Más que nada
Sã©rgio Mendes Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oriá raiô
Obá Obá Obá

Mas que nada
Sai da minha frente
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





Oriá raiô
Obá Obá Obá

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to the famous Brazilian song "Mas que nada" by Sã©rgio Mendes are filled with exuberance, energy and a deep sense of pride in Brazilian culture. The song begins with the words "Oriá raiô, Obá Obá Obá" which are playful and rhythmic, setting the tone for the rest of the song. The first verse is a plea to get out of the way, as the singer wants to dance to the lively samba beat. The second verse is a celebration of samba and Brazilian culture, combining the maracatu rhythm with the traditional black samba, a unique mix of cultures that has come to define Brazilian music.


The chorus, "Mas que nada," means "But what (or who) could be better?" or "Yeah, right!" and expresses the singer's confidence and swagger as they move through the crowded streets, dancing to the beat of the lively samba. The verse finishes with the lines "Um samba como esse tão legal/Você não vai querer/Que eu chegue no final" which roughly translate to "A samba as cool as this one/You won't want me to stop until the end."


Overall, "Mas que nada" is a classic example of the joy and rhythm that has made Brazilian music so popular around the world. Its fusion of different rhythms and influences, along with its playful lyrics, captures the spirit of carnival and the Brazilian way of life.


Line by Line Meaning

Oriá raiô
Greeting or salutation


Obá Obá Obá
Expression of joy and celebration


Mas que nada
But that's nothing


Sai da minha frente
Get out of my way


Eu quero passar
I want to pass


Pois o samba está animado
Because the samba is lively


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


Este samba
This samba


Que é misto de maracatu
That is a mix of maracatu


É samba de preto velho
It's a samba of old black men


Samba de preto tu
Samba of black you


Mas que nada
But that's nothing


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


Você não vai querer
You won't want


Que eu chegue no final
Me to get to the end


Oriá raiô
Greeting or salutation


Obá Obá Obá
Expression of joy and celebration




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CRANZ, EMILY / MENEZES, JORGE LIMA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@danielmcdevitt8708

First date I ever took a young lady I met was to see Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 in 1970. Well, it worked and we got married in 1972 and are still married. Thanks, Sergio...

@TheBlizzardcat

Daniel McDevitt congratulations to you and yours. Great music.

@russellhueners8499

Fantastic story, you are one lucky fella!

@rulliputra6072

goosebump , ur so lucky

@broadcasttttable

lol...about the same year on a first date with a then- recent acquaintance I took her to see Nancy Wilson and Lou Rawls at the Hollywood Bowl. Soon after another guy took her to see Sergio Mendes...he ended up with her. Thanks a lot, Sergio!

@Danceofthesugarplumfairy

Goals!!!!! ❤️

90 More Replies...

@imbees2

this was one of my favorite songs, as a teenager. Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66 was the bomb. Today in 2023, I still love Sergio Mendes

@GB-ho2wk

110% ! And out of all the songs I have loved this is the one song that pops into my head THE MOST OFTEN from out of nowhere when I am just walking along. Mas que nada indeed !

@alexforest1

I feel the same.

@pablodanielescobarwolf5438

Fine and beautiful 60s tune !

More Comments

More Versions