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Bryan Adams confirmed his song 'Summer of 69' is nothing to do with the year 1969

Home> Entertainment> Music

Updated 14:23 17 Sep 2025 GMT+1Published 14:03 17 Sep 2025 GMT+1

Bryan Adams confirmed his song 'Summer of 69' is nothing to do with the year 1969

The rock n' roll anthem was released by the Canadian singer in 1985

Rhianna Benson

Rhianna Benson

There are some toe-tapping anthems that just seem to fit in every given scenario - long road-trips, wedding playlists, school discos.

You know, songs like 'I Gotta Feeling' by the Black Eyed Peas, 'Dancing In The Moonlight' by Toploader, and 'Money, Money, Money' by ABBA - numbers you can't help but dance along to, no matter where you are.

One of these songs is, undoubtedly, Bryan Adams' 1985 rock n' roll hit, 'Summer of 69'.

The track was unleashed onto the world when the Canadian musician was at his peak, having already released two successful albums so far, the first being titular, and the second being You Want It You Got It.

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To this day, however, as we say, it remains hugely popular in numerous countries across the globe, with many attributing it to the summertime.

In 2011, for example, the number was performed by Adams during the Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh, and seven years later, he sang the 'Summer of 69' alongside Taylor Swift for the Toronto, Canada leg of her Reputation Tour.

As well as its monumental guitar riffs, nostalgic lyrics and Adams' raspy voice, this particularly song is often discussed by fans for a number of other reasons. More specifically, the theme behind the track and title have raised eyebrows.

For those in need of a reminder, the lyrics to the first verse - written with longtime collaborator Jim Vallance - hears the singer belt out: "I got my first real six-string / Bought it at the five and dime / Played it 'til my fingers bled / Was the summer of 69."

As such, many fans of the track were initially convinced that it was about the year being mentioned - 1969.

Apparently, however, Adams intention for the single was something very different, and certainly more risqué - sex positions.

Adams recently revealed the true meaning of the song (Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images)
Adams recently revealed the true meaning of the song (Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images)

"Well the song, actually...people think it's about the year, but actually it's more about a...it's more about making love in the summertime," he confirmed during an interview with CBS News in 2008 after being asked about the song's origins.

(For anyone unfamiliar with sexual slang, by the way, a '69' refers to a position whereby two lovers align themselves with one another's genitalia. It feels weird to type that out.)

Another segment of the song hears Adams recall spending 'evenings down at the drive-in' cinema, where he meets his beau.

The chorus, meanwhile, hears Adams singing: "Standin' on your mama's porch / You told me that you'd wait forever / Oh, and when you held my hand / I knew that it was now or never / Those were the best days of my life / Oh, yeah / Back in the summer of 69."

"It's using 69 as a sexual reference," said Adams, now 65.

I hope that's not ruined the song for you.

Featured Image Credit: Robert Okine/Getty Images

Topics: Celebrity, Music, US News, Sex and Relationships

Rhianna Benson
Rhianna Benson

Rhianna is an Entertainment Journalist at LADbible Group, working across LADbible, UNILAD and Tyla. She has a Masters in News Journalism from the University of Salford and a Masters in Ancient History from the University of Edinburgh. She previously worked as a Celebrity Reporter for OK! and New Magazines, and as a TV Writer for Reach PLC.

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@rhiannaBjourno

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