Blame it on Sergio Mendes

Blame it on the bossa nova with its magic spell

Blame it on the bossa nova that he did so well

Oh, it all began with just one little dance

But then it ended up a big romance

Blame it on the bossa nova

The dance of love

— From Blame It on The Bossa Nova by Cliff Richard

No offense meant with the title (actually, a compliment) of today’s story but if you and I have gotten blithely addicted to bossa nova, there’s nobody to “blame” but the master of the genre, Sergio Mendes (no, the “g” in his first name is not silent).

Get set for the dance of love as Sergio Mendes and Brasil 2014 returns for concerts first at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Nov. 15 and then at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel on Nov. 16. The musical presentation from Ovation Productions will spotlight the bossa nova sensation from Brazil as he showcases his wonderful and easy-listening sound and style that made him the most popular musician in South America and an international star in the past 50 years.

Sergio will treat concert-goers to an array of bossa nova hits, such as Mas Que Nada, Constant Rain (Chove Chuba), For Me, Night And Day, The Look Of Love, Fool On The Hill, Scarborough Fair, Pretty World, Never Gonna Let You Go, Rainbow’s End, Olympia and Alibis.

His other hit songs are The Trouble With Hello Is Goodbye, What Do We Mean To Each Other, Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing, If I Ever Lose This Heaven, Going Out Of My Head, Put A Little Love Away, Waiting For Love, Waters Of March, Please Baby Don’t, So Many Stars, Voce Abuso, Night And Day, Like A Lover, Love City, Bridges, Funky Bahia and many more.

“Every time I perform,” admitted Sergio in an exclusive phone interview the other day, “it feels like the first time. You see, music is my passion, it’s my life.”

As a young boy in Niteroi, Brazil, Sergio attended the local conservatory of music with the hopes of becoming a classical pianist until he switched to bossa nova when the popular craze for the jazz-infected derivative of samba swept Rio de Janeiro in the mid-to-late-’50s.

Moving to the US in 1964, he attained instant success with his band Brasil ’66 following the release of its self-titled debut album that featured a mix of light jazz, a bossa nova beat and contemporary soft pop melodies.

It was Sergio himself who answered when I dialed his number at a hotel in Tokyo where he’s having a concert before he flies to Thailand for two concerts and proceeds to Manila.

“I’m a music lover,” he added. “I listen to all kinds of music — classical music, jazz, pop, all kinds. The music of the world!”

You must love the Philippines so much for you to keep on coming back.

“Yes, I love going there. The Philippines is one of my favorite places.”

You are virtually our adopted son.

“Thank you very much. I’m happy to hear that because I love the Filipino people. The Filipinos are very musical, they love great songs, and it’s a great pleasure for me to be going back to the Philippines.”

Did you know that, besides being music-lovers, Filipinos are also passionate lovers?

“Oh yes, just like Brazilians.”

Are you just as passionate and romantic?

“Absolutely, yes!”

How do you express your love and passion for a woman?
“Well, you know, I think through melodies, beautiful songs.”

Did you court your wife (Gracinha) and win her heart that way?

“Yes. Actually, my wife is also a great lover of music. She’s an amazing singer and it’s wonderful working with her. We’ve been together for many years.”

Aside from music, what has been keeping you together all these years? It’s so rare for a couple in show business to be together that long.

“I guess I’m just very lucky, very fortunate and very blessed.”

Did you know that your concert in New York a few years ago was produced by my good friends, Alice Martinez and her husband Red? They are all praises for you. They said that you are humble and “low maintenance,” asking for nothing more than a bottle of wine.

“Thank you very much. Low maintenance, huh? Maybe, hahahaha!”

How’s your life away from the limelight?

“You know, I’m a family man. My wife and I enjoy time with our children, one is 21 and the other is 28. I also have three children from my first marriage and I have grandchildren. Do we play bossa nova at home? Yes, we do. My 21-year-old plays the guitar and my 28-year-old plays the drums.”

To what do you attribute the enduring appeal of bossa nova?

“Well, I think that first of all it’s a very unique kind of music. Great melodies and songs that people remember in their hearts. Romantic songs, happy songs, very special songs. The combination of the happiness and the beautiful melodies makes bossa nova so unique, plus the harmonies, of course. I have a new album; it’s called Magic. It has a lot of songs that I wrote and other guest artists on it. It’s a diverse album and I’m sure Filipinos will like it.”

Why did you call it Magic?

“It’s about the magic of life, the magic of my encounter with the great people in my life. The magic of going back to the beginning of my career in Rio de Janeiro and the journey up to now. Everything is magic, you see!”

How has your music evolved between the early ’60s and now?

“Actually, it’s hard for me to describe it in words but you know when you hear it. Listen to the songs, such as The Look Of Love, and you will know what I mean. We also play songs from the new repertoire. The wonderful thing is that those who loved our songs in the ’60s are now grandparents and they have passed on that love for bossa nova to their children and their children’s children. We have a whole new generation of audiences who watch my shows anywhere in the world.”

And there’s Mas Que Nada.

“It’s such a special song, you know, a great melody. People sing that everywhere in the world and they dance to it.”

I agree. Bossa nova has been growing and winning followers from generation to generation.

“Bossa nova has greatly influenced my life. That’s what got me started. Back in Rio, I worked in small clubs. I had this little trio and then a sextet. We got moving until came Brasil ’66 which was a big landmark for me. We developed that style and the people loved it. It has been a very nice ride since then.

“You know, the name bossa nova is a style of music from the ’60s; it’s something from that period. In Brazil, bossa nova marks a certain period. But when you mention Brazilian popular music, we call it muzica populara delara which has a lot of different styles. The beauty of Brazilian music is its diversity — different rhythms, different sounds, different styles.”

(Sergio Mendes & Brasil 2014 Live In Manila! is presented by Ovation Productions in partnership with Air21, Fox International and Edsa Shangri-La, with The Philippine STAR among its supporters. Tickets for the Smart Araneta Coliseum concert are priced at P5,500, P4,500, P3,500, P2,500, P1,500 and P700 and are available at Ticketnet outlets [911-5555] or online at www.ticketnet.com.ph. Tickets for the Waterfront Hotel Cebu show are priced at P4,500, P3,500, P2,500, P2,000, P1,000 and P750. For inquiries, call 0917-6228705.)

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected].)