He began singing as a child, first starting in the St Elijah Syrian Orthodox Church choir in Ottawa. As a student at Ottawa's Fisher Park High School he was part of a trio called the Bobby Soxers.
Encouraged by his parents, at age 14 he recorded his first single, I Confess. In 1957 he went to New York City where he auditioned for ABC, singing a lovestruck verse he had written to a former babysitter, Diana Ayoub. The song, Diana, brought Anka instant stardom as it rocketed to number one on the charts. Diana is one of the best selling 45s in music history. He followed up with four songs that made it into the Top 20 in 1958, making him one of the biggest teen idols of the time. He toured Britain and then, with Buddy Holly, toured Australia.
His talent went beyond singing, writing Buddy Holly's giant hit, It Doesn't Matter Anymore, the theme for Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, Tom Jones' biggest hit record, She's A Lady, and the English lyrics for My Way, Frank Sinatra's signature song and sung by many well known artists, including Greta Keller, for whom the words were very fitting.
In the 1960s, Anka would begin acting in motion pictures as well as writing songs for them, most notably the theme for the hit movie The Longest Day. From his movie work, he wrote and recorded his monster hit, Lonely Boy. He then went on to become one of the first pop singers to perform at the Las Vegas casinos.
After more than ten years without a hit record, in 1974 he teamed up with Odia Coates to record the number 1 hit, Having My Baby. They would record two more duets that both made it into the Top 10. In 1975, he wrote a jingle for Kodak called The Times of Your Life. The jingle became so popular, he recorded it as a full song, The Times of Your Life, and it became a hit a year later.
By the 1970s, Anka's career centered around adult contemporary and big-band standards, played regularly in Las Vegas. On September 6, 1990, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States. He returned to his home town to buy a part of the Ottawa Senators hockey team.
In 1999 he visited Lebanon for sell-out performances at the Forum de Beyrouth (The Beirut Forum).
Paul Anka was elected to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1980. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6840 Hollywood Blvd. In 1991, the Government of France honored him with the title "Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters". He was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada in 2005.
On the WB show Gilmore Girls, Lorelai named her new dog Paul Anka. He also made a guest appearance as himself in the episode "The Real Paul Anka", which aired April 11, 2006.
Paul Anka recently did a live session on Live @ The Orange Lounge playing songs from his new cover-CD Rock Swings.
Notable rap artist Jay-Z featured his vocals on the track I Did it my Way on The Blueprint 2: The Gift & the Curse in 2002.
He became infamous amongst musicians (and more recently to internet users) for a mid-70's after-show tirade which was secretly recorded by a "snake we later fired" (Anka: Fresh Air interview). The diatribe, in which Anka berates his crew and band members, has spawned a number of in-joke references and quotations, the main ones being: "The guys get shirts", "Where's Joe?", and "Slice like a hammer."
Adam & Eve
Paul Anka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
Yeah, there was a story I'm sure you will know.
I'm sure you remember, I know you believe,
The story of Adam and Eve.
In the garden of Eden where live began,
Yes the very beginning of woman and man.
I'm sure you remember and I know you believe,
They were in the garden while they both fell in love,
Sheltered by the guiding hand of the one above.
Life was filled with happiness until one day around,
A very great temptation, you know how it goes.
In the garden of Eden, a long time ago,
There was a story I'm sure you will know.
I'm sure you remember, I'm sure you believe,
The story of Adam and Eve.
In the garden of Eden, a long time ago, such a story
is being retold - the well-known biblical tale of Adam and Eve. Paul Anka reminisces on the beginning of man and woman, in the lush paradise that was the garden of Eden. He emphasizes the significance of this story, asserting that it is one that is remembered and believed by all.
The lyrics describe the idyllic life of the first humans, as they bask in the love and protection of their Creator. However, this perfect world is shattered by a moment of weakness, when Eve succumbs to temptation and convinces Adam to join her in eating the forbidden fruit. The once blissful couple become acutely conscious of their nakedness and cover up in shame.
In summarizing the story of Adam and Eve, the lyrics acknowledge the reality of temptation and the fallibility of humankind. However, it also reassures listeners that despite this fall from glory, humanity can still find redemption through faith and obedience.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: PAUL ANKA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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In the garden of Eden, a long time ago,
Yeah, there was a story I'm sure you will know.
I'm sure you remember, I know you believe,
The story of Adam and Eve.
In the garden of Eden where live began,
Yes the very beginning of woman and man.
I'm sure you remember and I know you believe,
The story of Adam and Eve.
They were in the garden while they both fell in love,
Sheltered by the guiding hand of the one above.
Life was filled with happiness until one day around,
A very great temptation, you know how it goes.
In the garden of Eden, a long time ago,
There was a story I'm sure you will know.
I'm sure you remember, I'm sure you believe,
The story of Adam and Eve.
.
Ewa Toms
🕊️🥀Cudny głos i melodie , które wpływają do serca , tworząc piękno słów i marzenia.🥀🕊️ Życzę cudnej nocy oplecionej wianuszkiem z gwiazd i marzeń.✨✨✨🕊️☀️☀️☀️🕊️
Itzia Gondola
Paul Anka. Excelente. Su Influencia musical ha sido un maravilloso legado a tantas generaciones. Muchos Agradecimientos al Gran Paul Anka.
Ewa Toms
🕊️🥀Niepowtarzalne piękno słów i melodi 🥀🕊️ Które swym pięknem tworzy radość i marzenia.Życze spełnienia najskrytszych marzeń.🌿🕊️🌿💌
puma andino
Tenia 6 años cuando la escuchaba, hoy tengo 66. El tiempo es inexorable, bella canción.
Celeste Rojas
Yo tengo 19 pero la escucho gracias a mi abuelito y gracias a Dios estoy reproduciendola para que la disfrute mientras paso tiempo con él 😊 y es rolón esta música !
Altair Lavín
@Celeste Rojas love u
Nefarious.27
@Celeste Rojas yo la escucho gracias a mi abuela que la escuchaba a sus 13 años ella nació en agosto 1945 y éste temón salió en 1959
Nicolás Bernal
Aunque no es de mi época, ésta bella canción como otras, son lo más bello, que yo aun siendo de la epoca de los 80, para mí esto de los 60 es formidable.
Artur Luiz Cunha
Esta música traz ótimas lembranças de um lindo tempo!
Artur Luiz Cunha
Esta música é linda. Ela me revigora. Depois de tanto tempo voltei a ouví-la.