Mas Que Nada

Last year, the Black Eyed Peas and legendary Brazilian pianist Sergio Mendes collaborated to produce Mas Que Nada, a samba/hip-hop fusion that was fairly popular in the US and around the world.



Mas Que Nada is one of my all-time favorite songs - but not this version. In my opinion, the BEPs completely ruined it, and it's been done a lot better both by its original author, as well as some other amateurs who've mixed up their own versions. Most Americans are familiar with Mendes' classic version of the song, produced by his band Brasil '66 over forty years ago. This version of the song is the most well-known Brazilian song in the United States.



But what most people don't know is that Mendes is not the person originally responsible for the song. That honor would go to legendary musician Jorge Ben Jor, who despite writing Mas Que Nada (as well as Taj Mahal, whose tune would later be stolen by Rod Stewart for "If You Think I'm Sexy"), is not very well-known in the United States. Ben wrote the song in 1963, and only three years later Mendes picked it up and launched his career with it. Ben's style is much more fast-paced and rhythm-infused that Mendes' piano, and in my opinion makes for much better jamming.



But what has always amazed me about this song is, despite its origins, how often it has been copied and adapted to different styles. You can solo-it real slow, like this talented girl from Hawai'i:



This guy made an even slower and more soothing version. Keep in mind no version of the song with this rhythm and flow to it has ever been professionally produced - he's just deriving it from the considerably faster and dancier versions already out there:



Or mix it up a little, like this Filipino couple:



Or hand it over to an Australian a capella group:



I think one of the signs of a great songwriter is the ability to construct a tune that will not only be remembered, but can be adapted and re-made depending on the needs and wishes of different artists. Jorge Ben has done just that with this song, and most of his other songs are the same way. Great stuff.