The music video that is playing is Black Eyed Peas playing "Mas Que Nada". It stops me in my tracks and I watch to the end of the song. At the end, the old guy playing piano laughs, put on a fedora hat and walks off the set.
I download the song and listen to it while making dinner.
My husband comes home and says "That song was originally done by Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66".
So I need to download that version also, and I find that it's even better than the Black Eyed Peas version.
I hunt for more Brasil 66 and manage to find a "best-of" CD. I am struck by what a creative arranger Sergio Mendes was (is - he is still very active in the music scene). Songs like "Scarborough Fair", "The Look of Love" and "Going out of my Head". Jobim songs such as "Wave". And original songs like "So Many Stars".
I play this CD until the whole family is sick of it. But I'm not sick of it - I'm considering which of these songs I could sing.
I'm particularly impressed with the lead singer, Lani Hall. She came from Chicago, spoke no Portuguese and learned the lyrics phonetically. She ended up marrying Herb Alpert, a trumpet player (of Tijuana Brass fame) and manager of Brasil 66. Today they are still together and live on a large property in the US. They are philanthropists, donating money to music programs at schools for disadvantaged kids. And they are still recording and touring.
I'd thought that maybe it was the departure of Lani and Herb that broke up Brasil 66, but apparently Sergio Mendes brought his wife in as lead singer. Brasil 66 became Brasil 77 and never replicated its success.
Lani Hall later sang the title song for the James Bond movie "Tomorrow Never Dies".
Lani Hall later sang the title song for the James Bond movie "Tomorrow Never Dies".
I listen to the "colours" in Lani's voice and try to imitate her. I try to work out where she is placing the sound to get that effect.
And I begin to collect every Brasil 66 CD that I can find.
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