Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Beautiful but boring
I didn't know her. Gentle voice and nice music. A good album.
63/100. Definitely lives up to the title by giving off some major summer vibes. It’s a great record to have on in the background during a sunny day.
Jazzy, Rumba, Samba, Bossa Nova. Felt like I was watching a beach or car driving along the coast scene in a James Bond or Matt Helm movie in the late 60’s early 70’s. 2.3
Idk if I’m a big bossa nova fan but it’s not bad.
I don't know much about Samba or Bosa Nova genre in general and this was may or may not be typical of the style - hopefully it's not because I didn't think much of the album.
Bosta nova
#74/1001 🇧🇷 A lovely listen on a Spring Saturday morning with sunlighy streaming in through the windows. I'm aware of Gilberto's work but not this album. Now somebody pass me a Pina Colada. Best tracks: Stay, Misty Roses, Oba Oba.
Mellow but didn't really hit home
Quite nice
Despite being a jazz lover, I could never get into Bossa Nova. There was some kind of discrete Samba and Bossa Nova fad in the late 90s / early 00s around me, all my friends suddenly started playing this kind of sound. I tried to understand the appeal, but I never could. In the end it's probably just not my kind of music. It's too restrained, too inoffensive, and my brain doesn't seem to be able to process it as anything more than "easy-listening background music" when I'm in a good mood, or "boring elevator music" when I'm not. I listened to this record with an open mind, but it didn't really change my view of the genre. It's musically solid, the jazzy arrangements are smooth (especially in the first three tracks), the voice is pleasant. But at no point was I surprised or moved, it was exactly what I always expect from a samba album - sweet and relaxing, but ultimately boring and a bit shallow. I don't hate it, it just doesn't speak to me at all. 4/10
I love Bossa Nova and I admit she was decisive in making th egenre known in the US and then the world through Jao and Stan Getz with little credits. Yet I don't feel anything for this album other than the the label easy listening. The feminist in me will save the note just of the carrer acknowledgment.
From The Face of Love onward, things drift away from that jazzy bossa vibe and it just works a lot less. Maybe I’m too used to hearing her voice in that setting, or maybe it simply doesn’t sound as good. Parade and I Had the Craziest Dream pretty much seal it for me: Astrud really isn’t that impressive as a singer. It even sounds slightly off at times, and she probably should have stayed in that soft, nostalgic bossa lane. Even the instrumentation starts to bother me. I wanted to like this, but it kind of chips away at the myth for me.
Расслабляющий и очень ассоциирующийся с гармонией альбом. Мне понравилось)
Overall Rating - 4.25/5 (8.50/10). Solid Bossa Nova album. The cover of The Lovin' Spoonful was definitely a choice. Parade was also a choice. Love her voice.
Very muzak with some weird asides. Why is this here? 2 for being inoffensive
A recurring theme with the jazz/ jazz related albums on this list is they are all well executed, but not my thing. Swinging bossa nova sounds with a strong Space Age Bachelor Pad/ Don Draper party vibe that are perfectly fine. The Parade song is not good, and the Loving Spoonful cover was a choice.
Delightful
Æ vet æ hørte på det i går, men æ huske cirka ingenting av det, anna enn at det va hyggelig.
Big 3
Brasillllll meu brasilll brasileiroooo🇧🇷🔥
I may be in kind of a shitty mood today but still. What the fuck is this shit?
Stay 3.3 Misty Roses 3.1 The Face I Love 3.4 A Banda (Parade) 3 Oba, Oba 3.3 Canoeiro 3.2 I Had the Craziest Dream 3.3 Bossa Na Praia (Beach Samba) 3.4 My Foolish Heart 3.1 Dia das Rosas (I Think of You) 3 You Didn't Have to Be So Nice 2.7 Não Bate O Coração 3 Score: 3.15
Not a genre I'm terribly interested in (or familiar with) but Big Ears is in a couple of weeks so I'm opening my mind! This was pleasant background music while working - and it was over in a flash! - but reading her Wikipedia page I was reminded that Astrud Gilberto sang "Girl from Ipanema." I think the album with that song on it (the Stan Getz album that is also included in the 1001 albums) is the only one I really needed to hear before I died. But this was fine.
Its ok
Lovely and smooth.
This feels a bit like a Time Machine. It’s kitschy easy listening which sometimes can be fun but other times just a bit much. This is a bit much - well, too much - it goes on and on. Trying to think when I would ever play this outside of today. Some kind of 60’s themed cocktail party? Whilst I’m dusting or cooking my husband a roast dinner to have on the dining room table when he gets back from work? Hmm. Dunno. Somewhere between 1-3. I had to abandon it in the end for just getting on my nerves so… 1 Number of tracks 17 Fave track… err 10/3/26
Classique de bossa nova. Merci à @Mathémusique pour m’avoir appris à reproduire un rythme bossa nova sous la forme de rythme euclidien. À part ça, pas vraiment passionnant. Ça s’écoute bien quand on fait ses courses à Franprix.
La "Fille d'Ipanema" est de retour dans mes oreilles, et franchement, je ne sais pas si je dois en rire ou pleurer. On l’avait laissée dans le sillage de Stan Getz et de son ex-mari João, où sa voix de petite fille perdue sur une plage de Rio faisait office de décoration exotique plutôt réussie. Mais là, en 1967, la voici en solo, censée "mûrir" et s'affirmer comme une styliste à part entière. Enfin, ça, c'est ce que prétend le bouquin que je m’efforce de suivre. Pour moi, c'est surtout le moment où le rêve tropical commence sérieusement à ressembler à un cauchemar. Entrons dans le vif du sujet avec celui qui fâche : le mixage. C’est une horreur absolue, une aberration acoustique. Sur les premiers morceaux, la voix d’Astrud est d’une agressivité qui frise l’insulte. On nous la présente souvent comme une chanteuse à la "livraison sensuelle", mais ici, elle n'est pas mixée avec les instruments ; elle les surplombe de toute sa majesté, comme si elle chantait depuis une autre dimension ou, plus probablement, depuis une cabine isolée à mille lieues du studio où les musiciens s'escrimaient. Ce décalage crée une sensation de malaise permanent. On a l'impression d'écouter une piste de karaoké de luxe où la voix aurait été collée à la va-vite avec de la colle de mauvaise qualité. L'album tente de mélanger des thèmes brésiliens avec de la Pop-Folk américaine passée à la moulinette Bossa ou Samba. Sur le papier, c'est sympa mais dans la réalité, c’est très inégal. Certes, il y a des moments « agréables » (le mot est faible, on frôle l'anecdote). La présence du flûtiste Hubert Laws apporte bien quelques étincelles ici et là, et l'arrangement de Don Sebesky sur « Misty Roses » de Tim Hardin est une pièce de travail correcte avec ses cors français et sa harpe. Mais est-ce que ça « casse trois pattes à un canard » ? Absolument pas. On reste dans un entre-deux mou, une musique d'ascenseur qui se prend pour de l'art. Et puis, il y a ce moment, ce moment où l'on atteint le sommet du "mignon" et qui donne envie de se taper la tête contre les enceintes : le duo avec son fils de six ans, Marcello, sur « You Didn't Have To Be So Nice ». C’est sans doute « mignon » pour la réunion de famille des Gilberto, mais pour un mec comme moi, ce fût le coup de grâce. C’est le genre de remplissage sirupeux qui n'a rien à faire dans une liste d'albums « à entendre avant de mourir ». Honnêtement, la présence de ce disque dans la liste de Robert Dimery pose irrémédiablement question. Pourquoi lui ? Pourquoi cet album spécifiquement, alors que c'est du "Easy-Listening" pur jus, sans aucune aspérité, sans réel danger ? Quitte à préférer un album féminin de la même époque, un truc qui a du chien, du style, une vraie identité visuelle et sonore, je préfère mille fois me replonger dans un album de The Girl From St Tropez. Oui, je parle de Brigitte Bardot. Je sais, je suis chauvin, et alors ? Au moins, chez B.B., il y a une insolence, un truc qui pétille, une French Touch qui ne s'excuse pas d'exister. Ici, Astrud semble s'excuser d'être là, tout en criant trop fort dans le micro à cause d'un ingénieur du son qui devait avoir un sérieux problème de retour de casque. Pendant mes années en magasin de disques, j'en ai vu passer des compilations de Bossa Nova pour bobos en quête d'exotisme de supermarché. Beach Samba est l'archétype de ce genre de produit : c'est propret, c'est lisse, c'est inoffensif. C'est le disque que tu mets en fond quand tu ne veux pas écouter de musique. Mais pour moi, la musique doit être une expérience qui doit me bousculer et ici, je m'ennuie. Je m'ennuie poliment sur la moitié des morceaux, et je m'agace sur l'autre moitié à cause de cette voix déconnectée du reste de l'orchestre. En résumé, si vous voulez de la vraie Bossa, retournez au Getz/Gilberto original. Si vous voulez de la sensualité, écoutez Chelsea Girl de Nico (sorti la même année, et là on parle de vraie présence vocale, même si c'est austère). Mais ce Beach Samba ? C'est une erreur de casting dans cette liste. Une curiosité de collectionneur pour ceux qui veulent posséder toute la discographie de Verve, rien de plus. Je lui colle un 2 sur 5, et encore, je suis d'une indulgence coupable parce que c'est Astrud et que j'aime bien le design des pochettes de l'époque. Mais ne vous y trompez pas : c'est loin, très loin d'être un indispensable.
Her voice is very, very pleasant.
Pretty chill. She does have a voice like honey.
This is like the kind of music you'd hear in a lift in one of those movies from the 60s. At best it progresses slightly to lounge music at a posh hotel. There is nothing original here, if you've heard lift music and hotel lounge music, you have heard this, so there is no need to hear it before you die.
Unbelievable I forgot to review this sooner!
I listened to this album on the two hour desert drive to Tucson for AEW Collision. This is the second ____ Samba album I have come across on this list so far, and if these two albums represent different approaches to the genre, I definitely have a slight preference for Jazz over Beach. I think this is more of a reflection on my genre familiarity than anything else, as I have been a fan of jazz music for awhile and have had very little exposure to samba by comparison. But even then, this album is still beautiful, and beach is a perfect descriptor; it sounds like I'm sitting on a folding chair and looking out over the ocean with a mocktail in my hand from a beachside bar (I have never been in this situation, but it feels right). I tend to have an easier time getting on board with the slower tempo, more lyrically-focused songs which particularly highlight Gilberto's warm and inviting voice. This album is simply quite pleasant to listen to, which feels like exactly the vibe it's looking for. Highlights: Misty Roses, Parade (A Banda), I Had The Craziest Dream, My Foolish Heart, I Think Of You, You Didn't Have To Be So Nice, Nao Bate O Corocao
I expected a lot from this album, but I actually found it rather plain and boring. I only really enjoyed the track "Misty Roses." 2.5/5
2/5
Vesela gospodja daa-dadadadada-daa
gud
Not my bag at all. Sorry.
Lovely, easy listening. Astrud has a great voice. This album is mellow and would be great for hanging outside or for cooking dinner.
I’d be happy having this on in the background at a beachside bar or restaurant but not my thing otherwise.
Astrud Gilberto's 'Beach Samba' is essentially a selection of easy-listening bossa nova tracks about roses, dreams, feelings and fanfare. It's inoffensive, straightforward and basic 60s pop music, and I have nothing more to say about it. It's fine.
I guess if you like this type of music and all…but I don’t so…
Elevated elevator music.
Fun, pleasant, but what the hell was that random parade march?
Sometimes things just align for better. For this record to come into my life on a blazingly beautiful spring day, sunlight beaming across the park outside my windows and bathing my living room as the birds sing, well it's really been setup to succeed. Because this is hot weather album. It's a day to night album, packed with heat, made for spring days, cinematic road trips in convertibles, 70's movies & summer nights on the beach. What I'm saying is, this record is classic 20th century cinema. Astrud Gilbert's voice is gorgeous, it's lovely. Echo's of Minnie Ripperton in there, perhaps largely due to the arrangement similarities & style. But it's there nonetheless. The track "You Didn't Have To Be So Nice" is so sweet it'd take a heart of stone not to crack an "Aww" listening to it. "My Foolish Heart" and "I Think Of You" got saved straight to my months discovery playlist, always a good sign. And I'll definitely be putting this album on at a dinner party near you soon.
low 3
good very um calm
This is exactly what this list is for. I didn't love this album, but it's something I would never have heard otherwise. Positive - her voice is super smooth and just pleasant to listen to. Most of the music is nice. Fair amount of variety. Negative - it was all a little safe, a little plain. Parade is dumb. You Didn't Have To Be So Nice is kinda cute once but I don't want to hear an untrained child sing. Overall, not in love with it, but it was kinda nice to listen to a couple times.
This was getting a three with a “it didn’t grab me but I don’t think it’s bad” until I got to the godawful duet with a child Nobody wants to hear children singing
You go, Astrud! And let’s throw a bone to the samba while we’re at it. Unfortunately, Beach Samba doesn’t hold up well 60 years later, but not an unpleasant listen. First and last songs are the best, slumps through the middle. But it’s a short one at 28 minutes so that’s good. (2.3*s) A little surprised Beach Samba made the 1001 Must Hear List. Please explain.
Some soft play from Astrud on the beach. Still riding the "Girl From Ipanema" popularity? Got cute with a kid singing at the end but nothing here deserving a list spot. I'm done with the Gilbertos...1.20 stars.
Pretty pleasant vocals surrounded by some simple relaxing samba music. Would work for a vacation on a foreign island otherwise it's not something I would listen to on my own. I didn't mind it for background noise for a while but got a little tired of it after 7 songs or so. The length of the album is about all I need of this unless I'm sitting in the sun near some water with a cold drink in my hand and even then I'd probably want to switch after 20 minutes. I'm seeing a lot of samba influence from the Getz / Gilberto lineage so it seems like they were all connected somehow. I won't be mad if I don't hear from them ever again. I don't outright dislike their music but it does little to nothing to keep me hooked beyond the initial couple of minutes. 1.44 stars
I really had some high hopes that this was going to be a nice and slick bossa nova album, but it was actually pretty bland. Yea, there's nothing really bad here. The vocals are good, the music is good, it's just not that interested.
Nice but just that
Why? Why is this here? Why does anyone need to listen to it? It's pretty uninspiring, boring, not very good, and an okayish voice. Yawn. 1.5, maybe I'll round it up to 2 tomorrow since it isn't as gut-wrenchingly bad as a 1.
cute
An album called samba on the beach probably isn’t the best for a damp February morning, but here we are. And you know what? It’s okay. Light, airy. At times I could almost feel the sun on my face. Her voice is a gossamer thing fluttery thing and dances between the rhythms. A nice surprise
Overall: 4/10 I appreciate Astrud's voice on The Girl from Ipanema, but this album is very lackluster to me. Very boring and uninteresting. Fav Song: Beach Samba
p99. 1967. 1 star. Cringeworthy, bland, syrupy sweet middle of the road crap. Just listening to this made my teeth ache. It's even got a vomit inducing duet with a child. And Astrud Gilberto can't sing. Who the fuck decided this was essential listening?
Yesterday, I was recommended an album by Bebel Gilberto. Today, I am recommended one by Astrud Gilberto. A few months ago, it was an album by Getz/Gilberto. Turns out Astrud was married to Joao Gilberto, the father of Bebel and the named party on Getz/Gilberto. Small world, I guess. Honestly, I haven't loved any of their albums. This one was pleasant but not really inspiring. It just kinda flowed along in a way that didn't catch my interest. I think I just found it mostly boring. There were a couple tracks I didn't care for and I'd say were less than good (really, You Didn't Have To Be So Mean... you didn't have to be so bad). And it looks like Astrud didn't write any of the songs herself, which also loses some points for me. I won't say the whole thing was bad, but I wouldn't call it good, either. For me, it's no more than fine at best. Maybe give me a pause on the Gilberto albums for a bit, list. Overall: 2.2/5
Acho terrível a noção que brasileiros precisam cantar em inglês para serem apreciados na gringa -- fica claro que a Astrud é mais confortável cantando na nossa lingua do que em inglês. De todos os álbuns de samba que existem, esse me parece uma escolha meio blasé. Mesmo assim é bem agradável e a voz da Astrud é muito bonita Nota extra por conta de brasil, sil, sil, sil...
Made it feel 10 degrees warmer on a cold winter’s day. 😎
(63/100)
Back in time with these wonderful samba tunes. Time to remember on the good old days.
This sounds like the soundtrack to a lightweight 1960s caper movie.
a mixed bag. i liked the jazz elements across the album and enjoyed the summer vibe of misty roses and my foolish heart but hated the parade song and you didnt have to be so nice.
it sounds like elevator music
Bossa Nova a.k.a elevator music ! THe albums flows well and her voice too
Pleasant in a boring way. She has a lovely voice but there isn't really anything to bring me back to it.
Pretty boring. I don’t dislike bossa nova, but I find it very Muzak adjacent.
a fine listen but nothing to write home about.
So much more than expected!
Like a fart on a windy beach. A polished fart but still a fart
I'm confused about how much Brazilian music is in this 1001 best album list - this was not good. Part samba, part soundtrack from a 60's rom-com b-movie, part Mary Poppins tribute, part oompah. No thanks.
Me and Steven agreed to give this 4 and 5 so it comes out to 4.5 This one was pretty fuckin great, beautiful vocals over some real classic lovely instrumentation. Something I would make a tasty dinner to.
Very solid Brazilian album with a variety of different styles. Didn’t appreciate the jumpscare but I forgive her. Not mind-blowing, but very good
Whimsical. Not for me… this is a period piece
Buttery and smooth. Really good.
Not sure why a parade and a child needed to pass through the middle of the album but I’ll trust your judgement Astrud Gilberto
Really solid! The parade song was kind of a vibe killer tho ngl
Smooth listening , a little boring.
Balancing out with Jimmy because we both wanted to give this a 4.5
I'm willing to bet we all hated Parade and You Didn't Have To Be So Nice. Have to knock it to a 4 for those two tracks, since they create such a harsh vibe reset.
It's fine. Slight bastardization of true, brazilcell bossa.
A lovely Samba album from Astrud Gilberto, but an odd selection. This is a nice album, but she has several other albums from this same decade that are much higher regarded.
I remember back in my late teens and early 20s, I had a few Verve Records compilations on vinyl that I used to play at weddings for friends, and right from the first track, this album triggered those familiar sounds. I vaguely remembered some of these songs, so listening to this album was definitely a trip down memory lane. Compared to her earlier work from the early 60s, this album starts to slip slightly away from the more traditional bossa nova style that she helped popularize. It lacks some of the jazzier, more complex arrangements from her earlier catalog and instead leans into a more accessible sunshine pop direction. That being said, it’s still a very enjoyable album. It delivers comfort with a softer, more lighthearted tone, but less introspective, and more carefree. Definitely a good listen when you want something warm and easygoing.
Très Beach très Samba, des aires de vacances ! Je suis pas fan cependant mais après les goûts et les couleurs... Le type de musique à écouter sur la plage j'imagine, très calme et reposant 😛
0/12 bekannt 4/10 Beste Songs: misty roses, oba oba, the face I love (erinnert mich an Olaf 3DS Spiel)
Bossa nova stuk som är mycket behaglig att lyssna på. Också ett kortare album! Gillar instrumentationen, kändes som att jag satt på någon bar i Spanien och lyssnade bossa nova med lite jazz inslag, mysigt! 6/10
Ay tatlı bir vibe’ı var
I appreciate whats going on here but its not really for me.
«Easy listening-samba»… It kind of feels like I’m on hold, waiting for support to help me with my internet connection. It’s not totally horrible, but it’s quite boring. Actually, the song «You didn’t have to be so nice» a duet with a tonedeaf child is horrible. Favourite songs: none
I enjoy bossa nova and samba a lot, but this one didn't really stand out to me. Pleasant listening but nothing extraordinary
beautiful!
Something a bit different and a few really enjoyable tracks, but not one I would comeback to.
Nice cozy vibes.
01) Stay - 7,0 02) Misty Roses - 7,0 03) The Face I Love - 6,5 04) A Banda (Parade) - 6,5 05) Oba, Oba - 7,0 06) Canoeiro - 7,0 07) I Had the Craziest Dream - 6,5 08) Bossa Na Praia (Beach Samba) - 7,0 09) My Foolish Heart - 7,0 10) Dia das Rosas (I Think of You) - 7,0 11) You Didn't Have to Be So Nice - 7,0 12) Não Bate O Coração - 7,0 TOTAL: 6,88 (69/100) Current ranking: 497/815
60s bossa nova should be a bit more up my alley, but this got tedious real quick
Often when I listen to albums and I’m not into them I give it two stars. Because I imagine someone else will like it. When I can’t think of who the album is for that’s when it gets 1.
Tracks 1-3: ‘Cruise ship in an Austin Powers film’ vibe. Track 4: ‘Parade’. Hard to put into words how bad this was...glad it’s over. Back on the cruise but at least I won’t hear a song this bad for a long time. Tracks 5-10: …. Track 11: How wrong was I. Some how even worse than track 4. Mostly 2 star but the bad songs are so bad it drags the whole album down.
Listening Notes Surprised this made the list, feel like 'Getz/Gilberto' and "The Girl from Ipanema" would be sufficient enough of a representation Standout Tracks N/a First time? Yes Will it go into your rotation? Not this specifically but more bossa nova in general
esses gringos retardados ficando gag com A Banda é uma das coisas mais engraçadas (e medíocres) que eu já vi nessas reviews. eu amo a astrud e amo bossa nova. algo intrínsecamente sessentista, não tem como não amar.
The more samba-y stuff was nice, the rest was skippable.
Perfectly beautiful vibes that flow like beach waves and end with the tide. It's a little dated now and doesn't have the timeless quality of other Brazilian jazz but it's still quite lovely.
Este álbum é bastante agradável, seu ritmo calmo e relaxante nos mostra a essência do samba brasileiro. O disco é muito interessante e grande maioria das faixas são muito boas, eu com certeza ouviria este álbum no meu dia a dia.
Pleasant listening. Very calming.
pleasant. spring. love. relaxed. good vibes. bossa nova.
Fun album
didn’t feel so beachy , surprised was in english
Fun vibes. Very Mad Men-ish. Especially lovely to play while driving through industrial districts on an overcast day
Bossa nova may not be my favorite genre but it definitely can have more sauce than this. Very dull pop selections really weigh things down here. And no, it doesn't even have Girl from Ipanema. Then we get to schmaltz city when her little son duets on You Didn't Have to Be So Nice. So cloying, make it stop!
Musica tranquilita para vivir la cotidianidad
Made a nice little change to usual listening habits but not something I’d go back to.
Nice smooth listening, I found it quite boring though. Music I could put on in the background maybe while I read or draw? I loved the flute in the background which bumps this up
This album is heaven. It’s just so adorable and delightful. It’s just this perfect mist of sunshine and citrus! I just instantly fell in love with her voice and the instrumentation that accompanies her is flawless and smooth as butter. If I’m ever stuck on an abandoned island and I can only take 3 things, outside of food and water, this is what I’ll be bringing.
Solid. I’m currently frozen solid. But solid.
I except to dislike it because I don't like bossa nova, and because it's 1967 album, that is not psychedelic rock. But it was fun listen, melodic, joyful, easy and her voice is good. Pleasant surprise!
Un petit aspect arrangements pour monde de licornes qui m'agace. Je recommande plutôt album 2026 de Kreator: Krushers of the World.
j'ai trouvé ça pas mal relaxant. J'aime beaucoup les bossa nova, donc pas besoin de me convaincre outre mesure, mais c'est un drôle de choix. Elle a fait mieux, notamment avec Jobim et Getz, en tout cas, on va lui donner un 4 pareil parce que c'est bon sur les endorphines.
Encore du brésilien! D’après moi mon dimery pense encore à son premier amour de jeunesse qui était brésilienne
Background music. Pleasant enough but nothing more. Sleepy.
I can’t understand how or why this would be deemed essential. Perhaps for the “Parade” song that is so bonkers and out of place that I will likely play it for people for years to come?
Beautiful vocals, subtly energetic melodic lines. Bossa nova is a fantastic genre of music, and this album feels like one of the pinnacle examples of why it's so great. My only complaint is that the album is so short. An absolute blast from start to finish
I thought I would enjoy this more than I did. Found it kind of boring tbh.
another 5/5 albums
This was mostly very pleasant with a couple songs I could do without. Could come back to it, feels like a 3.5
Had some very strong songs but then the more mid stuff came and as a full album I can't rate it as high as I would some songs.
This was really pleasant. I love samba.
Very pleasant. I would like to samba on the beach. Really could've done without "You Didn't Have to Be So Nice," though. Creepy.
I could listen to it all day ... most of it. There are just a couple I would skip through, but over all I like it!
It was pretty albeit a bit delicate for my taste until the track with the literal child on it? I hated that
Absolutely delightful listen! The perfect blend of relaxing, cheerful, and introspective. Perfect for a late summer's night. Great instrumentation, especially with the percussion and jazz flute. My two favorites were "Misty Roses" and "Tu Mi Delirio."
Niet mijn ding
2 feels a little stingy because this is better than that, but damn if it didn’t almost put me to sleep.
2,5
Enjoyable Samba album
It's a watered down version of foreign music made by an acceptable white European woman. The white washing is typical of the 60s, but if I want to listen to bossa nova I sure as hell am not going to look at the culture vultures to get my fix.
Beautiful 4 - great even among this list
This is a reminder that even in the "golden age" of music artists still released ass. "Parade" might be one of the worst songs I've ever heard. Many of the other tracks are either instrumental messes, or boring love ballads.(or both). Then the album burst into "You Didn't Have to be So Nice" which brought in the worst goddamn child singer, and ended in her badly scatting. The whole album was <30min but it felt like forever and a waste of my time when I'm sure there is better samba out there. 1/5
Pretty solid intro to this kind of music, I thoroughly enjoy it. Doesn’t quite sound like the 60s, it really sounds contemporaneous, it’s good for it. Three thoughts.
Ok so I was thinking the list algorithm was trying to drive me insane. It's been a bad week for the and me. Then I woke up and hit refresh. This is delightful. Legitimately. Sure Parade is, weird, but her voice is nice and the lightness fits the music well. The sound shows it's age but that is fine and honestly welcome for this album. The album feels like a warm day. It's getting added to the library.
епта что это за ляля такая
9/10 So good we really liked the Sunday Songs vibe and would re-listen!
Its really soft and nice. Not my vibe, but a vibe generally
Her voice is gorgeous
Overall rating by me: 7/10 Songs added to the playlist: ,,Stay”, ,,Parade (A Banda)”, ,,I Had The Craziest Dream” Notes: It’s a really good album. A day at the beach or the amusement park? Perfect. Very light, cozy yet warm - it’s as if you can feel the rays of sunshine coming through the melody.
blatant american exploitation propaganda. very sad, because it sounds pretty calminig sometimes
Very relaxing, would listen to when studying or reading etc
Fun album, first bossa nova. Solid 5/10
Sounds like how smoking indoors at an airport must’ve smelled. Nice enough arrangements and her voice is lovely and conversational, but nothing knocked me over. Enjoyable but underwhelming. Could've done without "Parade (A Banda)". Felt like a weird interlude.
Not my vibe
Smooth, makes me feel like I'm cool just for listening to it.
Not my kind of thing. Might have helped if I’d had a Margarita in my hand and it wasn’t minus five with snow outside…
Some songs were good, others not so much. Not really my cup of tea.
This is elevator music.
Good. A bit weird. I just don't have tropicalia ears -
strong first half and the second was just meh
a bit boring but still warm and inviting. A couple fun tidbits here and there like I Think of You’s percussion and the parade song
Beach, please... Sambady get this annoying music away from me
Astrud has a lovely voice. I enjoyed this album.
Fine little record with some cool sounds, though don't feel this is very important nor interesting to warrant being on this list. Feels like the author has a very rudimentary knowledge of Bossa Nova, and winged it in their inclusions of these albums. This album doesn't show anything exceptional to be included in this list - mostly covering a selection of western standards. Best Tracks: - My Foolish Heart Worst Tracks: - Parade (A Banda) Rating: 3.5/10
Classic sound, great for an evening with mulled wine, or a beach bar with a cocktail. Samba isn’t usually my speed, but would put it on again
Love me some Samba
I like her vibe, this is maybe not the best of her stuff I have heard.
Another album I would have never listened to but glad I did
Listened to this album sat in the freezing cold with a glass of red at YSP on New Year's Eve. No notes.
En nytårs banger? Næ! Bare endnu en lang kedelig oplevelser.
Samba bold > Samba musik
This was super wacky. Just when I felt in got a hold on this album it took a new turn. I felt a lot of nostalgia for playing old Sim City games, with its lovely background jazz. I really like this, but felt as though I couldn't quite find my footing.
Something about the lazy rythms and overly sweet lyrics grates my nerves after a while. This is not a bad album, but I would never, ever, chose to play it outside of this list.
Okay, but my least favorite samba album on this list so far.
I’ve never heard of Astrud Gilberto before, but I could always go for some bossa nova music, so this should be a fun listen. As much as I thought I would enjoy this album, I really didn’t care for it that much. I thought that Astrud Gilberto’s voice was very good, and I enjoyed the fun rhythms on this album, but overall, I found Beach Samba pretty bland. The arrangements on this album were fine, but once I’d heard the first couple of songs, I felt like the rest of the album didn’t do anything different or add anything important. On top of that, “The Face I Love” and “Parade” felt goofy and out of place on this album, especially after two songs that leaned hard into the bossa nova sound. I also didn’t care for the child singing with Astrud on “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice.” I didn’t have a favorite song on this album, but I did really enjoy the vibraphone when it was used. When it comes to Brazilian music, I don’t think I’d come back to anything by Astrud Gilberto.
Excellent period samba. Good grooves. Will listen again
Some nice easy-listening. I’m not crazy about a lot of the tracks on this album but the production is nice and the studio band is stacked. The duet on “You Didn't Have to Be So Nice” is really cute. I like a lot of people involved on this album but it’s not my favorite output by any of them.
A good background album for the most part. The circus track and the duet with the child take away from what I feel to be the essence of the album.
Inoffensive, uninspired and bland. Too much «dabababa»
This was very nice and soothing. Good music and vocals, very smooth.
super duper short but has really good vibes and all that and i love it also coz it’s a bossa nova
Bouncy fun. Reminds me of jungle if they had a singer in there. 3/5
Favorite track(s): The Face I Love, Oba Oba, My Foolish Heart
Beach Samba is the seventh solo album from Astrud Gilberto, the singer who became famous internationally for her vocals in "the Girl from Ipanema." Gilberto had a fantastic voice that helped her find success throughout her career. This album is a collection of "easy listening" samba songs; they all sound very much like the "smooth jazz" of the sixties.
Quite the Goddess, Astrud. "Canoeiro" and "Não Bate O Coração" are great.
Pleasant enough.
8/10
This is the kind of crap my grandparents liked. And not my nice grandparents, but my rubbish grandparents - you know, my dad’s parents. Quite shit.
Lovely album. I didn't think it's possible to be upset listening to samba. The bear bounces along and her voice is lovely.
Lovely! Her voice floats so smoothly over the excellent samba backing, yet the album has a lot of stylistic variety. Really really enjoyed this one.
Very cinematic and relaxing. But some songs make me want to dance. A soothing voice and lovely musicality. Not something I’d regularly listen to, but this would be excellent to play at a dinner or set the mood for a late 60s party vibe. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
There's a certain blissful dreaminess to this style of music. The fluttering flutes and often unrushed vocals lend to a feeling of relaxation in the downtempo songs. For that I can see the general appeal, but I can't say I was really into this particular album. Like its fine, but its just fine. Standouts for me were My Foolish Heart, I Think of You, Misty Roses, and Oba Oba. This is a pleasant, high 3 for me.
Now that we have listened to Getz, Gilberto, and Getz/Gilberto I think Gilberto voice brings a lot to the table in the Getz/Gilberto ecosystem. Maybe one of my favorite voices in all of 1001 albums. I just listened to Jazz Samba right before this so it is very fresh. If that was a high 3, this has to be at least a 4. Has a bit more pace and direction to it that I really enjoyed.
Was never going to be anything other than a 3. Peaceful, quick, and never going to listen to it again
The yazz flute on this first song is sweet. Also love the xylophone mixed in. Started hot and trailed off for me. I think the song with her kid in it took me out of it a bit. High 3 though.
Pleasant, if a little bit dull. The one dud track was the one where a young child did some vocals.
I thought it wld be better, a bit disappointed.
Lovely little sounds, uplifted by the most adorable cover.
This would probably have been better without the vocals. It's good background music, but the vocals are corny in a way only 60s pop can be.
This was really cute! I probably won't come back to it very often, but sometimes I'm in the mood for this type of vibe. My favorites are "Misty Roses", is it wrong to say that one reminds me of the Carpenters?. "Oba Oba" was fun also. "My Foolish Heart" reminded me of Laufey, I wonder if she listens to this album. "You didn't have to be so nice" was also really cute, a little duet with her son I'm assuming. I didn't really care for "Parade", It reminded me too much of "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" and was just repetitive. I want to put this at 4 for vibes, but if I'm being honest it's probably more like a 3.5 or a 3.75 on a good day. I wish this site had half stars.
Big Samba fan, Dimery? Yeah, I noticed. This doesn't even have "The Girl from Ipanema" on it. That's the essential Astrud Gilberto Samba tune. And what's with the little kid singing the duet on "You Didn't Have to Be So Nice"? Save that stuff for "Sesame Street", alright?
Pleasant bossa nova, but a bit dull. I was hoping for more.
Great song picks and the music is great but the singing could be way better 3.4
La bossa nova por lo general me encanta siempre, aunque me he encontrado este disco un poco flojo al no ser tan puro, tiene alguna mezcla circense que no me ha molado nada, me da miedo. Y canta con un niño que desafina.
Like honey. Eumir Deodato's contribution keeps it serious, just a wafer thin slice away from cheesy.
2.5 stars This was light and simple. I enjoyed it, it was pretty and straight forward and short. It made me want to listen to more of this type of music that wasn’t trying to bring in the western influence. I don’t know that if rises to great lengths but definitely enjoyable and I’d listen again.
Do not like
Much of this album is pretty half baked. It is often short and concise at the cost of feeling complete. Many instrumentals felt like generic soundtracks to a cheesy film from the 60s. The singing is plain and only serves to compliment the uninspired instrumentals. Still, the album was a nice, easy listening experience. The overall vibe is elegant and serene with a couple of decent tracks and another couple of bad ones.
Rv
Nothing really stood out. It was like good background music though.
Portuguese is such a beautiful language... It feels too weird to hear some great songs in english instead of portuguese. Maybe English people also feel weird hearing their songs when we sing in portuguese.
A bit boring. Background music, pretty chilled out but nothing special
Solid album, but never gets to the level where I can rate this a 4.5 or higher. It's a solid 4.
It's alright. Good elevator music. The album cover is one of the most horrifying uncanny valley images I've ever seen in my life. The actual music would be great while travelling from floor 1 to 50 in a Chicago skyrise. 3/10
Super feel good album. Short, simple samba that doesn't mess around. A great listen!
The nicest sounding music I would love to take a nap too. Take a nice nap in the shade, you wake up this is playing from somewhere in the distance, curious you seek out the source of the noise and find a beach bar serving cold drinks. Life is good.
Slick, pretty and very mellow, a fine record.
Reminds me of riding in my parents station wagon as a kid…still hear some of this on Mom’s Muzak station in her car!
Wanted to like this. Did not.
heard this on my own earlier this year Stay - 4/5 Misty Roses - 5/5 The Face I Love - 5/5 Parade - 3/5 Oba Oba - 4/5 Canoeiro - 4/5 I Had the Craziest Dream - 3/5 Beach Samba - 4/5 My Foolish Heart - 5/5 Dia das rosas - 4/5 You Didn't Have to Be So Nice - 2/5 Não bate o coração - 3/5 Average score: 3.8/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ i like Astrud Gilberto, but i don't think i love this album enough to rate it much higher than i did. personally, i think she released much better work in the earlier portion of her discography
Bossa Nova is a genre that has been negatively impacted by all the background music played in cafes. BGM that often is mainstream hit songs remade into bossa nova covers, probably because it's suitable for the mood and it's royalty free. Astrud Gilberto is great don't get me wrong. I don't think I know any voice that is as calming as hers, and I enjoy listen to her front time to time. Great backing band too. But gotdamn all the Coldplay and Taylor Swift songs, I already dislike, remade into bossa nova covers. Thanks Starbucks etc, your coffee sucks too.
good background work music lol, pretty cool. The parade song is a bit jarring lmao
One of the most annoying albums in quite a long time. At the first song I wanted to turn it off immediately. Fortunately the whole album is very short. The Voice itself is quite good. Therefore 2 points.
It was unremarkable but also jolly
Nice enough, but all a bit backgroundy. I feel there are better examples of this genre.
Her voice really started to get annoying at some point.
Dont know whether it was because I listened to this directly after napalm death or not. But I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to. It started off like lift music, but just grew into something more than that. Its a bit different to your standard Latin american. Nothing spectacular but nice easy listening. Worth 3 of anybody's points.
Lazy and boring
Not for me. I had a Casio Keyboard which played this stuff by pressing one button. There was another which did the Bossanova, which was much more to my liking. Next time Astrud lyrically suggest pressing the other button to get 2 stars.
This feels like elevator music for people who really love elevators. The songs just sort of exist without doing anything interesting. It’s a slog to get through, and my attention drifted away immediately. She's kind of a bad singer too. Why listen to this when you could listen to silence? It’s the musical equivalent of lukewarm tap water. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - My Foolish Heart - Tristeza
I really like a bit of samba and this was a really good version of it. 4 stars
Melodijos primena stoneflower. Vienintelė nepatiko su tuo vaiku, parade irgi nelabai kokia.
Seems well produced but a lil boring
Great
I felt like it was the 60s in brazil
Fun easy listen.
Wikipedia says this is one of Astrud's less impressive albums in the 60s... so not sure why they chose this one. The first few songs are classic samba, until we get to Parade (A Banda), which is some sort of hybrid between parade samba and circus music which comes off pretty badly. You Didn't Have to Be So Nice is a little weak as well. I like samba but not sure I'll go back to this album. 3/5
Nice vibe. Parade is awful though.
Reminds me of Nancy Sinatra. Very 60's/poolside kind of music loungey/orchestral/at times .
No time fir the parade song and the whole thing comes across as a cash grab of the Yankee Dollar but it is a bloody good cash grab
Not a style of music I would seek out on my own but also nothing to be upset about being assigned. Good, easy listening with a Spanish flavor.
Genuinely a great piece of work, very calming and reminiscent on simple times.
Super pretty melodies, great vibes. Don't think much will stick with me in the long run but this was a lovely start to my Friday and with it coming into the warmer months where I live I would not be opposed to putting this on again for some easy summer day listening. Faves: Misty Roses, Beach Samba, Canoeiro
very easy listening for memories of a time before I was around, still not sure where Ipanema is :P
I’m not familiar with bossa nova at all, so most of the songs sound kind of similar to me.
jesus fucking christ god damn blast beats everywhere jk this record was certainly something though. What was up with the parade song? Child duet jumpscare at track 11 was unexpected. Is it just me or is she actually not a very good singer? Astrud, not the kid. I feel like songs/albums like this have aged in a funny way. It kinda just makes me think of the music from Family Guy and parody in general Some beautiful string arrangements throughout. I have an affinity for a full string section mixed mono and panned off to one side. Some cool recordings for sure
It’s pretty at times! I just think it reminds me too much of mall loud speakers and shopping. It’s so agreeable. Really designed for consumption in a way that urks me. There’s so much better Brazilian music, no?
A very pretty album, though it doesn’t really engage me. The orchestral adornments are beautiful. Reminds me of Nat King Cole/crooner calibre string arrangement. I do love Brazilian guitar playing. Chords are interesting and there is some complex movement, musically it’s very sophisticated, but it still feels like background music to me. It was nice music to fold laundry and clean to, but not something that captures my attention enough to focus solely on. I will probably throw this on again while cleaning the house, but not in a ‘serious’ way?
I liked this - above all it was a pleasant listen
Background/Elevator music. Nothing special.
Coming not too far off from the Getz/Gilberto record, Astrud's release begins as an appealing rose in the shades of nostalgia. Naturally as the record progresses, it begins to wear off into more ballad territory, but it doesn't nip too much of its bud. I don't know what that last sentence means, but I know that I was trying to say. I do appreciate that song near the end where she sings with her son; it's a cute one. Overall, fine stuff to get to hear and it took me a good week to figure out an opinion. This is my opinion: (6/10, 3/5 on this scale)
The kid in “You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice” sounds like Orville the Duck
I LOOOOOVE this album!!!!
I would not listen to this again but I appreciate her voice and her talents!
It as fine.
Nothing wrong with a little bossa nova.
chill album but worse than getz/gilberto
Love the jazzy samba vibes, and although Astrud doesn't have the greatest voice, it tonally fits the sound and era. My only gripe is the uneveness of the tracks. One minute I'm touring the 1960s Italian countryside, the next I'm in a collegiate marching band...What?!! Anyway, It mostly succeeds and with each track at 2 1/2 minutes tops, it's a pretty breezy listen.
