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."
Christmas Song
Paul Anka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly.
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you!
The above lyrics are from Paul Anka's Christmas song, which is a classic holiday song. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a classic Christmas scene, with chestnuts roasting on an open fire and Jack Frost nipping at your nose. The yule-tide carols being sung by a choir and folks dressed up like Eskimos add to the festive atmosphere of the song.
The second stanza of the song talks about the customary items that make up a Christmas celebration. Everybody knows that a turkey and mistletoe help to make the season bright, and the sight of tiny tots with their eyes all aglow is a sure sign that Christmas is here. The anticipation of Santa's arrival and the gifts he brings inspire excitement in children, who will find it hard to sleep on Christmas Eve.
The final stanza of the song is a message of holiday cheer that can be enjoyed by everyone, no matter their age. The simple phrase "Merry Christmas to you" is a universal expression of warmth and goodwill that transcends all cultural and religious boundaries, making this a truly inspiring song that will warm the hearts of listeners for years to come.
Line by Line Meaning
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
The aroma of chestnuts is wafting through the air as they roast over an open flame.
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
The cold winter air feels like a nip on the nose, representing the arrival of Jack Frost.
Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir
The festive carols of Yule are being sung by a group of people, creating a joyful atmosphere.
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.
People are wearing warm clothing akin to that of Eskimos to keep themselves warm in the cold winter weather.
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
The Christmas traditions of having a roast turkey and hanging mistletoe are well-known and widely practiced.
Help to make the season bright
These traditions bring a sense of festivity and cheer to the season.
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Excited children are wide-eyed with wonder and anticipation.
Will find it hard to sleep tonight.
Their excitement and eagerness makes it difficult for them to sleep.
They know that Santa's on his way
Children are aware of the myth of Santa Claus and his impending arrival on Christmas Eve.
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
Santa Claus has a sleigh piled high with presents and treats for children worldwide.
And every mother's child is gonna spy
All children, even the children of mothers who may be skeptical of the Santa story, will keep a lookout for Santa Claus.
To see if reindeer really know how to fly.
Children are curious to see if the famous mythical reindeer can actually fly, as the Santa story goes.
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
The singer is presenting a simple but heartfelt message.
To kids from one to ninety-two
This message applies to people of all ages, from young children to senior citizens.
Although it's been said many times, many ways
This message has been expressed in various different ways, but it holds the same meaning each time.
Merry Christmas to you!
A wish of happiness and joy during this festive holiday season.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ERIC NATHAN ROBERTSON, GREG C. ADAMS, ROGER WHITTAKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Deborah Diaz
Hermoso los discos. Muchas gracias
Walter Mammone
unico.... dificil de conceguir hermoso.
Rit Set
❤️❤️❤️
Tinair
Marry Christmas .