Happy 61st Birthday Bryan Adams! Here's How He Shaped Sully's Life.

Happy Birthday Bryan Adams. We’re now going to hand the keyboard over to Sully. We’re sorry in advance.

“Everything I Do, I Do It For You” was the first song I ever learned all the words to. That’s where the fandom was born. It was 1991. I was five years old. I also then became obsessed with Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves (obviously) and became a huge Christian Slater fan for a couple years, but that’s a whole different rabbit hole altogether.

Let’s stick to Bryan and how all of life changed when Waking Up the Neighbours fell out of my Christmas stocking later that year. Prior to this, my life at the time was made up solely of sports and Jim Carrey movies. Little did I know a tidal wave of change was on the horizon.

It came in the form of a very weak Otis Nixon bunt that handed the Toronto Blue Jays the 1992 World Series trophy on a platter. Why was this such a big deal? Well, right after the bunt, Coca-Cola made sure the ad above was the first thing Canadians saw on their television sets following the final out.

Bryan Adams meet sports. Sports meet Bryan. The love affair continued.

Then in 1995, before any puck ever dropped on a Canuck game, Rogers Arena – then known as General Motors Place – hosted its first ever event/concert. Yep, you guessed it. Bryan Adams lit up the stage along with special guests Pavel Bure and Gino Odjick. Bryan Adams and sports again! The man was slowly becoming my god.

With a few more stories to add, but not enough time to tell them, here’s what you need to know. All in all I’ve had the pleasure of attending six Bryan Adams concerts.

The best one going down at the PNE at the old temporary Empire Stadium in 2010. It was truly a stunning venue for summer concerts (and pretty much every sport as well), but sadly she left us far too soon. None the less, BA played for hours on end and didn’t want to leave. It was nothing short of perfect!

Alright, so rather than dwell on the past, let me give you a playlist to better shape your future. Any phony can tell you about “Summer of 69” and “Cuts Like a Knife”. I’m going off the board here though.

Here are the Top 6 Bryan Adams songs you never knew you loved.

1. “There Will Never Be Another Tonight” – Waking Up the Neighbours

BA and Troy Scott get the blood pumping with some awesome guitar riffs and some bad ass lyrics complete with sports references. What more could any Canadian ask for!? He had me at “Home Run! Power Play!” This is my favourite song in life.

2. “One Night Love Affair” – Reckless

I know I said I was going off the board and maybe this doesn’t follow suit. You say Reckless to anyone though and they’ll say “Summer of 69” or “Run to You”. All great songs, but in the words of Marvin Berry, this one “really cooks!” Very honourable mention going out to “It’s Only Love” featuring Tina Turner as well.

3. “Do I Have to Say the Words? (Rescue Me)” – Waking Up the Neighbours

An all-time classic. Gives you a little slow but also hits you with a few nice hooks. Beautiful jam with some lovely lyrics to boot. Bryan, you magnificent son of a gun, you’ve done it again!

4. “Take Me Back” – Cuts Like a Knife

For me, this is in a deadlocked tie with “Long Gone” from the Reckless album. Both songs just have a beat you can tap your toe to but more than that you feel like you want to roll the windows down and pump the volume.

5. “The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me is You” – 18 Till I Die

This was the big release single when the album debuted and it got some mixed reaction. He tries a different sound here and I think the song still stands up pretty nicely to this day. The hidden gem of the album by the way is “Black Pearl”. Check it out!

6. “Heaven” – Unplugged

While I do love my headbangers, I also am a bit of a sensitive soul. “Heaven” – originally from the Reckless album – checks all the boxes. If you really want to add a little bomb to your bubble bath as well make sure to check out “I’m Ready” a few tracks prior.

Oh and before I forget…Happy Birthday Bryan Adams and I promise to continue to stay at least 100-yards away at all times.