"Girl from Rio" is a song by Brazilian singer Anitta from her fifth studio album Versions of Me. It was released as the second single from the album through Warner Records on April 29, 2021. A song about Anitta's own life, it interpolates "The Girl from Ipanema" by Vinicius de Moraes and Tom Jobim. A remix of the song featuring American rapper DaBaby was released on May 21, 2021, and was sent to US and European radio stations on May 25.[3]

"Girl from Rio"
Single by Anitta
from the album Versions of Me
LanguageEnglish, Portuguese
ReleasedApril 29, 2021 (2021-04-29)
Genre
Length3:13
LabelWarner
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Stargate
Anitta singles chronology
"Mi Niña (Remix)"
(2021)
"Girl from Rio"
(2021)
"Mon soleil"
(2021)
Music video
"Girl from Rio" on YouTube

Background and composition edit

On March 30, 2021, Anitta began teasing the release of the song on her Instagram by posting black and white photos of the city of Rio de Janeiro in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as trivial contents regarding recordings of the song "The Girl from Ipanema",[4] a bossa nova classic composed by Vinícius de Moraes and Tom Jobim in the voices of Astrud Gilberto, Frank Sinatra, Amy Winehouse, and Ella Fitzgerald, and photos of anonymous Carioca women and famous figures, such as actresses Taís Araújo, Carolina Dieckmann and Fernanda Montenegro; by singer Fernanda Abreu; models Roberta Close and Helô Pinheiro (who inspired the music of Moraes and Jobim); of the twin athletes Bia and Branca Feres; and the late political and activist Marielle Franco.[5][6][7]

"The main idea was from Stargate. I got to the studio and they told me, 'We have this idea of getting the 'Garota de Ipanema' song and turning it into a big smash for you.' And so when I heard the (riff)… it's not an actual sample — they played it — but of course it’s completely a reference to the original song. So it was like, 'Oh my God, this is so Brazil.' And then we decided, while 'Garota de Ipanema' talks about a very fancy and chic (neighborhood) in) Rio, we would bring the other version of my country and my city, which is the hoot, the streets, is the place I come from."

Anitta talking about the song in an interview with Variety.[8]

"Girl from Rio" is the second single from Anitta's fifth album Versions of Me, released via Warner Music on April 12, 2022. The song interpolates Vinicius de Moraes and Tom Jobim's bossa nova classic "The Girl from Ipanema" (in original Portuguese, A Garota de Ipanema). According to Anitta, while working on an early draft of "Girl from Rio", producers Stargate suggested using a sample of "The Girl from Ipanema" on the song.[8] She immediately agreed to the idea, however, she said it was not easy to acquire the rights to use the sample, thus she had to intervene herself.[8] Anitta claims to have contacted Jobim and Moraes' respective families to explain her intentions with the use of the sample; she was eventually allowed to use the sample on "Girl from Rio" but had to fully give up on publishing rights on the song.[8]

Despite singing in English on the song, Anitta considers "Girl from Rio" one of her most personal works as she aimed at bringing together as much of Brazilian culture and her own life experiences as possible.[8] While at a studio recording the song, Anitta received a text message containing a link to a story on a Brazilian newspaper in which it had been published there were rumors that she had a half-brother.[8] This led producers Stargate to suggest Anitta to include a verse on the song commenting about her newly discovered half-brother.[8][9]

A remix featuring American rapper DaBaby was released on May 21, 2021.[10]

Music video edit

The music video for "Girl from Rio" was shot at Piscinão de Ramos, a leisure area in Rio de Janeiro, and also in a studio where the Ipanema beach was reproduced.[11] The Giovanni Bianco-directed video was released simultaneously with the song,[12][13]

The video intercalates from scenes of Anitta and her family having fun at Piscinão de Ramos to a studio footage of Anitta as a glamorous redhead with colorful and vintage visuals in a recreated 1960s Ipanema.[14] Anitta's vintage visuals on the video were inspired on the 2020s television series Ratched and Sarah Paulson's character Nurse Ratched, as well as the general aesthetic of the 1960s.[8] Carmen Miranda's performances were also mentioned as inspirations for the video's easthetic.[8]

Remix version edit

The music video for the remix version featuring DaBaby was released on May 28, 2021, and was directed by Giovanni Bianco.[15]

Commercial performance edit

Select year-end rankings
Publication List Rank Ref.
Billboard The 25 Best Latin Songs of 2021: Staff List
N/A
Tidal Best Latin Video of 2021
42
Eolor Best Brazilian Music Video of 2021
5

Live performances and Accolades edit

Anitta first performed the song on May 2, 2021, on Fantástico. The next day, she sang the song on Today.[18] On May 5, she performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live!,[19] and on May 9, she performed it at Ellas y Su Música.[20] Anitta also performed the song at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards as part of an advertisement for Burger King.

Awards and nominations for "Girl From Rio"
Year Award ceremony Category Result Ref.
2021 Break Tudo Awards National Clip Won
F5 Awards Song of the Year Nominated [21]
Prêmio Jovem Brasileiro Bombastic Clip Nominated [22]
Meus Prêmios Nick Favorite National Hit Won [23]
MTV Millennial Awards Brazil Video of the Year Won [24]
Multishow Brazilian Music Awards Song of the Year Won [25]
Best Music Video TVZ Won
Music Video Festival Awards Best Music Video Won [26]
Best Art Direction in a Videoclip Nominated
Best Choreography in a Videoclip Nominated
Best Costume in a Videoclip Won
POP Mais Awards Best Music Video Won [27]
Song of the Year Won
Splash Awards Best Music Video Nominated [28]
2022 Latin American Music Awards Favorite Video Won [29]

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Certifications for "Girl from Rio"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[46] Diamond 160,000
Portugal (AFP)[47] Gold 5,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References edit

  1. ^ Levine, Nick (April 13, 2022). "Anitta – 'Versions of Me' review: filter-free hustler continues her global charm offensive". NME. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  2. ^ Aaron, Charles (April 15, 2022). "Anitta's 'Versions of Me' Is a Tirelessly Bewitching Global Dance-Floor Experience". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  3. ^ "'Girl From Rio' de Anitta é a faixa mais adicionada nas rádios Pop dos EUA". O Globo. June 12, 2021.
  4. ^ Blistein, Jon (2021-04-30). "Anitta Celebrates Her Hometown on New Song 'Girl From Rio'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  5. ^ "Anitta homenageia Roberta Close nas redes e destaca seu sucesso" [Anitta pays tribute to Roberta Close on the nets and highlights her success]. observatoriog.bol.uol.com.br. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  6. ^ Entretenimento, Portal Uai (2021-03-31). "Anitta inicia divulgação de Girl from Rio e vai aos trending topics" [Anitta starts dissemination of Girl from Rio and goes to trending topics]. Portal Uai Entretenimento (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  7. ^ "Anitta começa divulgação de "Girl From Rio" com post em inglês" [Anitta begins dissemination of "Girl From Rio" with post in English]. POPline (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2021-04-01. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i Willman, Chris (2021-06-21). "Anitta, 'The Girl From Rio,' on Interpolating the Classic 'Ipanema' Melody for a U.S. Pop Breakthrough". Variety. Retrieved 2021-06-08.
  9. ^ Villalba, Luciana (2021-05-07). "Interview: Brazilian Superstar Anitta Talks "Girl From Rio", Upcoming Album and More". Mitú. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  10. ^ "Anitta Enlists DaBaby for "Girl from Rio" Remix". Complex. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  11. ^ "Pop superstar Anitta shines with her brand new video for Girl From Rio". GAY TIMES. 2021-04-30. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  12. ^ "Anitta Introduces Us to "Girl From Rio"". V Magazine. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  13. ^ "Anitta retoma parceria de sucesso para o clipe de 'Girl From Rio'; descubra!" [Anitta resumes successful partnership for the music video for 'Girl From Rio'; Discover!]. observatoriodemusica.uol.com.br. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  14. ^ "'Girl From Rio': clipe de nova música de Anitta terá a presença da família" ['Girl From Rio': anitta's new music clip will be attended by the family]. Gshow (in Brazilian Portuguese). 20 April 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  15. ^ "Anitta apresenta clipe para remix de "Girl From Rio" com Dababy". May 28, 2021.
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  17. ^ "Melhores Clipes do Brasil em 2021". revistaeolor.com. December 23, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  18. ^ "Anitta performs 'Girl From Rio' on TODAY". TODAY.com. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  19. ^ "Anitta Takes the 'Girl From Rio' to 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!': Watch". www.billboard.com. 2021-05-05. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  20. ^ "Anitta brilha em performance no "Ellas Y Su Musica", evento do Latin Grammy" [Anitta shines in performance at "Ellas Y Su Musica", Latin Grammy event]. Vogue (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  21. ^ "Prêmio F5: Veja indicados e vote nos destaques do entretenimento em 2021". F5 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2021-11-16. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
  22. ^ "Conheça os ganhadores da 20ª edição do Prêmio Jovem Brasileiro". POPline (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2021-10-08. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
  23. ^ "Meus Prêmios Nick: looks, vencedores, slimes e mais destaques da edição". Quem (in Brazilian Portuguese). 28 August 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
  24. ^ "Pabllo é destaque do MTV Miaw, e Sonza sai sem nada; conheça os vencedores". www.uol.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-12-23.
  25. ^ Olímpio', 'Victória (2021-10-19). "Prêmio Multishow 2021: confira a lista completa dos indicados". Diversão e Arte (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-12-23.
  26. ^ "2021". m-v-f- (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-12-23.
  27. ^ "Juliette é destaque entre os vencedores do Prêmio POP Mais 2021; veja lista". portalpopmais.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
  28. ^ "É hora de festa. Splash Awards elege os melhores da cultura pop em 2021". www.uol.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-12-23.
  29. ^ "2022 Latin American Music Awards: Bad Bunny Leads the Nominations | Entertainment Tonight". www.etonline.com. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
  30. ^ "Top 100 Brasil". 15 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021. In "Semana Referência", select "24/05/2021 – 28/05/2021"
  31. ^ "Top 20 Chile – Del 31 de Mayo al 6 de Junio, 2021" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  32. ^ "Anitta Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  33. ^ "Anitta Chart History (Billboard Global 200 Excl. U.S.)". Billboard. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  34. ^ "Anitta – Girl from Rio". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  35. ^ "Billboard Pop Songs – Solo Version". Billboard. June 12, 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-06-10. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  36. ^ "Billboard Rhythmic Songs – Solo Version". Billboard. June 12, 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.[dead link]
  37. ^ "Anitta – Chart History (Argentina Hot 100)" Billboard Argentina Hot 100 Singles for Anitta. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  38. ^ "Anitta – Chart history – Canada CHR/Top 40". Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  39. ^ "Anitta Chart History (Mexico Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  40. ^ "Anitta Chart History (Mexico Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  41. ^ "Anitta – Chart history – Pop Airplay". Billboard Pop Airplay. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  42. ^ "Anitta Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  43. ^ "Top 50 Streaming Monthly (May 2021)". Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  44. ^ "Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2021". Crowley Broadcast Analysis. April 3, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  45. ^ "Top 200 Streaming in 2021" (PDF). Pro-Música Brasil (in Portuguese). Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  46. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Anitta – Girl From Rio" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  47. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Anitta – Girl From Rio" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved January 31, 2023.