Mais Que Nada
Sergio Mendes & Brasil66 Lyrics


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Oariá raiô
Obá Obá Obá
Mas que nada
Sai da minha frente
Eu quero passar
Pois o samba está animado
O que eu quero é sambar
Este samba
Que é misto de maracatu
É samba de preto velho
Samba de preto tu
Mas que nada
Um samba como esse é tão legal
Você não vai querer
Que ele chegue no final

Oariá raiô*
Obá Obá Obá*
Mas que nada*
Sai da minha frente*
Eu quero passar*
Pois o samba está animado*
O que eu quero é sambar*
Este samba*
Que é misto de maracatu*
É samba de preto velho*
Samba de preto tu*
Mas que nada*
Um samba como esse é tão legal*
Você não vai querer*
Que ele chegue no final*

Obá Obá Obá*




Obá Obá Obá*
Obá Obá Obá*

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66's song Mais Que Nada depict the joy and excitement of samba dancing. The phrase "Mais Que Nada" translates to "more than anything" or "no way," and serves as a celebratory chant throughout the song. The singer urges someone to move out of their way because they want to dance to the lively, mixed rhythm of maracatu and preto velho samba. The energy of the music is so infectious that the singer predicts no one will want the song to end. The recurring "Oariá raiô" and "Obá Obá Obá" phrases are nonsensical, but add to the playful, upbeat tone of the song.


The lyrics to Mais Que Nada are an ode to the vibrant culture of Brazil, specifically the love of samba and the rich history of Afro-Brazilian music. Maracatu is a style of music and dance that originated in the northern region of Brazil, heavily influenced by African rhythms and traditions. Preto velho samba, or "old black samba," refers to the traditional, roots-based samba music played by Afro-Brazilian communities. By blending these styles together, Mais Que Nada embodies the diverse and eclectic nature of Brazilian music.


Line by Line Meaning

Oariá raiô
Expressing excitement and joy


Obá Obá Obá
Exclamation of happiness and celebration


Mas que nada
But of course


Sai da minha frente
Get out of my way


Eu quero passar
I want to go through


Pois o samba está animado
Because the samba is lively


O que eu quero é sambar
What I want to do is to dance samba


Este samba
This samba


Que é misto de maracatu
That is a mixture of maracatu


É samba de preto velho
It's samba of old black folk


Samba de preto tu
You black samba


Um samba como esse é tão legal
A samba like this is so cool


Você não vai querer
You wouldn't want


Que ele chegue no final
It to come to an end




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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Comments from YouTube:

@danielmcdevitt8708

First date I ever took a young lady I met was to see Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 in 1970. Well, it worked and we got married in 1972 and are still married. Thanks, Sergio...

@TheBlizzardcat

Daniel McDevitt congratulations to you and yours. Great music.

@russellhueners8499

Fantastic story, you are one lucky fella!

@rulliputra6072

goosebump , ur so lucky

@broadcasttttable

lol...about the same year on a first date with a then- recent acquaintance I took her to see Nancy Wilson and Lou Rawls at the Hollywood Bowl. Soon after another guy took her to see Sergio Mendes...he ended up with her. Thanks a lot, Sergio!

@Danceofthesugarplumfairy

Goals!!!!! ❤️

90 More Replies...

@imbees2

this was one of my favorite songs, as a teenager. Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66 was the bomb. Today in 2023, I still love Sergio Mendes

@GB-ho2wk

110% ! And out of all the songs I have loved this is the one song that pops into my head THE MOST OFTEN from out of nowhere when I am just walking along. Mas que nada indeed !

@alexforest1

I feel the same.

@pablodanielescobarwolf5438

Fine and beautiful 60s tune !

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