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.
Isn't This A Lovely Day
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
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The thunder and lightning
Seem to be having their way,
But as far as I'm concerned,
It's a lovely day.
The turn in the weather
Will keep us together
So I can honestly say
It's a lovely day and everythings ok.
Isn't this a lovely day to be caught in the rain?
You were going on your way,
Now you've got to remain.
Just as you were going,
Leaving me all at sea,
The clouds broke, they broke,
And oh what a break for me.
I can see the sun up high,
Though we're caught in a storm.
I can see where you and I could be cozy and warm.
Let the rain pitter patter,
But it really doesn't matter
If the skies are grey.
Long as I can be with you,
It's a lovely day.
The lyrics to Oscar Peterson's song "Isn't This A Lovely Day" are about finding joy in the midst of a storm. The weather is described as frightening with thunder and lightning, but the singer chooses to focus on the positive and sees it as a lovely day. The turn in the weather will keep the singer and their companion together, which allows them to enjoy the moment even more. The rain pitter-patters, but it doesn't matter because as long as they are with their loved one, it's a lovely day.
The song is about finding happiness in the present moment, even if things aren't going as planned. Instead of letting the storm ruin their day, the singer chooses to focus on the opportunity to spend time with their companion in a cozy and warm environment. The lyrics suggest that perspective and attitude can have a significant impact on one's experience of any given situation.
Overall, "Isn't This A Lovely Day" is a beautiful and uplifting song that radiates positivity and gratitude. It encourages listeners to find joy in even the most challenging situations, reminding us that happiness is a choice.
Line by Line Meaning
The weather is frightening,
The current weather is quite alarming and fear-inducing,
The thunder and lightning
The cacophonous sounds and dazzling flashes of lightning in the sky,
Seem to be having their way,
It appears that the weather elements have taken control and they're governing the state of our surroundings,
But as far as I'm concerned,
Although this may be true for some folks, in my view,
It's a lovely day.
This is still a gorgeous day.
The turn in the weather
The significant shift in the weather pattern
Will keep us together
Has the potential to unite us,
So I can honestly say
And, as a result, I can confidently assert that
That as far as I'm concerned,
In my own opinion,
It's a lovely day and everythings ok.
The day is still beautiful and everything is perfect.
Isn't this a lovely day to be caught in the rain?
Despite the rain, isn't this still a lovely day?
You were going on your way,
You were on your journey,
Now you've got to remain.
But now, you must stay here.
Just as you were going,
Just when you were heading out,
Leaving me all at sea,
Leaving me without hesitation,
The clouds broke, they broke,
Then, the sky clears,
And oh what a break for me.
What an opportune moment for me.
I can see the sun up high,
The sun is visible up above.
Though we're caught in a storm.
While we're still trapped in this storm.
I can see where you and I could be cozy and warm.
I can visualize how you and I can find comfort and warmth.
Let the rain pitter patter,
Let the rain fall on us with a soft, undistinguished sound,
But it really doesn't matter
But it won't have any significant impact on us
If the skies are grey.
Even if the skies are cloudy and overcast.
Long as I can be with you,
As long as I can stay by your side,
It's a lovely day.
It remains a beautiful day.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind