Chovendo na Roseira was presented in March 1970 as a short instrumental piece entitled Children’s Games, part of of twelve songs composed by Jobim and arranged by Eumir Deodato for the US film The Adventurers. The film was based on the 1966 novel of the same name by Harold Robbins, which retells the life of the jet-set playboy Porfirio Rubirosa. Despite the top-class cast with Charles Aznavour, Ernest Borgnine, Olivia de Havilland and opera star Anna Moffo, the best thing about the film was basically only its “airborne world premiere”, when the film was first shown on the premiere voyage of the Boeing 747 Superjet from New York to Los Angeles in the presence of the stars.
Around the time of the film’s release in March 1970, Jobim recorded a longer version of Children’s Games for his album Stone Flower, which was released in July 1970. Stone Flower was arranged and conducted by Eumir Deodato and produced by Creed Taylor in the studios of legendary jazz sound engineer Rudy van Gelder. The musicians included trombonist Urbie Green, bassist Ron Carter and drummer João Palma.
In Brazil, Children’s Games was first recorded in 1971 by either Osmar Milito or Luiz Carlos Vinhas, both with Jobim’s subsequently added lyrics entitled Chovendo na Roseira. With English lyrics by Gene Lees, titled Double Rainbow, the song was probably first recorded in 1974 by Sérgio Mendes & Brasil ’77.
In the same year, Elis Regina recorded what is probably the best-known version of the song on their joint album with Jobim, entitled Elis & Tom. The album was produced by Aloysio de Oliveira and arranged by César Camargo Mariano, who also played electric piano on Chovendo na Roseira, accompanied by Oscar Castro-Neves on guitar, Luizão Maia on bass, Paulo Braga on drums and either Hubert Laws or Jerome Richardson on flute.
My sincere thanks to the Jornal RelevO for publishing this article in their column RelevO presents Brazilliance: The song of the month for the sophisticated connoisseur!
Selected recordings of Chovendo na Roseira:
1. Antônio Carlos Jobim from the album Stone Flower (1970, CTI Records [USA] CTI 6002 and CTI Records [BRA] LPS 624.513)
Art work for Stone Flower by Tony Lane with photograph by Pete Turner
2. Luiz Carlos Vinhas and Os Kalangos from the single Capim Gordura b/w Chovendo na Roseira (1971, Tapecar CS-313)
3. Osmar Milito and Quarteto Forma from the album E Deixa o Relógio Andar! (1971, Som Livre SIG 1004)
4. Luiz Eça and Quinteto Villa-Lobos from the album Vanguarda (1972, Odeon SMOFB 3730)
Art work for Vanguarda by Joselito
5. Elis Regina and Antônio Carlos Jobim from the album Elis & Tom (1974, Philips 6349 112)
6. Sérgio Mendes & Brasil ’77 from the album Vintage 74 (1974, Circa – 1305)
7. Dom Um Romão from the album Hotmosphere (1976, Pablo Records/Philips 2310 777)
Art work for Hotmosphere by Norman Granz and Gribbitt with photograph by Monica Botkay
Selected recordings of Chovendo na Roseira originally not issued in Brazil:
1. Antônio Carlos Jobim from the film The Adventurers (1970, Paramount Records [USA] SPFL 260)
2. Stan Getz, João Gilberto and Miúcha from the album The Best of Two Worlds – Stan Getz & João Gilberto (1976, Columbia [USA] PC 33703)
Chovendo na Roseira performed by Elis Regina and Antônio Carlos Jobim during the recording sessions in 1974
CHOVENDO NA ROSEIRA
Olha, está chovendo na roseira • Que só dá rosa, mas não cheira • A frescura das gotas úmidas • Que é de Luisa • Que é de Paulinho • Que é de João • Que é de ninguém
Pétalas de rosa carregadas pelo vento • Um amor tão puro carregou meu pensamento • Olha, um tico-tico mora ao lado • E passeando no molhado • Adivinhou a primavera
Olha que chuva boa prazenteira • Que vem molhar minha roseira • Chuva boa criadeira • Que molha a terra • Que enche o rio • Que limpa o céu • Que traz o azul
Olha o jasmineiro está florido • E o riachinho de água esperta • Se lança em vasto rio de águas calmas • Ah, você é de ninguém • Ah, você é de ninguém
DOUBLE RAINBOW
Listen • The rain is falling on the roses • The fragrance drifts across the garden • Like the scent of some forgotten melody • This melody belongs to you • Belongs to me, belongs to no one
See the way the crimson petals • Scatter when the wind blows • Ah, the secret sigh of love • That suddenly the heart knows • See how a robin’s there among the puddless • And, hopping through the misty rain drops • He’s come to tell us it is spring
Look at the double rainbow • The rain is silver in the sun light • A fleeting fox is in the garden • Rain sweet lovin’mother rain • That soaks the earth • That swells the streams • That cleans the sky • And brings the blue
See how the jasmin tree is all in flower • The little brook of clever waters • Flows into a vast river • Ah, you belong to no one • Ah, you belong to no one
Brazilliance 