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.
It Might As Well Be Spring
Astrud Gilberto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want a lot of other things I've never had before,
It's just like my mamma says, I sit around and mourn
Pretending that I am so wonderful and knowing I'm adored
I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm,
I'm as jumpy as a puppet on a string,
I'd say that I had spring fever,
I'm as starry eyed and gravely discontented,
Like a nightingale without a song to sing.
Oh, why should I have spring fever,
When it isn't even spring?
I keep wishing I were somewhere else,
Walking down a strange new street,
Hearing words I have never never heard,
From a man I've yet to meet.
I'm as busy as a spider spinning daydreams,
I'm as giddy as a baby on a swing,
I haven't seen a crocus or a rosebud,
Or a robin or a bluebird on the wing,
But I feel so gay in a melancholy way,
That it might as well be spring,
It might as well be, might as well be,
It might as well be spring.
The first verse of the song "It Might As Well Be Spring" by Astrud Gilberto seems to talk about a sense of restlessness and desire for change. The singer talks about how the things they used to like no longer interest them and how they want things they've never had before. They seem to be stuck in a state of mourning, pretending to be wonderful even though they know they are adored. The singer is saying they are restless, thinking about the things they don't have and the things they want but can't seem to attain.
The second verse builds on this feeling of restlessness, comparing the singer's emotional state to a willow in a windstorm, and a puppet on a string. They are describing being starry-eyed and gravely discontented, like a nightingale without a song to sing. Even though they feel like they have spring fever, the singer acknowledges that it isn't spring. The feeling they have is not explained by the weather or the season but is an internal discomfort that they can't quite shake.
The third verse follows a similar theme. The singer wishes they were somewhere else, somewhere new and exciting, hearing words they have never heard before from someone they have yet to meet. The singer's mind is occupied with daydreams, and the feeling of giddiness is compared to that of a baby on a swing. Even though they haven't seen any signs of spring, such as crocuses, rosebuds, robins, or bluebirds, the singer still feels a sense of happiness, though it's mixed with melancholy. The phrase "it might as well be spring" is repeated several times, suggesting that even though the physical signs of spring are absent, the singer's emotional state is akin to that of springtime.
Line by Line Meaning
The things I used to like, I don't like any more,
I've lost interest in the things that once brought me pleasure.
I want a lot of other things I've never had before,
I desire new experiences and opportunities that I've yet to encounter.
It's just like my mamma says, I sit around and mourn
As my mother always points out, I tend to sulk and dwell on my discontentment.
Pretending that I am so wonderful and knowing I'm adored
I try to portray myself as confident and beloved, but deep down I feel inadequate.
I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm,
I am extremely unsettled and uneasy, like a tree swaying in a strong gust of wind.
I'm as jumpy as a puppet on a string,
I am nervous and anxious, like a marionette being controlled by a puppeteer.
I'd say that I had spring fever,
I might describe my emotional state as being influenced by the energy of springtime.
But I know it isn't spring.
However, I am aware that this feeling is not actually due to the season.
I'm as starry eyed and gravely discontented,
I am both idealistic and highly dissatisfied with my current circumstances.
Like a nightingale without a song to sing.
I feel like I have a lot to express, but lack the means or inspiration to do so.
Oh, why should I have spring fever,
I wonder why I am experiencing this particular mood, which seems to be attributed to springtime.
When it isn't even spring?
Especially considering that it is not actually the season of spring currently.
I keep wishing I were somewhere else,
I frequently daydream about being in a different place, mentally or physically.
Walking down a strange new street,
I envision myself exploring new and unfamiliar surroundings.
Hearing words I have never never heard,
I long to hear fresh ideas and perspectives that challenge and stimulate my mind.
From a man I've yet to meet.
I feel drawn to someone who is a complete stranger to me.
I'm as busy as a spider spinning daydreams,
I am preoccupied with my own thoughts and fantasies, much like a spider weaving a web.
I'm as giddy as a baby on a swing,
I feel lightheaded and euphoric, like an infant on a playground swing.
I haven't seen a crocus or a rosebud,
I have not observed any of the natural signs of spring, such as the blooming of flowers.
Or a robin or a bluebird on the wing,
Nor have I witnessed any birds in flight, although they are commonly associated with spring.
But I feel so gay in a melancholy way,
Despite my melancholic mood, I experience a sense of happiness or lightness.
That it might as well be spring,
I am so affected by these emotions that I may as well be experiencing the season of spring.
It might as well be, might as well be,
In fact, my current disposition is so pervasive that it could be considered a substitute for the actual season.
It might as well be spring.
Thus, I continue to feel influenced by the spirit of spring, regardless of the time of year.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Tratore
Written by: Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
just sayin
on Who Needs Forever?
The lyrics of Astrud Gilberto's song "Who Needs Forever?" suggest that time is fleeting and that we should seize the moment instead of worrying about what the future holds. The repetition of the question "Who needs forever?" implies that forever is not a necessary or even desirable outcome. Instead, the song encourages the listener to focus on the present and appreciate the moment, rather than getting lost in concerns about the future.
The lines "Time goes so fast, Don't waste this moment, Let's live this moment like it's the last" evoke the idea of carpe diem, or seizing the day. The idea of living in the moment and not worrying about the future is a recurring theme in literature and music, and it is particularly relevant in a fast-paced world where time seems to slip away all too quickly.
Overall, the lyrics of "Who Needs Forever?" encourage us to enjoy the present moment and not worry about what lies ahead. The song suggests that life is short and that we should make the most of every moment.
this is not the original Song of Astrud Gilberto, the Lyrics are here only fragments of the original Song of Astrud Gilberto
I prefer this Remix of Thievery Corpartion more, but here us the original Songtext of the original Song of Astrud Gilberto
[Verse 1]
Who needs forever? Love me today
Let's forget tomorrow, it's too far away
[Chorus]
So hold me, don't waste this moment
Let's live this moment like it's the last
Time goes so fast
[Verse 2]
Love shouldn't linger, love shouldn't wait
When fates allow a choice of now or never
Who needs forever?
[Chorus]
So hold me, don't waste this moment
Let's live this moment like it's the last
Time goes so fast
[Verse 3]
Love shouldn't linger, love shouldn't wait
When fates allow a choice of now or never
Who needs forever?
Forever, forever