The Four Freshmen began as a American vocal group popular from the 1950s th… Read Full Bio ↴The Four Freshmen began as a American vocal group popular from the 1950s through to the early 1960s. Founded by brothers Ross and Don Barbour in 1948 as freshmen at Butler University, the other two original members included their cousin Bob Flanigan and Hal Kratzsch. Well-known for their multi-part harmonies, they are notable as early purveyors of vocalese and as the forerunners of vocal-harmony based rock music, particularly that of The Beach Boys. In their current configuration, The Four Freshmen continue to perform.

The group took off after being signed to Capitol Records in 1952 at the insistence of high profile fan, Stan Kenton. They remained popular throughout the 50s and early 60s, releasing a wide array of successful albums, movie and television appearances and performing countless sold-out concerts. The band eventually lost mainstream attention with the emergence of the British pop bands of the 1960s, even though they managed to stay together even after the retirement of final original member Bob Flanigan in 1992.

As of 2001, the Freshmen have been composed of Bob Ferreira, Brian Eichenberger, Curtis Calderon, and Vince Johnson. Although the new lineup of the Four Freshmen have continued the legendary vocal tradition of the original band and perform many of the same standards, the current sound has more of a lounge sound rather than focusing primarily upon harmonies. This modernized sound has proven quite successful, as the group won Down Beat magazine's reader's poll award for Vocal Group of the Year in 2000, proving the quartet's prominence in the jazz world today.

Frenesí
The Four Freshmen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Some time ago
I wandered down into old Mexico
While I was there
I felt romance everywhere
Moon was shining bright
And I could hear laughing voices in the night
Everyone was gay
This was the start of their holiday

It was fiesta down in Mexico
And so I stopped a while to see the show
I knew that frenesi meant "Please love me"
And I could say frenesi

A lovely senorita caught my eye
I stood enchanted as she wandered by
And never knowing that it come from me
I gently sighed frenesi

She stopped and raised her eyes to mine
Her lips just pleaded to be kissed
Her eyes were soft as candle-shine
So how was I to resist?

And now without a heart to call my own
A greater happiness I've never known

Because her kisses are for me alone
Who wouldn't say frenesi?

Overall Meaning

The Four Freshmen's song Frenesi captures the essence of a romantic experience in Mexico. The singer recalls a time when he traveled to Mexico and felt the aura of romance in the air. The bright moonlight and the laughter of people created a magical atmosphere that signaled the start of a holiday or festival. The word "frenesi" caught the singer's attention, which he later found out meant "please love me." It seems to have a profound impact on him, and he finds himself softly sighing the word, hoping the lovely senorita would hear it. As fate would have it, the senorita noticed him and stopped, catching his eye. He was enchanted seeing her wandering around, unaware of his feelings. He couldn't resist her soft, pleading eyes and irresistible lips. He knew he found a greater happiness he never experienced before as he surrendered to her kisses. He feels he has no heart to call his own, but the only person who has it is the lovely senorita; who wouldn't say "frenesi" over and over again?

The song Frenesi, though a love song, highlights the spirit of Mexican festivals and their vibrant culture. It's a lighthearted journey narrated by the singer, making us feel like we are also in Mexico, experiencing romance and wandering around in the night. The music and melody of the song create a perfect mood for the lyrics, creating a warm atmosphere that transports the listener to another time and place.

Line by Line Meaning

Some time ago
At some point in the past

I wandered down into old Mexico
I traveled to Mexico

While I was there
During my time there

I felt romance everywhere
I sensed love all around me

Moon was shining bright
The moon was glowing

And I could hear laughing voices in the night
I could hear people laughing at night

Everyone was gay
Everyone was happy

This was the start of their holiday
The beginning of their vacation

It was fiesta down in Mexico
It was a celebration in Mexico

And so I stopped a while to see the show
So I paused to observe the festivities

I knew that frenesi meant "Please love me"
I understood that frenesi meant a request for affection