Last learned how to play piano as child, switching to bass as a teenager. He joined Hans-Gunther Oesterreich's Radio Bremen Dance Orchestra in 1946, when he was 17 years old. In 1948, he became the leader of the Becker-Last Ensemble, which performed for seven years. During that time, he was voted as the best bassist in the country by a German jazz poll for three consecutive years, from 1950-1952. After the disbandment of the Becker-Last Ensemble, he became the in-house arranger for Polydor Records, as well as for a number of European radio stations. For the next decade, he helped arrange hits for artists like Helmut Zacharias and Caterina Valente.
Last released his first album "Non-Stop Dancing" in 1965. The record of brief renditions of popular songs, all tied together by an insistent dance beat and joyous crowd noises. It was a hit and helped make him a major European star. Over the next four decades, Last has released over 190 records, including several more volumes of Non-Stop Dancing. On these records, he varies his formula by adding different songs from different countries and genres, as well as guest performers like Richard Clayderman and Astrud Gilberto.
Though his concerts and albums are consistently successful — especially in England, where he had 52 hit albums between 1967-1986, which made him second to Elvis Presley in terms of number of charting records — he has only had two hit singles with "The Seduction," the theme from American Gigolo (1980) and Biscaya from the album "Biscaya".
He has won numerous polls and prizes, for example Billboard magazine's "Star of the year" trophy in 1976, and has been honored for his lifework with the German ECHO prize in 1994.
The song "The Lonely Shepherd", written by Last and performed by Gheorghe Zamfir and the James Last Orchestra, was featured in the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino's film "Kill Bill Vol. 1" (2003).
Personally, he divides his time between Florida and Germany. He gives much credit to his wife and son, who helps with the music.
My Cherie Amour
James Last Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My cherie amour, lovely as a summer day
My cherie amour, distant as the milky way
My cherie amour, pretty little one that I adore
You're the only girl my heart beats for
How I wish that you were mine
In a cafe or sometimes on a crowded street
I've been near you, but you never noticed me
That behind that little smile I wore
How I wish that you were mine
La la la la la la, la la la la la la
La la la la la la, la la la la la la
Maybe someday, you'll see my face amoung the crowd
Maybe someday, I'll share your little distant cloud
Oh, cherie amour, pretty little one that I adore
You're the only girl my heart beats for
How I wish that you were mine
La la la la la la, la la la la la la
La la la la la la, la la la la la la
The lyrics to James Last's song "My Cherie Amour" speak of unrequited love and longing for someone who seems unaware of the singer's affection. The repeated "la la las" at the beginning set a dreamy and nostalgic tone, emphasizing the internal thoughts and feelings of the singer.
The singer describes their love interest as "lovely as a summer day" and compares their beauty to the distant milky way. This imagery suggests that the individual they desire is both breathtakingly beautiful and seemingly unattainable. Despite this distance, the lyrics show that the singer has deep affection and adoration for this person, referring to them as a "pretty little one."
The lyrics express the singer's frustration with their unrequited love, as they mention being near the person in a café or on a crowded street but in vain. The use of the word "never" suggests a pattern of being overlooked or unnoticed. The singer wonders how their love interest could ignore the feelings behind their "little smile." This phrase implies that the singer has tried to hide their affection through subtlety or possibly even a facade. They long for the person to recognize their love and reciprocate it.
The lyrics continue with the singer expressing their desire for the love interest to belong to them. The repetition of "How I wish that you were mine" emphasizes their yearning and yearning for a shared connection. The "la la las" that follow suggest a wistful plea and underline the emotional intensity of the song.
The song ends on a somewhat hopeful note. The singer imagines a future day when their love interest will finally notice them and potentially share their "distant cloud." This phrase implies a shared experience or dreamscape where the vocalist and their love interest are romantically connected. The final refrain repeats the sentiment that the person the singer desires is the only one their heart beats for.
Overall, the lyrics to "My Cherie Amour" convey feelings of intense longing, hidden affection, and an unfulfilled desire for reciprocation. The words paint a picture of unrequited love, with the singer hoping for a future when their affections will be noticed, and they can finally be together.
Line by Line Meaning
La la la la la la, la la la la la la
This song is filled with an overwhelming feeling of love and longing.
My cherie amour, lovely as a summer day
You, my beloved, are as beautiful and delightful as a warm and sunny day in summer.
My cherie amour, distant as the milky way
But you, my beloved, seem so distant and far away, like the vast expanse of the Milky Way galaxy.
My cherie amour, pretty little one that I adore
You, my beloved, are a beautiful and precious person whom I adore deeply.
You're the only girl my heart beats for
Out of everyone in the world, you are the only person who truly makes my heart race with love and affection.
How I wish that you were mine
I yearn and long for the day when we can be together as a couple.
In a cafe or sometimes on a crowded street
I envision scenarios where we accidentally cross paths in a café or amidst the hustle and bustle of a crowded street.
I've been near you, but you never noticed me
Although I have been in close proximity to you, it seems that you have never taken notice of my presence.
My cherie amour, won't you tell me how could you ignore
My beloved, please explain to me why you choose to disregard my existence and not acknowledge my love for you.
That behind that little smile I wore
Behind the facade of the small smile I put on, there lies a deep and genuine affection for you.
Maybe someday, you'll see my face amoung the crowd
Perhaps, in the future, you will finally spot my face among the multitude of people surrounding us.
Maybe someday, I'll share your little distant cloud
There might come a day when I can be a part of your private and distant world.
Oh, cherie amour, pretty little one that I adore
Oh, my beloved, you are a precious and beautiful person whom I hold in high regard and cherish deeply.
You're the only girl my heart beats for
Out of everyone in the world, it is only you who can make my heart race with love and passion.
How I wish that you were mine
I fervently desire for you to be mine, to be the one I can call my own.
La la la la la la, la la la la la la
The repetitive use of 'la la la' expresses the overwhelming emotions and yearning present in the song.
La la la la la la, la la la la la la
The refrain 'la la la' continues to convey the intense emotions and longing felt throughout the song.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Henry Cosby, Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind