Favela, also known as O Morro Não Tem Vez, is a bossa nova jazz standard composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim with Portuguese lyrics by Vinicius de Moraes and English lyrics by Ray Gilbert. It was first released in 1962 by Pedrinho Rodrigues as the A-side to O Amor e a Canção. The song gained popularity in 1963 thanks to Jair Rodrigues, and it has been notably recorded by Astrud Gilberto, Jobim, and Stan Getz among others. The tune speaks to the favelas of Rio de Janeiro and became one of bossa nova’s rare protest songs about social injustice during Brazil’s early 1960s political turmoil. Notable recordings appear on Jobim’s The Composer of Desafinado Plays (1963), the Astrud Gilberto Album (1965), and Stan Getz & Luiz Bonfá Jazz Samba Encore! (1963).
