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."
Bitch
Paul Anka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Raising cane, I spit in your eye
Times are changing, now the poor get fat
But the fever's gonna catch you when the bitch gets back
Eat meat on Friday that's alright
Even like steak on a Saturday night
I can bitch the best at your social dues
I'm a bitch, I'm a bitch
Oh the bitch is back
Stone cold sober as a matter of fact
I can bitch, I can bitch
'Cause I'm better than you
It's the way that I move
The things that I do
I entertain by picking brains
Sell my soul by dropping names
I don't like those, my God, what's that
Oh it's full of nasty habits when the bitch gets back
The opening lines of the song “I was justified when I was five, Raising cane, I spit in your eye” depict the rebellious attitude of the singer since childhood. Even as a child, he was unafraid to speak out and challenge authority, which sets his tone for the entire song. Despite the fact that times are changing and the poor are getting rich, the singer remains unbothered, knowing that karma will eventually catch up to those who deserve it. The repeated line “But the fever's gonna catch you when the bitch gets back” can be interpreted as a warning to those who have done wrong.
In the next verse, the singer declares that he doesn’t follow traditional societal norms, as he eats meat on Fridays and enjoys steak on Saturdays. He boasts about his ability to criticize high society and takes pleasure in rebelling against it. The lyrics “I get high in the evening sniffing pots of glue” suggests that the singer doesn’t care about the consequences of his actions as long as he’s doing what he wants.
The chorus, “I'm a bitch, I'm a bitch. Oh, the bitch is back. Stone cold sober as a matter of fact. I can bitch, I can bitch. ‘Cause I'm better than you. It's the way that I move. The things that I do” describes the singer’s confidence in his own abilities. He knows that he is better than those who have looked down on him and takes pride in being a “bitch.” The final verse conveys that the singer is willing to do whatever it takes to advance his career, even selling his soul by dropping names. The line “Oh it's full of nasty habits when the bitch gets back” implies that there will be consequences to these actions in the future.
Line by Line Meaning
I was justified when I was five
I believe my behavior was reasonable when I was just five years old
Raising cane, I spit in your eye
I was causing trouble and being disrespectful
Times are changing, now the poor get fat
People who were once poor are now getting wealthy
But the fever's gonna catch you when the bitch gets back
Those who have unjustly treated me will face the consequences when I return
Eat meat on Friday that's alright
There is no issue with breaking religious dietary laws
Even like steak on a Saturday night
I enjoy indulging in expensive food
I can bitch the best at your social dues
I am skilled at complaining about social obligations
I get high in the evening sniffing pots of glue
I use dangerous substances to get high
I'm a bitch, I'm a bitch
I am unpleasant and difficult to deal with
Oh the bitch is back
I have returned and I am still unpleasant
Stone cold sober as a matter of fact
I am not under the influence of drugs or alcohol
I can bitch, I can bitch
I am capable of complaining
'Cause I'm better than you
I think I am superior to others
It's the way that I move
My behavior reflects my unpleasantness
The things that I do
My actions reflect my unpleasantness
I entertain by picking brains
I enjoy teasing and manipulating others
Sell my soul by dropping names
I use people's names to elevate my own status
I don't like those, my God, what's that
I am intolerant of things I find distasteful
Oh it's full of nasty habits when the bitch gets back
When I return, there will be unpleasant consequences
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bernie Taupin, Elton John
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jean DAVID
Track List;
1. 00:00 Take Me Down
2. Second Chance
3. You're Having My Baby
4. I've Been Waiting For You
5. Happier
6. Let Me Try Again
7. Times Of Our Life
8. 26:25 Medley No. 1: Diana / Put Your Head On My Shoulder / Puppy Love / A Steel Guitar And A Glass Of Wine / Lonely Boy / You Are My Destiny / Love Me Warm And Tender / It's Time To Cry / That Kiss / My Hometown / My Heart Sings
9. 36:00 It Doesn't Matter Anymore
10. 40:05 My Way
11. New York, New York
12. Hold Me Till The Morning Comes
13. Jubilation
14. The Bitch Is Back
15. Medley No. 2: What'd I Say / Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On / Jambalaya / Oh, Lonesome Me / Bye Bye Blackbird / Mack The Knife
16. I'm So Excited
17. Anytime (I'll Be There)
mulatosly
Uma das vozes mais bonitas que ouvi até hoje.
Diogo Toledo do Nascimento
Paul Anka, what a great composer, singer and entertainer!
123Rockchild
This dude is a hell-of-an-entertainer! I just put seeing Paul Anka LIVE on my "bucket list"! I'm coming Paul!!
*tamaraS.
I´m still amazed by this performance every time I watch this show.
Violeta Ghosal
GREAT human being great singer and great entertainer great composer and song writer what a multiple talents of a man the world love's him so dearly 💞
liam holden
When singers were singers and not machines.A fantastic entertainer,classy which is for life.
Jennifer Kinnaird-Estrada
Im still in love with him
Big G
I dont think anyone can compare to the talent and warmth and goodlooks of Paul Anka
SuperKishma
I loved all his songs, what a great talent.
Rudolph Furtado
"Having my Baby" is a eternal classic irrespective of time, era or generation.