"How Insensitive" () is a bossa nova and jazz standard song composed by Brazilian musician Antônio Carlos Jobim. The original lyrics are by Vinícius de Moraes (in Portuguese); an English version was written by Norman Gimbel. Jobim recorded the song in 1994 with Sting on lead vocals for his last studio album Antônio Brasileiro.

Background

In Brazil the song goes by the title "Insensatez", which translates more accurately to "Foolishness". The beginning of the song resembles Chopin's prelude in E minor.

Recorded versions

The song has been performed and recorded often by a diverse group of singers, such as:

• Frank Sinatra and Antônio Carlos Jobim on their 1967 album Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim

• Peggy Lee on her 1964 album In Love Again!

• Andy Williams on his 1966 album The Shadow of Your Smile

• Vic Damone on his 1966 album Stay with Me

• Nancy Wilson on her 1968 album Easy

• Shirley Bassey on her 1979 album The Magic Is You

• Olivia Newton-John on her 2004 release Indigo: Women of Song

• Petula Clark on her 1967 album These Are My Songs

• William Shatner as part of a medley on his 1968 The Transformed Man

• Iggy Pop on his 2009 release Préliminaires

• Sinéad O'Connor on her 1992 album Am I Not Your Girl?

• Robert Wyatt on his 2003 release Cuckooland

• Pat MacDonald on his 2004 album In the Red Room

Musicians who covered the composition in the jazz genre:

• Joao Gilberto

• Laurindo Almeida

• Stan Getz & Luiz Bonfá on their 1963 album Jazz Samba Encore!

• Wes Montgomery on his 1966 album Tequila

• Sergio Mendes on his 1967 album Quiet Nights

• Stacey Kent on her 2013 album The Changing Lights

• George Shearing on his 1985 album Grand Piano

• Diana Krall on her 2006 album From This Moment On

• Pat Martino on his 1972 album The Visit

• Pat Metheny

• Larry Coryell and Emily Remler on their 1985 album Together

• Roy Hargrove on his 2000 release Moment to Moment

See also

• Jazz standard

References