The Four Seasons - December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night) | The Story Behind The Song | Top 2000 a gogo
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- čas přidán 17. 04. 2019
- The Fours Seasons members Bob Gaudio, Gerry Polci and songwriter Judy Parker tell the story behind 'December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)'. A short documentary by Top 2000 a gogo from 2013 (Dutch Public Television).
- Hudba
IMO , Gerry's vocals absolutely made this song so good. Amazing voice.
Judy Parker We thank you sweetheart for giving us this great song. And you are as Beautiful as ever xx.
OMG, this is a Dutch treat for me. Gerry was in my graduating class at Passaic High School in NJ and the subtitles are in Dutch! I speak and read Dutch because my parents were Dutch. What a great interview and back story to the Four Season's biggest hit without Frankie doing the lead vocals. Gerry nailed this and remains my favorite Four Seasons song.
You were everything he dreamed you'd be
Solid drummer with a great voice, I'm sorry that he didn't sing more songs.
Good LORD. I can barely walk and chew gum and that guy is singing like THAT whilst playing the drums? Sheesh, I am seriously impressed. Awesome song, though memories of singing it in the car as a kid have a whole new light... 😳
Always had such a crush on Gerry Polci. It didn’t matter that I was 11 years old when they recorded the song, lol.
I just found out now when I watched this, a woman wrote the lyrics about a guy having his first experience making love. It figures, the words are so innocent and beautiful painting a picture of a man's happy memory of having his first experience making love to a woman. And her husband, Bob Guadio wrote the music. Best pop song of all time in my opinion.
Gerry Polci seems like a class act , very humble . As do the rest of the people in this video . Great story great song .
These guys were clearly in it for the music, not ego or fame.
Thanks Judy for the catchy lyrics! One of my favorite song of all time!
Agreed
It's hard to believe Gerry is now 70
Gerry and I from the great Passaic High School class of 1970!
Gerry Polci my childhood crush:)
Jerry perfected that song !!! I've listened to that song since I was 16 and Love It.....And Jerry is still good-lookin since the day he recorded it !!!! And I'm 55 now :) !!!!! Good luck to you guys!
The drummers voice just meshed to well with that song.....
Actually I never cared that much for Frankie Valli but I fell in love with the drummer's voice
The drummer was absolutely fated to sing this lyric..no one else could have quite delivered what his tone did.
Gerry seems like such a great guy! He has a sort of inner calm and kind aura about him. And he absolutely nailed the song! Stunning performance!
But the part that always gives me goosebumps is where the late great Don Ciccone sings "I felt a rush like a rolling ball of thunder..."
I always liked this song given I was born in December, 1963.
Unsung masterpiece. Gerry Polci, you are quite an underrated talent. Just adore this happy song, and think I was born in the wrong era. :0)
I was born in '66, but I lived the situation in this song many times in my youth. It's perfect.
Gerry's not "an accomplished singer"?? Seriously? He's amazing!
Yeah, that was a weird comment. I assume he meant that Gerry wasn't 'well known' at the time (which he wasn't). But man, he sure had the voice!
He just meant he hadn’t officially released or done anything note-able yet. Didn’t mean he wasn’t a “good” singer
Wasn't at the time he said
"Late December, back in '63", my parents got married. They're in their mid to late 70's now -- 6 kids, 18 grandkids, and 6 great-grandkids -- AND STILL GOING STRONG. ❤✊
Boy. didn't they have a holiday?
Mormons, huh?
Nope. Not Catholic, either. Just regular people.
lmao I was born in May 1963...had several friends in the next class...born in August 1964....9 months after "late December, back in '63". Had some fun when the song came out...when we were in Catholic grammar school in the Bronx.
Thats amazing 💙💙
Great song so many memories
This song hit the charts just as I hit puberty in 1975 when I was 10yrs old.
OMG!! I have always loved LOVED this song and had no idea whatsoever that Frankie Valli did not sing lead vocals in Summer of 63 😳
*One of those songs that never gets old. So catchy & upbeat & still to this day makes you roll the window down & crank up the volume every single time you hear it.* 🎵🎹💃🔊🥁🎤🎵
Yep!
Part of what makes that song so epic are the various voices in different parts, it keeps it from getting stale. Gerry's lead vocals were the best call ever made! He should have done more singing in his career, his voice was a hidden diamond, not to mention Mr. Cicconi (can't remember his first name). It was just a perfect blend of all their different tones and styles. Judy's lyrics were perfection! I had just hit puberty when this song came out and it never felt like anything but innocence to me. It's just one of those serendipitous things that was always meant to be. 100% hit song!
As a child of the 70’s it’s one of those songs that just bring back good feelings like pictures bring back memories.
Late December back in '63 was when I was born.
I have LOVED this song & the melody since first hearing it as a little girl....I was born in 64 & I thought this came out when I was in grade school! We would hear it played on the radio on the bus rides home from school! (I always listened to lyrics...if I couldn’t hear them & If I could not hear the lyrics...then I never listened again to that type of music, when I had a choice!) I got very good vibes from this music & I have always been very, very sensitive to music! But I always seemed to know the meaning was beyond my experience, but I just loved it & I still do! So glad it was part of my experience growing up! ♥️ I agree...there was an innocence about it & I GOT that as a girl! I was innocent & the song really resonated with me as a child!
(On Feb 1st 2020, I just found out my biological father was a Lead Musician & Lead Guitarist from another band & found out sometimes he stil plays in the DC/Maryland area! Wish I had some of his talent, but nope! Just music appreciation! 🤷🏻♀️)
I love this song, absolutely in the top 5 of all time. I remember when it would come on the radio as a kid and I would jump up and down. It has stood the test of time!
The intro with the drums n piano are amazing n when the bass comes in n complements the voice it’s gold. 100% gold
3 singers to this song and their sound was perfect. This song is still so catchy today and the first time younger generation kids hear it, they start moving to the beat too. Song will always be good no matter what year it is!!
I was 11 years old when this song hit the radio stations and I've been listening to it on and off ever since for 45 years... I had no idea it was about THAT!
I never realized that this song was about a young mans experience with a woman. I just loved the song very much.
Brilliant rhythm/song and lyrics... thanks to Judy, the vision all males have,
This song is a coming-of-age story. It doesn't have to be sex. It could just as easily be a first kiss. it gives me the same vibe as Smashing Pumpkins - 1979.
was definately coming of age for me, not in a specifically sexy sense so much as "growing into music"
Thank you Judy, GerryBob, and the Four Seasons! One of the greatest songs ever! And, an unforgettable piano lick! Bravo!
A beautiful beautiful classic. I listen 🎧 to it again and again !!!!!Loving it from Kenya 🇰🇪!!!EastAfrica 🎸
As a drummer, I approve.
He was the only one with enough energy to get through that night. Boy what a night,
Like another song says--"I Second That Emotion"....
Gerry looks great , I absolutely love this song.
Rest in Peace, Ms. Parker.
Such a great song and the whole group just nailed it. One of my favorites.
Gerry has an amazing voive.
You mean voice check ya spelling
You got Frankie Valli and you choose the drummer to sing lead? He nailed it!
NO!!!!!!!! What happened was that in 1974 Bob Gaudio had a NEW four seasons that was separate from Frankie Valli!!!! Valli had his own record contract then. The four seasons were going on their OWN!!!!!! Gerry Polci and Don Ciccone were to be the voice of the four seasons!!!!!!!! THAT"S WHY GERRY is on LEAD VOCALS!!!!!! Go buy the four seasons HELICON L.P. You will SEE what i am talking about!!!!!!!!
@@eugeneschulte4950 Frankie sang backup on the record.
@@broncodeviltexas He was a FOUR SEASON on the record.
@@broncodeviltexas Frankie Valli was in effect a "GUEST" on the four seasons records from 1975-1977. Look up FRANKIE VALLI on PRIVATE STOCK RECORDS, 1974-1978.
@@eugeneschulte4950 Frankie was part of the group. He sang lead on Who Loves You on the same album. The drummer sang more because of Valli's hearing loss.
The Bass line is truly classic
He sang it for 30 years and never cared about what the lyrics actually entailed lol. This guy is a legend hahaha.
like others have said, " i kinda thought it ended much too soon" has a whole new meaning!
😂😂😂😂
Gerry just has this spark and charisma besides his obvious world class drumming and wonderful voice!
A true classic. Stands the test of time. Didn't know the drummer sang the lead on it.
Jimmy Lewis It’s the only song I know, other than things like Do They Know It’s Christmas or We Are The World, to have as many as three solo vocal sections (verses sung by Gerry Polci, “I got a funny feeling when she walked in the room” by Frankie Valli and “I felt a rush like a rolling ball of thunder” by Don Ciccone).
Probably the only time Frankie let the others sing. The 3 different voices meld really well.
@@bossdog1480 BOB GAUDIO'S FOUR SEASONS are singing!!!!!!!!
@@bossdog1480 This was NOT the only song that all 3 sang on. Buy the HELICON L.P. You will hear them on other songs too. Put a little away, and The new york street song. Used the same vocal format.
@@eugeneschulte4950 Thanks for the update.
Loved this song. I was a teenager with my first taste of freedom with my first Girlfriend when this came out. In the front bench set of my Ford Falcon we listened and sang this and other songs. We still do it today 40 plus years later. I’m a blessed man.✊
So you are saying that you married your first and only girlfriend? How cool.
Thorny Turtle Ranch Yes I married my GF from 10th grade and she’s kept me 😁 Like I said I’m blessed, when people ask I say I hit the Lottery over 40 years ago. The best Lottery. Hope you did the same or close to it.
Ford falcon I had a 1961 white Ford falcon with blue interior great car great car
Bonnie Newpane I’m not a car guy. I like a good running car with ac and a radio. I had enough 2k cars when we was raising our kids. But I’ve always turned my head and admired the Falcons I’ve seen over the years. Not many out there. You have a great day. 👋👋👋
One of my most favorite songs. I still hyped every single time I hear it - thank you!
I bought this and later played it at a party at my house on my last day of school ,the school was short of kids that day and police were called! 1976 , fantastic memories, fantastic tune!
My first record...a 45. Guess I had good taste as a child. :)
One of the most eventful times of my life. Late December 1963. A great month for me! And therefore this is one of my favorite songs.
Blew my mind to learn the lyrics were written by a woman given the male perspective of the song....kudos Judy!
Greatest song ever written, thank you Judy Parker!
So wonderful again, ty. I didn't know the lady was involved, keep going! This was a very important song for me as a teenager, ty again
It was great to see Frankie take a back seat on a song. It showed even he would submit to the logic of a great song.
First saw this song on TV at my aunt's house in about '76 or '77. I was about 11 or 12 and I was transfixed. Loved it then and have ever since. Gerry's vocal is SO solid and right for the song. It's an iconic 70s vocal implanted in our psychis. I'd call it a disco hit....... if 1974's Rock Your Baby was the 1st disco song 🤔😂
Billboard 100 hit for a full year
The song “December - 1963 (Oh What a Night!)” was written by Bob Gaudio and Judy Parker, with lyrics inspired by a real-life event that Gaudio experienced. In an interview with UDiscoverMusic, he revealed that he was out with a girl one night in December 1963, but they didn’t sleep together, resulting in him being “as clear-minded as he had ever been”. He said, “I kind of had this foresight and a vision of what the song could be…so it was pretty special.”
Using this experience as a starting point, Gaudio and Parker wrote the lyrics to the song, which tell the story of a man reflecting on a magical night he spent with a woman in December.
The Lyrics Of The Song
The song begins with the iconic opening lines, “Oh what a night, late December back in ’63 / What a very special time for me / As I remember, what a night.” The lyrics go on to describe the narrator’s experience of meeting a girl and feeling an instant connection with her. As the night unfolds, he can’t help but feel that something special is happening between them.
The chorus of the song features the memorable line, “Oh what a night, hypnotizin’, mesmerizing me / She was everything I dreamed she’d be / Sweet surrender, what a night.” These lyrics perfectly capture the magic of falling in love and the overwhelming feeling of being consumed by someone else.
The Legacy of the Song
“December - 1963 (Oh What a Night!)” went on to become one of the most popular songs of all time, inspiring countless covers and remixes. Its infectious beat and romantic lyrics have been enjoyed by generations of fans, making it a true classic in the history of pop music.
But what many fans might not know is that the song’s impact goes far beyond just its musical legacy. Its success helped revitalize the career of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons and paved the way for other acts in the world of rock & roll.
As a result, “December - 1963 (Oh What a Night!)” will always hold a special place in the hearts of music lovers around the world.
Another great song with a great back story....
Oh what a song, and one that still sounds just as good today as when it first came out. Just amazing and I love it!
a perfect pop song. all the melodies are good -- from bridge to chorus to backing parts.
I would of never of guessed that the singer of this song Gerry Polci, has such a thick, New Jersey, (New York-ish) speaking voice/accent.
(& that magically disappears when he sings)
One of my favorites, why don't we have great music like this now!
Breaking some sexual barriers back then.
HELL, I want my 70s back!!
What a fantastic song! 3 great singers singing it as well!
This song is a ultimate classic by Frankie valli and the four seasons December 63 a very cool song
I remember this song-reminds me of first grade 1976. Oh what a year!
I was watching an old Batman TV show on DVD trying to figure out who was the hot redhead assisting the Penguin & came up with Judy Parker. I googled her & it turns out she was the same person who wrote lyrics for the Four Seasons & married Bob Gaudio, whom I'd interviewed in '87! I also found out she'd already died a few years ago. What a shame. Thank you, Judy! What a talent! She also wrote another single Spend The Night In Love & Silver Star for the band.
We liked it, we sang it, it was fun...
PS, and Gerry you sang well . And it’s great 👍
A simply perfect song....the marriage of a catchy hook, infectious groove, and sumptuous harmonies, to go with lyrics that are so resonating and call upon individual nostalgia, instantly.
I put this up there with the Beegees," Too Much Heaven," as a perfect song, top to bottom.
Bonus points for having the vision to cast the drummer in the lead singing role.
Fantastic band. Fantastic song. Such a great era in the history of music. 👍👍🇦🇺
Great song...by the drummer no less. Wow.
Oh my, what an incredible song! Takes me back to when I was just a boy and I loved it from the very first time I heard it!
This may have goofy lyrics but it really worked and became a classic.
"Flappers flipping on the floor"? Now I really want to know what the original lyrics were.
Always loved that tune.....such great leads.
I was in ninth grade when this song came out. I knew as soon as I heard it, it was going to number one.
Oh what a Song.
Epic.
It's one of those songs that can brighten up a day -
always loved it, still do, always will!
You got Frankie Valli and you choose the drummer to sing lead? He nailed it!
A true classic. Stands the test of time. Didn't know the drummer sang the lead on it.
As a drummer, I approve.
I agree the drummer knocked it out of the park.
In Frankrijk, waar ik woon, wordt dit nummer in de Franse versie van Claude Francois nog veel gedraaid op 'feesten en partijen'. Wij kunnen het dan niet nalaten om keihard de echte, Engelse, versie mee te zingen!
Oh what a song.
I love them both frankie and the drummer they complement each other man truly I loved that song back in the 70s in Adelaide south Australia I was 11 years old back then when that came out in the summer time it was a no1 hit in Australia for weeks
I am more than glad they did this song!
Classic ❤❤❤❤❤
that was a eureka moment, "Oh What A Night", a great song!
Brilliant song!
never paid much attention to this band but yeah, that song, it's a great one
I genuinely like Gerry's voice way more than Frankie's
I don’t know if it’s better, but I don’t think Frankie would have pulled it off. Gerry was perfect.
Same here, as he has a better voice-period!!!
@@dajdools8834 No he doesn’t. Frankie’s voice is distinctive and has one of the best singing voices in pop/rock history. There are a bunch of people who sing like Gerry. Gerry had the innocence in his voice (that Frankie’s lacked) that was needed for a song like this though so that’s why it worked so well.
No way 😂 Frankie is unmatchable
Me to great tone and range ❤❤❤❤
Great song
Great story... great song... great lyrics. 👍
One of the best rock and roll great Melody great Groove wonderful song very underrated song
Jose Arriola is it underrated tho
A song of true genius in every way. Wonderful singing. I loved it when I was a kid in Baltimore, and I still love it.
Still a great song. RIP Judy Parker Gaudio.
I love when a member of a band other than the lead singer lands a huge hit. Nancy Wilson / These Dreams, Benjamin Orr / Drive, Randy Meissner / Take it to the Limit, Kelly Keegan / Sister Christian. How many others are there?
To be fair, Ben Orr sang a lot of the cars hits “just what I needed” “‘moving in stereo” “let’s go” “bye bye love” etc. what about David Palmer singing “dirty work” by Steely Dan?
oh my God how my seven-year-old self absolutely loved this song when it came out, I could never get enough of it I still feel that way
I mean. I listen to classical music to rock to hard rock to hip hop to gangster rap (90s), and this is still one of the most addicting songs ever. I always make sure the DJ puts it on at every wedding ive been at. lol. Gets everyone going.
Love these series of videos - really educating me on the genius of songwriters as well as the haphazard ways a classic comes together.
Great song! Beautiful!