Samba de Orfeu is a Brazilian tune written by Luiz Bonfá with Portuguese lyrics by Antônio Maria for the 1959 film Black Orpheus (Orfeu Negro). It first appeared in the film and was released on June 12, 1959 as part of Bonfá’s soundtrack, performed in the final scene when the children play the song to make the sun rise. The piece is a Portuguese samba with a cinematic feel, and its opening notes are said to resemble Jacob de Bandolim’s Noites Cariocas. The song has been widely covered and adapted, with instrumental and vocal versions by artists such as Johnny Mathis and Tony Bennett, as well as instrumental takes by Ramsey Lewis and Vince Guaraldi. It remains one of the film’s signature tunes and is closely associated with the Black Orpheus score alongside Manhã de Carnaval.
