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."
Did You Have a Happy Birthday
Paul Anka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Even though I wasn't there?
Did you get the flowers I sent you?
When you got them, did you care?
Did you have a happy birthday?
Did our love song make you blue?
Or did you just forget me
When you blew out the candles
Did you stand there and cry?
Crying because you were happy?
Or sad that we said goodbye?
Did you have a happy birthday?
If you did, it's plain to see
That the party's really over
And you're happy without me
Yes, you had a happy birthday
And you're happy without me
In Paul Anka's "Did You Have a Happy Birthday?", the singer is expressing feelings of jealousy and heartbreak over the thought of his former partner celebrating their birthday without him. He wonders if she enjoyed her special day, despite his absence, and if the flowers he sent her made any impact. He questions if his love song, which once brought them together, now only brings her sadness.
As the song progresses, Anka delves deeper into his emotions, questioning if his ex-lover has already moved on and found someone new. He asks if she cried while blowing out the candles, and whether it was tears of happiness or sadness. Ultimately, he realizes that she did have a happy birthday, and that he is no longer a part of her happiness.
This song is relatable to anyone who has experienced heartbreak and struggled to move on. It highlights the pain one feels when a special day, once shared with a loved one, is now celebrated without them. Anka's powerful lyrics and emotional vocal performance make this song a poignant reflection on lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you have a happy birthday?
Asking if the person had a good day on their birthday.
Even though I wasn't there?
Wondering if the person enjoyed their birthday, even though the singer couldn't attend.
Did you get the flowers I sent you?
Inquiring if the flowers the singer sent arrived to the person's celebration.
When you got them, did you care?
Asking if the person receiving the flowers liked or appreciated them.
Did our love song make you blue?
Asking if hearing their love song brought the person sadness or nostalgia after the relationship ended.
Or did you just forget me
Questioning whether the person has moved on and forgotten the singer.
In the arms of someone new?
Asking if the person is now with someone else.
When you blew out the candles
Referring to the tradition of blowing out candles on a birthday cake.
Did you stand there and cry?
Asking if the person became emotional on their birthday.
Crying because you were happy?
Wondering if the person was crying tears of joy on their birthday.
Or sad that we said goodbye?
Questioning if the person was crying because they missed the singer after breaking up.
If you did, it's plain to see
Implying that if the person had a happy birthday, then they don't need the singer in their life anymore.
That the party's really over
Suggesting that the relationship between the singer and the person is truly over.
And you're happy without me
Acknowledging that the person is content without the singer and their relationship.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: HOWARD GREENFIELD, PAUL ANKA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@robertskoczynski2052
Wielki szacunek dla tego wielce utalentowanego Paula Anki, miałem przyjemność być na paru koncertach, które były dla mnie wielkim przeżyciem.Paul 100 lat, i wszystkiego ,co najlepsze z Londynu życzę ❤😊
@binyikbicitli5772
Happy birthday Paul Anka! May your Age doesn't make you Old inside your heart you are still young wild man.
@mirthasacchi
Every time I listen to this song my heart shrinks and tears run down my cheeks. A notable version of this talented singer.