Mendes is married to Gracinha Leporace who regularly performs vocals for her husband and can also be heard on his 2006 version of the song Mas Que Nada with the Black Eyed Peas.
Early career
The child of a physician in Niterói, Brazil, Mendes attended the local conservatory with hopes of becoming a classical pianist. As his interest in jazz grew, he started playing in nightclubs in the late-1950s just as bossa nova, a jazz-inflected derivative of samba, was taking off. Mendes played with Antônio Carlos Jobim (whom he regarded as a mentor) and many U.S. jazz musicians who toured Brazil.
Mendes formed the Sexteto Bossa Rio and recorded Dance Moderno in 196. Touring Europe and the United States, Mendes recorded albums with Cannonball Adderley and Herbie Mann and played Carnegie Hall. Mendes moved to the U.S. in 1964 and cut two albums under the name Sergio Mendes and Brasil '65 with Capitol Records and Atlantic Records.
Brasil '66
When sales were tepid, he replaced his Brazilian born vocalist Wanda de Sa with the distinctive voice of Chicago native Lani Hall (who learned Mendes' Portuguese material phonetically), switched to Herb Alpert's A&M label, and released Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66, an album that went platinum based largely on the success of the single "Mas Que Nada" (a Jorge Ben cover) and the personal support of Alpert, with whom Mendes toured regularly.
The original lineup of Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 was Mendes (piano), vocalists Lani Hall and Janis Hansen, Bob Matthews (bass), Jose Soares (percussion), and Joao Palma (drums). John Pisano guested as guitarist. This lineup recorded three albums between 1966-1968 (including the best-selling Look Around LP), before there was a major personnel change for their fourth album Fool on the Hill.
Karen Philipp replaced Hansen as the second female vocalist, while veteran drummer Dom Um Romão teamed with Rubens Bassini to assume percussionist duties. Sebastiao Neto was the new bassist and Oscar Castro-Neves the guitarist. This lineup had a more orchestral and big band sound than their predecessors. Most significantly, in the early 1970s, lead singer Hall pursued a solo career and became Alpert's second wife. Some accounts claim that Mendes was upset with Alpert for years for "stealing" Hall away from his group.
Though his early singles with Brasil '66 (most notably "Mas Que Nada") met with some success, Mendes really burst into mainstream prominence when he performed the Oscar-nominated Burt Bacharach and Hal David song The Look of Love on the Academy Awards telecast in April 1968. Brasil '66's version of the song quickly shot into the top 10, peaking at #4, and eclipsing Dusty Springfield's version from the soundtrack of the movie, Casino Royale. Mendes spent the rest of 1968 enjoying consecutive top 10 and top 20 hits with his follow-up singles, "The Fool on the Hill" and "Scarborough Fair". From 1968 on, Mendes was arguably the biggest Brazilian star in the world, enjoying immense popularity worldwide and performing in venues as varied as stadium arenas and the White House, where he gave concerts for both Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon.
Middle career
Mendes' career in the U.S. stalled in the mid-1970s, but he remained very popular in South America and Japan. His two albums with Bell Records in 1973 and 1974, followed by several for Elektra from 1975 on, found Mendes continuing to mine the best in American pop music and post-bossa writers of his native Brazil, while forging new directions in soul with collaborators like Stevie Wonder, who wrote Mendes' R&B-inflected minor hit, "The Real Thing".
In 1983, he rejoined Alpert's A&M records and enjoyed huge success with a self-titled album and several follow-up albums, all of which received considerable adult contemporary airplay with charting singles. "Never Gonna Let You Go", featuring vocals by Joe Pizzulo and Leza Miller, equalled the success of his 1968 single "The Look of Love" by reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; it also spent four weeks atop the Billboard adult contemporary chart. In 1984, Mendes worked with singer Lani Hall again.
By the time Mendes released his Grammy-winning Elektra album Brasileiro in 1992, he was the undisputed master of pop-inflected Brazilian jazz. The late-1990s lounge music revival brought retrospection and respect to Mendes' oeuvre, particularly the classic Brasil '66 albums. His stature in his native Brazil is reflected by "Cantor de Mambo", a song by fellow Brazilians Os Mutantes, which they regularly dedicate to Mendes in concert.
Later career
Timeless features a wide array of neo-soul and alternative hip hop guest artists, most prominently will.i.am and the Black Eyed Peas. It was released February 14, 2006 by Concord Records.
The album features the Black Eyed Peas, Erykah Badu, Black Thought, Chali 2na of Jurassic 5, India.Arie, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Q-Tip, Stevie Wonder and Pharoahe Monch.
The 2006 re-recorded version of "Mas que Nada" with the Black Eyed Peas had additional vocals by Gracinha Leporace (Mendes' wife); a version that is included on his album Timeless. In Brazil, the song is pretty well-known for being the theme song for the local television channel Globo's Estrelas.
The Black Eyed Peas' version also contains a sample of their 2004 hit "Hey Mama". The re-recorded song became popular on many European charts. On the UK Singles Chart, the song entered at #29 and rose to and peaked at #6 on its second week on the chart.
Official website of Sérgio Mendes: http://www.sergiomendesmusic.com
For What It's Worth
Sérgio Mendes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
It's s time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away
We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, now, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Sergio Mendes's song, For What It's Worth, is an anti-war protest song that addresses the societal issues surrounding the Vietnam War. The opening line, "There's something happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear," sets the tone for the song, as it aims to address the confusion and uncertainty surrounding societal issues. The second line, "There's a man with a gun over there, telling me I got to beware," addresses the police brutality and violence that protesters faced during the Vietnam War protests.
The chorus, "I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound, everybody look what's going down," emphasizes the importance of unity and that we need to take a step back and evaluate what is happening to create change. The song reflects on the different perspectives and attitudes towards the war, with "nobody's right if everybody's wrong" and "young people speaking their minds, getting so much resistance from behind," highlighting the divide between the generations on the issue.
The last verse, "Paranoia strikes deep, into your life it will creep, it starts when you're always afraid, you step out of line, the man come and take you away," addresses the authoritarian government control over its citizens and reinforces the idea of the importance of standing together against oppression. Overall, the song serves as a call for awareness and action towards societal issues.
Line by Line Meaning
There's something happening here
There is a noteworthy event or circumstance occurring.
What it is ain't exactly clear
The nature or cause of the event is vague and undefined.
There's a man with a gun over there
There is a person, likely armed, in the area.
Telling me I got to beware
Warning me to be cautious of potential danger.
I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
I believe it is appropriate for us, as a collective group, to interrupt our actions and listen to the audible disturbance.
Everybody look what's going down
It is important for all individuals in the area to observe and acknowledge the event.
There's battle lines being drawn
There is a clear division or separation between opposing groups.
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
It is impossible for only one group to be correct when everyone is displaying a misguided attitude or action.
Young people speaking their minds
The younger generation is expressing their thoughts and opinions on the matter.
Getting so much resistance from behind
Facing opposition and pushback from individuals with opposing beliefs or ideas.
It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Once again, it is essential that we cease our actions and take note of the audible signal in our environment.
What a field-day for the heat
The situation is an optimal circumstance for authorities or those in power to take action.
A thousand people in the street
There is great involvement by many individuals in the location area.
Singing songs and carrying signs
The people present are expressing their message through song and symbolic objects.
Mostly say, hooray for our side
The majority of individuals are supportive of one specific party or viewpoint.
Paranoia strikes deep
Fear and suspicion can have a profound and lasting effect.
Into your life it will creep
This feeling can slowly become all-encompassing, and affect various aspects of one's everyday life.
It starts when you're always afraid
Paranoia begins to arise when one is consistently nervous or apprehensive.
You step out of line, the man come and take you away
If one does not adhere to the guidelines, they will likely face punishment by the authority figure.
We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Once more, it is essential that we take note of the auditory occurrence happening here.
Stop, hey, what's that sound
We must interrupt our current behavior to listen to the notable noise in the environment.
Stop, now, what's that sound
It is important that we stop our actions and take note of the sound now, in the present moment.
Everybody look what's going down
All individuals present must observe and take note of the situation occurring.
Stop, children, what's that sound
It is imperative that the children stop and take note of the noteworthy signal occurring around them.
Everybody look what's going down
It is significant that all individuals - regardless of their age or position - acknowledge the event unfolding.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stephen Stills
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mlewsimpson51
Great cover!!
@howardgreenman2908
Excellent reinterpretation of this old classic. Thank you Mr. Mendes.
@saraandyrobles7261
Something must be wrong, I am liking “covers”. And, Mr. Mendes and his entourage do this oldie very well. The female vocal is very groovy, indeed.
@grahambarnes7325
I love the song, and i love the version too
@lauraduncan7690
So beautiful
@georgefranklin5686
Damn fine interpretation of the original
@cordaje
Wow!... Wonderful...❤️
@Scott-ri2sy
I never knew this version
@pablotorres7436
1970 'FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH" CON SERGIO MENDES & BRAZIL 66': El cover de una canción original de Buffalo Springfield (donde estuvieron Stpehen Stills y Neil Young), supuso para Sergio Mendes, un alejamiento de lo marcadamente acústico de sus primeros años. Era Pop de raíz Bossa/Samba/Jazz... Pero para este cover, y como dejando atrás la década del 60' y plantearse una mirada al futuro, se hizo 'eléctrico' el asunto con el piano... Es bien funky, algo que Mendes no había mostrado todavía. Y sicodeliiquísimo, tampoco había mostrado eso... Creo fue la misma Lani Hall la voz solista... Algunos la consideran como anticipo del Ácid Jazz... Puede ser ... ❤☮️✌️
@pablotorres7436
Es la letra como en forma de canción protesta, de que los jóvenes están no conformes con la situación... Y están ahí todavía medio escondidos...como murmullo pero pronto se harán oír fuerte!