Which are the best Brazilian songs ever? Seven among the 10 best were composed by Tom Jobim, according to a panel of experts. The big winner: Águas de Março.
By Elma Lia Nascimento

More than 200 Brazilian journalists, musicians and cultural icons were asked to name their three favorite national tunes starting in 1917 when "Pelo Telefone" (On the Phone), the first Brazilian samba, was recorded by Donga. "Which is the all-time best Brazilian song?" was the question presented. Voters were told to consider among other items melody, lyrics, some historical reason, and even sentimental motives. The stunt was promoted by Folha de São Paulo, Brazil’s most read daily newspaper.

If your own personal list included Tom Jobim (1927-1994), you will be glad to know that seven of Jobim’s songs made the ten most cited tunes. Jobim’s "Águas de Março", from 1972, was the champion, but his name was also remembered for "Chega de Saudade" (3rd place, from 1958), "Retrato em Branco e Preto" (6th place, 1968) and "Garota de Ipanema" (7th place, 1963). Jobim was again considered for "Corcovado" (1960) and "Desafinado" (1958, a tie in 9th place) and "Wave (Vou Te Contar)" (1967, 10th place).

Tom Jobim had 32 of his songs cited, the most songs any author had mentioned. Composer Chico Buarque de Hollanda had the same number of tunes remembered. Surprisingly, according to this criterion, Jorge Ben came in second with 22 tunes mentioned. Only his 1963 song "Mas que Nada", however, won enough votes to be included among the 10 most memorable songs. No song was cited in his most recent phase after changing his name to Jorge Ben Jor. Caetano Veloso had 20 compositions mentioned, which gave him the third place in this category.

In 1999, a search for the best Brazilian song of all times promoted by Globo TV Network found that Ary Barroso’s "Aquarela do Brasil" ("Brazil") was the favorite. This time the results were less chauvinistic. Jobim, with a total of 110 mentions, came well ahead of the second most cited composer, Chico Buarque, who got 69 nods. Vinicius de Moraes (48 mentions) came in third for his collaborations with Jobim, Chico Buarque, Baden Powell, Carlos Lyra, Edu Lobo and Toquinho. Caetano Veloso and Jorge Ben tied in fourth place with 34 citations. The fifth place went to Roberto and Erasmo Carlos, a duo famous for their romantic ballads. They were remembered 24 times by the illustrious panel of voters.

Interestingly enough, the most memorable "Águas de Março" interpretation, which serves as reference for all the other versions, is the one sung by the duet Elis & Tom. Elis Regina didn’t like Tom Jobim and didn’t hide her dislike for the maestro whom she called "a bore", "dim-witted", and "old fogey" in the backstage, in 1974, when the Elis & Tom LP was being recorded. Elis, however, needed to revitalize a career that was being derailed by bad press from critics who were demanding more sophistication from her. The partnership with old Tom made the trick for her.

"Águas de Março" appeared on a super brief venture of alternative tabloid Pasquim into the music business. The nonconformist publication in 1972 decided to release simple compacts—a record with a song on each side of the old vinyl disc—to reveal new talents. To guarantee success for the record, their proposal was to release on the other side of the disc an unpublished tune by a famous composer. The new composers were rookies João Bosco and Aldir Blanc with "Agnus Dei". Jobim became their godfather in the recording, with "Águas de Março". There would be only one more release in the collection: that of Fagner being presented by Caetano Veloso.

Women were barely mentioned in this selection. Rita Lee is the first woman to show up in the list. The feisty rocker was mentioned 15 times what guaranteed her an 11th place together with samba composer Cartola. Besides Lee, only Chiquinha Gonzaga and Dolores Duran were remembered. They showed up at the bottom of the list with four mentions each. A big name like Maysa was never mentioned. More recent composers like Marisa Monte, Adriana Calcanhotto, and Zélia Duncan also were snubbed.

Talking for her colleagues, Rita Lee offered some explanation for this oversight: "Women are quantitatively less present in several areas. Only recently we started appearing while patriarchy exists for centuries. Chiquinha Gonzaga is from a time when men would say, "Music is man’s occupation". Dolores Duran was from a time when guys would say, "Women who compose are whores." I’m from a time when Tubby’s Boy's Only Clubhouse used to say, "To make rock you ought to have balls." Cássia Eller is from a time when people say, "You need to be a macho-woman to make music like a man." My granddaughter will be from a time when they will say, "Only a woman could make such a good song."

You can listen to Jobim interpreting his own song while following the lyrics and translation below:
Águas de Março by Tom Jobim

Jobim himself re-wrote these lyrics for the English version. It's a whole new poem:

Waters of March

A stick, a stone,
It's the end of the road,
It's the rest of a stump,
It's a little alone

It's a sliver of glass,
It is life, it's the sun,
It is night, it is death,
It's a trap, it's a gun

The oak when it blooms,
A fox in the brush,
A knot in the wood,
The song of a thrush

The wood of the wind,
A cliff, a fall,
A scratch, a lump,
It is nothing at all

It's the wind blowing free,
It's the end of the slope,
It's a beam, it's a void,
It's a hunch, it's a hope

And the river bank talks
of the waters of March,
It's the end of the strain,
The joy in your heart

The foot, the ground,
The flesh and the bone,
The beat of the road,
A slingshot's stone

A fish, a flash,
A silvery glow,
A fight, a bet,
The range of a bow

The bed of the well,
The end of the line,
The dismay in the face,
It's a loss, it's a find

A spear, a spike,
A point, a nail,
A drip, a drop,
The end of the tale

A truckload of bricks
in the soft morning light,
The shot of a gun
in the dead of the night

A mile, a must,
A thrust, a bump,
It's a girl, it's a rhyme,
It's a cold, it's the mumps

The plan of the house,
The body in bed,
And the car that got stuck,
It's the mud, it's the mud

Afloat, adrift,
A flight, a wing,
A hawk, a quail,
The promise of spring

And the riverbank talks
of the waters of March,
It's the promise of life
It's the joy in your heart

A stick, a stone,
It's the end of the road
It's the rest of a stump,
It's a little alone

A snake, a stick,
It is John, it is Joe,
It's a thorn in your hand
and a cut in your toe

A point, a grain,
A bee, a bite,
A blink, a buzzard,
A sudden stroke of night

A pin, a needle,
A sting, a pain,
A snail, a riddle,
A wasp, a stain

A pass in the mountains,
A horse and a mule,
In the distance the shelves
rode three shadows of blue

And the riverbank talks
of the waters of March,
It's the promise of life
in your heart, in your heart

A stick, a stone,
The end of the road,
The rest of a stump,
A lonesome road

A sliver of glass,
A life, the sun,
A knife, a death,
The end of the run

And the riverbank talks
of the waters of March,
It's the end of all strain,
It's the joy in your heart.
 

The best

1st "Águas de Março" (Tom Jobim) (23 votes)

2nd "Construção" (Chico Buarque) (21 votes)

3rd "Chega de Saudade" (Tom Jobim &Vinicius de Moraes) (18 votes)

4th "Carinhoso" (Pixinguinha & João de Barro) (16 votes)

5th "Aquarela do Brasil" (Ary Barroso) (13 votes)

6th "Detalhes" (Roberto Carlos & Erasmo Carlos)

"Retrato em Branco e Preto" (Tom Jobim & Chico Buarque)

"As Rosas Não Falam" (Cartola) (8 votes)

7th "Asa Branca" (Luiz Gonzaga & Humberto Teixeira)

"Domingo no Parque" (Gilberto Gil)

"Garota de Ipanema" (Tom Jobim & Vinicius de Moraes) (7 votes)

8th "Mas Que Nada" (Jorge Ben)

"Sua Estupidez" (Roberto Carlos & Erasmo Carlos) (6 votes)

9th "Baby" (Caetano Veloso)

"Corcovado" (Tom Jobim)

"Desafinado" (Tom Jobim & Newton Mendonça)

"Panis et Circencis" (Caetano Veloso & Gilberto Gil)

"Pérola Negra" (Luiz Melodia)

"Três Apitos" (Noel Rosa)

"Tropicália" (Caetano Veloso) (5 votes)

10th "Beactress" (Edu Lobo & Chico Buarque)

"Dora" (Dorival Caymmi)

"Eu e a Brisa" (Johnny Alf)

"O Homem da Gravata Florida" (Jorge Ben)

"Inútil" (Roger Moreira)

"Ouro de Tolo" (Raul Seixas)

"Wave (Vou Te Contar)" (Tom Jobim) (4 votes)

Mentioned for more tunes:

1st (32 songs) - Chico Buarque, Tom Jobim

2nd (22 songs) - Jorge Ben

3rd (20 songs) - Caetano Veloso

4th (17 songs) - Vinicius de Moraes

5th (13 songs) - Gilberto Gil

6th (10 songs) - Rita Lee

7th (9 songs) - Arnaldo Baptista

8th (8 songs) - Ary Barroso, Cartola

9th (7 songs) - Roberto Carlos, Erasmo Carlos, Renato Russo

10th (6 songs) - Dorival Caymmi, Luiz Gonzaga

Who was mentioned:

110 votes - Tom Jobim

69 votes - Chico Buarque

48 votes - Vinicius de Moraes

34 votes - Caetano Veloso, Jorge Ben

24 votes - Erasmo Carlos, Roberto Carlos

23 votes - Gilberto Gil

22 votes - Noel Rosa

21 votes - Ary Barroso

19 votes - Pixinguinha

16 votes - João de Barro

15 votes - Cartola, Rita Lee

13 votes - Luiz Gonzaga, Renato Russo

11 votes - Humberto Teixeira

10 votes - Arnaldo Baptista, Edu Lobo, Vadico

9 votes - Dorival Caymmi

8 votes - Luiz Melodia, Paulinho da Viola

7 votes - Cazuza, Nelson Cavaquinho, Raul Seixas, Tim Maia

6 votes - Dado Villa-Lobos (from Legião Urbana), Itamar Assumpção, Milton Nascimento, Newton Mendonça

5 votes Chico Science, Fernando Brant, Guilherme de Brito, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Nelson Motta, Roger Moreira (from Ultraje a Rigor)

4 votes - Aldir Blanc, Chiquinha Gonzaga, Dolores Duran, Jards Macalé, Johnny Alf, Lulu Santos, Sérgio Dias, Toquinho

3 votes - Alice Ruiz, André X (from Plebe Rude), Baden Powell, Bernardo Vilhena, Djavan, Edgard Scandurra, Geraldo Vandré, Gutje (from Plebe Rude), Lobão, Marcelo Bonfá (from Legião Urbana), Otávio de Souza, Paulo Sérgio Valle, Philippe Seabra (from Plebe Rude), Tom Zé

2 votes - Adoniran Barbosa, Alcides Caminha, Aloysio de Oliveira, Angela Ro Ro, Antonio Maria, Arnaldo Brandão, Arrigo Barnabé, Ataulfo Alves, Capinan, Carlos Cachaça, Délcio Carvalho, Dominguinhos, Francis Hime, Fred Zero Quatro, George Israel, Herbert Vianna, Ivone Lara, Jamil Joanes (from Banda Black Rio), João Bosco, Jorge Mautner, Júlio Barroso, Lamartine Babo, Luiz Bonfá, Luiz Tatit, Lupicinio Rodrigues, Matilde Alves, Monsueto Menezes, Nando Reis (from Titãs), Nelson Jacobina, Nilo Romero, Paraná, Paulo Gesta, Regina Porto, Renato Rocha (from Legião Urbana), Roberto Frejat, Rubens Queiroz, Sérgio Sampaio, Théo de Barros, Toni Bellotto (from Titãs), Toninho Horta, Waly Salomão

1 vote - Alexandre Meneses (from O Rappa), Almir Sater, Almira Castilho, Ana Terra, Andreas Kisser (from Sepultura), Antônio Adolfo, Antonio Cícero, Arnaldo Antunes, Arnaldo Passos, Arnoldo Silva, Atílio Versutti, Augusto Boal, Bactéria Maresia (from Mundo Livre S/A), Barmack, Branco Mello (from Titãs), Carlos Gomide, Carlos Laufer, Carlos Lyra, Carlos Stein (from Nenhum de Nós), Cassiano, Catulo da Paixão Cearense, Cesar Costa Filho, Claudio Roberto, Cristóvão Bastos, Cyro Pessoa, Dengue (from Nação Zumbi), DJ Hum, Donga, Dora Vasconcelos, Edson Trindade, Edu K, Egberto Gismonti, Élcio Soares, Ernesto Nazareth, Evaldo Gouveia, Evandro Mesquita (from Blitz), Fausto Fawcett, Fernanda Abreu, Flávio Lemos (from Capital Inicial), Flávio Venturini, Francisco Alves, Francisco Manoel da Silva, Galvão (from Novos Baianos), Garotos Podres, Geraldo Pereira, Gerson Conrad, Gerson King Combo, Getúlio Côrtes, Gonzaguinha, Gordurinha, Guilherme Arantes, Guinga, Guto (from Blitz), Haroldo Barbosa, Hermínio Bello de Carvalho, Humberto de Maracanã, Hyldon, Igor Cavalera (from Sepultura), Ismael Silva, Ivan Lins, Ivan Zigg, Jair Amorim, Jair do Cavaquinho, Jander Bilaphra (from Plebe Rude), Janet de Almeida, Jararaca, Jayme Ovalle, Jeca Mineiro, João Gilberto, João Pernambuco, João Ricardo, Joaquim Osório Duque Estrada, John (from Pato Fu), Johnny Dandurand, José Fernandes, José Marcolino, Ladeira, Leoni (from Kid Abelha), Levino Ferreira, Lúcio Maia (from Nação Zumbi), Luís Capucho, Luís Carlini, Luis Vagner, Luiz Peixoto, Mano Brown, Manuel Bandeira, Marcelo Falcão (from O Rappa), Marcelo Fromer (from Titãs), Marcelo Lobato (from O Rappa), Marcelo Yuka (from O Rappa), Marcos Valle, Marina Lima, Mathilda Kóvak, Mauro de Almeida, Mauro Motta, Max Cavalera (from Sepultura), Moraes Moreira, Murilo Antunes, Ná Ozzetti, Nelson Meirelles (from O Rappa), Neném, Nilton Bastos, Olga Praguer Coelho, Olho Seco, Orestes Barbosa, Orestes de Mattos, Pamps (from Smack), Paula Toller (cantora e composer), Paulinho Mendonça, Paulo César Pinheiro, Paulo Coelho, Paulo Jr. (from Sepultura), Paulo Ruschel, Paulo Vanzolini, Paulo Zdanowski, Pedrinho, Ratos de Porão, Reginaldo Rossi, Renato Teixeira, Ricardo Barreto (from Blitz), Ritchie, Roberto Menescal, Ruy Guerra, Sady Homrich (from Nenhum de Nós), Sérgio Bandeyra, Sérgio Britto (from Titãs), Sérgio Cassiano, Sérgio Sá, Silvio Caldas, Sinhô, Sivuca, Thaíde, Thedy Corrêa (from Nenhum de Nós), Tibério Gaspar, Tom Gomes, Tony Regalia (from Mundo Livre S/A), Torquato Neto, Vinícius Cantuária, Vitor Martins, Waldir Azevedo, Zé da Zilda, Zé Ramalho, Zeca Baleiro, Zeca Mendigo

These big names were never mentioned:

Old guard

Adelino Moreira, Alberto Ribeiro, Alcyr Pires Vermelho, Capiba, Custódio Mesquita, David Nasser, Fernando Lobo, Herivelto Martins, Jackson do Pandeiro, Jacob do Bandolim, Luiz Vieira, Vicente Paiva, Zé Dantas, Zequinha de Abreu

Samba

Assis Valente, Batatinha, Bide, Candeia, Cyro Monteiro, Elton Medeiros, Mano Décio da Viola, João da Baiana, Marçal, Martinho da Vila, Monarco, Moreira da Silva, Nei Lopes, Nelson Sargento, Paulo da Portela, Pedro Caetano, Silas de Oliveira, Synval Silva, Wilson Batista, Wilson Moreira, Zé Keti

Brazilian Blues

Billy Blanco, Maysa, Tito Madi

Bossa nova

Eumir Deodato, João Donato, Ronaldo Bôscoli

’60s

Dori Caymmi, João do Vale, Naná Vasconcelos, Sérgio Ricardo, Sidney Miller, Taiguara

’70s

Alceu Valença, Baby do Brasil, Belchior, Beto Guedes, Ednardo, Elomar, Fagner, Geraldo Azevedo, Lô Borges, Peninha, Pepeu Gomes, Sueli Costa, Walter Franco

’80s

Ed Motta, Eduardo Dusek, Guilherme Isnard (from Zero), Humberto Gessinger (from Engineers do Hawaii), Kiko Zambianchi, Léo Jaime, Marcelo Nova, Paulo Miklos (from Titãs), Paulo Ricardo (from RPM), Supla (from Tóquio), Zé Miguel Wisnik

’90s

Adriana Calcanhotto, Carlinhos Brown, Chico César, Lenine, Marisa Monte, Samuel Rosa, Zélia Duncan

The voters

Abílio Tavares (stage director), Ailton Magioli (journalist), Alberto Guzik (theatrical critic), Alceu Valença (singer and composer), Alcides Nogueira (novelist), Alcino Leite Neto (journalist), Alessandra Blanco (journalist), Alex Antunes (musician and journalist), Alexandre da Cunha (visual artist), Alexandre Matias (journalist), Alexandre Morettin (journalist), Alisson Gothz (performer), Alvin L. (singer and composer), Alzira Espíndola (singer and composer), Ana Lúcia Araújo (journalist), Ana Ottoni (photographer), Anderson Vinícius (rapper), André Barcinski (journalist), Angela Ro Ro (singer and composer), Antonina Lemos (journalist), Antônio Carlos Miguel (journalist), Antônio Rogério Toscano (playwright), Arnaldo Baptista (musician), Arthur Dapieve (journalist), Astrounauta Pinguim (musician), Ayrton Mugnaini Jr. (journalist and musician), Batman Zavareze (videomaker), Bete Coelho (actress), Bia Abramo (journalist), Bruna Monteiro de Barros (journalist), Bruno E. (producer), Bruno Fortunato (musician), Bruno Garcez (journalist), Bruno Gouveia (musician), Bruno Levinson (producer), Caco Galhardo (cartoonist), Carlos Augusto Gomes (journalist), Carlos Bozzo Jr. (journalist), Carlos Calado (journalist), Carlos Careqa (singer and composer), Carlos Eduardo Miranda (producer musical), Carlos Farinha (record shop owner), Carlos Malta (musician), Carlos Navas (singer), Carlos Rennó (composer and journalist), Carminha Fávora Góngora (researcher), Cássia Eller (singer), Ceumar (singer), China (musician), Christiaan Oyens (musician), Christianne Campos (journalist), Cilmara Bedaque (composer), Clarissa Tossin (graphic designer), Claudia Lima (singer and journalist), Cláudio Medusa (DJ), Claudio Tognolli (journalist), Clayton Camargo (engineer), Clayton Jr. (musician), Consuelo de Paula (singer), Contardo Calligaris (psychoanalyst), Cris Braun (singer and composer), Criminal D (rapper), Cristiano Sant'Ana (photographer), Daniel Carlomagno (musician), Daniel Castro (journalist), Daniel Filho (TV director), Daniela Rocha (journalist), Demetrius Caesar (journalist), Denise Mota (journalist), Dionisio Neto (metteur en scène), DJ Hum (musician), Dudu Marote (producer), Ednardo (singer and composer), Edson Cordeiro (singer), Edson Franco (journalist), Edson Natale (musician and producer), Edu K (musician and producer), Elba Ramalho (singer), Eliete Mejorado (singer and actress), Eliseu Paranhos (actor and musician), Erasmo Carlos (singer and composer), Eugênio Lima (DJ), Eunice Raposo (psychoanalyst), Fábio Cypriano (journalist), Fernando Luna (journalist), Fernando Rosa (researcher), Flu (musician), Francesca Angiolillo (journalist), Francisco Alambert (professor of art history), Francisco Martins da Costa (journalist), Gabriel Gaiarsa (journalist), Gilberto Braga (novelist), Guga Stroeter (musician), Guilherme