Mendes is married to the singer Gracinha Leporace who regularly performs vocals alongside Mendes and can 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 1961. 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 Brasil '65 group name 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 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
Like A Lover
Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Slowly rises and kisses you awake
Your smile is soft and fuzzy
As you let it play upon your face
Oh, how I dream
I might be like the morning sun to you
Like a lover, the river wind
Upon your cheek it lingers
Never having known a sweeter place
Oh, how I dream
I might be like the river wind to you
How I envy a cup that knows your lips
Let it be me, my love
And a table that feels your fingertips
Let it be me, let me be your love
Bring an end to the endless days and nights
Without you
Like a lover, the velvet moon
Shares your pillow and watches while you sleep
Its light arrives on tiptoe
Gently taking you in its embrace
Oh, how I dream
I might be like the velvet moon to you
Oh, how I dream
I might be like the river wind to you
How I envy a cup that knows your lips
Let it be me, my love
And a table that feels your fingertips
Let it be me, let me be your love
Bring an end to the endless days and nights
Without you
Like a lover, the velvet moon
Shares your pillow and watches while you sleep
Its light arrives on tiptoe
Gently taking you in its embrace
Oh, how I dream
I might be like the velvet moon to you
I might be like the velvet moon to you
I might be like the velvet moon to you
In "Like A Lover," Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 use metaphors to describe the singer's desire to be with the person they love. The song opens with the singer comparing themselves to the morning sun that wakes their lover up with a kiss. They dream of being like the river wind that ripples through their lover's hair or the velvet moon that shares their pillow as they sleep. They envy the cup and table that know their lover's touch and want to be their love to bring an end to the endless days and nights without them. The repetition of the line, "Oh, how I dream I might be like..." underscores the singer's longing to connect with their partner in the same way that nature does.
The song has a romantic and dream-like quality to it, emphasizing the idea that the singer's desire is an idealized version of love. The use of natural imagery reinforces this sense of romanticism, evoking a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty of the world around us. The song's lyrics also suggest that love is timeless and eternal, like the sun, wind, and moon.
Overall, "Like A Lover" is a beautifully crafted love song that captures the feeling of longing and desire that comes with being in love.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a lover, the morning sun
The morning sun rises slowly and gently, much like the love of a partner.
Slowly rises and kisses you awake
The morning sun wakes you up with a kiss as delicate as the touch of a lover.
Your smile is soft and fuzzy
Your smile is gentle and cozy, much like the feeling of being in love.
As you let it play upon your face
You relish in the warmth of the sun, just as someone in love basks in the warmth of their partner's embrace.
Oh, how I dream
The artist yearns and longs for the opportunity to be like the morning sun to their love.
I might be like the morning sun to you
The singer wishes they could wake up their love like the morning sun with its gentle warmth and affection.
Like a lover, the river wind
The river wind is gentle and loving, much like a devoted partner.
Sighs and ripples its fingers through your hair
The wind caresses and plays with your hair much like the touch of a loving partner.
Upon your cheek it lingers
The wind remains on your cheek, symbolizing the desire for closeness and intimacy that comes with being in love.
Never having known a sweeter place
The wind savors the moment, just as someone in love cherishes and values the warmth of their relationship.
I might be like the river wind to you
The singer wishes to be like the river wind, playing with their love's hair and being a source of comfort and closeness.
How I envy a cup that knows your lips
The artist is jealous of an inanimate object that has the privilege of touching their love's lips, symbolizing their longing to be as intimate with them.
Let it be me, my love
The singer wishes for the honor and privilege of being the one to touch their love's lips and be close to them.
And a table that feels your fingertips
The table is lucky to feel the touch of someone's fingertips, much like the singer longs to be lucky enough to experience their love's touch.
Bring an end to the endless days and nights
The singer yearns for an end to the loneliness and longing they feel when they are without their love, and wishes to be with them always.
Without you
The artist cannot imagine their life without their love and all the warmth and comfort they bring.
Like a lover, the velvet moon
The moon is gentle and comforting, just like the love of a devoted partner.
Shares your pillow and watches while you sleep
The moon keeps watch over their love while they sleep, symbolizing the desire for closeness and protection that comes with being in love.
Its light arrives on tiptoe
The moon's light is soft and gentle, much like the gentle touch of a lover.
Gently taking you in its embrace
The moon embraces their love with its light, just as a loving partner would embrace their beloved.
I might be like the velvet moon to you
The artist wishes to be like the moon, watching over and protecting their love as they sleep.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alan Bergman, Dorival Tostes Caymmi, Marilyn Bergman, Nelson Motta
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@flashcardsyahoo
Like a Lover by Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66.Album: Look Around (March 1968 not 1969).English lyrics by Alan & Marilyn Bergman from Dori Caymmi's O Cantador
Like a lover, the morning sunSlowly rises and kisses you awakeYour smile is soft and drowsyAs you let it play upon your faceOh, how I dreamI might be like the morning sun to you(I might be like the morning sun to you)
Like a lover, the river windSighs and ripples its fingers through your hairUpon your cheek it lingersNever having known a sweeter placeOh, how I dreamI might be like the river wind to you(I might be like the river wind to you)
How I envy a cup that knows your lipsLet it be me, my loveAnd a table that feels your fingertipsLet it be me, let me be your loveBring an end to the endless days and nightsWithout you
Like a lover, the velvet moonShares your pillow and watches while you sleepIts light arrives on tiptoeGently taking you in its embraceOh, how I dreamI might be like the velvet moon to you(I might be like the velvet moon to you)
Oh, how I dreamI might be like the river wind to you(I might be like the river wind to you)
How I envy a cup that knows your lipsLet it be me, my loveAnd a table that feels your fingertipsLet it be me, let me be your loveBring an end to the endless days and nightsWithout you
Like a lover, the velvet moonShares your pillow and watches while you sleepIts light arrives on tiptoeGently taking you in its embraceOh, how I dreamI might be like the velvet moon to you(I might be like the velvet moon to you)I might be like the velvet moon to you(I might be like the velvet moon to you)I might be like the velvet moon to you(I might be like the velvet moon to you)I might be like the velvet moon to you(I might be like the velvet moon to you)I might be like the velvet moon to you
@haljones246
Sergio and Lani formed the quintessential jazzy, bossanova sound of the 60s. Mellow perfection! And Herb knew his music!
@cynthiahill8165
I was in 7th grade when I was first introduced to Sergio Mendes and I loved listening to Lani Hall. Her voice is beautiful. I'm 66 now and still loving it. I'm a forever fan.
@martinnunya7878
I also listened to this song when I was just a young kid and loved it........ "how I envy a cup that knows your lips, and a table that feels your fingertips" WOW just WOW
@mauricioduron3193
+Martin Nunya
Credit also the inspiration of Alan and Marilyn Bergman and music by Dori Caymi.
@rayjarvis633
Check out j dilla's "fingertips" dope
@newjeffersonian6456
Over the last 50+ years the Bergmans have written some of the most memorable lyrics in music from films: The Windmills of Your Mind, The Way We Were, It Might Be You . . .
@mickykirk2839
Wow, is right !!!
@jazzbirdbecky
I had this album in high school. Loved it. I still sing this one today at my gigs.
@stonedsoulpicnic
I walked through a field at sunset today while this song was playing and it's truly the best thing ever
@josephinelarosa5173
This song still bring tears to my eyes. It's so tender and romantic. It is definitely one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded.