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."
Love Is Just Around the Corner
Paul Anka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But can't you see, you've captured me.
Being so glamorous, can't you be amorous just with me?
Make it soon, take a look at the moon.
Love is just around the corner, any cozy little corner.
Love is just around the corner when I'm around you.
I'm a sentimental mourner, and I couldn't be forlorner,
Venus de Milo was noted for her charms,
But strictly between us, you're cuter than Venus,
And what's more you got arms.
So cuddle in a corner, any cozy corner,
Love is just around the corner and I'm around you.
The lyrics to Paul Anka's Love Is Just Around the Corner convey the emotions and thoughts of a person who has fallen head over heels in love with someone who they think is beautiful and glamorous. The first line of the song is "Beautiful miracle, pardon my lyrical rhapsody," which reveals the singer's deep admiration for the person they are in love with. The second line, "But can't you see, you've captured me," indicates that the singer has been taken over by their love for this person.
The next few lines express the singer's desire for the person's affection. "Being so glamorous, can't you be amorous just with me? Make it soon, take a look at the moon," implies that the singer wants the person to reciprocate their feelings and start a romantic relationship soon. The chorus of the song, "Love is just around the corner, any cozy little corner. Love is just around the corner when I'm around you," reinforces the singer's belief that love is within their grasp now that they are with the person they are in love with.
The following verse, "I'm a sentimental mourner, and I couldn't be forlorner, When you keep me in a corner just waiting for you," reveals the singer's frustration with waiting for the person's response. The final verse of the song pays homage to the object of the singer's affections, even comparing them favorably to the famous statue Venus de Milo. The line "And what's more, you got arms," is a playful reference to the fact that the Venus de Milo statue famously has no arms.
Line by Line Meaning
Beautiful miracle, pardon my lyrical rhapsody,
You are a stunning and amazing creation, please forgive my passionate expression in songwriting.
But can't you see, you've captured me.
I hope you understand that I am completely enamored with you.
Being so glamorous, can't you be amorous just with me?
You exude such beauty and charm, won't you show affection to me only?
Make it soon, take a look at the moon.
I implore you to act quickly and look at the moon with me.
Love is just around the corner, any cozy little corner.
Love can be found in any intimate and comfortable setting.
Love is just around the corner when I'm around you.
I feel the possibility of love when I'm near you.
I'm a sentimental mourner, and I couldn't be forlorner,
I am deeply and emotionally attached and unable to feel any sadder.
When you keep me in a corner just waiting for you.
If you continue to leave me waiting and overlooked, I will feel trapped and unhappy.
Venus de Milo was noted for her charms,
The ancient statue of Venus de Milo was praised for her beauty.
But strictly between us, you're cuter than Venus,
Secretly, I believe that you are more attractive than the goddess Venus.
And what's more you got arms.
In addition, you have the ability to embrace and hold me.
So cuddle in a corner, any cozy corner,
Let's snuggle and embrace each other in a comfortable and intimate space.
Love is just around the corner and I'm around you.
I feel that love is attainable and possible when I'm near you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind