Today’s song of the day is “Brazil” by Xavier Cugat and Jimmy Dorsey. 

Here are some fun facts about the song: 

Fun Facts

• The song was recorded on July 14, 1942.
• It was released in September 1942.
• This was the last song Helen and Bob recorded with the Jimmy Dorsey orchestra before Helen retired.
• Helen later returned to recording.
• This song was first recorded in Portuguese in 1935 by Ary Barroso before they made it into an English duet.
• There are three versions of this song.
• The song was recorded with Xavier Cugat when he did a Samba tempo.
• The Jimmy Dorsey version was recorded with a sultry tempo.
• The song made it to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008.
• Helen also released a solo version of the song in 1957.
• When the song was written in Portuguese, it was called Aquarela do Brasil.
• The genre of the song is jazz.
• Xavier Cugat and his orchestra were number 2 on the Billboard charts and number 9 for the rhythm and blues category.
• The Jimmy Dorsey version made it to number 8 on the Billboard charts in April 1943 for eight weeks in a row.

Lyrics:

(Musixmatch)

I heard you sold the Amazon

To show the country that you’re from

Is where the world should want to be

For a fine something all people need

I’m faithless now

Though we win every time and I don’t know how

‘Cause I haven’t bought you and I haven’t sold me

But the people are dying to get on TV

I heard he lives down a river somewhere

With six cars and a grizzly bear

He’s got eyes, but he can’t see

Well he talks like an angel, but he looks like me

Oh, Lord!

What have I become?

I’m the face of God, I’m my father’s son

I’m not what you think you see

I know you can’t eat leather, but you can’t stop me

Why would you lie, why would you lie about how you feel?

I’ve got a mission and my mission is real

Because you’ve had your chances, yeah you’ve had enough

I’m gonna burn your house down to spread peace and love

And it gets me down

Oh, Lord, how it gets me down

I heard he lives down a river somewhere

With six cars and a grizzly bear

He’s got eyes, but he can’t see

Well he talks like an angel, but he looks like me

Oh, Lord!

I wanna play the beautiful game while I’m in Brazil

‘Cause everybody plays the beautiful game out in Brazil

And it’s all you’ve ever wanted, and it’s all that you want still

Don’t you wanna play the beautiful game out in Brazil?

I wanna play the beautiful game while I’m in Brazil

‘Cause everybody plays the beautiful game out in Brazil

And it’s all you’ve ever wanted, and it’s all that you want still

Don’t you wanna play the beautiful game out in Brazil?

I heard he lives down a river somewhere

With six cars and a grizzly bear

He’s got eyes, but he can’t see

Well he talks like an angel, but he looks like me

I heard he lives down a river somewhere

With six cars and a grizzly bear

He’s got eyes, but he can’t see

Well he talks like an angel, but he looks like me