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There are certain songs that seem to soundtrack just about every occasion—road trips, weddings, school discos, even stadium anthems. Think I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas, Dancing in the Moonlight by Toploader, and ABBA’s Money, Money, Money. And then there’s Bryan Adams’ classic Summer of ’69—a song that refuses to age, no matter the decade.
Released in 1985, the rock anthem cemented Adams’ place at the top of the charts. With two successful albums already under his belt, the Canadian rocker was at his peak, and the track—with its raspy vocals, nostalgic lyrics, and fist-pumping guitar riffs—became an instant favorite across generations. It’s still considered one of the greatest singalong songs ever written, as likely to pop up at a backyard BBQ as it is in a stadium.
Over the years, Adams has performed it in some seriously memorable settings. In 2011, he belted it out during the Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh, and in 2018 he teamed up with Taylor Swift to deliver a surprise duet on her Reputation Tour stop in Toronto—a moment fans still rave about.
But behind all the nostalgia and summer imagery, Summer of ’69 has carried a lingering mystery: what does the title really mean?
For decades, many listeners assumed it was a straightforward reference to the year 1969, especially given the opening verse:
“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.”
To most ears, it sounded like Adams was simply reminiscing about a golden teenage summer filled with guitars, drive-ins, and young love.
Turns out, though, that wasn’t exactly the case. In 2008, during an interview with CBS News, Adams finally set the record straight. “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.”
Yes, you read that right—the 69 in the title isn’t a calendar reference at all, but a nod to the sexual position. Or, as Adams cheekily put it, “It’s using 69 as a sexual reference.”
That revelation turned the song on its head for many fans, who suddenly realized the playful double meaning hiding behind lines about “standing on your mama’s porch” and “the best days of my life.” What had seemed like pure nostalgia was, in fact, a little more risqué.
Even so, the enduring charm of Summer of ’69 lies in its ability to balance both interpretations. Whether you hear it as a wistful ode to youth or a sly wink at summer passion, the song remains one of Adams’ defining hits—and a timeless crowd favorite nearly 40 years on.