During the 1950s and 1960s, Severinsen put out a number of albums of jazz standards, over which he performed very melodic solos. While not as much a "screamer" as Maynard Ferguson, Severinsen certainly had a well-developed high-note range, with an incredible amount of control and melodic sense. In the 1960s, Severinsen also recorded with the Clarke/Boland Big Band and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis band. Severinsen was also the second trumpeter whose recording of the fanfare "Abblasen," composed by Gottfried Reiche, has been used as the theme for the CBS News program Sunday Morning.
During his years with the Tonight Show and afterwards, Severinsen released albums that had a pop-rock basis, some of which had electronic instrumentation components, such as "Brass Roots", "Good Medicine" and "Facets". These albums had varying degrees of acceptance by the public.
Although he has worked with jazz artists, most of his own recordings as a leader have consisted mainly of pop music. Several recent recordings feature him playing classical trumpet repertoire.
Severinsen was the principal pops conductor for several American orchestras during and after his tenure on the Tonight Show. His first was with the Phoenix Symphony in 1983. He held similar positions with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and the Minnesota Orchestra.
He retired from active conducting in 2007, and was named Pops Conductor Emeritus in Milwaukee and Pops Conductor Laureate in Minnesota.
Severinsen was also Distinguished Visiting Professor of Music and Katherine K. Herberger Heritage Chair for Visiting Artists at Arizona State University School of Music in 2001-2002
Night In Tunisia
Doc Severinsen Lyrics
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Exchanging glances
Wandering the night,
What were the chances
We'd be sharing love
Before the night was through
Something in your eyes
Something in your smile
Was so exciting
Something in my heart
Told me I must have you
Strangers in the night
Two lonely people
We were strangers in the night
Up to the moment
When we said our first hello
Little did we know
Love was just a glance away
A warm embracing dance away
And ever since that night
We've been together
Lovers at first sight
In love forever
It turned out so right
Strangers in the night
Two lonely people
We were strangers in the night
Up to the moment
When we said our first hello
Little did we know
Love was just a glance away
A warm embracing dance away
For strangers in the night.
The lyrics of Doc Severinsen and His Orchestra's song "Night in Tunisia" describe two strangers who meet by chance and fall in love in one night. The first stanza describes how they exchange glances and wander around the night. When they see each other, they feel an irresistible attraction that they believe must be love. Despite being strangers, they decide to share the night and explore their feelings. The second stanza begins with a repeated line that highlights their unfamiliarity with each other. At this point, they are two lonely individuals until they meet and say their first hello. The song ends by reflecting on how they were unaware that love was just a glance away, but that tiny look led them to a warm embracing dance and ultimately, forever love.
Overall, the song celebrates the power of chance encounters in bringing people together and creating magical moments. The lyrics have a poetic quality that captures the essence of the night and the thrill of meeting someone new. By emphasizing the role of fate and intuition, the song suggests that some connections are meant to be and cannot be explained or controlled. It's a timeless theme that resonates with listeners of all ages and backgrounds.
Line by Line Meaning
Strangers in the night
Two unfamiliar people crossing paths at night time
Exchanging glances
Making eye contact briefly
Wandering the night
Walking around aimlessly during the nighttime
What were the chances
How likely was it
We'd be sharing love
We would develop feelings for each other
Before the night was through
Before the night ended
Something in your eyes
There was an appealing quality in the look of your eyes
Was so inviting
That quality drew me in and made me feel comfortable
Something in your smile
There was a captivating quality in your smile
Was so exciting
That quality made me feel exhilarated and interested
Something in my heart
My feelings were telling me
Told me I must have you
That I had to be with you
Two lonely people
Two individuals who feel alone
Up to the moment
Until the point in time
When we said our first hello
When we first spoke to each other
Little did we know
We had no idea
Love was just a glance away
Our love connection was formed by a single look
A warm embracing dance away
A tender embrace cemented our attraction
And ever since that night
Since that night forward
We've been together
We are a couple
Lovers at first sight
We fell in love immediately
In love forever
Our love will never fade
It turned out so right
Our love was the correct decision
For strangers in the night
This type of love can happen to any two strangers who meet under the night sky
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bert Kaempfert, Charles Singleton, Eddie Snyder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind