Oh dear. I wish this little "controversy" would just go away!
In 2005 an article appeared in Rolling Stone magazine, followed by a similar piece in the Vancouver Province newspaper (see right and below). The articles were prompted by the fact that, about five years ago, Bryan started introducing the song "Summer Of '69" in concert by saying, "This song has absolutely nothing to do with the year 1969".
The audience reaction was predictable, and Bryan has continued using the new song intro at his concerts.
In addition, Bryan has done several interviews which have further contributed to the mini maelstrom, including this chat with Sarah D'Esti Miller in 2001:
Miller: As long as we're on the subject of Summer of 69, just how autobiographical is the song?
Adams: Some parts are autobiographical, but the title comes from the idea of 69 as a metaphor for sex. Most people thought it was about the year 1969.
I disagree.
To start with, the song wasn't even called "Summer Of '69" untila month or two after the lyric was substantially completed. For the firsttwo or three "rough drafts" our working title was "Best Days OfMy Life" ... and in fact, the lyric "summer of '69" only appeared once inthe entire song, right after "played it 'til my fingers bled" ... justanother line of lyric buried in the middle of the first verse. Nothing special.
At some point we realized that "Summer Of '69" was a better title than "BestDays Of My Life" ... so, for the final draft we literally "shoe-horned" thatphrase into a few more places in the song.
At no time during the weeks and months we spent writing and re-writing "SummerOf '69" do I recall discussing sexual innuendo with Bryan … withone exception. When we recorded the final "shoe-horn" demo in my basement,Bryan sang a little naughty bit towards the end of the song: "Me and mybaby in a '69". The two of us had a laugh about it at the time, and Bryandecided to keep it in when he recorded the final version of the song at LittleMountain Sound in the spring of 1984.
For nearly 20 years no-one seemed to notice or care until Bryan started introducingthe song that way, which usddenly cast the lyric in a different light.
Sorry to disappoint, but the song really is about guitars, drive-ins,and "standing on your mama's porch". That's it!
Bryan Adams is a great writer, a great singer, and a great friend. He's entitledto his recollections as to what inspired "Summer Of '69".
Mine just happen to be different than his.
In 2005 an article appeared in Rolling Stone magazine, followed by a similar piece in the Vancouver Province newspaper (see right and below). The articles were prompted by the fact that, about five years ago, Bryan started introducing the song "Summer Of '69" in concert by saying, "This song has absolutely nothing to do with the year 1969".
The audience reaction was predictable, and Bryan has continued using the new song intro at his concerts.
In addition, Bryan has done several interviews which have further contributed to the mini maelstrom, including this chat with Sarah D'Esti Miller in 2001:
Miller: As long as we're on the subject of Summer of 69, just how autobiographical is the song?
Adams: Some parts are autobiographical, but the title comes from the idea of 69 as a metaphor for sex. Most people thought it was about the year 1969.
I disagree.
To start with, the song wasn't even called "Summer Of '69" untila month or two after the lyric was substantially completed. For the firsttwo or three "rough drafts" our working title was "Best Days OfMy Life" ... and in fact, the lyric "summer of '69" only appeared once inthe entire song, right after "played it 'til my fingers bled" ... justanother line of lyric buried in the middle of the first verse. Nothing special.
At some point we realized that "Summer Of '69" was a better title than "BestDays Of My Life" ... so, for the final draft we literally "shoe-horned" thatphrase into a few more places in the song.
At no time during the weeks and months we spent writing and re-writing "SummerOf '69" do I recall discussing sexual innuendo with Bryan … withone exception. When we recorded the final "shoe-horn" demo in my basement,Bryan sang a little naughty bit towards the end of the song: "Me and mybaby in a '69". The two of us had a laugh about it at the time, and Bryandecided to keep it in when he recorded the final version of the song at LittleMountain Sound in the spring of 1984.
For nearly 20 years no-one seemed to notice or care until Bryan started introducingthe song that way, which usddenly cast the lyric in a different light.
Sorry to disappoint, but the song really is about guitars, drive-ins,and "standing on your mama's porch". That's it!
Bryan Adams is a great writer, a great singer, and a great friend. He's entitledto his recollections as to what inspired "Summer Of '69".
Mine just happen to be different than his.