The master’s trick

modernization’s crisis in “Chega de saudade”

Abstract

Much has been written about “Chega de saudade” (Jobim/ Moraes) and its relation to both bossa nova and the question of modernization of popular music. But,  symptomatically, little has been said about the music itself. Therefore, I revisit ideas discussed in the literature in order to elaborate theoretical formulations that allow me  o build an interpretation that articulates musical and socio-economic modernization. Although not restricted to the song’s raising and consecrating empirical process,  y interpretation lies on concrete facts linked to the polarization that arose between Tom Jobim and Jacob do Bandolim around the composition: in this facts lies the clues to  uncover the master’s trick.