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.
That Old Feeling
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
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Last night my heart was so gay
Last night I found myself dancing
In my favorite cabaret
You were completely forgotten
Just an affair of the past
Then suddenly something happened to me
And I found my heart beating, oh, so fast
I saw you last night and got that old feeling
When you came in sight I got that old feeling
The moment that you danced by I felt a thrill
And when you caught my eye my heart stood still
Once again I seemed to feel that old yearning
And I knew the spark of love was still burning
There'll be no new romance for me, it's foolish to start
For that old feeling, is still in my heart
I saw you last night and got that old feeling
When you came in sight I got that old feeling
The moment that you danced by I felt a thrill
And when you caught my eye my heart stood still
Once again I seemed to feel that old yearning
And I knew the spark of love was still burning
There'll be no new romance for me, it's foolish to start
For that old feeling, is still in my heart
The lyrics of Oscar Peterson's "That Old Feeling" tell the story of someone who went out to have a good time and forgot about past love affairs until they suddenly see their past love interest. The singer feels a rush of emotion and attraction upon seeing them, and realizes that feelings from their past relationship are still present. The lyrics describe that feeling of nostalgia, longing and desire that sometimes arises after a relationship has ended - "that old feeling" that can still reside in one's heart, even after trying to move on.
The song speaks of the universal experience of running into someone from a past love affair and the emotions that resurface. It captures the bittersweet feeling of wanting to hold onto those feelings, yet knowing that it's foolish to start a new romance. The lyrics are relatable and anyone who has gone through a breakup, and then later meets their ex-lover, can recognize and identify with the emotions expressed in the song.
Oscar Peterson's version of the song is classic jazz, with his signature swing, rich harmonies, and improvisation. The song captures the essence of the jazz era in which it was written, and the emotion expressed in the lyrics connects with anyone who has ever been in love. "That Old Feeling" is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences today, and it is a testament to the enduring nature of love and heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night I started out happy
I began my evening feeling content and joyous
Last night my heart was so gay
My heart felt light and carefree
Last night I found myself dancing
I began to move rhythmically to the music
In my favorite cabaret
At the place where I most enjoy going out
You were completely forgotten
I had completely put you and our past affair out of my mind
Just an affair of the past
Our relationship was merely something that happened in the past
Then suddenly something happened to me
All at once, I experienced a shift in my emotions
And I found my heart beating, oh, so fast
I felt my heart racing with renewed passion
I saw you last night and got that old feeling
When I laid eyes on you, I was hit with a sense of familiarity
When you came in sight I got that old feeling
Just seeing you brought back a flood of memories and emotions
The moment that you danced by I felt a thrill
Watching you move to the music gave me a surge of excitement
And when you caught my eye my heart stood still
As soon as our eyes met, time seemed to stop as I was captivated by your presence
Once again I seemed to feel that old yearning
My heart was filled with the same longing for you that I had once experienced
And I knew the spark of love was still burning
I realized that the love I once had for you was still alive and well
There'll be no new romance for me, it's foolish to start
I know that pursuing a new relationship would be a mistake, as my heart still belongs to you
For that old feeling, is still in my heart
The same strong emotions I once had for you are still present in my heart today
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PD TRADITIONAL, SANFORD SCHMIDT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind