Mancini was born Enrico Nicola Mancini in the Little Italy neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the steel town of West Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. His parents emigrated from the Abruzzo region of Italy. Mancini's father, Quinto, was a steelworker, who made his only child begin flute lessons at the age of eight. When Mancini was 12 years old, he began piano lessons. Quinto and Henry played flute together in the Aliquippa Italian immigrant band, "Sons of Italy". After high school, Mancini attended the renowned Juilliard School of Music in New York. In 1943, after roughly one year at Juilliard, his studies were interrupted when he was drafted into the army. In 1945, he participated in the liberation of a South German concentration camp.
Mancini recorded over 90 albums, in styles ranging from big band to classical to pop. Eight of these albums were certified gold by The Recording Industry Association of America. He had a 20 year contract with RCA Records, resulting in 60 commercial record albums that made him a household name composer of easy listening music.
Mancini's range also extended to orchestral and ethnic scores (Lifeforce, The Great Mouse Detective, Sunflower, "Tom and Jerry: The Movie", Molly Maguires, The Hawaiians), and darker themes ("Experiment In Terror," "The White Dawn," "Wait Until Dark," "The Night Visitor").
Mancini was also a concert performer, conducting over fifty engagements per year, resulting in over 600 symphony performances during his lifetime. Among the symphony orchestras he conducted are the London Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic, the Boston Pops, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He appeared in 1966, 1980 and 1984 in command performances for the British Royal Family. He also toured several times with Johnny Mathis and with Andy Williams, who had sung many of Mancini's songs.[citation needed]
Mancini had experience with acting and voice roles. In 1994 he made a one-off cameo appearance in the first season of the sitcom series Frasier, as a call-in patient to Dr. Frasier Crane's radio show. Mancini voiced the character Al, who speaks with a melancholy drawl and hates the sound of his own voice, in the episode "Guess Who's Coming to Breakfast?" Mancini also had an uncredited performance as a pianist in the 1967 movie Gunn, the movie version of the series Peter Gunn, the score of which was originally composed by Mancini himself.
Mancini was nominated for an unprecedented 72 Grammys, winning 20 Additionally he was nominated for 18 Academy Awards, winning four. He also won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for two Emmys.
Mancini won a total of four Oscars for his music in the course of his career.
Mancini died at the age of 70 in Beverly Hills/Los Angeles, California of pancreatic cancer. He was working at the time on the Broadway stage version of Victor/Victoria. At the time of his death, Mancini was married to singer Virginia "Ginny" O´Connor, with whom he had three children. Ginny Mancini went on to found the Society of Singers a non profit organization which benefits the health and welfare of professional singers worldwide. Additionally the Society awards scholarships to students pursuing an education in the vocal arts and holds the annual Ella Awards.
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers(ASCAP) Foundation "Henry Mancini Music Scholarship" has been awarded annually since 2001.
Touch of Evil
Henry Mancini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Till I can't believe my eyes
Ecstasy controls me
What you give just serves me right
Without warning you're here
Like magic you appear
I taste the fear
I'm so afraid
But I still feed the flame
In the night
Come to me
You know I want your touch of evil
In the night
Please set me free
I can't resist a touch of evil
Aroused with desire
You put me in a trance
A vision of fire
I never had a chance
A dark angel of sin
Preying deep from within
Come take me in
I'm so afraid
But I still feed the flame
In the night
Come to me
You know I want your touch of evil
In the night
Please set me free
I can't resist a touch of evil
Arousing me now with a sense of desire
Possessing my soul till my body's on fire
A dark angel of sin
Preying deep from within
Come take me in
I'm so afraid
But I still feed the flame
You're possessing me
with your touch of evil. These lyrics from Henry Mancini's song Touch of Evil describe the intense, almost addictive attraction between two individuals. The first verse sets the stage for the rest of the song, with lines like "You mesmerize slowly, Till I can't believe my eyes" and "Ecstasy controls me, What you give just serves me right" suggesting that the singer is completely enraptured by the other person.
The lyrics go on to describe the physical and emotional sensations that the singer experiences when around the other person: "Aroused with desire, You put me in a trance, A vision of fire, I never had a chance." They also acknowledge the fear that comes with such an intense attraction, with lines like "I'm so afraid, But I still feed the flame." Ultimately, however, the singer cannot resist the pull of the other person's touch of evil.
Line by Line Meaning
You mesmerize slowly
You captivate and attract me gradually, over time
Till I can't believe my eyes
To a point where I'm astonished and amazed by you
Ecstasy controls me
I'm under the influence of a powerful emotion or feeling that overwhelms me
What you give just serves me right
I feel deserving and justified by the pleasure and satisfaction you bring me
Without warning you're here
You suddenly appear with no prior notification or anticipation
Like magic you appear
As if by some supernatural power or spell, you arrive unexpectedly
I taste the fear
I experience a sensation of dread or apprehension
I'm so afraid
I feel scared and uneasy
But I still feed the flame
Despite my fears and reservations, I can't help but be drawn to you and indulge in our passion
In the night
Under the cover of darkness
Come to me
Approach me and initiate physical contact
You know I want your touch of evil
I desire and crave the sinful and dangerous thrill of being with you
Please set me free
Release me from the grip of your irresistible allure
I can't resist a touch of evil
I'm unable to resist the temptation and lure of your forbidden touch
Aroused with desire
I'm filled with a strong sexual craving or longing
You put me in a trance
You hypnotize and mesmerize me into a state of altered consciousness
A vision of fire
A passionate and intense image or feeling that engulfs me
I never had a chance
I was powerless to resist your charm and seduction
A dark angel of sin
You embody a seductive and dangerous spiritual force that lures me to sin
Preying deep from within
You take advantage of my deep-seated desires and vulnerabilities
Come take me in
Take complete control of me and lead me into temptation
Arousing me now with a sense of desire
You're currently awakening my passionate feelings and cravings
Possessing my soul till my body's on fire
You have complete control of my being, and I'm consumed by my lust for you
You're possessing me
You have taken control of my mind and body
and I'm losing control
I'm unable to resist your power and losing my sense of rationality and judgment
Your power over me is taking its toll
Your control and influence are having a negative impact on me
I know it's wrong but I can't let go
I'm aware that I'm engaging in something immoral, but I'm unable to stop myself
You appear out of nowhere and surprise me
You suddenly manifest yourself with no prior warning or expectation and catch me off guard
Your spellbinding effect leaves me unable to see
Your enchantment and allure have blinded me to the point where I can't think rationally
I'm consumed by the pleasure you bring to me
I'm completely absorbed and overwhelmed by the sensations and satisfaction you provide me
Under your spell, I'm in a state of elation
I'm in a euphoric and ecstatic state under the power of your influence
Lost in a dreamlike state, my mind's in agitation
I'm in a surreal and confusing state of mind, with conflicting thoughts and emotions
As I'm consumed by the fire of my fascination
I'm utterly captivated and immersed in the fiery passion and allure that you represent
You're a figure of darkness, a temptress of lust
You embody an ominous and malevolent force that lures me to satisfy my carnal desires
A sinister force that I know I can't trust
I'm aware that you're a dangerous influence, and I'm conflicted about whether to engage with you or not
But I'm willing to pay the price, no matter the cost
I'm willing to bear the consequences of indulging in our forbidden passion, whatever they may be
The flames of desire, too intense for me to flee
My strong sexual appetite and longing are overwhelming me, making it impossible for me to resist you
I'm trapped, unable to resist your Touch of Evil.
I'm ensnared in your seductive power, and I'm powerless to resist the lure of your sinful touch
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HENRY NICOLA MANCINI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Eric Seal
Henry Mancini's MASTERPIECE!! This was the summit of Henry Mancini's talent. He was second to none in music!!
Still Standing
The greatest of the film noir releases.
Dave Tetzlaff
Thanks for upping this. One of Mancini's best.
Adnan ALMOFARREJ
This mоviе is nоw аvailаblеee tо wаааtcсh hеrе => https://twitter.com/3872aaded2392eff9/status/795843193791098880 Tоuсh Оf Еvil Маin Тhеmе Hеnrу Маnсini 1958
M. M.
Great!! Nice that there’s no rhythm section other than the percussionist— super effective.
dargall1
Mancini was a genius
Ronald Charles Epstein
Orson Wells was wonderfully dissolute in this movie.
thriftdig
Met Jack Costanzo last night who played bongos on this
Savadorason1
-I think both themes sounded good, as both were just what you'd hear if you went through a poor Hispanic slum back in the 50s. It would sound just like these, coming out of dive bars, juke joints, teen hang spots, & rundown Spanish restaurants. Although the theater release was a little more cleaned up, making it slightly more commercial. Both versions are authentic & good.
ReiDegolador
Lindão!