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
wave
Sérgio Mendes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Be the wave, feel the wave
Ride the wave, catch the wave
Be the wave, hit the wave
Feel it carry you like a breeze
A rhythm for what you need
The river becomes the sea, ah ah
High above all the world to see
Come on spread your wings, fly free
The wind brings a song to me, ah ah
Ride the wave, catch the wave
Be the wave, feel the wave
Ride the wave, catch the wave
Be the wave, hit the wave
Vai que vai, vai que vai
Vai que vai, vai que vai
Vai que vai, vai que vai, oh oh
Lost in the tide I feel it pullin'
All summer long, oh, we were foolish
Amor, I smell your sweet perfume
I wanna be right next to you babe
Catch that
Sergio Mendes
Catch my wave
As the sun shines above the sea
Come surf through the universe
Lean back on the sandy beach, ah ah
All we have is the chance to dance
This life is the true romance
Get lost in the sounds of peace, ah ah
Ride the wave, catch the wave
Be the wave, feel the wave
Ride the wave, catch the wave
Be the wave, hit the wave
Vai que vai, vai que vai
Vai que vai, vai que vai
Vai que vai, vai que vai, oh oh
Lost in the tide I feel it pullin'
All summer long, oh, we were foolish
Amor, I smell your sweet perfume
I wanna be right next to you babe
Ride the wave, catch the wave
Be the wave, feel the wave
Ride the wave, catch the wave
Be the wave, hit the wave
Vai que vai, vai que vai
Vai que vai, vai que vai
Vai que vai, vai que vai, oh oh
Ride the wave, catch the wave
Be the wave, feel the wave
Ride the wave, catch the wave
Be the wave, hit the wave
Vai que vai, vai que vai
Vai que vai, vai que vai
Vai que vai, vai que vai, oh oh
The lyrics to Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66's song "Wave" celebrate the joy and freedom of riding a wave, whether it be a literal wave in the ocean or the metaphorical wave of life. The chorus repeats the mantra "Ride the wave, catch the wave, be the wave, feel the wave, hit the wave," encouraging listeners to experience life's rhythm and flow in a way that feels authentic and self-expressive. The verses evoke images of the ocean, sun, sand, and wind, all elements of surfing culture that symbolize a carefree and adventurous way of being.
The lyrics also touch on the fleeting nature of life and love, acknowledging that time is precious and urging listeners to make the most of every moment. The line "All we have is the chance to dance, this life is the true romance" highlights the idea that life itself is a journey to be savored and enjoyed, rather than a destination to be reached. Ultimately, the lyrics to "Wave" celebrate the beauty of living in the moment and embracing the ebbs and flows of existence, rather than trying to control or resist them.
Line by Line Meaning
Ride the wave, catch the wave
Embrace the opportunities that come your way and make the best of them
Be the wave, feel the wave
Allow yourself to become one with the situation you are in
Be the wave, hit the wave
Step up to the challenge without fear
Feel it carry you like a breeze
Allow yourself to be swept away by the moment
A rhythm for what you need
Let the situation provide what you need at the moment
The river becomes the sea, ah ah
Small moments can turn into big opportunities
High above all the world to see
Gain a new perspective on the world around you
Come on spread your wings, fly free
Embrace your freedom and soar to new heights
The wind brings a song to me, ah ah
Be open to the sounds of the world around you
Vai que vai, vai que vai
Go for it, keep going
Lost in the tide I feel it pullin'
Getting caught up in the energy and power of the moment
All summer long, oh, we were foolish
Looking back on life with a sense of regret
Amor, I smell your sweet perfume
Thinking of someone you love and miss
I wanna be right next to you babe
Desiring to be close to someone you love
Catch that
Recognize and seize the opportunity
Sergio Mendes
The artist who created this piece of music
As the sun shines above the sea
Taking in the beauty of the world around you
Come surf through the universe
Explore the many opportunities and experiences the world has to offer
Lean back on the sandy beach, ah ah
Relax and enjoy the moment
All we have is the chance to dance
