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6.14.4 "The Girl From Ipanema": How the Song Works Musically
The melody of "The Girl from Ipanema" all but hides the tonic note throughout the song. Which is astonishing. Antonio Carlos Jobim (the composer) and Frank Sinatra recorded the song in the key of F major, but there are very few F-notes in the melody. Not only that—the melody also uses all 12 notes of the chromatic scale. Also astonishing.
“The Girl From Ipanema” progresses through quite a few chords—13 altogether. The sequential modulation used in this song could more accurately be termed transient modulation, because keys other than the original key do not get firmly established. Much like “It Was A Very Good Year.”
The chords progress in accordance with a melodic sequence that keeps rising in pitch ...
Oh, but I watch her so sadlyHow can I tell her I love herYes, I would give my heart gladly
... followed by a different sequence that steps the melodic line back down—and back to the original key.
But each day when she walks to the seaShe looks straight ahead, not at me