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.
You're The One That I Want
James Last Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause the power you're supplying, it's electrifying
You better shape up, 'cause I need a man, and my heart is set on you
You better shape up, better understand, to my heart I must be true
You're the one that I want, ooh ooh ooh, honey
The one that I want, ooh ooh ooh, honey
The one that I want, ooh ooh ooh
If you're filled with affection, you're too shy to convey
Meditate my direction, feel your way
You better shape up, cause you need a man, who can keep me satisfied
You better shape up, you better prove, that my faith is justified
But I'm sure down deep inside
You're the one that I want, ooh ooh ooh, honey
The one that I want, ooh ooh ooh, honey
The one that I want, ooh ooh ooh
Can't you see, oh yes indeed, oh yes indeed
The opening line of James Last's "You're The One That I Want" is one of the most famous lines in movie musical history. The song was written by John Farrar specifically for the movie Grease, which starred Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. The song is sung by Sandy (Newton-John) in the film as a declaration of her love for Danny (Travolta) and desire for him to change his ways for her. The lyrics describe Sandy's physical and emotional reactions to Danny's presence and the powerful influence he holds over her.
The opening line of the chorus, "You're the one that I want, ooh ooh ooh, honey," is a repeated declaration of Sandy's love for Danny. The following lines, "Can't you see, oh yes indeed, oh yes indeed," emphasize the strength of her feelings and convey her desire for him to reciprocate. The second verse shifts the focus to Danny, with Sandy urging him to improve himself in order to win her heart, while the final repeated chorus emphasizes the power of their connection.
The song's lyrics capture the intense emotions of first love and the desire for a romantic partner who fulfills all of one's hopes and dreams. The use of "electrifying" to describe the power Danny holds over Sandy is a fitting metaphor, as the underlying sexual tension between the characters is palpable throughout the film. Overall, "You're The One That I Want" is a timeless love song that perfectly encapsulates the romantic tension and excitement of being young and in love.
Line by Line Meaning
I got chills, they're multiplying, and I'm losing control
My body is reacting to your touch and I am becoming increasingly drawn to you, even if it means losing a bit of control.
'Cause the power you're supplying, it's electrifying
Your influence over me is strong and intense, almost like an electric shock.
You better shape up, 'cause I need a man, and my heart is set on you
I need a partner who can live up to my expectations, and right now, that person is you.
You better shape up, better understand, to my heart I must be true
You need to get your act together and understand that I need someone who can be true to me, no matter what.
You're the one that I want, ooh ooh ooh, honey
Out of everyone I've met, you are the one that stands out to me the most. You're the one I want.
The one that I want, ooh ooh ooh, honey
As I said before, you're the one I want, and it seems like you feel the same way.
The one that I want, ooh ooh ooh
I know what I want, and it's you. No one else will do.
Can't you see, oh yes indeed, oh yes indeed
I hope you can see that we are meant to be together, as it's clear to me.
If you're filled with affection, you're too shy to convey
If you have feelings for me but are too nervous to share them, I understand.
Meditate my direction, feel your way
If you're not sure what to do or how to express your feelings, just follow your instincts and come towards me.
You better shape up, cause you need a man, who can keep me satisfied
I'm not going to settle for just anyone, so if you want to be with me, you need to step up and prove you're the one who can make me happy.
You better shape up, you better prove, that my faith is justified
I need to know that I'm not just putting my trust in anyone, so you need to prove to me that you're worthy of my love and commitment.
But I'm sure down deep inside
Even though I may have doubts or insecurities, I know I have strong feelings for you that won't go away.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Farrar
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@techtinkerin
Damn straight 😊❤️
@yurigagarin4974
sound of being a kid in the car👍😁