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.
My Funny Valentine
The Four Freshmen Lyrics
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His virtue doth parade
Thou knowest not, my dim-witted friend
The picture thou hast made
Thy vacant brow, and thy tousled hair
Conceal thy good intent
Thou noble upright truthful sincere
And slightly dopey gent, you are...
My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable, un-photographable
Yet, you're my favorite work of art
Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?
But, don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine, stay
Each day is Valentine's Day
Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?
But, don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine, stay
Each day is Valentine's Day
The Four Freshmen's "My Funny Valentine" is a classic love song that depicts a lover's affection for their partner and acceptance of their flaws. The song starts by describing the lover's partner as a "funny valentine," an unusual Valentine's Day gift, and compares the partner to a bird showing off his virtues to the world. The lover then goes on to point out the partner's lack of intellect but also mentions that it is concealed by his tousled hair and vacant brow.
In the chorus, the lover reaffirms their love for the partner, despite his perceived imperfections. The partner's physical appearance is described as "laughable" and "un-photographable," but still a "favorite work of art." The second verse raises questions about the partner's physical appearance and intellect, but the lover quickly tells him not to change anything for her, asserting that she loves him just the way he is.
The overall message of the song is that true love accepts and cherishes a person as they are, with all their perceived flaws and quirks. The song's melody is melancholic but romantic, emphasizing the bittersweet nature of flawed love.
Line by Line Meaning
Behold the way our fine feathered friend
Look at how confidently our feathered friend walks and displays his virtues.
His virtue doth parade
He doesn't hide his virtues but rather displays them openly.
Thou knowest not, my dim-witted friend
You don't realize, my unsuspecting friend.
The picture thou hast made
The impression you give with your appearance.
Thy vacant brow, and thy tousled hair
Your empty expression and messy hair.
Conceal thy good intent
Hide your good intentions.
Thou noble upright truthful sincere
You're an honest, sincere, and straightforward person.
And slightly dopey gent, you are...
Although you may seem a bit silly or dopey, it doesn't change who you are at heart.
My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine
You're the silly and sweet valentine that makes me smile.
You make me smile with my heart
You bring joy and happiness to my heart.
Your looks are laughable, un-photographable
Your appearance may seem funny or unattractive, but it's unique and can't be captured in a photo.
Yet, you're my favorite work of art
Despite your unconventional appearance, you're still the one I love the most.
Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your body not perfect like that of a Greek statue?
Is your mouth a little weak?
Do you struggle to articulate yourself?
When you open it to speak
When you start to talk.
Are you smart?
Are you intelligent?
But, don't change a hair for me
Don't alter anything about yourself for me.
Not if you care for me
If you really love and care about me, you won't change who you are.
Stay little valentine, stay
Stay the same, my beloved valentine.
Each day is Valentine's Day
Every day with you feels like Valentine's Day because I love you so much.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind