Harpo started his career in the late 1960s as an actor in children's theatre. While touring around Sweden, he started to write songs. In 1972, he signed a recording contract with Stig Anderson at Polar Music. Anderson assigned him to in-house record producers, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus.
The plan was that Andersson and Ulvaeus would work with Harpo on an album of his children's songs in Swedish. The collaboration did not work out and Anderson released Harpo from his contract. Harpo then signed with EMI and formed a successful creative partnership with producer Bengt Palmers.
Harpo released his first two singles in 1973 - "Honolulu" and "Sayonara". Both were hits and reached the Top Ten on the Tio-i-topp chart. "Sayonara" held the number one spot for five consecutive weeks between January and February 1974.
On 27 February 1975, Harpo recorded the song for which he would become most famous - "Moviestar". One of the backing vocalists on that day was Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Frida) from ABBA. It has sometimes been reported that Agnetha Fältskog also sang on the song but this is incorrect. The second female singer is Lena Ericsson. Frida also provided backing vocals on the song "Pin Up Girl" on Harpo's second album, Harpo & Bananaband.
"Moviestar" went on to become a huge hit. It reached number 1 in Sweden and Germany, number 2 in Australia and number 24 in the UK. A Swedish language version was also released in Sweden which went to number 1 on the Svensktoppen radio chart. He made many radio and TV appearances around Europe.
Harpo released a number of follow up singles, notably "Motorcycle Mama" (number 9 in Germany) and "Horoscope" (number 1 in Denmark).
In 1977, Harpo travelled to Los Angeles, U.S. with his wife and producer Bengt Palmers. The result was the album The Hollywood Tapes which spawned the hit single "Television". Also, in 1977, Harpo made the news when he refused to take part in the Swedish Military Service. As a result, he went to prison for one month.
In 1978, Harpo revisited the songs he was originally going to work on with Andersson and Ulvaeus in 1972. The result was the children's album Jan Banan och hans flygande matta. He followed this with an album of his favourite rock and roll songs. Both these projects were in the Swedish language.
In 1980, Harpo was ready to get back into mainstream pop music. He signed to Mickie Most's label, RAK and released one single, "She Loves It Too". In fact, Harpo had the chance to be on RAK as far back as 1973. He met with Most in London, but decided not to move to London at that time.
Harpo had an accident in August 1980. As well as being a musician, he is also a horse trainer and one of his horses, Starter, suddenly lashed out and kicked Harpo in the face several times. The injuries were so severe that Harpo lost his sense of smell and the sight in one eye. To show there were no hard feelings, Harpo dedicated his next album to his horse, Starter.
Harpo continued to record throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s. During 1985, he produced several Swedish groups including Shanghai, Suzzies Orkester and +1. In 1987, he set up his own record company, Igloo Records.
After his 1992 album, things were quiet on the recording front. He released a single, "Sounds Like Love", in Germany only in 1994. In 1997, Harpo contributed two new songs to a greatest hits compilation album, Harpo Hits!
Harpo released his latest album of new material, Jan Harpo Svensson 05 in April 2005. He had an extensive tour of Germany in 2007.
2) Harpo US AOR band, was formed in 1974 by founding members Bill Kerstetter and John “Lloyd” Kistner.
Members: Bill Kerstetter, Brian Perry, Chris Silvagni, George Zerbe, Jack Pyers, Jeff Johnson, John Hahn, John Lloyd Kistner, Rich Smith, Shmoulik Avigal.
In The Zumzumzummernight
Harpo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the zum-zum-zummernight
In the zum-zum-zummernight
Ev`rything`s alright.
I`m gonna play on my romantic guitar, as we lie under the twinkling stars; let`s have a rendezvous, just me and you; In the zum-zum-zummernight
In the zum-zum-zummernight
In the zum-zum-zummernight
Ev`rything`s alright.
In the zum-zum-zummernight
In the zum-zum-zummernight
Ev`rything`s alright.
The lyrics to Harpo's song "In the Zumzumzummernight" tell the story of two young lovers who break free from the confines of their parents' watchful eyes and spend a romantic evening under the stars. The song begins by acknowledging the concerns of the girl's parents, who worry about where she is going and what she is up to. However, the chorus reassures everyone that "everything's alright" as the couple escapes into the "zum-zum-zummernight," a term that seems to suggest the buzzing excitement of summertime.
The second verse emphasizes the romantic nature of the evening as the singer plays his guitar and the couple lies under the twinkling stars. They share a rendezvous that is just for the two of them, emphasizing the importance of privacy and intimacy in their relationship. The moon acts as a silent witness to their love affair as they forget about the winter and the cold and embrace the warmth of summer and the comfort of each other's company.
The final verse compares the couple to the Beatles in "Strawberry Fields," implying that their love is just as deep and enduring as the iconic band's music. They harvest their "thoughts of love" and vow to be together forever, confident that the stars will continue to shine on them in the "zum-zum-zummernight."
Overall, Harpo's "In the Zumzumzummernight" expresses the joy and freedom of young love, celebrating the power of two people to create their own magical world even in the face of outside obstacles and concerns.
Line by Line Meaning
As your mama and papa may sayhey girl, won`t you stay at home today; we don`t know what you are doin`, we don`t know where you are goin`, but they should know that you are growin`; In the zum-zum-zummernight
Your parents may recommend you stay home today, but they don't know what you are up to or where you are going. However, they should realize that you are maturing even in the midst of this exciting summer evening.
In the zum-zum-zummernight
This fantastic summer evening, as represented by the repeated phrase 'Zum-Zum-Zummernight'.
In the zum-zum-zummernight
This wonderful summer evening, as represented by the repeated phrase 'Zum-Zum-Zummernight'.
In the zum-zum-zummernight
This amazing summer evening, as represented by the repeated phrase 'Zum-Zum-Zummernight'.
Ev`rything`s alright.
Despite any concerns, everything is great and perfect in the scene.
I`m gonna play on my romantic guitar, as we lie under the twinkling stars; let`s have a rendezvous, just me and you; In the zum-zum-zummernight
As we lay under the dazzling starlit sky, I'll strum on my romantic guitar while we have a private meeting between just the two of us and enjoy this great summer evening.
In the zum-zum-zummernight
This brilliant summer evening, as represented by the repeated phrase 'Zum-Zum-Zummernight'.
In the zum-zum-zummernight
This excellent summer evening, as represented by the repeated phrase 'Zum-Zum-Zummernight'.
In the zum-zum-zummernight
In this joyful summer evening, as represented by the recurring phrase 'Zum-Zum-Zummernight'.
Ev`rything`s alright.
Despite any concerns, everything is great and perfect in the scene.
The only one watchin` us is the moon in the sky; come on girl, you just got to try, forget about the winter, forget about the cold; when summer is here and there is someone to hold;
With only the moon overhead as our voyeur, you need to forget the winter and the cold and take a chance on this summer evening and the companionship it brings.
Like the Beatles in 'Strawberry Fields', we`re gonna harvest our thoughts of loveforever and everthe stars and we`ll be together; In the zum-zum-zummernight
Just like the Beatles in 'Strawberry Fields,' we'll cultivate everlasting affection forever and always, beneath the stars as we continue to revel in this magical summer evening.
In the zum-zum-zummernight
In this memorable summer evening, as represented by the recurring phrase 'Zum-Zum-Zummernight'.
In the zum-zum-zummernight
In this incredible summer evening, as represented by the recurring phrase 'Zum-Zum-Zummernight'.
In the zum-zum-zummernight
In this incredible summer evening, as represented by the recurring phrase 'Zum-Zum-Zummernight'.
Ev`rything`s alright.
Despite any concerns, everything is great and perfect in the scene.
Contributed by Micah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Robin Nash
Tolle Musik !! Zeitlos !! So etwa kommt nie wieder !!! Wir hatten eine tolle Jugendzeit !!!
doparminos
Was ein cooler alter Song! 👍👍👍 !!! Genial!!! What a cool old Song! Thank you for sharing!!! 👍
Peter S.
Das Lied war der Hit auf jeder Dorfkirmes der späten 70 Jahre beim Raupenfahren😁
Hallson
Carola "I en sommarnatt" brought me here
claus stimpfig
das war wunderbar