Bossa Nova Radio - Best of the Web

Rarely will you come across a genre of music as universally likable as Brazilian Bossa Nova. With its swaying, soothing rhythms and easygoing vocal lilts, it's the kind of music that instantly evokes sunshine, sundresses, and summertime. And few genres are as emblematic of an entire nation and culture as Bossa is of Brazil. So much of Brazil's breathing melting pot of races, cultures and ethnicities is indelibly linked to music and dance. Bossa, like a glacier that gradually picks up sediment as it inches forward through time, has likewise picked up bits and pieces of nearly every one of the country's myriad and diverse cultural traditions. And the result, as you can hear, is sublime--and its effects irrepressibly ubiquitous. Whether it's in that extra kick in a homemade Capirinha, or in that intangible aesthetic with which its soccer stars dance around the field, Brazilians always seem to do everything with an added flair. One could argue, too, that the root of all this, the foundation and fountain from which this intriguingly rich culture sprang, is indeed its music. Among the many genres you'll find across the mountains and beaches of this expansive country, none is as adored or admired as Bossa. And for good reason.

Here are the top five Bossa Nova stations available in the SHOUTcast Radio Directory. To listen to these stations and more, find them in the Bossa Nova genre.

This quirky little station plays Bossa, sure, but the Bossa that show up at its doorstep is dressed in decidedly different clothes. Think of it as Bossa's grandchildren, all grown up and electric and starting to rebel a bit, but inescapably rooted in their family's tradition.

Radio Eclipse has a massive international network of stations, and this is just one of its many niche satellites. Come here for Bossa standards, interspersed with classic American jazz.

For those interested in Brazil, and only Brazil, look no further. Here you'll find 100% pure Brazilian Bossa, as well as its closely related first cousin, Samba. Together, the two combine a fusion of breezy harmonies, overlaid with delectable and piquant melodies.

This subsection of JazzRadio.com's extensive jazz library of stations is devoted exclusively to bona fide Bossa, with big Brazilian names like Gilberto Gil, Jorge Ben, and, of course, Antonio Carlos Jobim, all in heavy playlist rotation. A great start for the Bossa (or Brazilian) beginner.

SKY.fm's Bossa Nova Jazz is the most popular stop for everything Bossa, and there's a good reason why. It spans nearly everything the long arms of Bossa ever touched upon, spanning from the early days, when Stan Getz and his Girl from Ipanema "came walking" onto the scene, up until today's stars like Bebel Gilberto. If you wanna cover all the bases on the Bossa diamond, this is the place to go.