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."
You Are My Destiny
Paul Anka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's what you are to me
You are my happiness
That's what you are
You have my sweet caress
You share my loneliness
You are my dream come true
Heaven and heaven alone
Can take your love from me
'Cause I'd be a fool
To leave you, dear
And a fool I'd never be
You are my destiny
You share my reverie
You're more than life to me
That's what you are (that's what you are)
You are my destiny
That's what you are to me
You are my happiness
That's what you are
And you have my sweet caress
You share my loneliness
You are my dream come true
Baby, that's what you are
And heaven and heaven alone
Can take your love from me
'Cause I'd be a fool
To ever leave you, dear
And a fool, I could never be
You are my destiny
You share my reverie
Mean more than life to me
That's what you are
The song "You Are My Destiny" by Paul Anka expresses a deep love for someone who is the singer's fate and happiness. Anka sings about the person being his dream come true and that they share a bond that can never be broken. The lyrics also suggest that the singer and his significant other have a physical relationship, as he mentions her "sweet caress" and how they share in both happiness and loneliness together.
The song really emphasizes the fact that this person is the singer's destiny, and he will never let anything come between them. He speaks about how heaven and only heaven can take her love away from him, but he would never leave her because he would be a fool. Anka's voice in this song truly portrays the sincerity of the emotions he has for this person.
Line by Line Meaning
You are my destiny
The person addressed is fated to be together with the singer.
That's what you are to me
The address is trying to convey that the listener is the embodiment of his/her destiny.
You are my happiness
The listener is a source of joy and satisfaction to the singer.
That's what you are
The previous statement holds true, and the artist wants to emphasize this.
You have my sweet caress
The listener is physically close to the artist and is experiencing affectionate touch.
You share my loneliness
The singer is vulnerable, but the listener is there to share their emotions and provide comfort.
You are my dream come true
The listener embodies the wishes and desires of the singer.
Heaven and heaven alone
Only a divine intervention could separate the artist from the listener.
Can take your love from me
Even in the event of an otherwordly occurrence, the artist's devotion to the listener wouldn't change.
'Cause I'd be a fool
The artist would consider it foolish to leave the listener, as they are happy together.
To leave you, dear
The singer would never intentionally abandon the listener.
And a fool I'd never be
The artist is certain that leaving the listener would not be in their best interest, and they don't see themselves as foolish.
You share my reverie
The listener is part of the singer's daydreams and fantasies.
You're more than life to me
The listener is the highest priority in the singer's life, and they would not want to live without them.
That's what you are (that's what you are)
The listener embodies all of the singer's ideals and is mainly responsible for making them happy.
Baby, that's what you are
An affectionate term used to address the listener, as they are a source of love and happiness.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Tratore, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Paul Anka
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-pb3fc3mn2p
Сейчас увидела исполнителя песни, которую люблю еще с юности!
Класс! Супер! Браво!
Как здорово, когда поет весь зал!
А какие замечательные слова песни о Вечной Любви!
Прекрасный Певец, чувственный, страстный, обладает очень приятным тембром!
Какие великолепные Песни о Любви!
Сколько в них мелодизма, кантилены, души, лирики, чувств!
Пол Анка сразу берет в плен своим
проникновенным, красивым Голосом!
Браво!♥️♥️♥️
@mariaguadalupe-xw9gq
No hay comparación a la música de los jóvenes hoy , esto es un deleite para mis oídos ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@mariateresa4843
¡¡¡¡¡Totalmente de acuerdo!!!!!
@johnfaichney9529
Just sooo beautiful. Paul is the ultimate singer and showman!
@judykorbling9020
Thanks for this Lovely song Paul Anka, I was with your concert in FLORIDA , with my loving sister Fe, who told me me, Sis, your Destiny is still waiting for you, dont lost hope . Thanks sis..BUT UNTIL NOW...MY DESTINY IS WHO I AM TODAY...I HOPE TO FIND WHAR I AM LOOKING FOR...Thank sis...
@PaulAnka43
Thank you very much for your nice remarks and encouragement. I'm honored to have you as a fan and look forward to sharing more of my music with you in the future. How long have you been a fan of my music?
@gailtrotman5256
Paul has aged wonderfully. He's expressed his gift for writing, singing and entertaining across almost 70 years and his songs never get old! Sending ❤ from Canada!
@nellitsa83
I always cry when I listen to this song! This voice...just wonderful!
@Sunflo07H
Same here 💓
@user-cu6sf5wh8g
Paul Anka, Ваше исполнение как всегда очень волнует,
я в восторге!!!
Браво!!!
@user-sr4gj6ml2o
https://youtu.be/arUM26JBCRU