Brazil: "The Girl from Ipanema" Country

You may have heard the Brazilian song "The Girl from Ipanema", played at bookstores, airports or even you may have it in your CD collection. However, you may have never given a lot of thought about it, or wondered why this song is so important to understand the Brazilian culture.

And now you plan to visit Brazil, or you are just a little bit curious about the Country. Good news; this song can help you with that. Lyrics written by Vinicius de Moraes and music by Antonio Carlos Jobim, the song "The Girl from Ipanema" is a great description of Brazil and its people.

The lyrics talk about a beautiful girl, walking as dancing, moving her body with beauty as she goes to the beach. Her body is well tanned, from Ipanema's sun (the name of a beach). She does not notice that her presence makes a difference, or at least she pretends so, and the World becomes a place filled with love because of her beauty.

Brazilians got several holidays throughout the year and it may take a while to learn the meaning of each one of them. But for Brazilians, holidays are a great reason to fill the car with bags and towels and race to the closest beach. The tropical weather helps the possibility of a sunny day but even if the weather is not on its best behavior, Brazilians love to go to the beach.

Blessed with a wide coast facing the Atlantic Ocean, you must visit a Brazilian beach to understand the Country. The beach lifestyle set the tendencies, fashion and habits for the rest of the Country. At the beach what counts is how much fun you can have, how much in shape your body is and how to enjoy family, friends and nature together.

The Girl from Ipanema has it all. It is all about who she is: her style, appearance and happiness with life. Her goal is the beach, the ocean, the sun. She is not worried if the rest of the World has to wait during her day off until she goes back to work. She knows deep inside that the World needs something else from her besides work. The World needs her poetry, her song, and her dreams.

To understand Brazil and its people you have to stop and listen to what the song "The Girl from Ipanema" has to say.