He soon gained fame due to the power and strength of his voice. The young tenor earned valuable experience and significant recognition while touring on the invitation of soprano Joan Sutherland, making his 1965 U.S. debut in Miami, Florida on her recommendation. His position was solidified in the years between 1966 and 1972, during which Pavarotti first appeared at Milan's seminal La Scala, at other major European houses, and, in 1968, at NYC's Metropolitan Opera. He received great acclaim, particularly working well with Joan Sutherland.
By the mid-70s, the tenor became known worldwide, famed for the brilliance and beauty of his tone, especially into the upper register. His "high C" became one of his trademarks. The late 70s and 80s saw Pavarotti making significant appearances in the world's opera houses and establishing himself as one of the great singers of the era.
Popular stardom came at the 1990 World Cup in Italy with the performances of "Nessun Dorma" (from Turandot) and as one of The Three Tenors in their famed first concert held on the eve of the final match of the tournament (repeated at later Cups). Pavarotti sang together with fellow star tenors Plácido Domingo and José Carreras and brought to the much wider audience hits previously confined to the opera world. Appearances in advertisements and with pop icons in concerts around the world furthered his influence. Pavarotti always maintained his identity as an opera star, unlike many crossover artists.
The later years brought a decline in ability to perform on stage due to a weight gain and lack of mobility. Pavarotti's final appearance in an opera was at the Met in March 2004. The 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy saw him performing for the last time. Pavarotti sang Nessun Dorma, with the crowd as its Chorus, and got a thunderous standing ovation. On September 6, 2007, he died at home in Modena from pancreatic cancer.
My Way
Luciano Pavarotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll make it clear
I'll state my case, of which I am certain
I've lived a life that's full
I've traveled each and every highway
And more, much more
Regrets, I had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
I saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more
Much, much more
I did it, I did it my way
Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it my way
For what is a man, what has he got
If not himself, then he has naught
Not to say the things that he truly feels
And not the words of someone who kneels
And the record shows
I took all the blows
And did it my way
The lyrics to Luciano Pavarotti's song My Way are a reflection on the end of life and the choices that have been made along the way. The singer acknowledges that the end is near and faces the 'final curtain' with a sense of clarity and decisiveness. The song encourages the listener to embrace individuality and live life on their own terms, with 'regrets...too few to mention'.
The singer reflects on their life, stating that they have lived a life that is full and have 'traveled each and every highway'. They have made their own choices and followed their own path, planning each step along the way with care and deliberation. Despite setbacks and doubts, the singer stood tall and faced everything that came their way, 'spitting it out' and overcoming it all.
Overall, the song is a celebration of self-determination and individuality, and encourages the listener to live life without fear or regret. It acknowledges that life is full of challenges and difficulties, but ultimately, it is up to each person to forge their own path and make their own way in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
And now, the end is near
The end of my life is approaching
And so I face the final curtain
I am ready to die
My friend, I'll make it clear
I am addressing someone I am close to
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I will explain myself and I am confident about it
I've lived a life that's full
I have enjoyed a fulfilling life
I've traveled each and every highway
I have explored all opportunities presented to me
And more, much more
I have gone beyond what others expected from me
I did, I did, it my way
I made my own decisions and lived life on my own terms
Regrets, I had a few
There are some things I wish I had done differently
But then again, too few to mention
However, there are not many things I regret
I did what I had to do
I took the necessary actions to achieve my goals
I saw it through without exemption
I persisted until the very end without taking any shortcuts
I planned each charted course
I prepared and strategized for every step
Each careful step along the byway
I was mindful of every move I made towards my goals
And more, much, much more
I invested more effort and dedication than is often required
Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
There were instances when I faced great challenges
When I bit off more than I could chew
When I took on more than I could handle
But through it all, when there was doubt
Despite the challenges, I remained confident in my abilities
I ate it up and spit it out
I confronted the challenges head-on and overcame them
I faced it all and I stood tall
I was determined and resilient throughout the hardships
And did it my way
I overcame the hardships on my own terms
For what is a man, what has he got
What is the value of a man's life
If not himself, then he has naught
Unless he is true to himself, his life is worthless
And to say the things that he truly feels
It is important to express one's genuine thoughts and feelings
And not the words of someone who kneels
Instead of conforming to someone else's expectations
And the record shows
My actions and accomplishments speak for themselves
I took all the blows
I dealt with all the hardships and setbacks
And did it my way
And I never compromised on my terms and values
Lyrics © Music Hub, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE, JEUNE MUSIQUE EDITIONS
Written by: Claude Francois, Gilles Thibaut, Jacques Revaux, Paul Anka
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lisanef04
To have Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly in the audience, that must have been one heck of a treat. You could tell Frank was touched and Gene was touched as well. What a special moment for those in the crowd.
@SCHEPPEL
Once in a lifetime 🌿
@marce2409
So touching seeing Frank Sinatra' s expression of joy and pride. I love this performance. Four geniuses
@renerpho
This was at a time when Sinatra's health was declining rapidly, and he was basically unable to perform live due to dementia-like symptoms. It is very touching indeed to see him honored in this way.
@renerpho
I also love the expression on Domingo's face in the beginning. You can tell he is looking at Sinatra, and smiling. The three are visibly proud to sing this song for him.
@29sb29
Oui mais au départ c est une adaptation d une chanson française 🇨🇵🇨🇵🇨🇵🇨🇵mais c est très beau quand même
@victorgonzalez1761
Sinatra is an italian boy from New Jersey at last
@fernandamuth8920
Eu vivi pra ver isso ❤
@L3GIT349
Sinatra with tears in his eyes is exactly the emotion I feel when I watch this video.
@melhall273
So sad that Pavarotti is not with us anymore, Yes they all will be remembered for there outstanding talent.