Adult Contemporary Bossa Nova

Abstract

This chapter details the transition of the bossa nova from ubiquitous fad to music for an older demographic to explain how the music became associated with seduction and the easy listening format. It features an analysis on the use of bossa nova in three films that feature international espionage and travel, with a focus on the pairing of bossa nova with moments of seduction and the postwar crisis in masculinity. It also traces the legacy of Astrud Gilberto’s career in the United States following the breakout success of her appearance on the recording of “The Girl from Ipanema” with Stan Getz and João Gilberto, and her influence on the extended legacy of bossa nova after its peak in popularity.