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."
I Go To Extremes
Paul Anka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Right at this moment I'm totally cool
Clear as a crystal, sharp as a knife
I feel like I'm in the prime of my life
Sometimes it feels like I'm going too fast
I don't know how long this feeling will last
Maybe it's only tonight
Darling I don't know why I go to extremes
Too high or too low there ain't no in-betweens
And if I stand or I fall
It's all or nothing at all
Darling I don't know why I go to extremes
Sometimes I'm tired, sometimes I'm shot
Sometimes I don't know how much more I've got
Maybe I'm headed over the hill
Maybe I've set myself up for the kill
Tell me how much do you think you can take
Until the heart in you is starting to break?
Sometimes it feels like it will
[Chorus]
Out of the darkness, into the light
Leaving the scene of the crime
Either I'm wrong or I'm perfectly right every time
Sometimes I lie awake, night after night
Coming apart at the seams
Eager to please, ready to fight
Why do I go to extremes?
[Chorus]
No I don't know why I go to extremes
Too high or too low there ain't no in-betweens
You can be sure when I'm gone
I won't be out there too long
Darling I don't know why I go to extremes
In Paul Anka's song "I Go To Extremes," the singer grapples with his intense emotional fluctuations. In the first verse, he describes feeling sharp and clear, as though he's at the peak of his life. However, he acknowledges that this feeling may be fleeting and only last for the night. The chorus further explores the singer's emotional extremes, noting that he often feels either too high or too low with no in-betweens. He also acknowledges that when he loves or falls, it's "all or nothing at all."
The second verse further explores the depths of the singer's emotional fluctuations. Sometimes he feels exhausted and uncertain about how much more he can take. He wonders if he's setting himself up for failure. He acknowledges that his heart may break under pressure, and he doesn't know how to handle these feelings. In the third verse, the singer reflects on his desire to please others and his willingness to fight for what he wants. He acknowledges that he often lies awake at night, struggling to keep himself together.
Overall, "I Go To Extremes" is a raw and honest exploration of the ups and downs of human emotion. The singer struggles to make sense of his intense feelings and acknowledges that he doesn't always understand why he experiences such extremes. However, through his honesty, he provides a window into the often tumultuous world of human emotion.
Line by Line Meaning
Call me a joker, call me a fool
You can mock and belittle me all you want, but I don't care at the moment.
Right at this moment I'm totally cool
I'm feeling great and nothing can bring me down.
Clear as a crystal, sharp as a knife
My mind is focused, and I have a clear sense of purpose that can cut through any confusion.
I feel like I'm in the prime of my life
I am at the peak of my vitality and potential, and I'm eager to utilize it.
Sometimes it feels like I'm going too fast
I worry that I might be moving so quickly that I'm not fully aware of what's happening.
I don't know how long this feeling will last
I'm aware that this sense of elation might be temporary, and I don't know what will happen next.
Maybe it's only tonight
This feeling might be limited to just this one instance.
Darling I don't know why I go to extremes
I can't explain why I feel such intense emotions that lead me to take drastic actions.
Too high or too low there ain't no in-betweens
I tend to experience extreme highs and lows that leave me feeling either invincible or hopeless.
And if I stand or I fall
Regardless of the outcome, I give it everything I've got.
It's all or nothing at all
I don't do anything halfway.
Sometimes I'm tired, sometimes I'm shot
Some days I feel completely drained and unable to do anything productive.
Sometimes I don't know how much more I've got
I'm unsure of how much energy I have left and whether or not I'm approaching my limit.
Maybe I'm headed over the hill
I might be on the decline, and my best years could be behind me.
Maybe I've set myself up for the kill
I might have put myself in a dangerous situation that could end in my downfall.
Tell me how much do you think you can take
I'm asking how much hardship and adversity one can endure before they break.
Until the heart in you is starting to break?
Until one's spirit and will are on the verge of breaking.
Out of the darkness, into the light
I am emerging from a difficult time and moving towards a brighter future.
Leaving the scene of the crime
I am ending something that was harmful or unproductive.
Either I'm wrong or I'm perfectly right every time
I always feel very certain about my decisions, even if they turn out to be wrong later on.
Sometimes I lie awake, night after night
I spend long hours pondering my life and my decisions, depriving myself of rest.
Coming apart at the seams
I feel like I'm falling apart emotionally or mentally.
Eager to please, ready to fight
I am torn between wanting to be liked and wanting to stand up for myself.
Why do I go to extremes?
I am asking why I can't seem to find a balance and always end up at the extremes of any spectrum.
You can be sure when I'm gone
I will be gone completely, either in success or failure.
I won't be out there too long
My intense emotions and behavior will have an intense, but fleeting impact.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILLY JOEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind