Sérgio Santos Mendes (born Niterói, … Read Full Bio ↴See Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66.
Sérgio Santos Mendes (born Niterói, 11 February 1941) is a Brazilian musician. Born the son 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 Antonio Carlos Jobim (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 Adderly and Herbie Mann and played Carnegie Hall. Mendes moved to the U.S. in 1964 and cut two albums under the Brasil '66 group name with Capitol Records and Atlantic Records. When sales were tepid, he replaced his Brazilian born vocalist Wanda Sa with the distinctive voice of Chicago native Lani Hall (who learned Mendes' Portuguese material phonetically) and switched to Herb Alpert's A&M label and released Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66. (Hall would later marry Alpert). The album ultimately went platinum based largely upon the success of the single Mas Que Nada and the personal support of Alpert, with whom Mendes toured regularly. 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/Hal David song "The Look of Love" on the Academy Awards telecast in March 1968. Brasil '66's version of the song quickly shot into the top 10, eclipsing Dusty Springfield's version from the soundtrack of the movie, and 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." Though he continued to enjoy adult contemporary chart successes with Brasil '66 through 1971, he would not experience the mainstream chart hits he enjoyed in 1968 until his comeback album in 1983 generated the biggest single of his career, "Never Gonna Let You Go." However, 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 President Johnson and President Nixon.
Mendes' career in the U.S. stalled in the mid-70s, but he remained very popular in South America and Japan. (This disparity became a Seinfeld in-joke.) 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. 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. He has released over thirty-five albums, and still plays his bossa nova heavily crossed with jazz and funk.
Mas Que Nada
Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 Lyrics
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Obá obá obá
Oariá raiô
Obá obá obá
Mas que nada
Black Eyed Peas came to make it hotter
We be the party starter
Heated like a sauna
Penetrating through your body armor
Rhythmically we massage ya
With hip hop mixed up with samba
With samba
So yes, yes, y'all (yes, y'all, y'all)
You know we never stop we never rest, y'all (rest, y'all, y'all)
The Black Eyed Peas'll keep it funky fresh, y'all (fresh, y'all, y'all)
And we won't stop until we get y'all, 'til we get y'all sayin'
Oariá raiô
Obá obá obá
Oariá raiô
Obá obá obá
Peter Piper picked peppers
But Tab rocked rhymes-a
1, 2, 3, 4, several times-a
Heavy rotation played by every kind-a
Radio stations blastin' every mind-a
We crossing boundaries like everyday
To rock ya Robbie Bobbie Beamer on the Bay
We got, we got Tab magnifications
Tab magnified like every day
So yes, yes, y'all (yes, y'all, y'all)
You know we never stop we never rest, y'all (rest, y'all, y'all)
The Black Eyed Peas'll keep it funky fresh, y'all (fresh, y'all, y'all)
And we won't stop until we get y'all, 'til we get y'all sayin'
Oariá raiô
Obá obá obá (la, la, la, la, la)
Oariá raiô
Obá obá obá
Drop hot hot be my daily operation
Got to put in work in this crazy occupation
Gotta keep it movin' (that's the motivation)
Gotta ride the waves and keep a tight relation
With my team keep it moving, and doing it right
Up in the lab every day 'til daylight
That's the way things move in this monkey business
We took an old samba song and remixed it
Mas que nada
Sai da minha frente
Que eu quero passar
Pois o samba esta animado
O que eu quero e sambar
Este samba, que e misto de maracatu
É samba de preto velho
Samba de preto tu
Mas que nada, we gonna make you feel lil' hotter
The Peas and Sergio Mendes heating up samba
Ba, badada, ba
Ba, badada, ba
(Ba, badada, ba) Sergio, play yo piano
(Oh, eh, oh) Sergio, play yo yo yo yo yo
Piano (ano ano ano ano ano ano)
Check it out
Oariá raiô
Obá Obá Obá (lá, lá, lá, lá, lá)
Oariá raiô
Obá Obá Obá (lá, lá, lá, lá, lá)
Oariá raiô
Obá Obá Obá
Este samba, que e misto de maracatu
É samba de preto velho
Samba de preto tu
Este samba, que e misto de maracatu
É samba de preto velho
Samba de preto tu (lá, lá, lá, lá, lá)
The lyrics to Sérgio Mendes's song "Mas que nada" are a mix of Portuguese and English. The repeated lines "Oariá raiô" and "Obá obá obá" are traditional Brazilian phrases often used in samba music to express joy and excitement. The verses sung by the Black Eyed Peas are in English and reference their own party-starting, genre-crossing style, as well as their admiration for Mendes and his blend of samba and jazz.
The music itself is a fusion of several Brazilian styles, including samba, maracatu, and preto velho (a type of traditional African Brazilian music). The song's rhythm is fast and upbeat, with a prominent piano riff that is both catchy and complex. In the Black Eyed Peas version, a modern hip hop beat is overlayed onto the original track.
The lyrics could be interpreted as a celebration of music's power to unify people across cultures and languages. The Black Eyed Peas and Mendes come from different backgrounds and genres, but their shared love for Brazilian music brings them together to create a unique and infectious song.
Line by Line Meaning
Oariá raiô
Celebratory chant in Brazilian Portuguese, expressing joy and exuberance
Obá obá obá
Another exclamation of excitement and happiness
Mas que nada
But that's nothing; a statement denying the importance of something in favor of what is to come
Black Eyed Peas came to make it hotter
The Black Eyed Peas are here to turn up the heat and elevate the energy of the crowd
We be the party starters
The Black Eyed Peas are known for their ability to get a party started
Bubblin' up just like lava, like lava
The energy of the group is building up rapidly and intensifying, like a volcano about to erupt
Heated like a sauna
The energy of the Black Eyed Peas is intense and hot, like a sauna
Penetrating through your body armor
The music of the Black Eyed Peas is so powerful that it can break through emotional barriers and connect with the listener on a deep level
Rhythmically we massage ya
The music and rhythm of the Black Eyed Peas has a soothing and relaxing effect on the listener
With hip hop mixed up with samba
The Black Eyed Peas combine hip hop and samba music to create a unique and exciting sound
You know we never stop we never rest, y'all
The Black Eyed Peas are constantly pushing forward and bringing the party to new heights
The Black Eyed Peas'll keep it funky fresh, y'all
The Black Eyed Peas will continue to bring fresh and exciting music to the party
And we won't stop until we get y'all, 'til we get y'all sayin'
The Black Eyed Peas are committed to winning over the crowd and getting everyone involved in the party
Peter Piper picked peppers
A reference to a famous tongue-twister
But Tab rocked rhymes-a
Tab (a member of the Black Eyed Peas) is a talented rapper
1, 2, 3, 4, several times-a
Tab is counting out a beat, indicating the rhythm of the song
Heavy rotation played by every kind-a
The music of the Black Eyed Peas is played on many different radio stations and heard by many different people
Radio stations blastin' every mind-a
The music of the Black Eyed Peas has a wide appeal and reaches many different people
We crossing boundaries like everyday
The Black Eyed Peas are breaking down barriers and bringing people together through their music
To rock ya body, Bobbie be on the R and the Bay
The Black Eyed Peas are dedicated to getting the crowd up and dancing, with a shout out to Bobby who is joining in from the R&B filled city of the Bay
We got we got Tab magnifications
Tab's skills as a rapper are amplified and enhanced by the group's collective talent
Tab magnified like every day
Tab's talent and influence continue to grow and make an impact in the music world
Drop hot hot be my daily operation
Producing and playing hot music is a daily priority for the Black Eyed Peas
Got to put in work in this crazy occupation
Making music is hard work, but it's worth it for the Black Eyed Peas
Gotta keep it movin' (that's the motivation)
They have to keep moving forward and creating music, and that's what keeps them going
Gotta ride the waves and keep a tight relation
The Black Eyed Peas need to adjust to changing circumstances and work well together as a team
With my team keep it moving, and doing it right
The Black Eyed Peas are dedicated to continuing to make great music with their team
Up in the lab every day 'til daylight
The Black Eyed Peas are constantly working on new music in the studio
That's the way things move in this monkey business
The music industry can be a chaotic and unpredictable business
(We took an old samba song and remixed it)
The Black Eyed Peas have taken a classic samba song and made it their own with a fresh remix
Sai da minha frente
Get out of my way
Que eu quero passar
I want to keep moving forward
Pois o samba esta animado
Because the samba is lively
O que eu quero e sambar
All I want to do is dance the samba
Este samba, que e misto de maracatu
This samba is a blend of maracatu
E samba de preto velho
And samba of the old blacks
Samba de preto tu
Samba of the black man
We gonna make you feel lil' hotter
The Black Eyed Peas pledge to heat up the dance floor and make everyone feel the music
The Peas and Sergio Mendes heating up samba
The Black Eyed Peas and Sergio Mendes are combining their talents to create an exciting and fresh take on samba music
Sergio, play yo piano
A call for Sergio Mendes to showcase his talent on the piano
(Oh eh oh) Sergio, play yo yo yo yo yo
A joyful and celebratory chant to encourage Sergio to keep playing
Check it out!
A call to the audience to listen closely and enjoy the music
Ba badada ba
A catchy and upbeat instrumental refrain
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Jorge Lima Menezes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@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!!!!! ❤️
@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 !