Diana (Paul Anka song)
Diana is a published by Paul Anka in 1957 pop song, which evolved into the million-seller worldwide. With this piece of Paul Anka's career began.
Genesis
It is said that Paul Anka as a 15- year-old student fell in love with a 18- year-old girl named Diana Ayoub, which worked as a babysitter for his younger siblings in his family. Since she felt nothing for him, he should have tried to impress with the help of a self-composed song titled Diana. It was a simple love song with the admission of love to an older girl ( I'm so young / and you're so old). However, in 2005 he confessed to NPR 's Terry Gross in an interview that the song was inspired by a girl in his church, which he barely knew.
Looking for a record company Anka came in conjunction with Canadian compatriots, the Les Clover Boys who had boast some success in the French-Canadian province of Quebec with French versions of current American hits. They gave him in New York City for a contact for producers and orchestra leader Don Costa, who worked for ABC - Paramount Records. In May 1957 Anka got the opportunity to audition four of his compositions, including Diana the producer. This was surprised by the composition of a market-ready until almost 16 -year-olds. A week later, Anka's father was flown in so he could sign the record deal for his minor son. To improve Anka's vocal ability, let him Costa still do some singing lessons. Don Costa produced even in May 1957, along with his orchestra and Paul Anka, the single, whose melody is based on a Calypso.
World success
Diana / Do not Gamble With Love (ABC - Paramount # 9831 ) was published in June 1957 and arrived on 15 July 1957 in the U.S. pop charts. On August 7, 1957 Anka presented the song in the U.S. far transmitted television pop music show American Bandstand, which contributed to the fact that the title on September 9, 1957 reached the first rank in the U.S. pop charts for a week. In the UK, the success was even greater. As of August 30, 1957 Diana took there for nine weeks the top position. This record at the top position on the British charts remained until October 1975, when the Queen single Bohemian Rhapsody, and also published nine weeks took first place. On December 7, Anka began his European tour.
Right away nine million copies have been sold, including 1.24 million in the UK alone, over ten million copies by the year 1961. Anka became the first teenager with a million-seller. Thus the title of one of the ten best selling singles of all time. Until 1961 Anka had already written 125 compositions, however, the classic should be yet to come.
Cover versions
The Les Clover Boys attacked Diana on the first and brought it with Quality Records # 205 in Canada early in 1958 with a French text by Guy Belanger out. This was followed by Frankie Avalon ( February 1958 ) and Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers (July 1958). Anka, for a total of 675 compositions are copyright registered at BMI, received a BMI Award for Diana. Info Cover counted a total of 29 versions of the title. Diana was taken in 16 countries over 300 times alone 1957-1963, including the very fast wrote German version of Conny Froboess who arrived in January 1958 in the German charts and penetrate up to second place there was ( Electrola # 20216 ). The text came from the German Electrola producer Nils Nobah ( under his frequent pseudonym Peter Ström ) with the Südfunk Orchestra conducted by Erwin Lehn.