Life is meant to be enjoyed and experienced to the fullest
This life is the true romance
Life is full of opportunities to love and be loved
Get lost in the sounds of peace, ah ah
Take a moment to appreciate the peace and quiet of the world around you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Sergio Mendes, Shelea Frazier
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MrJaspermyboy
So close your eyes for that's a lovely way to be
Aware of things your heart alone was meant to see
The fundamental loneliness goes
Whenever two can dream a dream together
You can't deny
Don't try to fight the rising sea
Don't fight the moon the stars above
and don't fight me
The fundamental loneliness goes
Whenever two can dream a dream together
When I saw you first the time was half past three
When your eyes met mine it was eternity
By now we know the wave is on its way to be
Just catch the wave don't be afraid of loving me
The fundamental loneliness goes
Whenever two can dream a dream together
So close your eyes for that's a lovely way to be
Aware of things your heart alone was meant to see
The fundamental loneliness goes
Whenever two can dream a dream together
You can't deny
Don't try to fight the rising sea
Don't fight the moon the stars above
and don't fight me
The fundamental loneliness goes
Whenever two can dream a dream together
When I saw you first the time was half past three
When your eyes met mine it was eternity
By now we know the wave is on its way to be
Just catch the wave don't be afraid of loving me
The fundamental loneliness goes
Whenever two can dream a dream together
Together,together,together
Thomas DiMaggio
One of my favorite versions of this song was the one in the 1966 French romantic drama "A Man and a Woman", where Anouk Aimee's lover sings it to her, right before he's killed in an accident. Her memory of the love that his singing inspired in her makes it difficult for her to yield later on to Jean-Louis Trintigant, who is utterly smitten with her.. When she tells him about her memories, he says "Mais il est mort". She replies quietly "Pas pour moi." A lovely moment.
MrJaspermyboy
So close your eyes for that's a lovely way to be
Aware of things your heart alone was meant to see
The fundamental loneliness goes
Whenever two can dream a dream together
You can't deny
Don't try to fight the rising sea
Don't fight the moon the stars above
and don't fight me
The fundamental loneliness goes
Whenever two can dream a dream together
When I saw you first the time was half past three
When your eyes met mine it was eternity
By now we know the wave is on its way to be
Just catch the wave don't be afraid of loving me
The fundamental loneliness goes
Whenever two can dream a dream together
So close your eyes for that's a lovely way to be
Aware of things your heart alone was meant to see
The fundamental loneliness goes
Whenever two can dream a dream together
You can't deny
Don't try to fight the rising sea
Don't fight the moon the stars above
and don't fight me
The fundamental loneliness goes
Whenever two can dream a dream together
When I saw you first the time was half past three
When your eyes met mine it was eternity
By now we know the wave is on its way to be
Just catch the wave don't be afraid of loving me
The fundamental loneliness goes
Whenever two can dream a dream together
Together,together,together
hobby gamer
thanks man
CosmosNut
Love this stuff! Brasil '66 Very popular over on this coast with the divers... both my folks instructors back in the 60's so I got to hear it a lot, still love it.
Everett the Koopa Freerunner
We played an instrumental version of this at my wedding reception. This version with lyrics is great too. Even Sergio gets a vocal solo.
João Jorge Pedromoleiro
Lovely - Maravilhoso
daniel doan
Brasil'66 vocal treatment was one of the first cover after Tom Jobim recorded the
original instrumental version for the first time. Both were released the same year (1967) on the same label (A&M). The song became one of the most famous Jobim's world-wide
standards.
Julie Mitchell
Best music to listen to on such a sultry day 🎶🌴🏖
Anthony Miller
Wonderful memories, great listening
Carlos Castro
Clasicos del Portugues al Ingles ! Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66 toda una institucion de Bossa Nova !