fall apart
We're forever mated like champagne and caviar
[Saxophone/Guitar solo]
[Verse 3: Astrud Gilberto]
We seem to blend, like ? do
Like spices in a stew, like Fred and Dooby-doo
We're here to stay, as long as Everest
Or cowboys in the west, together we're the best
TheMatbrown
She's the reason I want to learn Portuguese, her and Stan Getz always get me in the mood
Mitch keong swa
Champagne & Caviar
Astrud Gilberto
You are, to me, as good as apple pie
As summer in Hawaii, as stars up in the sky
Your love fits me, like my designer jeans
Like flowers in the Spring, like a movie on the screen
[Chorus: Astrud Gilberto]
Cause you and I are an item
Nothing can break us, nothing can make us fall apart
We're forever mated like champagne and caviar
[Verse 2: Astrud Gilberto]
We are as one, as Carson and TV
As Englishmen and tea, as fishermen and sea
Were just as strong as cages in a zoo
As strong as crazy glue, or red dye #2
[Chorus: Astrud Gilberto]
Cause you and I are an item
Nothing can break us, nothing can make us fall apart
We're forever mated like champagne and caviar
[Saxophone/Guitar solo]
[Verse 3: Astrud Gilberto]
We seem to blend, like ? do
Like spices in a stew, like Fred and Dooby-doo
We're here to stay, as long as Everest
Or cowboys in the west, together we're the best
J.M. Oliveira
*like Osterizers do
*like Frank (Sinatra) and doo-be-doo
Jose Luis Salamanca
Una de mis favoritas desde hace muchos años y la sigo disfrutando como la primera vez
Mitch keong swa
wow beautiful
songs. ... thank a lot for your upload astrud
Gerard Jambora
thanks a lot for this classic i use to play it on my jazz show at brfm back in the year 1996, she was with James Last when she recorded this elite music..PERFECT!
Gxyz222
That Ms. Gilberto is one heck of a poet! Nice samba groove...
Drew Rosenberg
this songs slaps so fucking hard, i jog and have this number on replay for like 30 min lol
vondior
cant believe I've been missing out on this..I apologies to myself
Alex Stetler
bom : )