Wave (Antônio Carlos Jobim song)

"Wave" (also known as "Vou Te Contar" in Portuguese; "I am going to tell you" in English) is a bossa nova and jazz standard song written by Antônio Carlos Jobim. Recorded as an instrumental on his 1967 album of the same name, its English lyrics were written by Jobim himself later that year.^[1]

"Wave"
Song by Antônio Carlos Jobim
from the album Wave
Language	Portuguese
Released	1967
Genre	Bossa Nova
Length	2:58
Songwriter(s)	Antônio Carlos Jobim
Producer(s)	Creed Taylor

But the version of Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 is the first release of the tune, sung by Lani Hall with Mendes on their second album, Equinox, in 1967.

The English lyrics were used on the February 11, 1969, recording by Frank Sinatra, on his 1970 album Sinatra & Company.^[2] They were also used by Johnny Mathis in his 1970 Close to You album.

The song was voted by the Brazilian edition of Rolling Stone to be the 73rd greatest Brazilian song.^[3]

According to The Jazz Discography by Tom Lord, the song has been recorded nearly 500 times by jazz artists.^{[citation needed]}

Notable recordings

• Antonio Carlos Jobim – Wave (1967) and Antonio Carlos Jobim and Friends (1993)^[4]
• Elis Regina with Toots Thielemans – Aquarela do Brasil (1969)
• Oscar Peterson – Motions and Emotions (1969; arrangement by Claus Ogerman)
• Paul Desmond – Live (1975)^[4]
• Joao Gilberto – Amoroso (1976)^[4]
• Fred Hersch and Bill Frisell – Songs We Know (1998)^[4]
• Ahmad Jamal – The Awakening (1970)^[4]
• Frank Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim – Sinatra & Company (1970)^[4]
• McCoy Tyner with Ron Carter and Tony Williams – Supertrios (1977)^[4]
• Sarah Vaughan – Live in Japan (1973)^[4]
• Roberto Carlos and Caetano Veloso – Jobim (2000)
• Eliane Elias – Fantasia (1992) and Brazilian Classics (2003)
• Leon Thomas and Gary Bartz – Precious Energy (1990)^[5]

References

1. Cabral, Sérgio (2016). Antonio Carlos Jobim Uma Biografia. São Paulo: Lazuli. ISBN 978-85-7865-108-4. OCLC 1228033855.
2. allmusic
3. Cavalcanti, Paulo (2009). "As 100 Maiores Músicas Brasileiras - "Wave"". Rolling Stone Brasil (in Portuguese). Spring. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
4. Gioia, Ted (2012). The Jazz Standards: A Guide to the Repertoire. New York City: Oxford University Press. pp. 448–449. ISBN 978-0-19-993739-4.
5. Wynn, Ron. "Leon Thomas: Precious Energy". AllMusic. Retrieved September 29, 2023.