In life, sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come from the smallest tweaks. On this episode of Good Vinyl Mornings, we explore how subtle shiftsânot radical transformationsâcan lead to something lasting and beautiful. Our guiding track: SĂ©rgio Mendes & Brasil â66âs âMas que Nadaâ.
Originally written by Jorge Ben in Brazil in 1963, Mas que Nada was more than a samba tune. It was rhythm, culture, and melody wrapped in invitationââcome dance, come live.â But when SĂ©rgio Mendes heard it in Rioâs clubs and later in Copacabana bars, he didnât just play it. He adjusted its frame. He added pop sensibility. He introduced two female vocalists (Lani Hall and Bibi Vogel) to shift the soundâand critically, the band adopted a bilingual, cross-cultural approach. Mendes moved from purely instrumental arrangements to a fusion of Brazilian rhythms, jazz, and pop harmonies that would cross oceans.
This episode leans into what Mas que Nada teaches us about refining more than reinventing:
- Small tweaks in your approachâadding one new element, letting in one new voiceâcan change your outcome dramatically.
- Sometimes the change isnât in what you do, but how you do it: tone, harmonies, subtle style shifts.
- Being true to your source (in Mendesâ case, the samba, the Portuguese lyrics) while making the sound accessible can open doors you never saw.
If youâre in a season of feeling stuck, this episode is your invitation: donât overhaul everything. Tweak whatâs already good. Let your voice, your vibe, your rhythm meet the world just a little better than yesterday.
Let Mas que Nada be your reminder: harmony isnât about perfectionâitâs about refining every note.
SONG OF THE DAY
Mas que Nadaâ â SĂ©rgio Mendes & Brasil â66
SOCIAL MEDIA:
https://www.instagram.com/plsweets/
https://www.instagram.com/repurposenetwork/
https://www.instagram.comgoodvinylmornings/
Popular Podcasts
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
Itâs 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off Americaâs third largest cash heist. But itâs all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular âol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you wonât hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, youâve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.