Mas que nada
"Mas Que Nada" is a song written and originally performed by Jorge Ben in 1963, which in a later cover version became the signature song of Sérgio Mendes. This version reached #47 pop, #4 easy listening in the 1966 Billboard charts.
Meaning
In Brazilian Portuguese slang, mas que nada (literally, "but, that [is] nothing") means "come on," "no way," or "Yeah, right!" This is sometimes confused with the Latin-American Spanish más que nada (literally "better than nothing"), meaning "mainly" or "principally"; though in more literary Spanish, "mas que nada" (note the omission of the accent, which changes "más" (more) to "mas" (but)) would have the same literal meaning as the Portuguese.
Covers
Mendes covered the song on his 1966 Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 album. Elza Soares and Maria Creuza also recorded versions.
Dizzy Gillespie included a cover on his 1967 release, Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac.
A Moog version is featured on Perrey and Kingsley's 1967 album, Kaleidoscopic Vibrations: Spotlight on the Moog.
Klaus Wunderlich opened his very first LP, "Hammond Sensation" (1969) with the track.
Chris Waxman released a spirited version during this period, performed on the Hammond Organ as well, for a special Phase 4 Stereo album (London/Decca SP 44119).
Bossa nova singer Sitti from the Philippines did a remake of this song, which is included on her album, Café Bossa. Al Jarreau also did a cover version on his 1994 album Tenderness. French jazz guitarist Marc Antoine performed an instrumental version on his 2001 album Cruisin'. Echobeatz released a housy/dance version in 1998. L.A. Transit performed a version on the Denon Jazz Sampler Vol. 1 in 1985. Serbian pop singer Madame Piano also covered it, while Croatian cellist Walter Despalj did an arrangement of the song for a group of cellos. Swedish singer Lill Lindfors has also covered this song.
Echobeatz release a cover version in 1997.
Nike used a 1963 cover by Tamba Trio in an advertising campaign for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, prompting that version of the song to crack the UK Top 40, reaching Number 34 in the summer of 1998.
Ava Leigh has covered the song. This version has recently been used in UK television commercials for clothing chain Next.
Jessy J recorded a cover of this song in her 2008 release "Tequila Moon."
Covered by Jane McDonald in her 7th album 'Jane' in 2008.
Miriam Makeba covered the song on Miriam Makeba In Concert! (1967) and Live from Paris & Conakry (1996).
The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet recorded a version for their 2007 album LAGQ Brazil.
The Idea of North perform Mas Que Nada a cappella, and have recorded a version on The Sum of Us (2001) featuring James Morrison on trombone.
Black Eyed Peas version
"Mas que nada" | |
---|---|
Song |
In 2006, The Black Eyed Peas recorded a modern version of the song with Mendes; a version which also includes vocals from his wife, Gracinha Leporace. The track is the lead single from Mendes' 2006 album, Timeless. In Brazil, the song is well-known for being the theme song for the local television channel Globo's Estrelas. The Black Eyed Peas' version also contains a sample of their 2004 single, "Hey Mama". The re-recorded song became popular on many European charts. On the UK Singles Chart, the song entered at #29, before peaking at #6 on it's second week on the chart. In the UK, the song became the theme for the Nike adverts from 2006-2008. The song appeared as part of the EA Sports FIFA World Cup 2006 video game.
Tracklisting
- UK CD single
- "Mas Que Nada" (Radio Edit) - 3:32
- "Mas Que Nada" (Masters At Work Remix) - 8:03
- "Mas Que Nada" (Original Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 Version) - 2:41
Charts
Chart (2006) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austrian Top 75 | 8 |
Dutch Top 40 | 1 |
French Top 100 | 40 |
Italian Top 50 | 22 |
German Top 100 | 9 |
Swiss Top 100 | 4 |
UK Singles Chart | 6 |
Hungary Top 40 (IFPI Mahasz Radio Chart) | 1 |
Czech IFPI Chart | 6 |
Sales
Country | Sales |
---|---|
United Kingdom | 71,750 |
Ava Leigh version
"Mas que nada" | |
---|---|
Song | |
A-side | "Mad About the Boy" |
British singer Ava Leigh covered the song for her debut album, Rollin'. The song was released as a Double-A side with popular song, "Mad About the Boy". The song gained popularity after being featured in the UK summer adverts for clothing chain Next. A music video was filmed for "Mad About the Boy" and shows Leigh walking through various places singing the song.
Charts
Charts (2008) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles Chart | 1281 [1] |
- Notes
1 Note that it was "Mad About the Boy" which charted in the UK Singles Chart
References
- ^ "UK Singles Chart Chart Positions 2008". Zobbel. zobbel.de. Retrieved 17 April 2009.