Soul Bossa Nova

Lore & Background

Quincy Jones composed "Soul Bossa Nova" in twenty minutes. The recording featured Roland Kirk on flute, Lalo Schifrin on piano, Chris White on bass, Rudy Collins on drums, and Jerome Richardson on alto flute. The album liner notes do not specify the brass players. The piece was first released on the 1962 album Big Band Bossa Nova on Mercury Records.

The song gained widespread exposure through various media. It was used in a choreographed dance scene starring Judy Garland in the second episode of The Judy Garland Show in 1963. It also appeared in the films The Pawnbroker and Take the Money and Run. A long-running Canadian television game show, Definition, used the theme. Canadian hip hop group Dream Warriors sampled the title heavily for their track "My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style" on their 1991 debut album And Now the Legacy Begins.

Canadian comedian Mike Myers adopted the song as the theme for his James Bond parody film series Austin Powers. The song was recommended to Myers by KCRW DJ Chris Douridas, a music consultant on the film series. Myers had a personal connection to the song, having been a fan of Definition as a child. The piece was also used as a theme for the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

Reader's Guide

"Soul Bossa Nova" is significant for its enduring presence in popular culture, transcending its origins as a jazz instrumental. Composed quickly by Quincy Jones, the piece became a versatile musical cue used in television, film, and video games. Its distinctive cuíca sound and upbeat bossa nova rhythm made it instantly recognizable. The song's use as the theme for the Austin Powers film series introduced it to a new generation, cementing its status as a cultural touchstone. It has been sampled by artists such as Ludacris for his singles "Number One Spot" and "Soul Bossa Nostra," and interpolated in Nikki Yanofsky's "Something New" from her album Little Secret, which Jones executive produced. The piece also appeared in the Glee pilot episode as an a cappella version, in the dance video game Just Dance 2, and as the title theme for the German comedy show Was guckst du?!. Its legacy lies in its adaptability and the way it has been woven into diverse media, from game shows to blockbuster films, demonstrating the lasting appeal of a well-crafted instrumental.

Did You Know?

• Quincy Jones said he composed "Soul Bossa Nova" in twenty minutes.
• The cuíca is responsible for the distinctive "laughing" sound in the first bars.
• Roland Kirk was the flute soloist on the original recording.
• The song was recommended to Mike Myers for the Austin Powers series by KCRW DJ Chris Douridas.