Summer Samba

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Summer Samba (also known as So Nice or its original Portuguese title, "Samba de Verão") is a 1966 bossa nova song by Brazilian composer Marcos Valle, with English-language lyrics by Norman Gimbel; the original Portuguese lyrics came from Paulo Sérgio Valle, brother to the composer.^[1]

The song was first popularized by the Walter Wanderley Trio in 1966 — the album on which it was issued reached platinum status in 1970^[2]^[3] — also reaching high on the U.S. record charts in versions by Johnny Mathis, Vikki Carr, and Connie Francis during that same decade. In fact, at least one source claims that three different versions were on the Billboard charts at the same time in 1966.^[4] All Music Guide has said of Wanderley's version, "His recording ... is regarded as perhaps a more definitive bossa tune than "Girl From Ipanema."^[5] Wanderley's version was the biggest seller in the U.S., reaching #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966,(#3 on the Easy Listening chart), and is still a favourite on Adult Standards radio stations.

Other notable versions include those by Astrud Gilberto and later by Bebel Gilberto, both of which recordings have been used in several television programs and in widely broadcast TV advertisements. As of the year 2000, the song had been recorded by more than 180 different artists worldwide.^[6]

The song was covered by Emma Bunton in 2004 and was released as a b-side on the commercial CD single to her single "Crickets Sing For Anamaria", taken from her critically acclaimed sophomore album, Free Me.