I wish I knew how to dance
Classic
another album from 1967, what is amazining, 12 tracks in less then 28 minutes... Samba from the woman who sang Girl from Ipanema
I know it says 12 songs …. But it’s really just one sound alike song with lyric changes
Relaxing music that would be great for driving. Gives italian country side in summer time drama movie vibes. Its all pretty samie though, the whole thing just blends together. It really is just solid background music I like "You didnt have to be so nice"
Total cash grab album. I don't understand why this specific LP of hers made the list, and I have listened to Astrud Gilberto for YEARS and consider myself a fan of the Bossa Nova sound. Too much cheese for my taste. "I Had The Craziest Dream" is my favourite on the list but even now, I'm forgetting it.
A very sweet-sounding voice and a wholesome, fun album. I enjoyed it! I can't see myself listening to it again, though, and this really isn't my kind of music.
Nice Bossa Nova, not really my cup of tea but it’s pleasant as background music. I don’t find a bunch of significance in this album but I’m not upset that I listened to it.
I like Astrud a lot but maybe not her best album!
Connaissais pas, mais c'est top
Another new one for me. Man, this is smooooooth. I'll likely listen to this again. It seems like it'll make for enjoyable napping music.
Another day of video game OST music.
2.7/5 Well well, another samba album. I recognised some melodies here and there, and most songs sound chill enough to play as background music somewhere - but only instrumental. The singer though... geez her voice is annoying. The strong reverb doesn't make it better. Sorry, but this ain't it. Good for Astrud Gilberto that she transformed a cameo on the song "The Girl From Ipanema" into a whole career, but there's music for everyone after all. This however is not for me. 2.7 = 3 rounded up in this economy, I think it's fair since the music itself isn't bad.
Magnificent voice
102/1089 Parade was kinda camp… i loved that This whole album was just nice chill vibes, i enjoyed my time with it and the way the instrumentation and vocals are so quintessentially 60s without sounding dated in a negative way 64/100
Eh, it was okay background music.
Fine
I suppose it evokes a certain mood. But it was kind of boring.
Not really my thing but this wasn't bad to listen to.
Brazilian Samba. Not my thing, but not totally unpleasant to listen to.
Bosta nova
Awful vocals, boring and inane lyrics, all backed by elevator music
Not bad, but not that memorable either. Simpsons: No
wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.
Fine
alright, very chill
Meh. Music is boring and singing is often weak and a bit out of tune. Seems uninspired. 2/5
Clasicazo. Santi Araújo.
Fun! 3.5 stars
Although not on this album Astrud Gilberto sings Call Me. This is the tune that Jerry St Clair uses in phoenix Nights for his song Corned Beef. For that alone she’s a legend but samba is samey
Who doesn’t like a samba on the beach! Not so keen on this album though.
A nice voice and very chilled vibe to the album. A couple of comedy tracks that wouldn’t have been out of place on Sesame Street - Parade anyone?
Funny how some albums are so completely of their time, but in a good way perfectly encapsulating a style that just won’t ever be recreated. This one, while samba based is somewhat poppy and has cinematic soundtrack qualities (albeit occasionally nearly sounding like a 60s movie sex scene about to happen). The song with the child aside, this was a decent chilled listen. Last track probably the best.
pretty basic sounding, instrumentation is nice, Astrud's voice is nice has that unnecessary Parade song, became pretty disinterested halfway through, all the songs sound way too similar
Not much to get excited about here. This album gives 50cents in the thrift store bin with the nana muskourri and a torn outersleeve energy. Pretty generic samba pop elevator music. I know verve is a good label and ms. Gilberto .ade some great music but this aint it. Sounds phoned in tbh. The second to last track, featuring a duet with a young boy is definitely bizarre. The last track sung in Portuguese verses into decent territory but never ascends.
Catchy album
Best Song: Tristeza. This song had the most upbeat, forward-leaning energy on the album, so it was much needed. Worst Song: Parade (A Banda). Outside of viewing an actual parade, I'm not sure I ever really want to hear parade music. Overall: Alternation between quietly pleasant, albeit overly weepy, songs and then just straight up annoyingly "cute" songs. I don't need to listen to a duet with a child, telling them how good a job they're doing. Needed more teeth in the editing phase.
A little fun, the duet with the child was cute, and it didn’t overstay its welcome at 27 minutes running time. But for the life of me, I cannot understand why they would put a parade march dead center of this album.
The vocals are enhanced by the accent and the music is enjoyable, but forgettable. The most memorable song is the Lovin’ Spoonful cover: cute, but its not good.
It's lovely and relaxing. Not something I'll seek out very often, but it's very nice.
I had high hopes but this just kinda wears thin pretty quickly. Not bad in bite sized bits, though.
It's just so cloyingly sweet. I don't think I'm ever in the mood for this.
I kind of don’t know what to do with this album. I really dig it, but is it important? Astrud Gilberto's becoming famous is an amazing story. She went with her musician father to the U.S. to act as his interpreter because he only spoke Portuguese. He’d been invited to record an album. At one point, they wanted English lyrics sung on a song called The Girl From Ipanema and boom, Astrud became a global superstar. You may think you’ve never heard the song, but you’ve heard the song. Anyway, she went on to record several albums, of which Beach Samba was one. The album came out in 1967 and really didn’t make a splash. In fact, one review said it was one of Gilberto’s “less impressive albums.” So, here we are, listening to this album in 2025, and truth be told, I love samba and bossa nova music. It’s the groove. I listened to Henry Mancini’s Mr. Lucky Goes Latin for months on repeat. It’s just good stuff. So, as I listen to Astrud, I think I’ve taught myself to chair samba, but I’m not sure I’d say you have to hear this album before you die. Now, Mr. Lucky Goes Latin? Yes, listen to it. Especially if you’re a fan of The Big Lebowski or a certain Seinfeld episode featuring the bro or the manssiere as some may call it. There is a song called, You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice, on Beach Samaba that Astrud sings with a little girl, which is just about the cutest thing you’ll ever hear. The rest of the songs are good. So if you like The Girl From Ipanema, you’ll love Beach Samba. Also, if you’re looking to switch up your makeout music, except for the duet with the little girl, the rest of the music is prime Latin baby-making music.
I felt like the title wrote cheques that the music couldn't always cash, but there were a few fun beach-ready tunes at least. Loses credit because every track's a cover, or at least penned by someone else. 2.5