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.
I Concentrate On You
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
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And trouble begins to brew,
Whenever the Winter winds become too strong,
I concentrate on you.
When fortune cries "Nay! Nay!" to me
And people declare "You're through!",
Whenever the blues become my only song,
On your smile so sweet, so tender,
When at first your kiss I decline.
On the light in your eyes when I surrender,
And once again our arms intertwine
And so, when wise men say to me
That love's young dream never comes true,
To prove that even wise men can be wrong,
I concentrate on you.
These lyrics tell the story of someone who, when faced with difficult times, focuses on their lover to bring them comfort and hope. The singer describes how they concentrate on their lover during moments of hardship, such as when the skies look gray, trouble is brewing, and winter winds are strong. They turn to their lover to help them face their struggles.
The second verse describes how the singer finds solace in their lover's smile and tender demeanor, even when initially rejecting their kiss. They focus on the light in their lover's eyes when they finally surrender, and their arms intertwine again. Finally, the last verse speaks to the singer's belief that love is worth pursuing, even in the face of wise men who say it never comes true. They look to their lover as a source of hope and determination in the face of adversity.
Overall, these lyrics demonstrate the power of love to give someone strength and hope even in difficult times. By concentrating on their lover in moments of struggle, the singer finds the courage to face what lies ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
Whenever skies look gray to me
Whenever I am feeling down or discouraged
And trouble begins to brew,
And problems or difficulties arise
Whenever the Winter winds become too strong,
When the coldness or harshness of life overwhelms me
I concentrate on you.
I focus on you and our love as a way to bring me comfort and strength.
When fortune cries "Nay! Nay!" to me
When luck is not on my side
And people declare "You're through!",
And others say that I am done or finished
Whenever the blues become my only song,
When I am consumed by sadness and heartache
I concentrate on you.
I focus on you and our love as a way to find solace and peace.
On your smile so sweet, so tender,
I think of your gentle and caring smile
When at first your kiss I decline.
Even when I resist your affection at first
On the light in your eyes when I surrender,
I see the joy and love in your eyes when I finally give in
And once again our arms intertwine
And we embrace each other once more
And so, when wise men say to me
When even those who are considered wise advise me
That love's young dream never comes true,
That the idealized version of love is not realistic or achievable
To prove that even wise men can be wrong,
I choose to believe otherwise and show that even the wise can be mistaken
I concentrate on you.
I focus on you and our love as a way to prove them wrong and find happiness.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind