Mas que nada


"Mas que nada" is a Brazilian song written by Jorge Ben and originally recorded in 1962 by Carioca Bossa Nova musician & bandleader Zé Maria on the album Tudo Azul - Bossa E Balanço, with Jorge Ben singing lead vocals across the album. Jorge Ben recorded his own version the following year on his debut album Samba esquema novo, which was also released as a single. The song was covered first by several other prominent Brazilian artists in the following years, including by Tamba Trio in 1963 and Luis Carlos Vinhas in 1964. 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...!, 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

covered the song with his band Brasil '66 on their debut album, Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66. 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 and its soundtrack.

Track listings

US 12-inch single
European CD single
  1. "Mas que Nada" – 3:32
  2. "Mais que nada" – 2:41
European 12-inch single
German maxi-CD single
  1. "Mas que Nada" – 3:32
  2. "Mas que Nada" – 8:03
  3. "Mais que nada" – 2:41

    Charts

Chart Peak
position
Croatia 3
Europe 7
Greece 19
US Dance Club Play 13

Chart Position
Austria 45
Belgium 23
Belgium 54
CIS Airplay 128
Europe 89
Germany 57
Hungary 31
Hungary 7
Netherlands 7
Netherlands 10
Russia Airplay 120
Switzerland 19
UK Singles 112

Certifications