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 the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Paul Anka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Even more then I usually do
And although I know it's a long road back
I promise you
I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light beams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light beams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
If only in my dreams
In Paul Anka's Christmas classic "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year," the songwriter reminisces about a place he loves and the prospect of being home for Christmas. The first verse sings of "dreamin' tonight of a place I love, even more than I usually do," painting a picture of the intense feelings of nostalgia and longing that often rise during the holiday season. It's a feeling of familiarity and warmth that's so comforting, it's easy to dream of being back in that special place with the people you love.
But, as with many holiday classics, there's an underlying sense of sadness and distance. The line "although I know it's a long road back" hints at the separation, both physical and emotional, that can come with being away from loved ones during the holidays. But despite the obstacles, the song speaks of a promise to return, with the lyrics "I'll be home for Christmas, you can count on me." It's a promise of hope, that even if the road is difficult, there's a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.
Ultimately, the song communicates the powerful emotions that come with the holiday season, the longing for familiarity, the sadness of separation, and the hope that despite everything, we can still find a way back to the ones we love during this most wonderful time of the year.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm dreamin' tonight of a place I love
I am thinking about a place that I adore and imagining it in my mind.
Even more then I usually do
I am dreaming of this place with greater fervor than I typically would.
And although I know it's a long road back
Although I understand that returning to this place will take considerable time and effort,
I promise you
I am committed to making it happen.
I'll be home for Christmas
I will be present at my home for the Christmas holiday.
You can count on me
You can rely on me to be there.
Please have snow and mistletoe
I hope that there will be snow and mistletoe present to evoke the Christmas spirit.
And presents under the tree
I would also like to see presents placed underneath the Christmas tree.
Christmas Eve will find me
On Christmas Eve, you will locate me at my home.
Where the love light beams
My home will be a beacon of love and warmth on this special night.
I'll be home for Christmas
I will be home for the Christmas holiday.
If only in my dreams
Even if I cannot physically make it home, I will still be there in my thoughts and dreams.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Eddie Pola, George Wyle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind