“This is where I want to be
here with you so close to me
until the final flicker of life’s ember
I who was lost and lonely
believing life was only
a bitter tragic joke, have found with you
the meaning of existence …”
– Songwriter: Antonio Carlos Jobim and Performed by: Astrud Gilberto, Stan Getz & Antonio Carlos Jobim
AS THEY will say it in Brazil, Feliz Ano Novo. Or as they say in English, Happy New Year. And since it’s the start of the year let’s keep it light, romantic and a bit whimsical.
Those lines are excerpts from Corcovado (known in English as Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars), a bossa nova song written by Antônio Carlos Jobim in 1960. An English lyric was later written by Gene Lees.
The Portuguese title refers to the Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro. It is now considered a jazz standard having been recorded by established and well known Jazz artists.
The song actually describes the beauty and magic of Brazil and the Corcovado Mountain overlooking the beaches of Rio de Janeiro. It speaks of a whimsical life and the music of bossa nova that immediately brings to mind Brazil aside from the “beautiful game” of football.
The lines also speak of love, of longing, of being lost and almost giving up. It speaks of inspiration of finding someone a soul mate.
On a personal note, I can relate to the lyrics, perhaps even say they sort of speak of my existence and its meaning to me.
“I who was lost and lonely believing life was only a bitter tragic joke, have found with you the meaning of existence, oh my love.” These lines are very personal to me as they describe what I have been through and finally found love.
Don’t worry folks, I’m not getting mushy here, maybe just a sentimental old fool’s bittersweet memories that one needs to express sometimes. We can’t be all bashing politicians all the time as it does get to be quite boring. Besides, talking about that “barefoot lady from Naga” a.k.a. Leni Robredo is so passé, likewise for that nincompoop Noynoy Aquino, and by the way, whatever happened to him after his belated circumcision at the Makati Medical Center? Leila de Lima we’ll talk about her in the next column, most probably including those Viagra-popping nosy senators from the United States.
So much for disgusting politicians and nosy racist old men from the United States. Let’s segue back to something more pleasant, the beautiful bossa nova of Brazil.
To fully appreciate the essence of the music, here are the rest of the lyrics of Corcovado…Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars:
Quiet nights of quiet stars
Quiet chords from my guitar
Floating on the silence that surrounds us
Quiet thoughts and quiet dreams
Quiet walks by quiet streams
And a window that looks out on Corcovado
Oh, how lovely
This is where I want to be
here with you so close to me
until the final flicker of life’s ember
I who was lost and lonely
believing life was only
a bitter tragic joke, have found with you
the meaning of existence, oh my love…
Simply lovely, I suggest listening to the original version of this Jobim classic with Astrud Gilberto on vocals, Stan Getz on saxophone and Antonio Carlos Jobim on piano.
Better still, check out also the official video of Diana Krall’s version and you will have a breathtaking glimpse of the beauty of the Corcovado Mountain, Rio de Janeiro and Brazil.
So sit back and relax, have a glass of cold Chablis, close your eyes and let the music of bossa nova take you “where you want to be with your love so close to you until the final flicker of life’s embers.” (brotherlouie16@gmail.com/PN)
