The song “Água de Beber” (Water to Drink) is a 1963 bossa nova blockbuster composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim, a Brazilian songwriter and artist celebrated as one of the primary creative forces behind bossa nova jazz and one of the most influential popular composers of the 20th century. (He also wrote “The Girl from Ipanema” and “Águas de Março” (Waters of March), a promising song for another day!)
Following, two versions to start your weekend off with a jazzy Latin beat, plus two amazing bonus links:
Lyrics:
Your love is rain, my heart the flower, I need your love or I will die
The rain can fall on distant deserts, the rain can fall upon the sea
The rain can fall upon the flower, since the rain has to fall let it fall on me
(In Portugese, Água de beber, Água de beber camará
(In English, Aqua de Beber, Give the flower water to drink)
From Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66
Play the track
[audio:http://thirstyinsuburbia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/07_-_agua_de_beber.mp3]
Download Agua de Beber – Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66
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From the 1969 sessions of Antonio Carlos Jobim and Frank Sinatra (fab 8-track cover and mp3 via artdecaade.blogspot.com)
Play the track
[audio:http://thirstyinsuburbia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/watertodrink.mp3]
Download Agua de Beber – Sinatra & Jobim
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BONUS #1: Did any of you Mad Men fans catch Agua de Beber in a racy scene where a malfunctioning washing machine sends Betty Draper into a hot fantasy involving a door-to-door salesman? (Not for the kiddies! Embedding is disabled, but you can watch it here on YouTube.)
BONUS #2: Like your tunes with an urban beat? Check out this excellent 2008 version of Agua de Beber by Sergio Mendes featuring Will.I.Am. Stream the song here on imeem.com (signup required).
Update: Here’s an Amazon.com purchase link for this track.
Support the people who make music – buy these tracks at…
Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66: Amazon.com or iTunes
Antonio Carlos Jobim: Amazon.com or iTunes
Frank Sinatra: Amazon.com or iTunes