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.
With A Girl Like You
Harpo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
And do all the things that you want me to
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Till that time has come
That we might live as one
Can I dance with you
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
I tell by the way you dress that you're so refined
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
And by the way you talk that you're just my kind
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Girl why should it be
That you don't notice me
Can I dance with you
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Baby baby is there no chance
I can take you for the last dance
All night long yeah I've been waiting
Now there'll be no hesitating
So before this dance has reached the end
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
To you across the floor my love I'll send
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
I just hope and pray that I'll find a way to say
Can I dance with you
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
The song "With A Girl Like You" by Harpo is a romantic and upbeat tune that expresses the desire to spend a lifetime with a girl that the singer admires. Throughout the song, the singer asks to dance with the girl and offers to do everything she wants him to do. He sees her as refined and well-spoken and wonders why she hasn't noticed him yet. The chorus repeats with the desire to dance with the girl, hoping to find a way to express his feelings.
The lyrics, although simple, emphasize the desire for companionship and love. The song's melody, coupled with its catchy "ba ba ba" chorus, makes it a joyous and love-filled tune. The upbeat melody is in contrast to the humble and sweet lyrics, which suggest that the singer is deeply in love and wants to know the girl better.
Overall, Harpo's "With A Girl Like You" is a beautiful and romantic song that expresses a strong desire for companionship and love. Through the song's melody and lyrics, Harpo reminds us of the magic that love can bring and how it can bring people together.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to spend my life with a girl like you
I want to have a lifelong commitment with someone as perfect and wonderful as you
And do all the things that you want me to
I want to fulfill all your wishes and desires
Till that time has come
Until the moment when we can finally be together forever
That we might live as one
So we can unify and live with each other harmoniously
Can I dance with you
May I have the honor of dancing with you?
I tell by the way you dress that you're so refined
I can see from the way you dress up that you are an elegant and classy lady
And by the way you talk that you're just my kind
I can tell by the way you talk that you are someone I admire and would like to be with
Girl why should it be
Why is it that you don't seem to notice me?
That you don't notice me
That you are not paying attention to me, even though I am into you?
Baby baby is there no chance
Is there any possibility that, my dear, you would be interested in me?
I can take you for the last dance
Can I have the honor of taking you for the final dance?
All night long yeah I've been waiting
I spent the entire night waiting for this moment, hoping for you to notice me
Now there'll be no hesitating
There won't be any more delay or reluctance, I'm finally making my move
So before this dance has reached the end
Before the dance finishes, I have to let you know how I feel
To you across the floor my love I'll send
I'm sending my message of love to you, from across the dance floor
I just hope and pray that I'll find a way to say
I am hoping and praying that I can find the right words to express my feelings
Contributed by Logan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ting Ting Zhang
on Jessica
like it very much....