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
You and I
Sérgio Mendes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where I don't belong
I'm not that strong
It's nice to know that there's someone I can turn to
Who will always care
You're always there
When there's no getting over that rainbow
I can take all the madness the world has to give
But I won't last a day without you
So many times when the city seems to be
Without a friendly face
A lonely place
It's nice to know that you'll be there if I need you
And you always smile
It's all worth while
When there's no getting over that rainbow
When my small list of dreams won't come true
I can take all the madness the world has to give
But I won't last a day without you
Touch me and I end up singing
Troubles seem to up and disappear
You touch me with the love you're bringin'
I can't really lose when you're near
When you're near my love
If all my friends have forgotten all their promises
They're not unkind
Just hard to find
One look at you and I know that
I could learn to live without the rest
I found the best
When there's no getting over that rainbow
When my small list of dreams won't come true
I can take all the madness the world has to give
But I won't last a day without you
When there's no getting over that rainbow
When my small list of dreams won't come true
I can take all the madness the world has to give
But I won't last a day
I won't last a day without you
The lyrics of Sergio Mendes and Brasil '77's song "I Won't Last A Day Without You" express the deep need for a supportive and caring presence in the midst of a harsh, unforgiving world. The singer sings of facing a world of strangers every day, where he feels out of place and vulnerable. He admits that he is not strong enough to face it alone, and acknowledges the importance of having someone to turn to for care and support. This person is a constant source of comfort and strength, always smiling and making life worth living even in the loneliest and most difficult moments.
The lyrics also explore the theme of resilience in the face of adversity. The singer admits that the world can be a mad, crazy place, full of disappointments and unfulfilled dreams. He recognizes that he can take all the madness the world has to give, but that he cannot survive without the presence of this supportive, caring person in his life. This person is the one who touches him with love and makes his troubles disappear, and being near them fills him with a sense of calm and well-being.
Overall, the song expresses the deep human need for connection and support, and the power of love and care to help us navigate the often challenging and unpredictable terrain of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Day after day I must face a world of strangers
Every day I am forced to interact with people I don't know
Where I don't belong
I feel out of place in this unfamiliar world
I'm not that strong
I am not emotionally equipped to handle all of life's challenges alone
It's nice to know that there's someone I can turn to
Having someone to rely on is comforting
Who will always care
I can count on this person to have genuine concern for my well-being
You're always there
I can always rely on you to be present when I need you
When there's no getting over that rainbow
When I'm faced with a seemingly impossible task
When my small list of dreams won't come true
When I fail to achieve the only things I desire
I can take all the madness the world has to give
I am strong enough to endure the hardships of life
But I won't last a day without you
But I cannot withstand the difficulties of life alone
So many times when the city seems to be
There are many occasions when I am left feeling isolated in this bustling city
Without a friendly face
I struggle to find anyone who offers me kindness or understanding
A lonely place
I feel incredibly alone in this environment
It's nice to know that you'll be there if I need you
Knowing that you are available to support me is reassuring
And you always smile
Your kind and warm demeanor is appreciated
It's all worth while
Your presence alone makes everything else feel worthwhile
Touch me and I end up singing
Your touch brings me immense joy and happiness
Troubles seem to up and disappear
Any problems or worries I have seem to dissipate in your presence
You touch me with the love you're bringin'
The love you show me through your actions and words is palpable
I can't really lose when you're near
As long as you are with me, I feel like I cannot fail
When you're near my love
Having you near me fills me with love and happiness
If all my friends have forgotten all their promises
If everyone in my life has failed to keep their word
They're not unkind
I don't believe they are intentionally malicious
Just hard to find
It is difficult to find reliable and trustworthy people
One look at you and I know that
Seeing you gives me a sense of clarity and understanding
I could learn to live without the rest
I could be content with just you in my life
I found the best
You are the most important and precious thing in my life
I won't last a day
I cannot endure the hardships of life alone
Without you
Your love and support are essential to my well-being
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Paul H Williams, Roger S Nichols
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thaìsa Faustino
I like that song! 🤩
TODOS OS MEUS EUs
Esta canção é para mim uma linda memória afetiva..
my way
Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown put out some of the best Brazilian music of all time.
joe almeida
As usual marvelous sound. Beautiful!!
Neide Cordeiro
Amo essa música
SANDRA LIMA
Essa versão é maravilhosa, adoro, [e so escutar saiu dançando.
Toni Denise Vocal Studio
Sweet ear Candy! Kudos Nayanna!❤️
Luan Felipe
Esta musica é muito linda...
Ubirajara Bastos
Musica Pra vidaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
luiz andrade
Muito dançante esta música linda e maravilhosa