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."
It's My Life
Paul Anka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No silent prayer for the faith-departed
I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd
You're gonna hear my voice
When I shout it out loud
It's my life
It's now or never
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just wanna live while I'm alive
It's my life
This is for the ones who stood their ground
For Tommy and Gina who never backed down
Tomorrow's getting harder make no mistake
Luck ain't even lucky
Got to make your own breaks
It's my life
And it's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just want to live while I'm alive
'Cause it's my life
Better stand tall when they're calling you out
Don't bend, don't break, baby, don't back down
It's my life
And it's now or never
'Cause I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just want to live while I'm alive
It's my life
And it's now or never
'Cause I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just want to live while I'm alive
'Cause it's my life
Paul Anka’s "It's My Life" is an anthem that emphasizes living life on one's own terms without worrying about the opinions of others. The song encourages listeners to embrace their individuality and pursue their dreams, even in the face of adversity. Anka begins the song by remarking that it is not intended for those who have lost faith or feel broken; this is a song for those who remain strong and wish to battle on.
Anka then emphasizes the importance of living life to the fullest. Life is too fleeting, and as such, he urges that his listeners not waste a single moment. In the chorus, he declares that it is his life, and he will not wait for anyone's permission to live it. His heart is like an open road, and he is determined to explore it fully while still alive.
The song's second verse honors those who have faced challenges but have not given up. He praises the loyalty of Tommy and Gina who stayed true to themselves, and as a result, were more likely to succeed. He emphasizes the importance of making one's path through life, not relying on opportunities coming their way by accident or fate.
Overall, the song is as relevant today as it was when it was first released. The lyrics resonate with anyone seeking a song about resilience and the strength to overcome obstacles in life.
Line by Line Meaning
This ain't a song for the broken-hearted
This song isn't for those feeling sad and hopeless
No silent prayer for the faith-departed
There's no prayer for those who have lost their faith
I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd
I refuse to blend in with the masses
You're gonna hear my voice
I will speak up and make sure you hear me
When I shout it out loud
I will make my presence known with a loud voice
It's my life
I have control over my own life
It's now or never
I must take action now while I still can
I ain't gonna live forever
I won't be alive indefinitely
I just want to live while I'm alive
I want to enjoy life to the fullest while I'm still here
(It's my life)
Once again, my life is under my control
My heart is like an open highway
My heart is free and open to new experiences
Like Frankie said, I did it my way
As Frank Sinatra famously sang, I am doing things my way
This is for the ones who stood their ground
This song is for those who fought for what they believed in
For Tommy and Gina who never backed down
A specific shoutout to two individuals who never gave up
Tomorrow's getting harder make no mistake
The future holds challenges, no doubt about it
Luck ain't even lucky
Relying on luck alone won't guarantee success
Got to make your own breaks
You have to create your own opportunities
Better stand tall when they're calling you out
Don't cower or back down when others challenge you
Don't bend, don't break, baby, don't back down
Stay firm in your convictions, don't be swayed by others
'Cause I ain't gonna live forever
Once again, the reminder that life is short
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jon Bon Jovi, Richard Sambora, Max Martin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind