Whiffenpoofs' 'The Girl from Ipanema'

The Whiffenpoofs sing 'The Girl from Ipanema' inside near the portico, their voices drifting out to Bartlet as he watches snow fall. Donna requests one last song amid Carol's warnings about the storm and sandwich delivery. Charlie offers Bartlet a coat during the performance. The a cappella rendition cuts through policy tensions, drawing smiles from staff and softening the Oval Office's edge before crises resume.

2 appearances

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S4E11 · Holy Night

Portico Quiet: Charlie's Quiet Watch

The Whiffenpoofs' rendition of 'The Girl from Ipanema' functions as an audible object: it fills the space, creates an emotional counterpoint to presidential duty, and connects characters across rooms by turning tension into warmth.

Before: Performance in progress within the Mural Room, voices about to drift outward toward the Oval and portico.

After: Performance continues, providing background atmosphere as staff respond and prepare to depart or resume work.

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S4E11 · Holy Night

A Last Song on a Snowbound Night

The Girl from Ipanema" functions as a performative object—there as a sung text that shapes mood, elicits banter, and becomes the requested last song, turning music into a narrative device that softens the scene's tension.

Before: Queued in the Whiffenpoofs' repertoire; already being performed as Charlie enters.

After: Continues to play its role as a mood-setting song and is available for a requested encore or tailored selection for Donna.

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