Mas Que Nada
George Benson & Al Jarreau Lyrics


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O aria raio
Oba oba oba
O aria raio
Oba oba oba

Mas que nada
Sai da minha frente que eu quero passar
Pois o samba está animado
O que eu quero é sambar
Este samba que é misto de maracatu
É samba de preto velho
Samba de preto tu

Mas que nada
Um samba como esse tão legal
Você não vai querer
Que eu chegue no final

O aria raio
Oba oba oba
O aria raio
Oba oba oba

Mas que nada
Sai da minha frente que eu quero passar
Pois o samba está animado
O que eu quero é sambar, sambar
Este samba que é misto de maracatu
É samba de preto velho
Samba de preto tu

Mas que nada
Um samba como esse tão legal
Você não vai querer
Que eu chegue no final (sing it josy)

O aria raio
Oba oba oba
O aria raio
Oba oba oba

O aria raio
Oba oba oba
O aria raio
Oba oba oba

Mas que nada
Sai da minha frente que eu quero passar
Pois o samba está animado
O que eu quero é sambar
Este samba que é misto de maracatu
É samba de preto velho
Samba de preto tu

Mas que nada
Um samba como esse tão legal
Você não vai querer
Que eu chegue no final

O aria raio
Oba oba oba
O aria raio
Oba oba oba (mas que nada)

Oba oba oba
Oba oba oba (mas que nada)
Oba oba oba (mas que nada)
Oba oba oba (mas que nada)
Oba oba oba
Oba oba oba
Oba oba oba
Oba oba oba
Oba oba oba
Oba oba oba
Oba oba oba
Oba oba oba
Oba oba oba
Oba oba oba
Oba oba oba
Oba oba oba
Oba oba oba
Oba oba oba
Oba oba oba
Oba oba oba
Oba oba oba
Oba oba oba (mas que, mas que)

Mas que nada, mas que
Mas que nada, mas que




Mas que nada, mas que
Mas que nada, mas que nada

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to George Benson and Al Jarreau's song Mas Que Nada are a mix of Portuguese and English and celebrate the vibrant and lively spirit of samba music. The repeated phrases of "O aria raio" and "Oba oba oba" serve as a catchy and infectious chorus that encourages listeners to let loose and dance. The singer, likely a black man, declares "Sai da minha frente que eu quero passar," which translates to "Get out of my way, I want to pass," asserting his right to enjoy the samba music and culture. He adds that he wants to dance and that this samba mix of maracatu is a samba of black elders, implying the rich and ancestral roots of the music.


The final lines of the song suggest that the samba is so good and so enjoyable that the listener will not want it to end. The inclusion of the female name "Josy" may indicate that she is someone to dance with or simply a fun addition to the song. Overall, the lyrics convey a joyful and uplifting tone, inviting the listener to join in and celebrate the music and its culture.


Line by Line Meaning

O aria raio
Expressing excitement and energy


Oba oba oba
Further conveying enthusiasm and liveliness


Mas que nada
But that's nothing special


Sai da minha frente que eu quero passar
Get out of my way because I want to dance


Pois o samba está animado
Because the samba is lively


O que eu quero é sambar
What I want to do is dance the samba


Este samba que é misto de maracatu
This samba that blends with maracatu


É samba de preto velho
Is samba music played by older black folks


Samba de preto tu
Samba made by black people like you and me


Um samba como esse tão legal
A samba as cool as this one


Você não vai querer
You wouldn't want


Que eu chegue no final
Me to arrive at the end


Oba oba oba
Reiterating the high energy and excitement of the music


O aria raio
Echoing earlier expressions of excitement and energy


Sai da minha frente que eu quero passar
Repeated request to clear the way to dance


Sambar, sambar
Emphasizing the desire to dance samba


Mas que, mas que
One more time, one more time


Mas que nada, mas que nada
But that's nothing special, nothing at all




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Jorge Lima Menezes

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@ivanguatura1193

Al Jarreau – lead vocals
Joe Sample – acoustic piano
Philippe Saisse – synthesizers
Marcus Miller – bass guitar
Paulinho da Costa – percussion
Steve Gadd – drums
Michael "Patches" Stewart – trumpet
Jeffrey Ramsey – backing vocals
Sharon Young – backing vocals



All comments from YouTube:

@lindarowsalot

Steve Gadd on drums. Marcus Miller on bass. Joe Sample on the piano..... Al Jarreau scatting away in pseudo- Portuguese. Wonderful.

@dbrezzell

The vocal greatness of Al Jarreau and the piano mastery of Joe Sample. AWESOME

@patrickkelly5004

So right!

@dominadoramor7767

I could never properly describe the Al Jarreau’s style, but it is such a smooth blend of scat, soul, bossa nova, jazz, and Scotch (as in the drink, not “from Scotland”)… your music lives on, Mr. J

@juneniemann391

He was a one of a kind I loved his style.

@GeeBee909

This version is like a "Picasso painting" on a wall. It is so perfect, you don't dare touch it

@MrTruetwin

There is only one Al Jarreau wow

@vaxrys2830

❤️

@ezekielhenderson8305

Indeed. He just keeps pushing the ante on the scat; particularly in the third portion of the song. Sheer brilliance. I’m truly blessed to have heard this. RIP King.

@michaelcollins7358

@@vaxrys2830 111

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