As a gamer who’s spent countless hours immersed in the digital worlds of music legends and their stories, I can’t help but feel captivated by the tale of Paul Anka and his incredible journey. The way he recounts his encounters with icons like Frank Sinatra, the pressure he faced, and the profound impact of his creations, is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
At a special dinner following the premiere of the documentary “Paul Anka: His Way,” which debuted at the Toronto Film Festival, Paul Anka himself performed the well-known song “My Way” – a tune initially popularized by Frank Sinatra in 1969.
At Union Station in Toronto, Anka, now 83, reminisced about his long and varied career during our festive meal. He shared anecdotes, including the time at the Fountainbleau Hotel in Miami when Sinatra informed him at dinner that he was contemplating leaving show business.
Anka reportedly stated, ‘I can’t take any more,’ but Sinatra interjected, saying there was still one final album to be finished. With his wife, Mia Farrow, by his side, the iconic singer remarked, ‘You never penned that song for me.’
Under duress, Anka journeyed back to New York City and, once at his piano past midnight, composed the renowned ballad for a performer who was nearing the end of their career and preparing for their final act. The following morning, Anka called Sinatra to share that he had completed his freshly-written song, inspired by his retirement.
After Sinatra sang ‘My Way,’ it had a tremendous impact on both of us. In fact, it proved to be so successful that he extended his stay by another ten years. It really demonstrates the power a hit song can have,” Anka commented afterwards.
The film “Paul Anka: His Way,” directed by John Maggio and produced by Blue Ant Studios, PA Doc, and Ark Media, highlights an eight-decade career of the artist born in Ottawa, who achieved global success. Before his performance, Anka shared insights about the lessons he gained during the documentary’s production.
In essence, Anka posed a fundamental question: what truly matters in life? Ultimately, possessions like wealth, recognition, and influence, along with negative feelings such as grudges, resentment, frustration, and jealousy, will lose significance. All your dreams, aspirations, plans, and tasks on your To-Do lists will become insignificant. Even things that once seemed crucial, like victories or defeats, will gradually dissipate.
Ultimately, it’s not about achieving success or acquiring knowledge, but about making a difference. It’s not about what you’ve learned, but what you’ve shared with others. What truly matters is the times when you demonstrated integrity, kindness, bravery, and selflessness to uplift, empower, and inspire others. It’s not about your skills or competence, but about your character. The number of people you knew isn’t important, nor will people mourn your absence for a long time. What matters is the impact you had on those who loved you, the memories they keep, how long they remember you and why. Anka emphasized this point.
The Toronto Film Festival continues through to Sept. 15.
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2024-09-11 07:24