Question 1

True or false: Jorge Ben Jor performed at the 1970 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico.

Accepted Answer

False. He did not perform at the 1970 World Cup. He was, however, a huge football fan and wrote songs about Pelé.

Question 2

True or false: Jorge Ben Jor once worked as a lawyer before becoming a full-time musician.

Accepted Answer

False. He studied law briefly but never practiced. He left university to pursue music and became a samba and rock icon.

Question 3

True or false: Jorge Ben Jor’s song “Taj Mahal” was the subject of a plagiarism lawsuit against Rod Stewart.

Accepted Answer

True. Rod Stewart’s “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” was found to have copied the melody from “Taj Mahal,” leading to a settlement.

Question 4

True or false: Jorge Ben Jor originally released “Mas Que Nada” in 1966, later covered by Sérgio Mendes.

Accepted Answer

False. “Mas Que Nada” was first released by Jorge Ben in 1963, not 1966. Sérgio Mendes’ famous cover came later.

Question 5

True or false: Jorge Ben Jor released an album entirely in English to break into the US market in the 1970s.

Accepted Answer

True. He released “Jorge Ben” (1970) with English versions of his hits, but it failed to gain traction in the US.

Question 6

True or false: Jorge Ben Jor legally added “Jor” to his name to avoid confusion with a famous singer named Jorge.

Accepted Answer

True. He added “Jor” in the 1980s to distinguish himself from singer Jorge Aragão, though some say it was also a mystical reference.

Question 7

True or false: Jorge Ben Jor wrote the iconic song “País Tropical” which was later adopted as an anthem by a Brazilian football club.

Accepted Answer

True. “País Tropical” became the unofficial anthem of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, one of Brazil’s most popular football clubs.

Question 8

True or false: Jorge Ben Jor’s album “África Brasil” was entirely recorded in a single live take with no overdubs.

Accepted Answer

False. “África Brasil” was a studio album with multiple layers and production. The live-take myth is a common misconception.

Jorge Ben Jor Trivia Questions