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.
The Night
Frankie Valli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Late December back in sixty three
What a very special time for me
As I remember, what a night
Oh, what a night, you know I didn't even know her name
But I was never gonna be the same
What a lady, what a night
Oh, I, I got a funny feelin' when she walked in the room
And my, as I recall it ended much too soon
Oh what a night, hypnotizin' mesmerizing me
She was ev'rything I dreamed she'd be
Sweet surrender, what a night
I felt a rush like a rollin' ball of thunder
Spinnin' my head around and takin' my body under
Oh, what a night
Oh, I, I got a funny feelin' when she walked in the room
And my, as I recall it ended much too soon
Oh, what a night
Why'd it take so long to see the light?
Seemed so wrong, but now it seems so right
What a lady, what a night
Oh I felt a rush like a rollin' ball of thunder
Spinnin' my head around and takin' my body under
Oh what a night
Do-do-do, do-do-do
Do-do-do-do, oh what a night
Do-do-do, do-do-do
Do-do-do-do-do-do, oh what a night
Do-do-do, do-do-do
Do-do-do-do-do-do, oh what a night
Do-do-do, do-do-do
Do-do-do-do-do-do, oh what a night
The lyrics to Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons's song "December 1963" describe the singer reminiscing about a magical night that he experienced in late December of 1963. He begins by exclaiming "Oh, what a night," and reflects on how special of a time it was for him. He goes on to recall that he didn't even know the woman's name who he met that night, but he knew that everything was going to change for him from then on. She was a "lady" who mesmerized and hypnotized him, everything he had dreamed of, leading to a feeling of "sweet surrender." He describes the rush of emotions and sensations he felt when she entered the room, like a "rollin' ball of thunder" that spun his head around and took over his body.
Towards the end of the song, the singer wonders why it took him so long to realize that the night he experienced was so right, even though it felt wrong at first. The song ends with the catchy chorus that repeats the lyrics "Oh, what a night," accompanied by the background vocals and music.
Overall, "December 1963" is a nostalgic and romantic song that celebrates a magical night in the singer's life, highlighting the power of love and its ability to transform even the most regular of nights into unforgettable ones.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, what a night
The singer reflects on a special time in his life.
Late December back in sixty three
The exact time period in which the memories occurred is specified.
What a very special time for me
The memories are significant to the singer.
As I remember, what a night
The artist looks back fondly on the experience.
Oh, what a night, you know I didn't even know her name
The artist met a woman who left a lasting impression on him, despite not knowing her name.
But I was never gonna be the same
This woman had a profound impact on the singer.
What a lady, what a night
The singer is impressed by the woman he met and the experience they shared.
Oh, I, I got a funny feelin' when she walked in the room
The artist experienced a sudden and unexplainable feeling when he first saw the woman.
And my, as I recall it ended much too soon
The artist wishes that the experience could have lasted longer.
Oh what a night, hypnotizin' mesmerizing me
The artist felt completely captivated by the woman he met.
She was ev'rything I dreamed she'd be
The woman lived up to the singer's expectations.
Sweet surrender, what a night
The artist gave in to the experience completely and found it incredibly enjoyable.
I felt a rush like a rollin' ball of thunder
The singer experienced an intense physical and emotional reaction to the woman and the experience they shared.
Spinnin' my head around and takin' my body under
The singer was completely consumed by the experience and lost all control.
Why'd it take so long to see the light?
The singer wonders why he didn't pursue this type of experience sooner.
Seemed so wrong, but now it seems so right
Initially, the artist may have felt hesitant or unsure about the experience, but now he realizes it was the right choice.
Oh I felt a rush like a rollin' ball of thunder
The artist experienced an intense physical and emotional reaction to the woman and the experience they shared.
Do-do-do, do-do-do
This is a musical interlude.
Do-do-do-do, oh what a night
This is a continuation of the musical interlude with a reference to the memorable experience.
Do-do-do, do-do-do
This is another musical interlude.
Do-do-do-do-do-do, oh what a night
This is a continuation of the musical interlude with a reference to the memorable experience.
Do-do-do, do-do-do
This is another musical interlude.
Do-do-do-do-do-do, oh what a night
This is a continuation of the musical interlude with a reference to the memorable experience.
Do-do-do, do-do-do
This is another musical interlude.
Do-do-do-do-do-do, oh what a night
This is a continuation of the musical interlude with a reference to the memorable experience.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Gaudio, Judy Parker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@toomuchinformation
"So he paints a pretty picture,
And he tells you that he needs you,
And he covers you with flowers,
And he always keeps you dreaming,
If he always keeps you dreaming,
You won't have a lonely hour,
If the day could last forever
You might like your ivory tower".
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is love bombing right there.
Bob Gaudio, ahead of the game.
@iansullivan9738
Parts of this song sound 20 years ahead of its time. Beautiful bass line.
@wezcurrie4040
Absolute banger. That drum and bassline is to die for.
@MrBolaextra
Right on.
@coreyyellowmanjackson4341
For real.. I sampled this song like 22 years ago.. but listening to the original is golden!!
@frankbarnowski8189
Try playing that bass and you'll see. It's fine art. Great
@ibrahimfaraj1314
@MrBolaextra looi
@kevinkrizmanich2585
@Frank Barnowski Hey Frank! I'm a Hammond organ player, and I'm pretty sure that this is being played on the foot pedals of the organ in the song. Nonetheless, it's an equally badass part regardless of what instrument it's being played on.
@Huggbees
Jesus christ what a song.
@nevittwoods1730
IK
@levi501ize
i know, the twisted wheel, witworth st manchester and stoke on trent.