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
Love City
Sérgio Mendes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If it's good and you find no despair
Then you'll see
That the dreams that you dream
Yes, they're true
Just for you
When you say that you're happy to be in that place
Where the sun's always kissing your face
And I can't wait
[Chorus]
I'll take a bus or a train to get to love city
It's the only place I feel at home
I'll take a car or a plane to get to love city
It's the only place I feel at home
If it's love I can see in your eyes
That you come from a place where eternity lies
If you please won't you show me the way
That you go I want to know
Fade away from the hustle and bustle of life
To a city where darkness is light
And the beauty of nature is there,
It's everywhere
[Chorus: x2]
The lyrics to "Love City" by Sergio Mendes open with a longing expressed by the singer to be in a place unique from the world he knows. He refers to this place stating, "If it's life I would like to be there/ If it's good and you find no despair/ Then you'll see/ That the dreams that you dream/ Yes, they're true/ Just for you." The singer believes that in this place, dreams come true, and there is no place for despair. He also refers to the sun always kissing your face, indicating a sunny place.
In the chorus, the singer repeats his desire to be in this place that he refers to as "Love City." He says he will take any means of transportation to get there - be it a plane, a car, a train, or bus. He emphasizes the importance of this place by saying, "It's the only place I feel at home."
The second verse begins with the singer saying that he can sense love in someone's eyes who has been to this place where eternity lies. He states that he would like to see the way that someone who has been there goes, "I want to know." Then, he describes how Love City is a place where one can escape life's hustle and bustle. In this place, darkness is light, and nature's beauty is apparent everywhere.
Overall, the lyrics to "Love City" by Sergio Mendes express a wish for a place of escape - a place where dreams come true, where love exists in eternity, and where one can escape life's hustle and bustle to be surrounded by nature's beauty.
Line by Line Meaning
If it's life I would like to be there
I want to be in a place where life is thriving and full of energy
If it's good and you find no despair
When everything is going well and there's no unhappiness, that's a great time to be alive
Then you'll see
Once you experience this kind of life, you'll understand
That the dreams that you dream
Your aspirations and hopes will become a reality
Yes, they're true
All of the good things you hope for can come true
Just for you
These dreams will be uniquely yours and no one else's
When you say that you're happy to be in that place
When you express how pleased you are to be alive in a wonderful place
Where the sun's always kissing your face
A place where it's always sunny and you can enjoy the warmth of the sun
And the people and children they play
A place where people and children are always out and about, enjoying themselves
And I can't wait
I'm really excited and eager to go there
I'll take a bus or a train to get to love city
I'll use any means of transportation to get to this amazing place
It's the only place I feel at home
I feel most comfortable and happy in that place
If it's love I can see in your eyes
When I look into your eyes and see love
That you come from a place where eternity lies
It seems like you're from a place where time is endless and everything lasts forever
If you please won't you show me the way
Would you kindly direct me to this amazing place you come from?
That you go I want to know
I want to go wherever you go and experience everything you have
Fade away from the hustle and bustle of life
Escape from the fast-paced and hectic way of life
To a city where darkness is light
To a place where there is no darkness, only brightness and joy
And the beauty of nature is there,
A place where nature is abundant and breathtakingly beautiful
It's everywhere
It's all around and can be seen and felt no matter where you are in the city
I'll take a car or a plane to get to love city
I'm willing to travel in any mode of transportation to get to this magical place
It's the only place I feel at home
I feel my most comfortable and contented when I'm in love city
Chorus: x2
Repeated chorus section
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARIETTA WATERS, STEVIE WONDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@branco44444444
PURE MAGIC OF A LOST MUSIC!!!! HEAVEN ON EARTH!
@rowestern
One of my favourite Sergio Mendes songs ever. Bought this album when it first came out in 1977.
@leonardbrown2219
Growing up their was two show's that you watch on T.V know matter what Jackie Gleason on Saturday an Ed Sullivan on Sunday on Ed's show is where I first saw this group.When there album Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 hit the air waves.I became a life time member/fan of there music.Everything about there sound/style is (GREATNESS)
@yc0nyo
Bring back so much memory while listen to this song, obrigado Senhor Sergio, greetings from Jakarta
@delfinabregaudit6630
This is daughter of Delfina Bregaudit. This is the beautiful, happy song that my daughter Frances danced with her 2 sisters and cousins at her debut party many moons ago !!!
@eopal-uk265
real music by real people !!!
@felixkmgalanti9064
One of the very best Lead Guitar intro and carry thru I have ever heard, I wish I knew who he was. Great taste you have Sergio!
@donlee9440
It is Michale Sembelos, who wrote Manic for The Footloose movie
@jomairegalado8910
the flowing guitar intro was done by Oscar Castro Neves. He's the guy with a beard behind Sergio Mendes.
@ivebeenaround58
The name is Michael Sembello. He wrote, produced and recorded MANIAC from the movie FLASHDANCE. And no, he did not play lead guitar in the Love City recording.