Samba de Janeiro explained

Samba de Janeiro
Cover:Bellini-samba_de_janeiro_s.jpg
Caption:Original version cover
Type:single
Artist:Bellini
Album:Samba de Janeiro
Genre:
Length:2:49
Label:
Producer:
  • Gottfried Engels
  • Ramon Zenker
Next Title:Carnaval
Next Year:1997

"Samba de Janeiro" (pronounced as /pt-BR/) is a song by German pop group Bellini. It was released on 5 May 1997 in Germany as the lead single from their debut album of the same name (1997). The song was a hit throughout Europe, reaching number-one in Hungary and the top 10 in at least 12 countries. It interpolates the chorus of Airto Moreira's 1972 song "Tombo in 7/4", as well as samples the drum rhythm from Moreira's "Celebration Suite". "Samba de Janeiro" won the award for best dance single at the 7th annual Echo Awards.[1]

In 2014, the group released a new version with additional lyrics, titled "Samba do Brasil", to celebrate the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics, both held in Brazil.[2]

Critical reception

Alan Jones from Music Week wrote, "Fitting in with the current vogue for all things Latin, Bellini's Samba De Janeiro is maddeningly familiar from first hearing — probably because fellow Virgin recording act The Heartists' single 'Belo Horizonti' is essentially the same song. Bright, breezy, commercial and a hit whose time has come."[3]

Chart performance

"Samba de Janeiro" was very successful on the charts in Europe, peaking at number-one in Hungary and it was a number two hit in both Germany and Switzerland. It made it to the top 10 also in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Scotland and the United Kingdom, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where the single reached number three. In the UK, it peaked at number eight in its first week at the UK Singles Chart, on September 21, 1997.[4] It charted also on the UK Dance Chart, peaking at number 12. Additionally, "Samba de Janeiro" was a top 20 hit in Norway and a top 30 hit in Sweden.

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single. It was later published on YouTube in August 2017. As of June 2022, it has more than 25.7 million views.[5]

Legacy

The melody of "Samba de Janeiro" was played during the 2008 UEFA European Football Championship after every goal.[6] It was also used as goal music for Norwich City F.C. from 1998–2013 and from 2018–present, featuring as the club's official goal music in the video game FIFA 23.[7]

The song was also featured in the 1999 arcade video game Samba de Amigo, which was later released for the Dreamcast in 2000 and the Wii in 2008.

Track listings

  1. "Samba de Janeiro" (Original Version) – 5:38
  2. "Samba de Janeiro" (Peter Parker Rmx) – 5:52
  1. "Samba de Janeiro" (Radio Edit) – 2:50
  2. "Samba de Janeiro" (Club Mix) – 5:38
  3. "Samba de Janeiro" (Vanity Back Yard Remix) – 5:18
  4. "Samba de Janeiro" (Peter Parker Remix) – 5:52
  5. "Samba de Janeiro" (John Acquaviva Remix) – 7:59
  6. "Samba de Janeiro" (Merlyn Remix) – 6:00
  1. "Samba de Janeiro" (Radio Edit) – 2:50
  2. "Samba de Janeiro" (Club Mix) – 5:38
  3. "Samba de Janeiro" (Vanity Back Yard Remix) – 5:18
  4. "Samba de Janeiro" (Peter Parker Remix) – 5:52
  1. "Samba de Janeiro" (Radio Edit) – 2:50
  2. "Samba de Janeiro" (Club Mix) – 5:38
  3. "Samba de Janeiro" (Vanity Back Yard Mix) – 5:18
  4. "Samba de Janeiro" (Radio Edit) – 2:50
  5. "Samba de Janeiro" (Club Mix) – 5:38
  6. "Samba de Janeiro" (Vanity Back Yard Mix) – 5:18

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1997–2013)Peak
position
Belgium Dance (Ultratop)[8] 16
Denmark (IFPI)[9] 8
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[10] 3
Hungary (Mahasz)[11] 1
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[12] 7

Year-end charts

Chart (1997)Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[13] 15
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[14] 41
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[15] 22
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[16] 14
Germany (Official German Charts)[17] 10
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[18] 50
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[19] 54
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[20] 51
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] 13

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
Europe5 May 1997CD
Japan3 September 1997Virgin[22]

Notes and References

  1. Echo '98 winners. 21 March 1998. 20. 23 December 2019. Music & Media.
  2. Web site: Montefeltro . Michel . Brasileira faz sucesso em girl band alemã com hit da Copa do Mundo . pt-BR . . . 2014-07-12 . 2024-06-15.
  3. Alan. Jones. Talking Music. Music Week. 13 September 1997. 14. 13 September 2022.
  4. Web site: Official Singles Chart Top 100 21 September 1997 - 27 September 1997. Official Charts Company. 16 September 2020.
  5. Web site: Bellini - Samba De Janeiro. YouTube. 11 August 2017 . 3 March 2021.
  6. News: Dean. Will. Trending: The Euro 2012 chant that a Seven Nation Army couldn't hold back. 11 April 2017. The Independent. 18 June 2012.
  7. Web site: Norwich City goal celebration music features in FIFA 23 . 29 September 2022 .
  8. Web site: Ultratop Dance 09/08/1997. ultratop.be. May 17, 2018.
  9. Hits of the World. Billboard. September 13, 1995. 73. 107. Prometheus Global Media. 0006-2510.
  10. Hits of the World. Billboard. September 27, 1995. 65. 107. Prometheus Global Media. 0006-2510.
  11. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 20 September 1997. June 22, 2018.
  12. Web site: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (18.09.1997 - 25.09.1997). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. February 6, 2018. is.
  13. Web site: Jahreshitparade Singles 1997. austriancharts.at. March 4, 2020.
  14. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1997. Ultratop. March 4, 2020.
  15. Web site: Rapports Annuels 1997. Ultratop. March 4, 2020.
  16. 1997 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. December 20, 2019. Music & Media.
  17. Web site: Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts. German. GfK Entertainment. April 17, 2018.
  18. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1997. Dutch Top 40. March 4, 2020.
  19. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1997. dutchcharts.nl. March 4, 2020.
  20. Web site: Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1997. Romanian Top 100. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20050922001105/http://www.rt100.ro/topul-anului-1997.html. September 22, 2005.
  21. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1997 – hitparade.ch. March 4, 2020.
  22. Web site: サンバ・DE・ジャネイロ ベリーニ. Samba de Janeiro Bellini. Oricon. ja. 22 January 2024.