Adams’ timeless classic “Summer of ’69” came to define the time and became a guitar player’s rite of passage for a number of generations.
Writing a pop/rock anthem that becomes an international hit has one disadvantage: TV hosts and reporters will continue to question you about it decades after the song was published. This was the case for Bryan Adams, whose catchy hit song Summer of ’69 seemed to be played everywhere in the middle of the 1980s.
On March 24, 2022, hosts David Campbell and Belinda Russell were talking to Adams about his new album, Happy It Hurts, when Russell brought up his massive mid-80s hit during an interview on the Australian TV talk show Today Extra.
Russell chirpily said, “1969 though, it was a pretty big year in history – the moon landing, Woodstock – but you were just a kid back then so what is the story behind ‘Summer of ’69’?” as the official music video for the song appeared on screen.
What followed is a masterclass in how to shut down a line of questioning without seeming too impolite: “I don’t want to talk about that,” replied Adams with a smile. “I want to talk about the new album. That’s why I’m here.”
In actuality, Bryan Adams has been amiably fielding inquiries concerning Summer of ’69 for the past forty years and is well aware of the significance of the album in solidifying his standing as one of the greatest musicians of all time.
Out of his six songs from his critically acclaimed fourth album Reckless (1984), “Summer of ’69” became an enormous hit. Released during the era of digital synths and long hair, it was a simple, slender pop-rock song with enormous sound and catchy hooks. It talked of youth, freedom, and endless possibilities. The Summer of ’69 remains popular even after forty years since it was recorded.
