Anxiety: One Riff, 58 Years

A haunting 1967 guitar riff from Luiz Bonfá's "Seville" travels 58 years, finding new life in Gotye's 2011 "Somebody That I Used to Know" and Doechii's "Anxiety."

Tracklist

  1. Anxiety — Doechii
  2. Seville — Luiz Bonfá
  3. Somebody That I Used to Know — Gotye featuring Kimbra
  4. What It Is (Block Boy) — Doechii featuring Kodak Black
  5. Players — Coi Leray
  6. Manhã de Carnaval — Luiz Bonfá

Transcript

Some of the best music history hides in plain sight — and this story reaches back further than you'd guess.

We've got a story to unfold — let me set the frame before we drop into the music.

Anxiety — Doechii

This track by Doechii is the latest in a long line, completing that origin-flip-hit progression and proving some riffs just never get old.

Seville — Luiz Bonfá

A haunting guitar riff from 1967, almost forgotten, became the root of a 58-year sample journey. Luiz Bonfá's bossa nova instrumental, "Seville," held a melody destined for global fame, demonstrating how timeless music can resurface across generations.

Somebody That I Used to Know — Gotye featuring Kimbra

That wistful melody waited 44 years in the crates. In 2011, Australian artist Gotye built his entire chart-topping "Somebody That I Used to Know" around Bonfá's exact guitar riff, turning it into a global phenomenon that hit number one in more than 20 countries.

What It Is (Block Boy) — Doechii featuring Kodak Black

Doechii's genre-bending style and viral prowess were already evident before her "Anxiety" hit. Her 2023 track "What It Is (Block Boy)" featuring Kodak Black, which marked her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, showcased the versatile flow that would propel her next viral success.

Players — Coi Leray

The power of a timeless sample isn't unique to Bonfá's riff. Coi Leray's 2022 viral hit "Players" successfully flipped Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five's 1982 classic "The Message," proving that great melodies truly never die and can find new life across genres.

Manhã de Carnaval — Luiz Bonfá

Luiz Bonfá's genius extends beyond a single sampled riff. His iconic composition "Manhã de Carnaval" from the 1959 film 'Black Orpheus' was instrumental in bringing bossa nova to a global audience, showcasing the depth and lasting impact of his musical legacy.

Tonight, we heard how one 1967 riff journeyed through a global smash to a viral hit, finding new life across 58 years and three artists. Great music never dies, only evolving. Thanks for joining us on OffStereo.