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.
The Name Of The Game
James Last Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Only a week since we started
It seems to me, for every time
I'm getting more open-hearted
I was an impossible case
No-one ever could reach me
But I think I can see in your face
So I wanna know
What's the name of the game?
Does it mean anything to you?
What's the name of the game?
Can you feel it the way I do?
Tell me please, 'cause I have to know
I'm a bashful child, beginning to grow
And you make me talk
And you make me feel
And you make me show
What I'm trying to conceal
If I trust in you, would you let me down?
Would you laugh at me, if I said I care for you?
Could you feel the same way too?
I wanna know
The name of the game
I have no friends, no-one to see
And I am never invited
Now I am here, talking to you
No wonder I get excited
Your smile, and the sound of your voice
And the way you see through me
Got a feeling, you give me no choice
But it means a lot to me
So I wanna know
What's the name of the game? (Your smile and the sound of your voice)
Does it mean anything to you? (Got a feeling you give me no choice)
(But it means a lot)
What's the name of the game? (Your smile and the sound of your voice)
Can you feel it the way I do?
Tell me please, 'cause I have to know
I'm a bashful child, beginning to grow
And you make me talk
And you make me feel
And you make me show
What I'm trying to conceal
If I trust in you, would you let me down?
Would you laugh at me, if I said I care for you?
Could you feel the same way too?
I wanna know
Oh yes I wanna know
The name of the game (I was an impossible case)
Does it mean anything to you? (But I think I can see in your face)
(That it means a lot)
What's the name of the game? (Your smile and the sound of your voice)
Can you feel it the way I do? (Got a feeling you give me no choice)
(But it means a lot)
What's the name of the game? (I was an impossible case)
Does it mean anything to you? (But I think I can see in your face)
(That it means a lot)
The lyrics to James Last's "The Name Of The Game" suggest the story of a person who has remained a loner all their life and has never easily opened up to anyone. The singer seems to have met someone special and feels comfortable enough to share their feelings with that special someone. The singer acknowledges their own shortcomings and admits that they are growing and evolving with this new person's help. The lyrics are asking this new person about the nature of their connection, and what it means to them, and if they feel the same way. There is an underlying fear that the other person might not reciprocate these feelings, and the singer wonders if they will be rejected or laughed at.
The simplicity of the lyrics effectively conveys the sense of vulnerability and anticipation experienced by someone who has never allowed themselves to get close to another person. The song is a testament to the fact that deep and meaningful connections can be established without any complicated words or actions, and that truly opening up to someone can be a liberating and life-changing experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I've seen you twice, in a short time
It has only been a week since we met each other and had two interactions
It seems to me, for every time
For each interaction, I feel more open and vulnerable
I'm getting more open-hearted
I am becoming more open and vulnerable with you as we have more interactions
I was an impossible case
I used to be someone who nobody could connect with
No-one ever could reach me
No one was ever able to understand or connect with me
But I think I can see in your face
However, I can see in your face that you are different
There's a lot you can teach me
I believe there is a lot I can learn from you
What's the name of the game?
What do you call this thing we have between us?
Does it mean anything to you?
Is it important to you as well?
Can you feel it the way I do?
Do you feel the same way about me as I do about you?
Tell me please, 'cause I have to know
I'm curious and want to know the truth
I'm a bashful child, beginning to grow
I'm inexperienced in this realm, but I'm willing to learn
And you make me talk
I feel comfortable enough with you to talk openly
And you make me feel
You make me feel a way I've never felt before
And you make me show
You make me reveal things about myself that I usually keep hidden
If I trust in you, would you let me down?
If I share my vulnerabilities with you, will you let me down?
Would you laugh at me, if I said I care for you?
If I expressed my care for you, would you ridicule me?
Could you feel the same way too?
Do you share the same feelings for me?
Oh yes I wanna know
I am eager to find out
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Benny Goran Bror Andersson, Bjoern K Ulvaeus, Stig Erik Leopold Anderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind