"Mas que nada" is a song written and originally recorded in 1963 by Jorge Ben (currently known as Jorge Ben Jor) on his debut album Samba esquema novo. The song was covered in 1966 by Sérgio Mendes, becoming one of the latter's signature works. It was voted by the Brazilian edition of Rolling Stone as the fifth-greatest Brazilian song. It was inducted to the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013.

José Prates song

In 1958, Brazilian artist José Prates recorded a track called "Nanã Imborô" that appears on his album Tam... Tam... Tam...! (1958, Polydor Brasil – LPNG 4.016), which features the underlying melody and vocalizations later used by Jorge Ben in "Mas que nada"; these motifs would be further highlighted by Sergio Mendes’ arrangement in his version of the song in 1966.

Sérgio Mendes versions

Sérgio Mendes covered the song with his band Brasil '66 on their debut album, Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 (1966). In the United States, the single reached number 47 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and number four on the Billboard Easy Listening chart. In Canada it reached number 54. Outside of Brazil this 1966 version is better known than Jorge Ben's original and, to many, the definitive version of the song. In 1989, Mendes re-recorded the song on his album Arara.

With the Black Eyed Peas

In 2006, Mendes again re-recorded the song, this time with American musical group the Black Eyed Peas and additional vocals by Mendes' wife, Gracinha Leporace, for his album Timeless. This version contains a sample of the Black Eyed Peas' 2004 single "Hey Mama". The song topped the charts of Hungary and the Netherlands and peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart. This version was included in the 2011 animated film Rio (along with another version recorded in the style of Brasil '66 and also coincidentally featured one of the members, will.i.am, with a voice role in the film as Pedro the red-crested cardinal, one of the main characters of the film) and its soundtrack.

Track listings

US 12-inch single European CD single European 12-inch single German maxi-CD single

Charts

Certifications