Born in Montreal, Canada, Peterson began learning trumpet and piano from his father at the age of five, but by the age of seven, after a bout of tuberculosis, he concentrated on the piano. Some of the artists who influenced Peterson during the early years were Teddy Wilson, Nat "King" Cole, James P. Johnson, and the legendary Art Tatum, to whom many have tried to compare Peterson in later years. In fact, one of his first exposures to the musical talents of Art Tatum came early in his teen years when his father played an Art Tatum record to him and Peterson was so intimidated by what he heard that he didn't touch the piano for over a week.
He soon developed a reputation as a technically brilliant and melodically inventive jazz pianist, and became a regular on Canadian radio. His United States introduction was at Carnegie Hall, New York City in 1949 by Norman Granz; owing to union restrictions his appearance could not be billed.
Some of his musical associates have included Lester Young, Ray Brown, Ben Webster, Herb Ellis, Ed Thigpen, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Louis Armstrong, Stéphane Grappelli, Ella Fitzgerald, Clark Terry, Joe Pass, Count Basie, and Stan Getz. An important step in his career was joining impresario Norman Granz's labels (especially Verve records) and Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic package, with which he was able to play with the major jazz artists of the time. Granz was also his manager for most of Peterson's career. Some cognoscenti assert that Peterson's best recordings were made for the MPS label in the late 'sixties and early 'seventies. For some years subsequently he recorded for Granz's Pablo Records after the label was founded in 1973 and in more recent years for the Telarc label.
In 1993, Peterson suffered a serious stroke that weakened his left side and sidelined him for two years. However he overcame this setback and went back to touring, recording, and composing on a limited basis. In 1997 he received a Grammy for Lifetime Achievement and an International Jazz Hall of Fame Award. He died on December 24th, 2007 of kidney failure.
Almost Like Being In Love
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What a rare mood I'm in!
Why, it's almost like being in love
There's a smile on my face
For the whole human race
Why it's almost like being in love
Like a bell that is ringing for me
And from the way that I feel
When the bell starts to peal
I would swear I was falling
I could swear I was falling
It's almost like being in love
The lyrics in Oscar Peterson and Lester Young's song Almost Like Being in Love describe a rare mood of happiness and joy that they are experiencing, almost akin to being in love. The singer expresses how all the music of life seems to be like a bell that is ringing just for them, and the way they feel when that bell starts to peal makes them feel like they are falling. The lyrics are about the beauty of being in a moment of complete happiness and how it almost feels like being in love.
The song invokes the feeling of happiness and excitement, with the music's lively swing rhythm accentuating the upbeat and optimistic tone of the lyrics. The song’s melody follows the AABA structure, with the A section being a joyful and infectious swing tune that repeats throughout the song. The B section serves as a contrast to the A sections, becoming slower and more lyrical. The song makes great use of Peterson's piano and Young's saxophone, showing their musical talents in their solos and how they play off each other.
Line by Line Meaning
What a day this has been!
It has been an amazing day!
What a rare mood I'm in!
I'm in an unusual and happy mood!
Why, it's almost like being in love
Such happiness is comparable to being in love!
There's a smile on my face
I'm smiling and happy!
For the whole human race
I have love and kindness for all!
Why it's almost like being in love
Feeling this good is almost as wonderful as being in love!
All the music of life seems to be
Everything in life seems to be harmonious!
Like a bell that is ringing for me
It feels like the universe is celebrating my happiness!
And from the way that I feel
Based on how I feel inside,
When the bell starts to peal
When the celebration of my joy begins,
I would swear I was falling
I feel like I'm falling, but not in a bad way
I could swear I was falling
I'm so happy, it feels like I'm falling even more!
It's almost like being in love
Such incredible joy is comparable to being in love!
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLE PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@acelipes
Best song ever
@mmarian1959
Fabulous!!
@lastknowngood0
Super Star Pres!
@MattiusCN
Good thing there ain't any dislikes, unless someone puts "0 people are very silly" I think we're safe.
@keithfarrar
Just by chance, late at night, I was thinking of Mildred Bailey's version backed by Ellis Larkin This is a great version, what the word "swing" means. i can dream on this one.
@MikrosMpelasFTW
I guess this music is heard by more sophisticated gentlemen and ladies.
@taprobanerush
like!
@felp175
el saxofón me guía durante las amanecidas ,,,,,,, uhmmm nice
@MrKittenhead
Can I say without fear of being hunted down and burned at the stake that I prefer the Sonny Rollins/MJQ take on this great Lerner and Loewe standard?
@nosmelc1001
we don't burn people at the stake anymore, but you may be waterboarded