How a Brazilian samba anthem became the world's most recognizable football soundtrack
In short: Mas que nada is more than a song; it is a cultural chameleon. Originally penned by Jorge Ben in 1962, this samba classic has been reimagined by everyone from Sergio Mendes to the Black Eyed Peas, eventually becoming the definitive, rhythmic heartbeat of global football commercials and animated cinema.
The origins of Mas que nada trace back to 1962, when Jorge Ben wrote the track and recorded it for his debut album, Samba Esquema Novo. However, the song's melodic DNA existed even earlier; in 1958, artist José Prates recorded Nanã Imborô, which featured the specific vocal motifs and melodies that Ben would later popularize. While Ben's original remains a cornerstone of Brazilian music—voted the fifth-greatest song in the country by Rolling Stone—it was the 1966 arrangement by Sergio Mendes and his band, Brasil '66, that introduced the melody to a massive international audience.
Mendes’ version achieved significant success in North America, reaching the top 50 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and securing a spot in the top five of the Billboard Easy Listening chart. This version became the standard for many listeners outside of Brazil. The song’s cultural reach expanded exponentially in 1998, when a 1963 recording by Tamba Trio was featured in a high-profile Nike commercial directed by John Woo. The advertisement, which showcased Brazilian football stars like Ronaldo and Romário, turned the track into a global anthem for the sport, cementing its association with high-energy athleticism.
The song's versatility allowed for further reinvention in the 21st century. In 2006, Sergio Mendes collaborated with the Black Eyed Peas to record a new version for his album Timeless, which sampled the group's own 2004 hit Hey Mama. This modern iteration topped charts in Hungary and the Netherlands and reached number six in the UK. The track’s enduring appeal was further solidified when it appeared in the 2011 animated film Rio, ensuring that the rhythmic legacy of Jorge Ben’s composition continues to resonate with new generations of listeners worldwide.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Mas que nada
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