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Times of Your Life
Times of Your Life
Times of Your Life
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"Times of Your Life"
Single by Paul Anka
from the album Times of Your Life
B-side"Water Runs Deep"
ReleasedNovember 1975
Recorded1975
GenrePop
Length3:10
LabelUnited Artists Records
SongwritersRoger Nichols, Bill Lane
ProducerBob Skaff
Paul Anka singles chronology
"(I Believe) There's Nothing Stronger Than Our Love"
(1975) 		"Times of Your Life"
(1975) 		"Anytime (I'll Be There)"
(1976)

"Times of Your Life" is a popular song and advertising jingle made famous in the 1970s by Canadian singer Paul Anka, who recorded it in 1975 for an album of the same title.[1] It was written by Roger Nichols (melody) and Bill Lane (lyrics).[2]

Kodak created an advertising campaign in 1975 that featured Anka singing a jingle entitled "Times of Your Life". While the tune was being heard across the United States in a commercial, Anka decided to record and release it as a single in late 1975. The song became a hit in the U.S., reaching number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1976 and remaining in the Top 40 for 12 weeks.[3] The previous month, "Times of Your Life" had spent one week atop the Billboard easy listening (adult contemporary) chart, Anka's only recording to do so.[4] It was Anka's twelfth and final Billboard Top Ten hit.

Anka began including the song in his concert appearances, particularly during his shows in Las Vegas, Nevada. The performance is often accompanied by a video montage featuring Anka and his family and friends.[4] In 2015, Anka's recording was used in a series of retrospective promos for the final season of the AMC television series Mad Men.

In 2021, the song was featured in a commercial for Downy. In 2022, it was used in the seventh episode of the Apple TV+ series Severance.

Chart performance

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Cover versions

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See also

[edit]
Anka "Gather moments while you may" cf. Herrick "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may"

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Times of Your Life

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
"Times of Your Life" is a nostalgic pop song written by Bill Lane and Roger Nichols, first recorded and popularized by Canadian-American singer in 1975 as the title track of his album of the same name. Originally commissioned as a for Kodak's "Share the Moment" camera advertising campaign, the track's uplifting lyrics about cherishing memories resonated widely, leading to its expansion into a full single that became a hallmark of . Released by , the song marked a significant part of Anka's mid-1970s comeback after a period of lesser commercial success, blending elements with orchestral arrangements produced by Bob Skaff. Upon its release, "Times of Your Life" debuted at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in November 1975 and climbed to a peak position of number 7 on February 1, 1976, where it held for one week while spending a total of 20 weeks on the chart. It also topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart on December 28, 1975, for one week, underscoring its appeal to a broad adult audience. The accompanying album, Times of Your Life, entered the Billboard 200 at number 96 in December 1975 and reached number 85 the following week, benefiting from the single's promotion through extensive television airplay via Kodak commercials. Culturally, the song's association with Kodak advertisements—featuring heartfelt scenes of family moments captured on film—cemented its status as an anthem for preserving life's precious instances, airing frequently on American television throughout the late 1970s. Its enduring legacy includes evoking widespread nostalgia, with listeners often recalling it as a soundtrack to personal milestones, and it has been covered and referenced in various media, including television shows that highlight themes of memory and reflection. Anka's warm vocal delivery and the song's simple, memorable melody contributed to its timeless quality, making it one of his most recognized works alongside earlier hits like "Diana" and "My Way."

Background and development

Origins and inspiration

The song "Times of Your Life" originated as an advertising jingle commissioned by Eastman Kodak in 1975 for a nationwide television campaign promoting their film products. The brief called for a nostalgic composition that would capture the emotional essence of family memories and everyday joys, encouraging viewers to preserve these moments through photography. Written by lyricist Bill Lane and composer Roger Nichols, the tune was designed to resonate with universal experiences of reflection and sentimentality, drawing on themes of life's passage to align with Kodak's branding as a keeper of personal histories. Paul Anka, whose early career in the 1950s and 1960s had been shaped by songs inspired by his personal experiences and observations of youthful romance and transience, was approached to record and perform the jingle. Anka connected with the project's focus on , viewing it as a prestigious one-off endeavor amid his broader musical resurgence. In a , he described Kodak's vision as a commercial with "an feeling to it which pertain[ed] to family," blending cosmic reflection with intimate recollections of the past, which he adapted to fit his interpretive style. Anka emphasized that he selectively accepted the commission due to Kodak's stature, stating that it was his only foray into to avoid overexposure in commercials. The commission timeline began in early 1975, when initiated the campaign concept, leading to rapid development of the for debut in commercials later that year. This collaboration marked a pivotal moment in Anka's mid-1970s output, transforming a targeted ad piece into a broader cultural touchstone for evoking life's milestones.

Writing and composition process

In 1975, the composition of "Times of Your Life" began as a commissioned for 's advertising campaign, handled through the agency's . Lyricist Bill Lane, employed by the agency, approached composer Roger Nichols to create the music, aiming for a nostalgic tone suitable for promoting family memories captured on film. Nichols developed the melody first, drawing on his experience with heartfelt, accessible pop structures from prior collaborations like those with the Carpenters. He recorded a basic demo and sent it to in New York, where Lane crafted the to evoke reflection on life's milestones, such as "the first snow of winter" and "your best girl's smile." The two then refined the piece during Lane's visit to , finalizing the structure over a couple of days into a verse-chorus format designed for a two-minute radio spot, emphasizing simplicity and emotional resonance to align with Kodak's branding. Key decisions in the composition prioritized memorability, with a repetitive chorus —"Times of your life"—to linger in listeners' minds amid the ad's imagery of personal moments. While the initial version was tailored for broadcast length, subsequent adaptations shortened elements for 30-second TV spots, ensuring the song's core fit seamlessly without losing its poignant flow. Feedback from executives influenced minor tweaks to heighten universality, focusing on themes of shared human experiences rather than specific products. For early demos, Nichols collaborated with session musicians to establish an acoustic guitar-led arrangement, underscoring the melody's gentle, folk-inflected warmth before full production. This stripped-down approach carried into the version recorded by , one of six artists initially tapped for the commercials, highlighting the song's versatility from jingle to standalone track.

Recording and production

Studio sessions

The song "Times of Your Life" was recorded at A&R Studios in New York during mid-1975. Produced by Bob Skaff and engineered by , the track featured an arrangement by John Harris, incorporating live instrumentation to evoke a warm, nostalgic tone with elements of , light percussion, and subtle strings. Demos from the song's composition process served as the foundation for these sessions.

Personnel involved

provided the lead vocals for "Times of Your Life," a track originally created as a for commercials before its full recording and release. The song was produced by Bob Skaff, who also served as executive consultant for several tracks on the accompanying album. String arrangements were handled by John Harris, contributing to the track's orchestral elements. The album version of the song appeared on Anka's 1975 release Times of Your Life, where acted as executive producer for multiple tracks, including oversight of the overall project in association with Anka. Backing vocals on the album were performed by the Chalmers/Rhodes Singers on select cuts, adding layered harmonies to the production. Engineering details for the specific track are not extensively documented in available credits, but the recording was part of sessions that highlighted Anka's shift toward adult contemporary styles in the mid-1970s. Bob Skaff, known for his role in music consulting at , brought a polished approach to the jingle's adaptation into a commercial single.

Release and promotion

Initial commercial use

The "Times of Your Life" debuted as a in Kodak's national television for film in 1975, with providing the vocals over emotional slideshows depicting everyday family moments such as birthdays, holidays, and milestones. The campaign, developed by the agency, featured both 30-second and 60-second spots that aired across networks, emphasizing Kodak's role in capturing life's memories, and continued running through 1976 with variations including holiday-themed versions. This initial commercial deployment proved highly effective, solidifying the company's market leadership with 90% share of US film sales by 1976. The campaign garnered immediate acclaim in the advertising world, receiving a Clio Award in 1976 for its innovative use of music in commercials, highlighting the jingle's emotional resonance and production quality.

Single and album release

The single "Times of Your Life" was released by United Artists Records in November 1975 as a 7-inch vinyl record, with "Water Runs Deep" as the B-side. Following its initial exposure through a Kodak advertising campaign that had already built significant public familiarity, the release capitalized on the song's emotional resonance to target adult contemporary radio audiences. A dedicated mono promotional 45 RPM single was also distributed to support radio airplay efforts. The track served as the title song for Paul Anka's Times of Your Life, issued by in 1975 on vinyl LP. The album featured nine selections drawn from Anka's prior releases Anka (1974) and Feelings (1975), alongside the new "Times of Your Life" as the closing track, presenting a cohesive collection of his recent pop and easy-listening material. Promotion emphasized the song's sentimental appeal, with focusing on broadcast media to extend its reach beyond the ad-driven buzz, including television performances that were uncommon for the period. The single saw international distribution through affiliates, with variations in (such as the and ) and featuring localized sleeve artwork that underscored themes of and personal milestones.

Musical structure and lyrics

Melody and arrangement

"Times of Your Life" follows a verse-chorus form, featuring multiple verses leading into a repeating chorus, an solo section, and an outro that fades with repeated chord progressions. The track has a total duration of 3:16 and is set in 4/4 time at a of 77 beats per minute, contributing to its relaxed, reflective pace. The is straightforward and diatonic, centered in without key modulations, which supports the song's nostalgic and accessible feel. In the chorus, it employs simple ascending melodic lines that build emotional through stepwise motion and repetition, enhancing the uplifting quality amid the ballad's gentle tone. The arrangement, overseen by Johnny Harris, features backing vocals from The Rhodes/Chalmers/Rhodes ensemble. This orchestration emphasizes the track's soft pop style, prioritizing emotional intimacy over complexity. Harmonically, the song relies on a basic I-IV-V progression (G-C-D) throughout much of its verses and chorus, occasionally incorporating relative minors like Am and Em for color, which underscores its sing-along accessibility and folk-pop simplicity. This chord framework, rooted in classic pop conventions, reinforces the melody's emotional directness and broad appeal.

Thematic content

The lyrics of "Times of Your Life" center on a core theme of , evoking the bittersweet reflection on life's joyful moments that shape . The song invites listeners to recall shared experiences such as holding hands, laughter, tears, and dreams, portraying time as an inexorable force that slips away, leaving behind cherished memories. This nostalgic lens emphasizes the importance of holding onto these instances amid the passage of years, as captured in lines like "You wake up and time has slipped away / And suddenly it's hard to find / The memories you left behind." Symbolism in the lyrics draws on relational and emotional experiences to represent key aspects of life, from embracing love and peace to gathering moments. References to "hands for holding" and "a time for tears and laughter" highlight connections and the full spectrum of human emotions, bridging everyday joys with deeper reflections. These images serve as universal metaphors for personal growth and shared experiences, allowing the to resonate broadly. Paul Anka's intent with the song was to foster a deep emotional connection by highlighting family-oriented themes and the preservation of memories, aligning with its origins in promoting Kodak's role in capturing life's snapshots. By focusing on relatable vignettes of laughter, tears, and love, the encourage listener projection onto their own histories without delving into overly personal or maudlin details, maintaining a gentle, reflective tone. Originally crafted as a for commercials by Bill Lane and composer Roger Nichols, the lyrics were expanded slightly for Anka's 1975 single release to include a poignant bridge: "Gather moments while you may / Collect the dreams you dream today / Remember, will you remember / The times of your life?" This addition reinforces the theme of actively cherishing memories, transforming the concise ad spot into a fuller on life's transience.

