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.
Like Someone In Love
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
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Hearing guitars like someone in love.
Sometimes the things I do astound me,
Mostly whenever you're around me.
Lately I seem to walk as though I had wings,
Bump into things like someone in love.
Each time I look at you,
I'm limp as a glove,
The opening lines of "Like Someone in Love" suggest that the singer has been going through a significant emotional shift: they've found themselves turning to the heavens and losing themselves in songs in a way that suggests being in love. This new sensation has also caused them to be less aware of themselves and more prone to accidents, like bumping into things. All of this newfound wonder and clumsiness is tied to the presence of someone else: whenever they're around, the singer seems to lose their grip on reality, feeling "limp as a glove" and overwhelmed.
The overall impression is that the singer is deeply infatuated with this other person, and that their presence is all-consuming. Even mundane things, like the stars above or music playing on the radio, take on new meaning when they're near. The use of the word "astound" suggests that this is something new for the singer, as if they've never experienced this kind of powerful emotion before. There's a sense of helplessness in the way the singer describes themselves - they're "out gazing" and "limp as a glove," as if they're utterly at the mercy of this other person's influence.
While the lyrics are relatively simple, they create a vivid emotional landscape that's easy to get lost in. The use of the stars and music as metaphors for the singer's emotional state is effective in conveying just how powerful their love for this other person is. Overall, "Like Someone in Love" is a lovely meditation on the quandaries of falling in love for the first time.
Line by Line Meaning
Lately, I catch myself looking up to the night sky and feeling the stir of romance,
I am experiencing feelings of love and longing, often triggered by an external stimulus like the stars or music.
Inspired by the sound of the guitar,
I am enamored with the sound of the music that is playing, particularly the guitar.
I am often surprised by my actions and wondering why I act this way,
I am amazed by how I am acting around my beloved, and questioning why my actions are the way they are.
Especially when I am in your presence,
These feelings are particularly strong when I am around you.
Lately, I walk around with a lightness in my step,
I feel like I am walking on air, and have an extra bounce in my step.
Though I am prone to clumsiness as a result of love impairing my judgment,
I am often prone to accidents in my love-drunk state, causing me to bump into things.
Each time I look at you, my heart melts and I am filled with love,
My heart warms up every time I lay eyes on you, and I am overwhelmed with love.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind