"Samba de uma Nota Só", known in English as "One Note Samba", is a

bossa nova Bossa nova () is a style of samba developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is mainly characterized by a "different beat" that altered the harmonies with the introduction of unconventional chords and an innovativ ...

and

jazz standard Jazz standards are musical compositions that are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive lis ...

song composed by

Antônio Carlos Jobim Antônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim (25 January 1927 – 8 December 1994), also known as Tom Jobim (), was a Brazilian composer, pianist, guitarist, songwriter, arranger, and singer. Considered one of the great exponents of Brazilian mu ...

with Portuguese lyrics by

Newton Mendonça Newton Ferreira de Mendonça (February 14, 1927 – November 22, 1960) was a musician, composer, and lyricist. He began as a pianist in 1950. Mendonça was born in Rio de Janeiro. In 1953 he started working with Antônio Carlos Jobim, somethin ...

. The English lyrics were written by

Jon Hendricks John Carl Hendricks (September 16, 1921 – November 22, 2017), known professionally as Jon Hendricks, was an American jazz lyricist and singer. He is one of the originators of vocalese, which adds lyrics to existing instrumental songs and rep ...

. It was first recorded by

João Gilberto João Gilberto (born João Gilberto Prado Pereira de Oliveira – ; 10 June 1931 – 6 July 2019) was a Brazilian guitarist, singer and composer who was a pioneer of the musical genre of bossa nova in the late 1950s. Around the world, he was o ...

in 1960 for his album ''

O Amor, o Sorriso e a Flor ''O Amor, o Sorriso e a Flor'' is a studio album by João Gilberto, released in Brazil in 1961. The Portuguese title translates to ''The Love, the Smile and the Flower'' and is taken from the original lyrics of Antônio Carlos Jobim and Newton M ...

''. The song title refers to the main melody line, which at first consists of a long series of notes of a single tone (typically D, as played in the key of G) played over a descending

chord progression In a musical composition, a chord progression or harmonic progression (informally chord changes, used as a plural) is a succession of chords. Chord progressions are the foundation of harmony in Western musical tradition from the common practice ...

in a

rhythm. The first eight measures consist of D, followed by four measures of G, and then four measures of D. This is followed by eight measures of a more conventional, scalar melody line. This well-known song first reached a wide audience on the

Grammy The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...

-winning

LP ''

Jazz Samba ''Jazz Samba'' is a bossa nova album by Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd released by Verve Records in 1962. ''Jazz Samba'' signaled the beginning of the bossa nova craze in America. Stan Getz was the featured soloist and the tracks were arranged by C ...

'' (

Getz Getz is a surname. Notable people with this surname include: * Arthur Getz (1913-1996), American artist and illustrator *Bernhard Getz (1850–1901), Norwegian judge, professor and politician *Chris Getz (born 1983), American baseball player *Eyvi ...

Byrd Byrd commonly refers to: * William Byrd (c. 1540 – 1623), an English composer of the Renaissance * Richard E. Byrd (1888–1957), an American naval officer and explorer Byrd or Byrds may also refer to: Other people * Byrd (surname), includin ...

Betts Betts is an English Patronymic surname, deriving from the medieval personal name Bett, a short form of Bartholomew, Beatrice, or Elizabeth. It is also the americanized spelling of German Betz. The surname may refer to * Alejandro Jacobo Betts (1947 ...

), which reached the number one spot on the ''Billboard'' 200 in 1963. Jazz Samba#Chart positions Another well-known release is the Sergio Mendes-Brasil '66 version, in medley with "

Spanish Flea "Spanish Flea" is a popular song written by Julius Wechter in the 1960s with lyrics by his wife Cissy Wechter. The original version was recorded by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. Cover versions of the song have been recorded by dozens of art ...

". The song was featured in a prominent scene of "A Man Without a Skin", a 1963 episode of '' Naked City''. The song was mentioned in the song "Astrud" by

Basia Barbara Stanisława Trzetrzelewska (Polish: , born 30 September 1954), better known as Basia, is a Polish singer-songwriter and recording artist noted for her Latin-inspired jazz-pop music. She began singing professionally in various Polish ban ...

Rogério Skylab Rogério Tolomei Teixeira (born September 2, 1956), better known by his stage name Rogério Skylab, is a Brazilian singer-songwriter, lyricist, classical guitarist, poet, essayist, record producer, actor and former television presenter. His uni ...

parodied the song as "Samba de uma Nota Só ao Contrário" on his 2009 live album ''

Skylab IX ''Skylab IX'' is a live album by the Brazilian musician Rogério Skylab, the ninth in his series of ten eponymous, numbered albums and his second live album overall following ''Skylab II'' from 2000. It was self-released on September 2, 2009 an ...

''.

Notable recordings

Adalberto Bravo Adalberto Bravo (born February 1, 1965), is an American-born Puerto Rican musician and songwriter. Early life Bravo was born in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Hillcrest High School (Queens), Hillcrest High School in 1983. Bravo also spent m ...

– ''

Smooth Passions Adalberto Bravo (born February 1, 1965), is an American-born Puerto Rican musician and songwriter. Early life Bravo was born in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Hillcrest High School in 1983. Bravo also spent much of his time living in Venez ...

'' (2004) *

Charlie Byrd Charlie Lee Byrd (September 16, 1925 – December 2, 1999) was an American jazz guitarist. Byrd was best known for his association with Brazilian music, especially bossa nova. In 1962, he collaborated with Stan Getz on the album '' Jazz Samba' ...

– '' More Brazilian Byrd'' (1967) * Bossacucanova – ''Revisited Classics'' (1998) *

Royce Campbell Royce Campbell (born June 7, 1952) is a jazz guitarist from Indiana who was a member of the Henry Mancini orchestra for twenty years. Musical career He was born in North Vernon, Indiana. When he was five, his mother married a career Navy man, ...

– ''A Tribute to Charlie Byrd'' (2004) *

Kate Ceberano Catherine Yvette Ceberano ( or , born 17 November 1966) is an Australian singer and actress who performs in the soul, jazz, and pop genres, as well as in film and musicals such as '' Jesus Christ Superstar''. Her song " Pash" received a gold ...

– '' Kate Ceberano and her Septet'' (1986) *

June Christy June Christy (born Shirley Luster; November 20, 1925June 21, 1990) was an American singer, known for her work in the cool jazz genre and for her silky smooth vocals. Her success as a singer began with The Stan Kenton Orchestra. She pursued a sol ...

– ''

Something Broadway, Something Latin ''Something Broadway, Something Latin'' is an album by June Christy that was released in 1965 on Capitol as ST-2410. A bonus track was added to the CD. In 2009 the album was reissued as a double-CD with Jeri Southern's 1959 album ''Jeri Southern M ...

'' (1965) *

Rosemary Clooney Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 – June 29, 2002) was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the song "Come On-a My House", which was followed by other pop numbers such as " Botch-a-Me", " Mambo Italiano", ...

John Pizzarelli John Paul Pizzarelli Jr. (born April 6, 1960, in Paterson, New Jersey) is an American jazz guitarist and vocalist. He has recorded over twenty solo albums and has appeared on more than forty albums by other recording artists, including Paul McCa ...

– ''

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

'' (2000) *

Blossom Dearie Margrethe Blossom Dearie (April 28, 1924 – February 7, 2009) was an American jazz singer and pianist. She had a recognizably light and girlish voice. Profile at AllMusicDearie performed regular engagements in London and New York City over ...

– '' Sweet Blossom Dearie'' (1967) *

Eumir Deodato Eumir Deodato de Almeida (; born 22 June 1942) is a Brazilian pianist, composer, arranger and record producer, primarily in jazz but who has been known for his eclectic melding of genres, such as pop, rock, disco, rhythm and blues, classical, ...

& Barbara Mendes – soundtrack from ''Bossa Nova'' (film) (2000) *

Eliane Elias Eliane Elias
BrowseBiography.com, 20 November 2011; retrieved 10 September 2014. is a Brazilian jazz pianist, sin ...

– '' Eliane Elias Plays Jobim'' (1990) *

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...

– ''Alive and Rare'' (1969) *

Percy Faith Percy Faith (April 7, 1908 – February 9, 1976) was a Canadian-American bandleader, orchestrator, composer and conductor, known for his lush arrangements of pop and Christmas standards. He is often credited with popularizing the "easy listenin ...

– '' Latin Themes for Young Lovers'' (1965) *

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...

– ''

Ella Abraça Jobim ''Ella Abraça Jobim'' or ''Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Antonio Carlos Jobim Songbook'' is a 1981 studio album by Ella Fitzgerald, devoted to the songs of Antônio Carlos Jobim. It was reissued on CD in 1991, although the CD version does not inclu ...

'',

Pablo Pablo is a Spanish form of the name Paul. People * Pablo Alborán, Spanish singer *Pablo Aimar, Argentine footballer *Pablo Armero, Colombian footballer * Pablo Bartholomew, Indian photojournalist *Pablo Brandán, Argentine footballer * Pablo Bren ...

(1981) *

– ''The Legendary Joao Gilberto'' (1960) *

Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy Eldridge but addi ...

– ''New Wave'' (1962) *

Eydie Gormé Eydie Gormé ( ; born Edith Gormezano; August 16, 1928 – August 10, 2013) was an American singer who had hits on the pop and Latin pop charts. She sang solo and in the duo Steve and Eydie with her husband, Steve Lawrence, on albums and telev ...

– ''Blame It on the Bossa Nova'' (1963) *

Clare Fischer Douglas Clare Fischer (October 22, 1928 – January 26, 2012) was an American keyboardist, composer, arranger, and bandleader. After graduating from Michigan State University (from which, five decades later, he would receive an honorary doctorate ...

– '' So Danço Samba'' (1964) *

Stan Getz Stanley Getz (February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist. Playing primarily the tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, with his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of ...

and Charlie Byrd – ''

'' (1962) *

Bebel Gilberto Isabel Buarque de Hollanda Gilberto de Oliveira (born May 12, 1966), known as Bebel Gilberto, is an American-born Brazilian popular singer often associated with bossa nova. She is the daughter of João Gilberto and singer Miúcha. Her uncle is ...

and Vinicius Cantuaria – ''

Next Stop Wonderland ''Next Stop Wonderland'' is a 1998 American romantic comedy film directed by Brad Anderson, written by Anderson and Lyn Vaus, and starring Hope Davis and Alan Gelfant. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 17, 1998, where it was n ...

'' (1998) *

Vince Guaraldi Vincent Anthony Guaraldi (; birth name, né Dellaglio, July 17, 1928 – February 6, 1976) was an American jazz pianist best known for composing music for animated television adaptations of the ''Peanuts'' comic strip. His compositions for this s ...

and

Bola Sete Bola Sete (born Djalma de Andrade; July 16, 1923 – February 14, 1987) was a Brazilian guitarist who played jazz with Vince Guaraldi and Dizzy Gillespie. History Born Djama de Andrade in Rio de Janeiro, Sete was the only son of a family with ...

— '' The Navy Swings'' (1965) *

Al Jarreau Alwin Lopez Jarreau (March 12, 1940 – February 12, 2017) was an American singer and musician. His 1981 album '' Breakin' Away'' spent two years on the ''Billboard'' 200 and is considered one of the finest examples of the Los Angeles pop and R ...

– ''Expressions'' (2001) *

– ''

The Composer of Desafinado, Plays ''The Composer of Desafinado, Plays'' is the first album by Antônio Carlos Jobim. Released in 1963, the album features a dozen instrumentals arranged by Claus Ogerman, whose work would mark the beginning of a lifelong musical relationship with Jo ...

'' (1963) *

Quincy Jones Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (born March 14, 1933) is an American record producer, musician, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer. His career spans 70 years in the entertainment industry with a record of 80 Grammy Award n ...

– ''

Big Band Bossa Nova ''Big Band Bossa Nova'' is an album by American Quincy Jones. Track listing Digital Re-issue, on Verve label Performers * Quincy Jones – conductor, arranger * Phil Woods – alto saxophone * Paul Gonsalves – tenor saxophone * R ...

'' (1962) *

Preben Kaas Preben Kaas (30 March 1930–27 March 1981) was a Danish comedian, actor, script writer and film director. He appeared in more than 50 films between 1943 and 1980. He received the 1970 Bodil for best actor in a supporting role for his role ...

and Jørgen Ryg – '' Hvad Skal Vi Med Kvinder'' (1964) *

Stacey Kent Stacey Kent (born March 27, 1965) is an American jazz singer from South Orange, New Jersey. Kent was nominated for a Grammy Award and was awarded the Chevalier de l' Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) by the French Mini ...

– ''The Changing Lights ''(2013) * Lambert, Hendricks & Bavan – "

Recorded "Live" at Basin Street East ''Recorded "Live" at Basin Street East'' is an album by the jazz vocalese group Lambert, Hendricks & Bavan recorded at the New York City nightclub Basin Street East. The album features the group who had re-formed in 1963 featuring Dave Lambert ...

" (1963) *

Nara Leão Nara Lofego Leão (; January 19, 1942 – June 7, 1989) was a Brazilian bossa nova and MPB (popular Brazilian music) singer and occasional actress. Her husband was Carlos Diegues, director and writer of ''Bye Bye Brasil''. Life Leão was born ...

– ''

Dez Anos Depois ''Dez Anos Depois'' () is a 1971 double album of bossa nova standards by Brazilian singer Nara Leão. The first LP is entirely acoustic. The arrangements and accompaniment, made by Brazilian guitarist Tuca, with occasional piano lines, were reco ...

'' (1971) *

Peggy Lee Norma Deloris Egstrom (May 26, 1920 – January 21, 2002), known professionally as Peggy Lee, was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress, over a career spanning seven decades. From her beginning as a vocalis ...

- '' I'm A Woman'' (1963) *

Herbie Mann Herbert Jay Solomon (April 16, 1930 – July 1, 2003), known by his stage name Herbie Mann, was an American jazz flute player and important early practitioner of world music. Early in his career, he also played tenor saxophone and clarinet (incl ...

– ''

Brazil, Bossa Nova & Blues ''Brazil, Bossa Nova & Blues'' (also released as ''Brazil Blues'' and ''Jazz Impressions of Brazil'') is an album by American jazz flautist Herbie Mann recorded in 1962 for the United Artists label.Do the Bossa Nova with Herbie Mann ''Do the Bossa Nova with Herbie Mann'' (subtitled ''Recorded in Rio de Janeiro with the Greatest Bossa Nova Players'') is an album by American jazz flautist Herbie Mann recorded in 1962 for the Atlantic label.Sérgio Mendes Sérgio Santos Mendes (; born February 11, 1941) is a Brazilian musician. His career took off with worldwide hits by his group Brasil '66. He has over 55 releases and plays bossa nova heavily crossed with jazz and funk. He was nominated for ...

– '' Herb Alpert Presents Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66'' (1966) *

Modern Jazz Quartet The Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ) was a jazz combo established in 1952 that played music influenced by classical music, classical, cool jazz, blues and bebop. For most of its history the Quartet consisted of John Lewis (pianist), John Lewis (piano), ...

and

Laurindo Almeida Laurindo Almeida (September 2, 1917 – July 26, 1995) was a Brazilian guitarist and composer in classical, jazz, and Latin music. He and Bud Shank were pioneers in the creation of bossa nova. Almeida was the first guitarist to receive Gra ...

on ''

Collaboration Collaboration (from Latin ''com-'' "with" + ''laborare'' "to labor", "to work") is the process of two or more people, entities or organizations working together to complete a task or achieve a goal. Collaboration is similar to cooperation. Most ...

'' (1964) * Sitti Navarro – '' Café Bossa'' (2006) *

Olivia Ong Olivia Ong (; born ) is a Singaporean singer and actress. The majority of her works are in Mandarin Chinese, but she has also recorded songs in English, Cantonese and Japanese. In her early days, her entertainment career focused on singing ja ...

– ''A Girl Meets BossaNova 2'' (2006) *

Joe Pass Joe Pass (born Joseph Anthony Jacobi Passalaqua; January 13, 1929 – May 23, 1994) was an American jazz guitarist. Pass is well known for his work stemming from numerous collaborations with pianist Oscar Peterson and vocalist Ella Fitzgerald, an ...

and Ella Fitzgerald – '' Fitzgerald and Pass... Again'' (1976) *

Tiger Okoshi Toru "Tiger" Okoshi (born March 21, 1950) is an American jazz fusion trumpeter born in Ashiya, Japan. After studying at Kwansei Gakuin University, Okoshi moved to the U.S. in 1972. In 1975 he completed studies at the Berklee College of Music. ...

- ''Face To Face'' (1989) *

Perrey and Kingsley Perrey and Kingsley (known also as "Perrey & Kingsley" or "Perrey-Kingsley") was an electronic music duo made up of French composer Jean-Jacques Perrey and German-American composer Gershon Kingsley. The duo lasted from 1965 to 1967 and both are ...

– '' Kaleidoscopic Vibrations: Spotlight on the Moog'' (1967) *

The Postmarks The Postmarks were an indie pop band from Pompano Beach, Florida formed in 2004.Sendra, TimThe Postmarks Biography, AllMusic. Retrieved July 3, 2014 They released three albums and an EP between 2006 and 2009. History The band formed in 2004 wi ...

– ''

By the Numbers ''By the Numbers'' is an album of covers performed by The Postmarks, released in 2008. Track listing #"One Note Samba" (Antonio Carlos Jobim)- 3:05 #" You Only Live Twice" (Nancy Sinatra) - 2:57 #"Three Little Birds" (Bob Marley) - 3:51 #" OX4" ...

'' (2008) *

Cliff Richard Sir Cliff Richard (born Harry Rodger Webb; 14 October 1940) is an Indian-born British musican, singer, producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist who holds both British and Barbadian citizenship. He has total sales of over 21.5 million s ...

– ''

Kinda Latin ''Kinda Latin'' is the tenth studio album by Cliff Richard, released in 1966. It is his seventeenth album overall. The album reached number 9 in the UK Album Charts in a 12 week run in the top 30. Reception The album was reviewed by Dave Thomp ...

'' (1966) *

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...

and Antonio Carlos Jobim – '' Sinatra & Company'' (1971) *

Stereolab Stereolab are an Anglo- French avant-pop band formed in London in 1990. Led by the songwriting team of Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier, the group's music combines influences from krautrock, lounge and 1960s pop music, often incorporating a repetit ...

– '' Aluminum Tunes'' (1998) * Stereolab and Herbie Mann – ''

Red Hot + Rio ''Red Hot + Rio'' is a compilation album produced by Béco Dranoff and Paul Heck as part of the Red Hot AIDS Benefit Series intended to promote AIDS awareness. This installment is a contemporary tribute to the bossa nova sound, especially the mu ...

'' (1996) *

Barbra Streisand Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand (; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers List ...

(in a medley with "

Johnny One Note "Johnny One Note" is a 1937 show tune from the 1937 Rodgers and Hart musical ''Babes in Arms'', where it was introduced by Wynn Murray. Judy Garland sang it in the Rodgers & Hart biopic '' Words and Music'' (1948). Popular recordings in 1937 were ...

") – '' Barbra Streisand...And Other Musical Instruments'' (1973) *

Sylvia Telles Silvia D'Atri Telles (; August 27, 1934 – December 17, 1966) was a Brazilian jazz samba and bossa nova singer of the 1950s and 1960s. Life Daughter of Paulo Telles and Maria Amelia D'Atri, Sylvia was born in 1934 and she had the ambition to be ...

– ''Amor em Hi–Fi'' (1960) *

Caterina Valente Caterina Valente (born 14 January 1931) is a French multilingual singer, guitarist, and dancer of Italian ethnicity. Valente is a polyglot; she speaks six languages, and sings in eleven. While she is best known as a performer in Europe, Valente ...

– ''Caterina Valente Live 1968'' *

Carol Welsman Carol Welsman (born September 29, 1960)"Carol Welsman." ''Gale Biography in Context''. Detroit: Gale, 2004. Retrieved via ''Biography in Context'' database, 2018-03-25. is a Canadian jazzy pianist who accompanies her own easy listening,conversati ...

– ''Inclined'' (1997) *

Gregory Golub Gregory may refer to: People and fictional characters * Gregory (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Gregory (surname), a surname Places Australia *Gregory, Queensland, a town in the Shire of ...

- jazz piano and vocal version -(2013) * 식료품groceries – ''슈퍼마켓Yes! We're Open'' (2014)

Notes

{{Authority control Bossa nova songs Bossa nova jazz standards Brazilian songs Frank Sinatra songs Nancy Wilson (jazz singer) songs Portuguese-language songs Songs with lyrics by Antônio Carlos Jobim Songs with music by Antônio Carlos Jobim Barbra Streisand songs 1963 songs Songs with lyrics by Newton Mendonça Songs about music

Notable recordings

See also

Notes