Mas Que Nada

The harmony of 'Mas Que Nada' is a masterclass in bossa nova chord vocabulary. The verse builds on a minor ii-V-i turnaround — the backbone of jazz harmony in a minor key — while the bridge introduces warmth by moving to the relative major through an equally smooth ii-V-I. Despite jazz-level chord extensions (7ths, half-diminished), the repetitive structure and rhythmic drive keep the song accessible, making it an ideal gateway into jazz harmony for pop and Latin music listeners.

The song was written by Jorge Ben (now Jorge Ben Jor) and first recorded in 1962 by bossa nova bandleader Zé Maria for the album 'Tudo Azul - Bossa E Balanço,' with Jorge Ben singing lead vocals. Jorge Ben then recorded his own definitive version in 1963 for his debut album 'Samba esquema novo.' The melody and vocal motifs draw from José Prates' 1958 recording 'Nanã Imborô,' which featured the underlying melodic and vocal patterns that Jorge Ben later developed into 'Mas Que Nada.'

Originally written by Jorge Ben in 1963, 'Mas Que Nada' became synonymous with Sérgio Mendes after his iconic 1966 Brasil '66 recording. This 2006 version from the album Timeless, featuring the Black Eyed Peas and produced by will.i.am, brought the song to a new generation, topping charts across Europe while honoring its bossa nova roots.