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.
Television
Harpo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kojak's lollipop
I see the rain is falling in South America
And two men draw in a Texan town
And one prizefighter knocks the other one down
Good news bad news
Good news bad news
The weatherman smiles
While a hungry child is kissing a king
And The Osmonds sing on
Someone's bending a spoon
Someone's walking on the moon
Someone's robbing a bank
Someone's blowing a bomb on
Television Television Television
Television Television Television
Television Television Television
Through the silent universe all over the world
Pictures in the sky
Words are flying by
The waves change our time
Sail into our minds
Still there's so many things
That we'll never see on
Television
Television
Television
. . .
Good news bad news
. . .
She's had too much whiskey
You can see the traces in her middle-aged face
And though she's only forty-two
She thinks she's got nothing else to do
Than to let her evenings pass away
While her husband falls asleep
In front of the late
Late late movies
She's watching the late late late
late midnight movies
Watching the late late late movies
The late late late midnight movies on
Television
The song "Television" by Harpo addresses the overwhelming nature of television and the constant flow of information that it presents. The lyrics describe a world in which one can see the Lucy Ball Show, Kojak's lollipop, and the rain falling in South America, all from the comfort of their home. The song speaks to how we are saturated with information to the point where it is difficult to distinguish between good news and bad news, and sometimes there doesn't appear to be any news at all. The contrast between the weatherman smiling and a hungry child kissing a king highlights the extreme disparity in the world as presented through the lens of television.
Harpo also touches on themes of manipulation and control through his references to The Osmonds singing, someone bending a spoon, someone walking on the moon, and someone robbing a bank. These all speak to how the media can be used to sway public opinion or create awe and wonder in the minds of viewers. The song ends with the lines "Still there's so many things that we'll never see on Television," which could be interpreted as a warning against relying too heavily on what is presented on the screen and perhaps encouraging people to question and seek out information for themselves.
Overall, "Television" is a critique of the all-encompassing nature of television and encourages listeners to be more discerning of what they see and hear through the media.
Line by Line Meaning
I see Lucy Ball Show
I am watching The Lucy Ball Show.
Kojak's lollipop
I see Kojak with his signature lollipop.
I see the rain is falling in South America
I can see footage of rain falling in South America.
And two men draw in a Texan town
I am watching a scene where two men are about to have a showdown in a Texas town.
And one prizefighter knocks the other one down
I am watching a boxing match where one fighter has just knocked out the other.
Good news bad news
There is a mix of good and bad news being reported.
Good news bad news
There is still a mix of good and bad news being reported.
No news at all
There is currently no news being reported.
The weatherman smiles
The weatherman on TV is smiling as he delivers his report.
While a hungry child is kissing a king
At the same time, there is footage of a hungry child kissing a king.
And The Osmonds sing on
The Osmonds are currently performing on TV.
Someone's bending a spoon
Somebody on TV is performing a trick where they are bending a spoon with their mind.
Someone's walking on the moon
There is footage of someone walking on the moon being broadcast.
Someone's robbing a bank
There is footage of a bank robbery being broadcast.
Someone's blowing a bomb on
There is currently footage of a bomb exploding on TV.
Television Television Television
This line serves as a chorus, emphasizing the TV as the focus of the song.
Through the silent universe all over the world
The TV is bringing images and information from all over the world, transmitted silently through space.
Pictures in the sky
The images being broadcast are essentially traveling through the sky and space to reach viewers.
Words are flying by
The words and language being spoken are also traveling through the airwaves to reach viewers.
The waves change our time
The TV broadcasts are affecting our perception of time.
Sail into our minds
The TV broadcasts are making a powerful impression on our minds and thoughts.
Still there's so many things
Despite all the things the TV is showing us, there are many things that we will never get to see.
That we'll never see on
There are many things that we will never see on TV, no matter how much it broadcasts.
Television
This line is emphasizing the focus of the song once again.
Television
Another emphasis on the TV being the focus of the song.
Television
Final emphasis on the TV being the focus of the song.
She's had too much whiskey
The song shifts to describing a woman who has had too much to drink.
You can see the traces in her middle-aged face
Her excessive drinking has taken a toll on her face.
And though she's only forty-two
Despite only being 42, her appearance suggests she is much older.
She thinks she's got nothing else to do
The woman with the drinking problem has nothing else to do with her time.
Than to let her evenings pass away
Her only form of entertainment is watching TV to pass the time.
While her husband falls asleep
Her husband is falling asleep, uninterested in watching TV with her.
In front of the late
Her husband is falling asleep in front of a late night movie being broadcast.
Late late movies
The TV programming at this late hour only consists of movies.
She's watching the late late late
Once her husband falls asleep, the woman continues to watch TV.
late midnight movies
The only type of programming being broadcast late at night is movies.
Watching the late late late movies
The woman with the drinking problem is watching movies late at night.
The late late late midnight movies on
The late night movies on TV are the only form of entertainment the woman has left.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID SYLVIAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AlBheadRikku
In german, i could understand in the place of "television" - "Teller wischen" what means to wash up dishes ^^ Great song x3
@Matsanovic
first time i heard this song, and i love it already :)
@MrDaydreamer1584
This song reminds me of summer vacation (from school.) It captures the feeling, somehow.
@georgegroos9770
I like the song
@WrestlingManiac100
great song!!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks for the upload glummer66.... i wish he could come over to the uk and do a tour i would love it :)
@ThatsClassicalMusic
VERY GOOD SONG
@ramblingrob4693
Quite good but not as good as te other classic tracks by him
@Vinterfrid
In fact one of his best songs.
@musicadafavola
Grande Harpo!! 👍
@nysse1
Ingen som har hela lpn??