forgotten tune

[/fərˈɡɑːtn ˈtuːn/]
noun phrasepl: forgotten tunes
melodia esquecida
1. A song, melody, or musical piece that has been lost from memory or is no longer commonly played or remembered
That forgotten tune from my childhood suddenly came back to me when I heard it on the radio.
Aquela melodia esquecida da minha infância de repente voltou à minha memória quando ouvi na rádio.
2. A piece of music that was once popular but has fallen into obscurity over time
The jazz musician decided to revive a forgotten tune from the 1940s.
O músico de jazz decidiu reviver uma melodia esquecida dos anos 1940.
This phrase resonates particularly in contexts of nostalgia and musical revival. In Brazil, forgotten tunes often reference classic MPB (Música Popular Brasileira), samba, or bossa nova pieces. In the USA, it frequently relates to oldies, jazz standards, or classic rock. The concept carries emotional weight in both cultures, often triggering fond memories or inspiring contemporary artists to reinterpret historical compositions.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
obscure melodylost songold tunebygone melodyneglected composition
Antonyms / Antônimos
familiar tunepopular songwell-known melodycurrent hit

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
melodia esquecida
Standard usage across all Brazilian regions
Rio de Janeiro
música esquecida
More colloquial alternative using música instead of melodia
São Paulo
canção antiga esquecida
Tendency to emphasize the age and abandonment of the piece
Portugal
melodia esquecida / canção esquecida
Both terms used equally; similar usage to Brazilian Portuguese

Related Words

nostalgiamemorymelodycompositionobscurityrevival

Related Idioms & Phrases

a blast from the past
bring back memories
ring a bell
out of the frying pan and into the fire
revive an old tune
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →