Elvis Presley’s vast musical catalog spans genres, from rock and roll to gospel and country. Among his diverse recordings, one track that stands out for its distinct rhythm is his venture into Latin sounds. The catchy tune widely known as the Elvis Presley bossa nova song is “Bossa Nova Baby,” a memorable number featured in one of his popular films.
“Bossa Nova Baby” was written by the acclaimed songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Released in 1963, the song quickly became associated with Elvis’s film Fun In Acapulco. The lyrics tell a playful story of a man struggling to keep up with his energetic dancing partner who insists on dancing the bossa nova despite his fatigue.
I said, ‘Take it easy, baby I worked all day and my feet feel just like lead You got my shirt tails Flyin’ all over the place And the sweat poppin’ out of my head’ She said, ‘Hey, Bossa nova, baby Keep on a workin’ child This ain’t no time to quit’ She said, ‘Go, Bossa nova, baby Keep on dancin’ I’m about to have myself a fit’ Bossa nova, Bossa nova
I said, ‘Hey little mama, Let’s sit down Have a drink and dig the band’ She said, ‘Drink, drink, drink Oh, fiddle-de-dink I can dance with a drink in my hand’ She said ‘Hey Bossa nova, baby Keep on workin’ child This ain’t no time to drink’ She said ‘Go, Bossa nova, baby Keep on dancin’ ‘Cause I ain’t got time to think’
I said, ‘Come on, baby It’s hot in here And it’s oh so cool outside If you lend me a dollar I can buy some gas And we can go for a little ride’ She said, ‘Hey Bossa nova, baby Keep on workin’ child I ain’t got time for that’ She said, ‘Go Bossa nova, baby Keep on dancin’ Or I’ll find myself another cat’
Recording and Release
“Bossa Nova Baby” was recorded on January 22, 1963, at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California. This session was primarily dedicated to recording songs for the Fun In Acapulco soundtrack. The track was later released as a single and included on the Fun In Acapulco album, becoming one of the highlights of the movie’s musical numbers. For those interested in exploring more elvis presley movie songs list, “Bossa Nova Baby” is a notable example from his film era. The January 22nd session also yielded recordings for other movie songs including “I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here,” “Mexico,” “The Bullfighter Was A Lady,” “Marguerita,” and “Vino Dinero Y Amor.” A subsequent session on January 23rd at the same studio added more tracks for the film, such as “No Room To Rhumba In A Sports Car” and the title song “elvis presley fun in acapulco songs“.
Elvis in 1963
1963 was a significant year for Elvis beyond his recording sessions. In March, Priscilla Beaulieu arrived in Los Angeles and later moved to Memphis to live with Vernon and Dee Presley while she finished high school.
Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu together in 1963
April saw the national opening of another Elvis film, It Happened at the World’s Fair, which performed reasonably well commercially, and its soundtrack album reached the top five.
Another key recording period occurred on May 26-27, 1963, at RCA’s Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee. These prolific sessions resulted in numerous masters, including “Devil In Disguise,” which was chosen as a single A-side. While an album from these sessions was planned, the tracks were ultimately released gradually over the following years on singles or as bonus selections on soundtrack albums. This collection was later released on CD as “songs elvis presley list: For The Asking – The Lost Album” in 1990.
Songs recorded during the May 1963 Nashville sessions included:
- “Echoes Of Love”
- “Please Don’t Drag That String Around”
- “Devil In Disguise”
- “Never Ending”
- “What Now What Next Where To”
- “Witchcraft”
- “Finders Keepers Losers Weepers”
- “elvis burning love and hits from his movies Love Me Tonight”
- “Memphis Tennessee”
- “Long Lonely Highway”
- “Ask Me”
- “Western Union”
- “happy elvis songs Slowly But Surely”
- “Blue River”
These 1963 recordings showcase the range of music Elvis was producing during this period, from movie soundtrack numbers like the bossa nova song to more traditional studio tracks.
For fans interested in earlier footage, the Tupelo’s Own Elvis Presley DVD features never-before-seen unreleased film of Elvis performing live in Tupelo, Mississippi in 1956, including classic hits like “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Don’t Be Cruel,” offering a glimpse into his electrifying 1950s performances with sound.
Cover image for ‘Tupelo’s Own Elvis Presley DVD’ featuring 1956 concert footage
Conclusion
“Bossa Nova Baby” remains a unique entry in Elvis Presley’s discography, highlighting his willingness to experiment with different international sounds during his film career. While not a traditional bossa nova, the song captures an energetic, Latin-inspired rhythm that perfectly suited the setting of Fun In Acapulco. Released during a busy year of recording and personal milestones in 1963, the song serves as a fun, danceable reminder of Elvis’s versatility as a performer and his lasting impact on popular music.