Lopes (producer and DJ), Hagamenon Brito (journalist), Inácio Araujo (movie critic), Iris Cavalcanti (theatrical producer), Israel do Vale (journalist), Ivam Cabral (actor), Ivan Finotti (journalist), Jards Macalé (singer and composer), Jodele Lacher (TV director), João Bosco (singer and composer), João Marcello Bôscoli (music producer), João Parahyba (musician), Jorge Simas (musician), José Teles (journalist), Joyce (singer and composer), Juçara Marçal (singer), Julian Barg (musician), Juliana Monteiro (actress), Juliana Mundim (filmmaker), Junior Deep (producer and DJ), Kid Vinil (musician), Kiko Zambianchi (singer and composer), Kil Abreu (theatrical critic ), Laura Mattos (journalist), Lauro César Muniz (novelist), Lauro Mesquita (journalist and musician), Lenise Pinheiro (photographer), Leon Cakoff (journalist), Letícia Coura (singer), Lincoln Antonio (musician), Lobão (singer and composer), Loop B (musician), Lorena Calábria (TV presenter), Luca Raele (musician), Lúcia Nagib (cinema professor), Luciana Pareja (journalist), Lucio Ribeiro (journalist), Lui Farias (filmmaker), Luís Antônio Giron (journalist), Luiz Calanca (recording shop owner), Luiz Caversan (journalist), Manoel Carlos (novelist), Luiz Henrique Romanholli (journalist), Lulu Camargo (musician), Malu Moura Andrade (journalist), Marcela Franco (journalist), Marcela Tavares (journalist), Marcelo Drummond (actor), Marcelo Ferla (journalist), Marcelo Negromonte (journalist), Marcelo Orozco (journalist), Marcelo Santana Dias (journalist), Marcelo Valletta (journalist), Marcos Augusto Gonçalves (journalist), Marcos Dávila (musician and journalist), Marcos Morcerf (DJ), Maria Ercilia (journalist), Maria Izildinha Pilli (journalist), Marina Person (TV presenter), Mathilda Kóvak (composer), Matinas Suzuki Jr. (journalist), Maurício Tagliari (musician), Monica Ramos (music producer), Mônica Salmaso (singer), Muriel Matalon (actress), Ná Ozzetti (singer and composer), Nelson de Sá (journalist), Nelson Motta (producer and journalist), Newton Moreno (actor and stage director), Patife (DJ), Paula Toller (singer and composer), Paulo Migliacci (translator), Paulo Terron (journalist), Paulo Vieira (journalist), Pedro Sérgio (musician), Pena Schmidt (music producer), Ramilson Maia (DJ), Ramiro Zwetsch (journalist), Raquel Affonso (journalist), Reginaldo Rossi (singer), Regis Bonvicino (poet), Renata Amaral (singer), Ricardo Alexandre (journalist), Ricardo Besen (journalist), Ricardo Cravo Albin (researcher), Rita Lobo (journalist), Rita Wirtti (actress), Roberto de Carvalho (musician), Roberto Mendes (singer and composer), Rodrigo Ferrari Cesar (journalist), Rodrigo Leão (adman), Rodrigo Moura (journalist), Rogério de Campos (journalist), Ruth Slinger (videomaker), Samuel Rosa (singer and composer), Sarah Oliveira (VJ), Sérgio Barbo (journalist), Sérgio Cassiano (musician), Sérgio Dávila (journalist), Sérgio Rizzo (journalist), Silvio Essinger (journalist), Solano Ribeiro (music producer), Suzana Salles (singer), Sylvia Colombo (journalist), Taciana Barros (singer and composer), Teresa Albuquerque (journalist), Thaíde (rapper), Tiago dos Santos Mesquita (art critic), Tom Leão (journalist), Tom Zé (singer and composer), Totonho (musician), Vitor Ramil (singer and composer), Wander Wildner (singer and composer), Wilson Bueno (writer), Wilson Simoninha (singer), Xico Sá (journalist), Xis (rapper), Zé Luiz Soares (producer), Zé Ramalho (singer and composer), Zeca Baleiro (singer and composer).

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