Ipanema Beach

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Culture

5 Places You'll Recognize From Famous Songs

Before "The Girl From Ipanema" hit the radio waves in 1962, Rio de Janeiro's now-famous beach wasn't as well-known outside of Brazil.

At the time, Brazilian composers Antônio Carlos Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes were inspired by an 18-year-old Brazilian girl, who walked by them daily as they sat in a cafe in Ipanema. The girl, Helô Pinheiro, was the walking embodiment of Rio de Janeiro's vibe — young, beautiful, and without a care in the world. The jazzy classic didn't become an international hit until 1964, when an English version was released. That version later won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year and reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. And from that point on, Ipanema Beach became a can't-miss tourist attraction in Rio de Janeiro.

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