This round, the song is the bossa nova classic, "Chega de Saudade" ("No More Blues"), with music by Antonio Carlos Jobim and lyrics by Vinicius de Moraes. It’s considered to be the first bossa nova song recorded, in 1957 by Elizete Cardoso, although the most-popular version of it was recorded in 1958 by João Gilberto.
I’ve lined up a couple of young quartets as contestants.
NOVA
NOVA is a Los Angeles based quartet fronted by vocalist Laura Vall, originally from Barcelona, backed by guitarist David Irelan, bassist Thomas Hjorth (since 2018; Simon Huber plays bass here), and drummer Mike Papagni.
Irene Miranda Quartet
The Irene Miranda Quartet is based in Belgium and is fronted by Ms. Miranda, backed by guitarist Lucien Lenaerts, bassist Félix Heymans, and drummer Thomas Vasseur.
There are our contestants. Here’s where you come in, if you wish:
- Listen to the two songs.
- Decide which song you like the best.
- Vote for your favorite by leaving me a comment with your choice. If you feel like telling us why, feel free.
- Then, visit the other participants and vote in their Battles:
- Stephen at STMcC Presents Battle of the Bands
- Arlee at Tossing It Out
- Mike at Mike’s Ramblings
- Cathy at Curious As A Cathy
- Mary B at Jingle Jangle Jungle
- Ai at Ai Love Music
I’ll tally the votes and announce the winner next Friday, October 22, so be sure and cast your vote by then.
The lines are now open. Good luck to NOVA and the Irene Miranda Quartet!
The Sound of One Hand Typing 
I don’t know if I am too late but I choose Nova. Her voice is more smooth and less grating that the other, to my ears anyway. Grating is too harsh, she just was sharper in her voice that Nova.
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Gotta get my two cents in before the deadline – it’s Nova for me.
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JOHN ~
I truly loves me some Bossa-Nova!
Having read the comments BEFORE playing either song, I figured I was bound to be voting for NOVA because some of those folks who voted before me made is seem like a no-brainer. But…
NOPE!
Although the first one was fine, I preferred the Irene Miranda Quartet by a large Marge(in). They had much more of that super-cool, super-laid-back, classic easy-swinging Bossa-Nova style that I dig so much. Nova was stronger on dynamic variations within the song, but that is NOT what I associate with classic traditional Bossa-Nova.
Great stuffs, John.
~ D-FensDogG
Stephen T. McCarthy ‘STUFFS’
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I don’t like either but if I had to choose it would be The Irene Miranda Quartet.
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Nova (by a lot).
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Never heard this song or that tidbit of history about it.
Nova is definitely my preference in this match. Just liked everything about it more than the other version.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
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Nova
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