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Brazilian singer Vanessa da Mata had a number one hit at home with the song Boa Sorte. The song was co-written by US neo-bluesman Ben Harper. He performs with da Mata on the English version of the song. Anchor Marco Werman tells us more. Download MP3

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MARCO WERMAN: All right now that I’ve gotten us into this Frank Zappa moment, how do I get out of it?  Hmm, I know, an accessible number one hit.

VANESSA DA MATA: [Singing]

WERMAN: This tune called “Boa sorte” or “good luck” was number one in Brazil last year and it was also huge in Europe.  It’s by the young Brazilian singer Vanessa da Mata.  She’s not unknown in the U.S.  “Boa sorte” appears on da Mata’s CD “Sim,” and it won a Latin Grammy last year for best contemporary Brazilian album.  All of this as you may have noted happened last year.  Well, just last month Sim got its official U.S. release, and hopes are that it’ll do well here too.  It could.  After all, Boa Sorte features U.S. neo-bluesman Ben Harper, who also co-wrote the song.

DA MATA AND HARPER: [Singing]

WERMAN: And for the U.S. release, Ben Harper and Vanessa da Mata have redone the tune in English.

DA MATA AND HARPER: [Singing]

WERMAN: All the pieces seem to be there for “Boa Sorte” to be a North American hit.  Vanessa da Mata’s tune features drum and bass from Jamaican legends Sly and Robbie and percussion from Bob Marley’s former drummer Sticky.  Vanessa da Mata even recorded part of the album in Jamaica.  But what’s number one in Europe and Brazil might not mean that much to American listeners. Try it on for size, though, and tell us what you think.  Our one stop online headquarters where you’ll find the useful “comment” tab is the world dot O-R-G.  Our theme music was composed by Eric Goldberg in the Nan and Bill Harris Studios at WGBH in Boston.  I’m Marco Werman.  Thanks for listening and have a great weekend.

DA MATA AND HARPER: [Singing]

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