In Portuguese, desafinado translates as "out of tune", or "off key". That is certainly not the case with this performance by Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd who took this song that was released by Joao Gilberto in 1959, made it the definitive version of the song.
Their version would be a hit on both the pop and easy-listening charts and is today an anthem for the batchelor pad, retro and cocktail nation genre of music. Getz would win a Grammy for his performance and most agree that the arrangement by Charlie Byrd was the key to the song and the entire albums success (Jazz Samba).
In 1963 Gilberto would hook up with Getz and record the album Getz/Gilberto, in 1963,[5]with Antonio Carlos Jobim (who composed the song), João Gilberto and his wife, Astrud Gilberto. Their "The Girl from Ipanema" would win a Grammy Award. We have included their version of Desafinado for your listening pleasure.
The Getz/Byrd version is an instrumental. Gilberto put his version out with lyrics in Portuguese and there are two English lyric versions. Desafinado would be voted in Rolling Stone as one of the greatest Brazillian songs ever.
Desafinado would be covered ten times in 1962 alone, and Last FM notes 124 versions of the song historically.
You insist my music goes against the rules
But rules were never meant for lovesick fools
I wrote this little song for you but you don't care
Its a crooked song oh but all my love is there
The thing that you would see if you would play your part
Is even if I'm out of tune I have a gentle heart
I took your picture with my trusty rollaflex
And now all I have developed is a complex
Possibly in vain I hope you weaken oh my love
And forget these rigid rules that undermine my dream of
A life of love and music with someone who'll understand
That even though I may be out of tune
When I attempt to say how much I love you
All that matters is the message that I bring
Which is my dear one I love you
Playing primarily the tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of his idol, Lester Young. Coming to prominence in the late 1940s with Woody Herman's big band, Getz is described by critic Scott Yanow as "one of the all-time great tenor saxophonists" (Wiki).
"My life is music, and in some vague, mysterious and subconscious way, I have always been driven by a taut inner spring which has propelled me to almost compulsively reach for perfection in music, often - in fact, mostly - at the expense of everything else in my life. - Stan Getz
Charlie Lee Byrd (September 16, 1925 – December 2, 1999) was an American guitarist. His earliest and strongest musical influence was Django Reinhardt, the gypsy guitarist. Byrd was best known for his association with Brazilian music, especially bossa nova. Byrd played fingerstyle on a classical guitar.
Enjoy these songs. The crew at Monahan's Song recommends pairing your listening to these versions of Desafino with a dry martini.
