Born in Montreal, Canada, Peterson began learning trumpet and piano from his father at the age of five, but by the age of seven, after a bout of tuberculosis, he concentrated on the piano. Some of the artists who influenced Peterson during the early years were Teddy Wilson, Nat "King" Cole, James P. Johnson, and the legendary Art Tatum, to whom many have tried to compare Peterson in later years. In fact, one of his first exposures to the musical talents of Art Tatum came early in his teen years when his father played an Art Tatum record to him and Peterson was so intimidated by what he heard that he didn't touch the piano for over a week.
He soon developed a reputation as a technically brilliant and melodically inventive jazz pianist, and became a regular on Canadian radio. His United States introduction was at Carnegie Hall, New York City in 1949 by Norman Granz; owing to union restrictions his appearance could not be billed.
Some of his musical associates have included Lester Young, Ray Brown, Ben Webster, Herb Ellis, Ed Thigpen, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Louis Armstrong, Stéphane Grappelli, Ella Fitzgerald, Clark Terry, Joe Pass, Count Basie, and Stan Getz. An important step in his career was joining impresario Norman Granz's labels (especially Verve records) and Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic package, with which he was able to play with the major jazz artists of the time. Granz was also his manager for most of Peterson's career. Some cognoscenti assert that Peterson's best recordings were made for the MPS label in the late 'sixties and early 'seventies. For some years subsequently he recorded for Granz's Pablo Records after the label was founded in 1973 and in more recent years for the Telarc label.
In 1993, Peterson suffered a serious stroke that weakened his left side and sidelined him for two years. However he overcame this setback and went back to touring, recording, and composing on a limited basis. In 1997 he received a Grammy for Lifetime Achievement and an International Jazz Hall of Fame Award. He died on December 24th, 2007 of kidney failure.
Mas que nada
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mas que nada
Sabes que tu amor me importa
Mas que nada
Y yo espero de ti la palabra
Que remedie mi ansiedad
Esta duda mi vida llena de quietud
Ni en mis sueños y quimeras
Mas que nada
Espero solamente una palabra
Que me haga comprender
Que me quieres tu tambien
The lyrics to Oscar Peterson's song Mas que nada express the idea of longing for love and the anxiety that comes with it. The singer is desperately waiting for a word from their lover that will alleviate their uncertainty and fill their life with clarity and purpose. The repetition of the phrase "Mas que nada" reinforces the importance of love in the singer's life, as it means "more than anything" in Portuguese.
The song also touches on the idea that no one else can compare to the lover in question - "Ni en mis sueños y quimeras/No hay nadie mas que tu" (Not even in my dreams and fantasies/Is there anyone else but you). This further highlights the strength and importance of the love the singer feels.
Overall, the lyrics to Mas que nada convey a sense of longing, uncertainty, and devotion to a loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
Oaria Raio, ObaOba Oba
A catchy and rhythmic introduction to the song with no clear meaning.
Mas que nada
More than anything else in the world, your love means everything to me.
Sabes que tu amor me importa
You know that your love is significant to me and essential to my well-being.
Mas que nada
Nothing is more valuable or meaningful to me than your love.
Y yo espero de ti la palabra
I am waiting for you to say a word that will ease my anxiety and doubts.
Que remedie mi ansiedad
That word will soothe my restlessness and worries.
Esta duda mi vida llena de quietud
The uncertainty about your feelings fills my life with a sense of uncertainty and stillness.
Ni en mis sueños y quimeras
None of my dreams or fantasies could ever compare to the reality of being with you.
No hay nadie mas que tu
There is no one else in my life but you.
Mas que nada
Your love is more significant to me than anything else.
Espero solamente una palabra
All I need is a single word from you.
Que me haga comprender
That word will help me understand your feelings for me.
Que me quieres tu tambien
That you love me too is what I want to hear.
Writer(s): Jorge Ben, Graeme Leslie Ripley, Mark Paul Topham, Christopher John Scott, Martin Knotts
Contributed by Bentley P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ericroberts1084
So great! Thanks for this fabulous recording.
@katherined800
A gift to the world from Canada and Brazil.
@Poy113
This and Triste from Tristeza on Piano album reveals O-Peterson as one of the greatest Brasilian music pianist .
@crazygirlfun1
WOW this thing slaps!
@evanwonisch788
It does!
@rupertpupkin4348
only ONE Oscar. Sergio is proud. Downright stunning work on the ivory. Transition at the 120-Filthy!!!
@marcellomentasimonsennico5670
In a certain time in his career, Oscar delivered albums destined to the popular taste. He must have made A LOT of money with these. But what albums were these!!
@lalo112087
If there is any Mexican who remembers this melody, maybe will remember very well the loops that Televisa put on while waiting for the satellite connection of Channel 2 "El Canal de las Estrellas" with Galavisión, at the time of the ECO news system.
@vann-digalloway5137
Oba Oba Oba
@shako1955
why so few views?