Track By Track SERGIO MENDES “TIMELESS”

1.  “MAS QUE NADA”: When Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66 released this song in
1966, it became a world wide smash. It was the first Latin-pop crossover hit and the only time a song sung in Portuguese hit the top of the Billboard charts.  The song was written by Jorge Ben, a well loved Brazilian composer.  It has become Sergio’s signature song. He & will.i.am thought it was a great idea to remake it in a bossa nova/hip hop style, to expose it to a new generation on the 40th anniversary of Sergio’s first recording of it.  The lyrics are very simple, but its refrain is recognized all over the world.

2.  “THAT HEAT”: In 1966, when Sergio recorded the song entitled “Slow Hot Wind”, written by his dear friend and iconic composer Henry Mancini, he had no idea that years later it would be sampled and treated in such a wonderful and different way.  It was Will’s idea to sample it and bring Erykah into this very sexy/catchy track.

3.  “BERIMBAU/CONSOLACAO”:  These two songs were written by legendary virtuoso guitarist/composer Baden Powell, a friend of Sergio’s from the beginning of their careers, and Vinicius de Moraes, who wrote the original Brazilian lyrics to “The Girl from Ipanema” and many others.  They were originally recorded by Sergio in 1964, on one of his instrumental albums.  They are part of the great Brazilian songbook.  Sergio and Will had the idea of combining them in one track and had Sergio and his band record it live.  When Stevie Wonder found out they were recording this track at the same studio where he was finishing his own new album, he was very happy to participate in it. With his unique harmonica sound and enormous talent, he brings a very special touch of R&B and Jazz into this very Brazilian tune. Gracinha Leporace, who is Sergio’s wife and also a singer in his band for many years, is the lead singer on this track.

4.  “THE FROG”:  Also recorded by Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66, in 67, this song, written by popular pianist /composer Joao Donato, became one of the classics of SM&B66. Being one of their favorites, Will & Sergio decided to update it, and Will’s choice of Q-Tip for the track was a perfect one.

5.  “LET ME”:  This is the song that introduced Sergio into Will’s life.  Also written by Baden Powell with English lyrics by the extraordinary Norman Gimbel (who also wrote English lyrics for “The Girl from Ipanema” and many other Brazilian classics) this song was recorded by Sergio on Sergio Mendes & Brasil 65. When Will was introduced to Sergio’s music, this record became one his favorites, this song in particular. It was obvious that it had to be in this album, and Jill Scott brings her very special touch to this bossa-nova classic.

6.  “BANANEIRA”:  Also written by Joao Donato, this time partnered with very popular singer/composer Gilberto Gil, a long time friend of Sergio’s, it became a perfect spot for the Reggaeton/Caribbean rhythm and performance by Mr.Vegas.

7.  “SURFBOARD”:  Since the first collaboration between Sergio & Will was on a song by Antonio Carlos Jobim, “the father of Bossa Nova”, it was only natural that they would use a few of this extraordinary composer’s songs on Timeless.  It is impossible to speak of the great Brazilian songbook without mentioning the gems written by Jobim. Surfboard, one of his instrumental pieces, not as widely recorded as some of his other very popular songs. It was a perfect vehicle for this “marriage” between bossa nova & hip hop.

8.  “PLEASE BABY DON’T”:  Written and sung by John Legend with a wonderfully warm, sensual vocal and superb bossa nova arrangement; this song is one of the jewels brought in by Will.  It is very evocative of the Brazilian songs from the ‘60s, and also of some of the “Brazilianized” songs written by Stevie Wonder throughout his career.

9.  “SAMBA DA BENCAO”(Samba Of The Blessing):  In another song by Baden Powell, also co-written by Vinicius de Moraes, probably the greatest Brazilian lyricist of all time (he wrote most of the famous songs by Jobim and many other important Brazilian songwriters), Sergio and Will bring in the #1 rapper from Brazil, Marcelo D2.  This song was internationally popular during the ‘60s, especially after having been used in the classic French movie “A Man and a Woman”.  The rap, over a haunting melody played by Sergio, was recorded in Paris during the summer of ‘05.  Interestingly enough, this song, in its original form, may be considered earlier versions of rap, since a large part of its words were spoken over the melody.

10.  “TIMELESS”:  In this wonderful collaboration between Sergio, who wrote the melody, India.Arie, who wrote the inspired lyrics, in which she reminds us that “kindness is timeless”, and Printz Board who brought in the rhythm track, we go back to that delicious and sensual feeling of the bossa nova.  With a beautiful vocal by India, the song was written for this album and it shares the album’s title.

11.  “LOOSE ENDS”:  Sergio had the idea to use the intro to his own song, “So Many Stars”, recorded in 1967, with a beautiful orchestral arrangement by Dave Grusin, and when he mentioned it to Will, Will immediately started working on a beat for it.  Justin Timberlake, visiting Will heard this work in progress and started singing over it, creating a great melody, with very strong lyrics. Later Will invited Pharaoh Monch to share rapping duties with him, and the two of them created this wonderful rap, with a strong message about the necessity for everyone to get involved and “tie up loose ends”.

12.  “FO-HOP”:  Written by Guinga, probably the most important Brazilian composer of his generation, who is also a very close friend of Sergio’s, this song is a rhythmic gem.  The title is a play on the words Forro, which is a very popular Brazilian rhythm and dance, and Hip-hop.  It features Guinga, Gracinha and again Marcelo D2, who brings his unique rap, this time peppered with names of Brazilian and international cities and foods.

13.  “LAMENTO” (No Morro):  The title means lament in the hills.  This song was one of the many jewels written by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes for the internationally acclaimed movie classic “Black Orpheus”.  Done here as an instrumental, Sergio was able to record, in Brazil, the virtuoso guitar group “Maogani Quartet”.  These brilliant musicians, very young and extremely talented, were also featured in the song “Samba of the Blessing”.  The guitar arrangement was written by one of them, Marcus Tardelli.

14.  “E MENINA”:   A very catchy tune, also written by Joao Donato, this time with lyrics by Gutemberg Guarabyra, this is a light and airy track, that Will decided to keep simple in order to emphasize the rhythmic and melodious, chant-like quality of it.  The vocals are again done by Gracinha.

15.  “YES, YES, Y’ALL”:  This song was originally recorded by Sergio in his instrumental album entitled My Favorite Things, which came out on Atlantic Records, in 1968.  Will sampled the piano track from the original recording, entitled “Coming Home Baby”, written by Tucker/Dorough, and Sergio added new piano parts to this haunting melody. It works perfectly as a background for the very powerful raps by Black Thought, Chali 2na, Will himself, and sensual vocals by Debi Nova.