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.
Moviestar
Harpo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you're driving in your car
And you think you look like James Bond
When you're smoking your cigar
It's so bizarre
You think you are a new kind of James Dean
But the only thing I've ever seen of you
Was a commercial spot on the screen
Oh Moviestar, oh Moviestar
You think you are a movie
Moviestar, oh Moviestar
You think you are a movie
Star
Star
The frozen hero
Your words are zero
And your dreams have vanished into the dark
Long ago that you don't wanna know
It's so bizarre
You think you are the new kind of James Dean
But the only thing I've ever seen of you
Was a commercial spot on the screen
Oh Moviestar, oh Moviestar
You think you are a movie
Moviestar, oh Moviestar
You think you are a movie
Star
Star
I think it's time for you my friend
To stop pretending that you are a
Oh Moviestar, oh Moviestar
You think you are a movie
Moviestar, oh Moviestar
You think you are a movie
Star
Star
You feel like Steve McQueen
When you're driving in your car
The lyrics of Harpo's "Moviestar" portray a message about someone who is living in a fantasy world, thinking that they are a famous movie star when in reality, they are not. The song starts with Harpo describing how this person feels like a mix of Steve McQueen and James Bond, while driving in their car and smoking a cigar. They believe they possess the qualities of a new kind of James Dean, but the only exposure others have to them is through a commercial they were featured in.
As the song progresses, Harpo questions the validity of this person's fame and compares their dreams to a frozen hero, something that has vanished and is long forgotten. He believes that this person needs to stop pretending to be a Moviestar and start living in reality. The song ends with the same chorus, emphasizing the same message.
Overall, Harpo highlights the idea of falling into the trap of living in a world of illusions and warns against the dangers of trying to live up to impossible standards.
Line by Line Meaning
You feel like Steve McQueen
You believe you exude the same coolness and machismo as Steve McQueen
When you're driving in your car
Especially when you're driving your car
And you think you look like James Bond
You also believe you resemble Bond, with all his suave and sophistication
When you're smoking your cigar
Plus, when you're smoking a cigar, you're convinced that you're in a movie scene
It's so bizarre
This attitude is shocking and strange
You think you are a new kind of James Dean
You're so convinced of your coolness that you even compare yourself to the legendary James Dean
But the only thing I've ever seen of you
However, the only experience I've had of you
Was a commercial spot on the screen
Is your appearance in a TV advertisement
Oh Moviestar, oh Moviestar
Hey Moviestar, hey Moviestar
You think you are a movie
You believe you're a character from a movie
Star
A true star
The frozen hero
But in reality, you're more like a statue, emotionally unreachable
Your words are zero
And you have nothing interesting or meaningful to say
And your dreams have vanished into the dark
Your aspirations and ambitions have disappeared into the background
Long ago that you don't wanna know
It happened long ago and you don't wish to delve into it anymore
I think it's time for you my friend
I believe it's time for you, my friend
To stop pretending that you are a
To quit pretending you're something you're not
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAN SVENSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrRockabilly70
I miss the 70's so much. What a song and what a time to be alive. Wonderful memories growing up with family and friends. Life held so much promise back then despite all the problems.
I'd go back in an instant if I could but sadly those days will never return.
Thank you for uploading this classic and brining back all those great memories.
@ModellcenterSpur0
Da war die Welt eine ganz Ecke besser und nicht so bekloppt wie heute. Echte gute Musik in den 70ern.
@ludgerbenning3918
Die Welt war schon damals dieselbe und keinesfalls besser. Kriege ohne Ende plus kalter Krieg inkl. Terrorismus. Nur gab es den Internetblödsinn noch nicht, die die heutige Generation in dusselige Affen verwandelt.
@danieltomazi3033
COM CERTEZA ABSOLUTA 🙌🙏
@Thorsten-Tom-Martin
sagen viele,Menschen... muss an den Nachgeburten liegen, die nachgekommen sind und an den Hohlköpfen, die korrupt die Staaten derWelt regieren...^^
@heinzassenmacher9606
Ende 1975 habe ich Moviestar zum ersten mal gehört. Dieser Song hat mich bis heute nicht losgelassen. Was war das eine grandiose Zeit. Vielen, vielen Dank Harpo. Bin heute 67 und immer noch fasziniert von diesem Song.
@adrianhernadescruz2405
actualmente no ahí nada mejor que recordar las cosas hermosas que pasaron i una de ellas es la maravillosa música del pasado esa hermosa música nunca pasará de moda porque recordar es volver a vivir que buenos tiempos eran aquellos nada que ver con la actualidad
@jinsvunsolved
@@adrianhernadescruz2405Wie recht Du doch hast, grüße aus Nordfriesland 🎉
@jurgenheidenreich2596
Schade das Puplikum ging nicht mit als wären die in der Kirche😂
@489Winner
Stinker hatten das Wort mehr nicht 😢