Bossa nova is a gentle, elegant, and playful genre of music that originated in the
mid-1950s in Brazil. A classic example is the famous song “The Girl from Ipanema,” which
was written by Antônio Carlos Jobim. As seen in the song, bossa nova puts a softer spin on
traditional Brazilian samba by incorporating jazz harmonies and classical guitar
techniques in a fun way. By the 1960s, bossa nova reached the US and mixed in with the
soft jazz movement happening at the time. This emerging music style was then adopted by
many notable artists in the US, including Frank Sinatra and Herbie Mann, becoming very
popular very quickly.
Since the initial rise of bossa nova in the mid-20th century, the genre eventually
became less and less popular, as rock ‘n’ roll, R&B, disco, and grunge gained popularity. In
the 21st century, genres like hip-hop, pop, pop-country, and alternative rock now dominate
the charts. Despite this shift, bossa nova’s influence never fully disappeared—it simply
simmered beneath the surface
In more recent years, however, artists have begun to incorporate bossa nova
elements into their own music regardless of their typical genre. Many listeners now
encounter bossa nova or bossa nova-influenced music on a daily basis and don’t even
realize it. Some artists are more obviously influenced by bossa nova, such as Laufey,
Beabadoobee and Billie Eilish. Other artists, such as Bazzi, SZA, and even Jack Harlow,
may be less obvious.

Trending songs from Laufey, such as “From the Start” and “Valentine,” are popular
because their modern twist on bossa nova carries a soft aesthetic and is incredibly
satisfying to listen to. So many have grown to love this emerging style of music and admire
those artists who challenge genre norms in order to incorporate bossa nova. Beabadoobee
also makes lots of music with the same vibe, even doing a collaboration with Laufey in the
song “A Night to Remember,” which fits the “jazz-pop meets bossa nova-influenced” vibe
that many have unknowingly adopted into their music taste.
One example of an unexpected mainstream piece with bossa nova influence is the
song “Hello Miss Johnson” by Jack Harlow. This song is a soft hip-hop piece with lyrics
regarding Harlow’s experience dealing with fame, romantic relationships, and goals for the
future. Up front, this song is a typical version of modern hip-hop that is not at all out of
place for anyone who already listens to Harlow or other similar artists. Look a little deeper,
and the bossa nova elements appear in smooth background vocals and hip-hop
influenced bossa nova instrumentals.

With the recent resurgence of bossa nova influence in modern music, you may find
That bossa nova elements heavily influence the songs you can’t get enough of.
Classic bossa nova is definitely worth looking into for its beauty and originality, but after
giving it a listen, you may realize just how many trending TikTok audios or liked songs of
yours has a bossa nova feel.