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."
Les Filles De Paris
Paul Anka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So it's safe to say
Les filles de Paris sont les plus jolie du monde
Just a memory is all she'll ever be,
She had to stay, I had to go
Les filles de Paris sont les plus jolie du monde
J'ai vue en fin, c'est toi j'avais reve
Come away with me, come away and see
And you'll say I know,
Les filles de Paris sont les plus jolie du monde.
I know this feeling in my heart
It grows and it grows,
Every day that we're apart
Just a memory is all she'll ever be
She had to stay, I had to go
Les filles de Paris sont les plus jolie du monde
J'ai trouve a Paris le fille la plus jolie du monde
Je t'aime, mon amour, je t'aime
The lyrics of Paul Anka's song Les Filles de Paris is about the beauty of the women in Paris. The opening lines of the song suggest that the singer, who has traveled the world, is convinced that the women in Paris are the most beautiful in the world. The beauty of these women has left an indelible impression on the singer's mind, as he says that they are the prettiest in the world. The second verse highlights a memory, emphasis that these captivating women leave lasting impressions long after departure. Through the lyrics, the singer is inviting a woman to come with him to Paris, the city he has explored and found the prettiest girl he has ever seen. When they both see this girl, the woman will understand why the singer has a soft corner for the city's women. The song ends with the singer declaring his love for the woman.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been around, seen the world,
I have traveled extensively and have had my fair share of worldly experiences.
So it's safe to say
Les filles de Paris sont les plus jolie du monde
As a result of having traveled the world, I can confidently say that the girls in Paris are the most beautiful in the world.
Just a memory is all she'll ever be,
The girl I met in Paris is now nothing more than a memory.
She had to stay, I had to go
Les filles de Paris sont les plus jolie du monde
Unfortunately, due to our circumstances, the beautiful girl in Paris and I could not be together. Nonetheless, it is still true that the girls in Paris are the most beautiful in the world.
Soudain est ma temps de jouer
J'ai vue en fin, c'est toi j'avais reve
Suddenly, the time has come for me to take action. I have finally seen you, the person I had been dreaming of.
Come away with me, come away and see
And you'll say I know,
Join me on an adventure and see the world together. You'll soon come to realize what I already know - that the girls in Paris are the most beautiful in the world.
Les filles de Paris sont les plus jolie du monde.
The girls in Paris are the most beautiful in the world.
I know this feeling in my heart
It grows and it grows,
I have a strong feeling in my heart that continues to grow day by day.
Every day that we're apart
Just a memory is all she'll ever be
As time goes by and we are no longer together, the beautiful girl in Paris will slowly fade into just a memory.
J'ai trouve a Paris le fille la plus jolie du monde
Je t'aime, mon amour, je t'aime
I have found in Paris the most beautiful girl in the world. I love you, my love, I love you.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: PAUL ANKA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tom Smith
It's great to see Paul Anka again because there are still quite a few performances that haven't been posted. Strangely enough, most of them are his chart singles. On different occasions, he sang "The Story of My Love", "Summer's Gone", "Goodnight My Love" and a medley of his hits including "Diana", "Tonight My Love, Tonight", "Dance On Little Girl", "Put Your Head on My Shoulder", "You Are My Destiny", "Lonely Boy" and "My Home Town". The solo performances of "Diana" (one of them), "Put Your Head on My Shoulder", "It's Time to Cry" and "Remember Diana" have been posted and they were all great. Hopefully we will see the others!
That 70's Girl
Beautiful video... the dancers add a touch of elegance! Thank you for sharing! 💖
Mostly Brenda
I don't think it was ever released in the US. Actually, it is an old song of Anka's, first found on an EP issued in France in 1959. Also the B-side to "My Home Town" in Australia in 1960. Later found on another French EP as well.
Mostly Brenda
@Mireille Brosset Thanks for the nice personal story!
Mireille Brosset
Released in France late 59. He told me in January 59 he would write the song but he already had the title except I suggested he changed belles to jolies. We were walking down Champs Elysées and talking. A very special song for me.
Cindy Duran
He was so dang awesome, not to mention fine!
Roberto SP
Wonderful Clip. Please put Paul singing :"Summer's Gone", "Goodnight My Love" and a medley of his hits including "Diana", "Tonight My Love, Tonight", "Dance On Little Girl", "Put Your Head on My Shoulder", "You Are My Destiny", "Lonely Boy" and "My Home Town".
Patti Brooks
Thank you ! I love most music and like this song by Bobby Vinton !
Rene LeClerc
In the midst of the British Invasion, we have this from Paul Anka.
shyman99
Anka was one of the artists who were obliterated in 1964 due to the British invasion. Such a shame because you have to wonder how such a wonderful performance like this would have been better received commercially otherwise.