Valli scored over twenty-five Top-40 hits with The Four Seasons, a handful of Top-40 hits dubbed as a solo act in the late 1960s, one dubbed as The Wonder Who? in 1965, and again as a solo act in the mid to late 1970s. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with The Four Seasons in 1990.
Valli started his singing career in 1952. He cut his first single in 1953 as "Frankie Valley" –-a name he adopted from Jean Valley, his favorite female singer. In the mid-1950s he split up with The Travellers and joined The Variety Trio, which consisted of Tommy DeVito, twin brother Nick, and Hank Majewski. They redubbed themselves The Variatones, and later as The Four Lovers. Under this moniker, they scored a Top 40 hit with "You're the Apple of My Eye" in 1956. After a few more name changes, the group finally settled on The Four Seasons in 1960. About the same time, Valli Italianized his name to its current form. Nick DeVito and Majewski left the group in 1960 or 1961. Bob Gaudio and Nick Massi replaced them.
With Valli as its lead singer, The Four Seasons had a series of hits, including five number one singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Their first chart-topper was "Sherry" in 1962. They scored their final number one single in the U.S. in 1975 with "December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)." The song enjoyed a second run on the U.S. charts in 1994 (credited as Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons) when a remixed version hit #14 on the Hot 100.
My Funny Valentine
Frankie Valli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sweet, comic valentine...
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable, unphotographable
yet you're my favorite work of art
Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
are you smart?
But don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine
Stay
Each day is valentine's day.
Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak,
Are you smart?
But don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine
Stay
Each day is Valentine's Day
The lyrics of "My Funny Valentine" by Frankie Valli are a mixture of playful teasing and unabashed devotion. From the start, the song acknowledges the singer's feelings of affection for his partner, calling the person his "funny valentine" in a warmly affectionate tone. As he describes his valentine's appearance, the singer acknowledges that this person might not be conventionally beautiful or photogenic, but still manages to captivate him in a way that no other object of beauty can.
The song's bridge contains some of its most passionate lyrics, as the singer tells his valentine not to change anything about themselves, no matter how they might perceive their flaws. The final line of the song, "Each day is Valentine's Day," represents a kind of idealized, romantic love that celebrates the everyday moments of a relationship as worthy of commemoration as any special occasion.
Line by Line Meaning
My funny valentine...
My quirky, unconventional and peculiar valentine...
Sweet, comic valentine...
Although your sense of humor is lighthearted and amusing, you are still my valentine...
You make me smile with my heart
You are the reason for the deep, heartfelt joy and happiness that radiates from within me...
Your looks are laughable, unphotographable
Although conventional beauty standards may find flaws in your appearance, I find it impossible to capture your true essence in a photograph...
yet you're my favorite work of art
Regardless of others' opinions, you are my most cherished creation, my masterpiece...
Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your physique not the ideal Greek standard?
Is your mouth a little weak?
Is your delivery not strong and confident enough?
When you open it to speak,
Are you smart?
Do your words exhibit intelligence and wisdom?
But don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
I don't want you to change anything about yourself just to please me, because true love means accepting each other for who we really are...
Stay little valentine
Never leave me, my little valentine...
Stay
Each day is Valentine's Day.
Every day that I am with you is Valentine's Day...
Contributed by Luke W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.