Commercial performance

Chart positions

"Times of Your Life" by experienced strong chart performance in the United States upon its release as a single in late 1975. On the , the song debuted at number 57 on the chart dated November 15, 1975, climbed to its peak position of number 7 for one week on the chart dated February 7, 1976, and remained on the chart for a total of 16 weeks. The track's success was bolstered by its association with Kodak's "Times of Your Life" , which increased radio and public familiarity. On the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, "Times of Your Life" reached number 1 for one week on January 3, 1976, marking Anka's only number-one hit on that tally and reflecting its appeal to adult listeners through nostalgic themes and the commercial tie-in. In the United Kingdom, the single reached number 17 on the Official Singles Chart.
Chart (1975–1976)Peak PositionWeeks on ChartEntry DatePeak Date
US Billboard Hot 100716November 15, 1975February 7, 1976
US Billboard Adult Contemporary117November 1975January 3, 1976
UK Official Singles175April 1976April 1976

Sales and certifications

The album Times of Your Life, led by the title track single, was certified by the RIAA on November 23, 1976, for 500,000 units shipped in the United States. No separate RIAA certification was issued for the single itself, though its release as a full song capitalized on the jingle's exposure to achieve top-10 status on the Hot 100. secured an upfront payment of $50,000 against royalties for recording the original jingle, with ongoing revenue from its use in commercials extending into the 1980s and contributing to his overall licensing income. Additional sync fees arose from television placements, further bolstering the song's commercial longevity. In the streaming era, "Times of Your Life" has garnered over 15 million plays on as of November 2025, reflecting sustained digital interest post-2010 alongside modest and other platform downloads.

Critical reception

Contemporary reviews

Upon its release as a single in late 1975 and early 1976, "Times of Your Life" by received positive coverage in music trade publications, often highlighting its sentimental appeal tied to the . The song's association with the ads contributed to its radio play and listener interest, with reports of immediate requests on stations like WABC in New York as it climbed the charts in 1976. The ad industry's response was enthusiastic; the Kodak commercial featuring the song won a Clio Award for music in advertising in 1976, recognizing its effective integration of and emotional storytelling. Some rock-oriented outlets offered mixed views, acknowledging the song's commercial purpose while noting Anka's sincere delivery.

Retrospective assessments

In the decades following its release, "Times of Your Life" has been cited in discussions of how jingles evolved into pop standards, exemplifying the intersection of and . Composed for 's campaign using the slogan " film. For the times of your life," the song's reflective and captured , leading to its release as a full recording. analyses highlight it as an iconic brand anthem that achieved cultural longevity. Retrospective evaluations of Paul Anka's career position the track as a key revival in the mid-, alongside hits like "(You're) Having My Baby," reaffirming his versatility and enduring appeal through sentimental themes. Scholars of music have noted the song's underrepresentation in rock histories due to its advertising origins and style, despite its influence on in . It is more prominently featured in studies of media-driven songwriting as a case of blurred commercial and artistic lines.

Cover versions and legacy

Notable covers

One of the early covers of "Times of Your Life" was recorded by singer in 1977, adapting the sentimental ballad for a audience with a smooth vocal delivery that emphasized its reflective lyrics. Similarly, Frances Yip's 1977 version brought a light, lounge-style interpretation to the song, incorporating subtle Eastern influences in her arrangement to appeal to Asian markets. In 1978, French composer offered an orchestral rendition on his album Times of Your Life, transforming the pop tune into a lush, cinematic piece with sweeping strings and , highlighting the song's nostalgic theme. Ronnie Aldrich and his Pianos & Orchestra, featuring , provided an instrumental take in 1976, focusing on easy-listening and vocal harmonies for a relaxed, background ambiance. Later covers include Martin Nievera's 2004 Filipino pop version, which infused the track with contemporary elements for local radio play. The song experienced a revival in the with The Company's arrangement in , showcasing layered vocals to capture the original's emotional depth in a vocal group setting.

Cultural impact and usage

The song's most prominent cultural footprint stems from its role as the signature for Kodak's "Times of Your Life" advertising campaign, launched in 1975 by the agency. These commercials, which depicted everyday sentimental moments captured on film, aired extensively on American television and helped propel the track to widespread recognition, associating it indelibly with themes of and memory preservation. In media, "Times of Your Life" has been featured in television productions to underscore reflective or transitional scenes. Notably, it appears in the Apple TV+ series Severance (2022), where it plays during a party for the character portrayed by , amplifying the episode's ironic and poignant tone. The track's lyrical focus on fleeting memories has led to its adoption in personal and communal rituals, particularly graduation ceremonies and memorial services, where it serves as a poignant backdrop for honoring life's milestones and losses. Musically, the song has influenced later artists through sampling, including its interpolation in the hip-hop track "Please Remember" by CHANCE デラソウル in 2019, demonstrating its enduring melodic appeal across genres. In the 21st century, "Times of Your Life" has experienced resurgence in digital spaces, often used in user-generated content evoking personal , reinforcing its status as a timeless emblem of .

References

  1. https://www.songfacts.com/facts/paul-anka/times-of-your-life
  2. https://www.discogs.com/release/5176203-Paul-Anka-Times-Of-Your-Life
  3. https://recordsandcharts.com/albumrun.php?alid=1822
  4. https://stacker.com/stories/business-economy/advertising-history-year-you-were-born
  5. https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-22-35t76n7m
  6. https://www.classicbands.com/anka.html
  7. https://www.thepaulleslie.com/episode-480-roger-nichols/
  8. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/roger-nichols-dead-grammy-nominated-songwriter-1235980516/
  9. https://www.discogs.com/release/8470151-Paul-Anka-Times-Of-Your-Life
  10. https://genius.com/Paul-anka-times-of-your-life-lyrics/q/producer
  11. https://www.aaaa.org/blog/timeline-event/kodaks-times-life-j-walter-thompson-becomes-hit-u-s/
  12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtFwLNBTjBA
  13. https://foerstel.com/kodak-looks-back-rebrand/
  14. https://media.dlib.indiana.edu/media_objects/76537h44z
  15. https://www.45cat.com/record/uaxw737y
  16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuXqXvZrSrY
  17. https://www.discogs.com/release/9380596-Paul-Anka-Times-Of-Your-Life
  18. https://www.discogs.com/master/311617-Paul-Anka-Times-Of-Your-Life
  19. https://tunebat.com/Info/Times-Of-Your-Life-Paul-Anka/3AdX0KdVoMBqe82b19rWAU
  20. https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/paul-anka/times-of-your-life-chords-1858505
  21. https://getsongbpm.com/song/times-of-your-life/KZp9XM
  22. https://genius.com/Paul-anka-times-of-your-life-lyrics
  23. https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2013/05/paul-anka-excerpt-my-way
  24. https://theseconddisc.com/2013/03/05/he-did-it-his-way-paul-anka-joins-friends-for-duets-new-cd-features-michael-jackson-frank-sinatra-leon-russell-and-more/
  25. https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1975-11-22/
  26. https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1976-01-03/
  27. https://tsort.info/music/9kr16c.htm
  28. https://time.com/archive/6880679/show-business-ankas-aweigh/
  29. https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/ROA-Times/issues/1991/rt9102/910209/02090544.htm
  30. https://kworb.net/spotify/artist/7ceUfdWq2t5nbatS6ollHh_songs.html
  31. https://adage.com/article/adage-encyclopedia/eastman-kodak/98634/
  32. https://syncsummit.com/commercialhits/
  33. https://www.paulanka.com/biography
  34. https://www.whosampled.com/Paul-Anka/Times-of-Your-Life/covered/
  35. https://www.whosampled.com/Paul-Anka/Times-of-Your-Life/
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