Mas Que Nada

What’s the most popular Brazilian song - “Brazil” or “The Girl from Ipanema”? Those are probably the two songs most closely associated with Brazil outside Brazil. But there’s a third song that’s said to be even more popular inside Latin America’s musical dynamo.

If you’ve never heard of “Mas Que Nada” (MOSH kay NAHduh), don’t feel bad. I’ve loved Latin music all my life, but I never discovered Mas Que Nada until early in the 21st century, well past my fiftieth birthday. The unforgettable song also helped me (re)discover Sergio Mendes - a name I had long been familiar with, though I have never really listened to his music. If only I had known of his association with Herb Alpert, one of my biggest musical heroes!

This is the version that captured my heart. (I love the video, too.) I was mesmerized by the song, playing it over and over and over until it ranked #1 on my iTunes play list. To me, this version has a folksy, almost gospel sound; I could sense that the song had substance even if I couldn’t understand the words.

This is just one of several versions recorded by Sergio Mendes, the name most widely associated with Mas Que Nada outside Brazil. The favorite version in Brazil is said to be the original recording, performed by the man who wrote the song - Jorge Ben.

Mas Que Nada is similar to The Girl from Ipanema in that it has inspired many recordings in various genres and styles. Yet Mas Que Nada may be even more diverse. For example, it has become widely associated with soccer, which contributes to its enduring popularity in Brazil.

Lyrics & Meaning

In Brazilian Portuguese slang, mas que nada (literally “but, that [is] nothing”) means “come on,” “no way,” or “yeah, right!” The phrase is sometimes confused with the Spanish más que nada (MOSS kay NAHduh), which means “mainly” or “principally.” In many recordings, the song’s title is colloquially spelled Mais que nada, perhaps to distinguish it from the Spanish phrase.

According to Yahoo Answers, Mas Que Nada is about a man who wants to dance a particular samba that’s so cool “you won’t want it to come to an end.” The dance is described as a “samba of old blacks, samba of your blackness.” I think I recall reading once that the song dealt with racism, though I don’t know enough about the lyrics or meaning to elaborate.

Here’s another translation. And here are the lyrics to the Black Eyed Peas version.

Versions

Brazil

Jorge Ben wrote Mas Que Nada and recorded it on his first album, Samba Esquema Novo (1963). (This is a nice video, with images of Brazil in the 1960s.)

One of Brazil’s most popular bossa nova groups, Tamba Trio recorded a slower-paced version featuring multiple vocals on the lead vocal, not just the chorus.

One of Brazil’s most renowned samba singers, Elza Soares released her cover of Mas Que Nada in 1970 (Tudo Ben: Jorge Ben Covers). Singer-guitarist Luiz Henrique recorded a somewhat unusual version (Compact Jazz: Best of Bossa Nova).

Sergio Mendes

Sergio Mendes is Brazilian, but his music is largely tailored for an American audience. The lead vocals on his original recording of Mas Que Nada were performed by Lani Hall, an American singer who learned the Portuguese lyrics phonetically.

Mendes’ struck gold with Mas Que Nada in a 1966 cover version in the album Sergio Mendes & Brazil ’66. The song reached #4 and #47 in the 1966 Billboard charts’ easy listening and pop categories, respectively, becoming Mendes’ signature song.

This is a nice video. However, I have to confess to some confusion regarding the vocalists. I believe at least four different women performed with Sergio Mendes, who recorded at least one more version very similar to his original hit. Unfortunately, I don’t know the names of all of Mendes’ associates, let alone who sang a particular version.

Mendes scored another hit when he teamed up with the Black Eye Peas in creating a hip hop version of Mas Que Nada featured on the album Timeless (2006). The video is timeless as well.

In Brazil, the Black Eyed Peas’ version became the theme song for the local television channel Globo’s Estrelas. The song was also included in the soundtrack of the movie Rio.

Beyond Brazil

South African singer Miriam Makeba (of “Pata Pata” fame) recorded a slow, soulful version of Mas Que Nada in Miriam Makeba In Concert! (1967) and Miriam Makeba - Live from Paris & Conakry (1996). British reggae singer Ava Leigh recorded a livelier version for her debut album, Rollin’.

MP3 Downloads (Amazon.com)

• Sergio Mendes
• Sergio Mendes (with Black Eyed Peas)
• Jorge Ben
• Marc Antoine
• Vikki Carr
• Oscar Peterson
• Jessy J
• Elza Soares
• Lis de Carvalho
• Al Jarreau
• Tamba Trio
• R Hernandez
• Grupo da Costa
• ???
• ???

Filipina bossa nova artist Sitti Katrina Navarro Baiddin, better known as Sitti, recorded a popular version (Café Bossa). U.S. group Pink Martini teamed up with Japan’s Saori Yuki in Pink Martini & Saori Yuki (1969). I love this video by Japanese bossa nova star Nilo Koizumi. I also like this version recorded by American vocalist and saxophonist Jessy J (Tequila Moon, 2008)...and this version by L.A. Transit (Denon Jazz Sampler, Vol. 1, 1985).

American jazz artist Al Jarreau recorded a very lively, fun version (Tenderness, 1994). Ella Fitzgerald sings the song in English (Things Ain’t What They Used to Be), though the lyrics appear to be different than the original.

Instrumental versions of Mas Que Nada have been recorded by Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (LAGQ Brazil, 2007) [YouTube], French guitarist Marc Antoine (Cruisin’, 2001 and The Very Best of Marc Antoine), Marcus Johnson (This is How I Rock), Dizzy Gillespie (Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac, 1967) [Video], Joao Fernandez (The Very Best of Latin Jazz), Hugh Masekela (The Lasting Impressions of Ooga Booga), Oscar Peterson (Soul Español) and Al Hirt (Music to Watch Girls By).

Soccer!

Surely a hard charging game like soccer would adopt one of the faster versions of Mas Que Nada. However, a popular Nike airport commercial released for the 1998 FIFA World Cup stars Brazil’s national soccer team accompanied by the Tamba Trio’s laid back version. It’s actually a very nice fit, as the players are relaxed and having fun, apparently saving their energy for the World Cup.

This Joga TV video features Brazil’s national soccer team clowning around in the locker room, accompanied by the Sergio Mendes/Black Eyed Peas version of Mas Que Nada.

Someone published a collage of Nike soccer videos accompanied by a very fast, disco-esque version of Mas Que Nada, on YouTube. In fact, I’ve seen at least two versions, including Nike’s Spot Tribute (The Nike contest), which lists the artist as EchoBeatz. In what appears to be the group’s official video, a bevy of beach babes play volleyball with a soccer ball.

I purchased the same version via iTunes, which lists the artist as Latin Carnaval.