Talk:Summer of '69

Biggest hit?
More evidence would be required to convince me that "Summer of '69" is arguably Bryan Adams' biggest hit. I don't know about other countries, but in the USA, "Summer of '69" peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. By contrast, Adams has had four #1 hits, including "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" which was #1 for 7 weeks and was certified triple-platinum (sales of 3 million copies). "Summer of '69" has never even been certified gold. It is one of his biggest hits, but I don't see how it can be considered arguably his biggest hit unless it can be verified as having been his biggest hit in at least two other countries. --Metropolitan90 04:23, 11 April 2006 (UTC)


 * maybe its his best known hit, rather than most successful. -- Astrokey44 |talk 13:03, 15 April 2006 (UTC)


 * I agree. (Everything I Do) I Do It for You was way more popular than Summer of '69. It was #1 in UK for 16 weeks and in US for 17 weeks (actually the longest run for any song!), Summer Of '69 didn't even reach #1 in any of the charts. Pardy 18:38, 25 July 2006 (UTC).


 * Perhaps, but if you say Bryan Adams to someone, chances are they'll go: "Oh that was the guy that did Summer of 69 right?". Same as if you said Queen to somebody they would most likely instantly say Bohemian Rhapsody, and not their widest selling hit; Another One Bites The Dust. I think the term "best known hit" would be better not "biggest hit".(82.28.237.200 (talk) 19:44, 14 October 2010 (UTC))

Stub?
Given the recent additions I think the article has gone beyond stubclass. If anyone agrees, I'll go and remove the stub template. (Or just remove it yourself.) Flambergius 18:27, 30 August 2006 (UTC)

Article in need of verification of sources
According to this page: http://www.jimvallance.com/01-music-folder/songs-folder-may-27/pg-song-adams-summer-of-69.html, This is where the phrase "summer of '69" appears for the first time ... quite casually, as line #4 of the first verse. It's interesting to note: in our first draft of the song, the lyric "summer of '69" appears only once, never to be repeated. It was just another line in the song. In fact, we originally planned on calling the song "Best Days Of My Life".

In December 1977, a few weeks before Bryan and I first met, Jackson Browne released the song "Running On Empty" (from the album of the same name). For a number of years afterwards that song spent a lot of time on my turntable, and Bryan's as well.

For me, there are two lines in "Running On Empty" that resonate ... "In '65 I was seventeen" and "In '69 I was twenty-one". In my case it was a combination of the two (in '69 I was seventeen).

I'm certain that Jackson Browne's lyric planted the idea, and subconsciously influenced our decision to use the year "1969" as the basis for a lyric. Bryan recalls that the film "Summer of '42" had an influence as well, but I don't remember discussing that film with him while we were writing the song. → A z a  Toth 14:00, 22 September 2006 (UTC)

Neutrality issues and references
I would also like to see a reference to where the whole thing about the song refering to the 69 position comes from. I have never heard of this theary before, and I am completely unconvinced that this is true. However, if someone could research this and come back with a solid reference, it would be easier to believe.Romtobbi 11:44, 21 September 2006 (UTC)

The article has been improved somewhat, however many of the references link to discussion and chat pages. Verication of references is still needed.144.134.243.90 12:17, 23 September 2006 (UTC)


 * Well, I've changed the article again, and thankyou to whoever worked on it before me, I think it's greatly improved. It seems a lot more balanced and neutral now, at least to me. What does everyone think? Romtobbi 07:22, 24 September 2006 (UTC)

In an interview for TFI Friday (UK Channel 4, with Chris Evans) several years back, Bryan stated that it was a "metaphor for sex", however he gave no specific details.Redbullmarky 15:32, 24 September 2006 (UTC)

Quote from Jim Vallace (Co-Author) Oh my ' I wish this little "controversy" would just go away. First of all, when Bryan and I were writing the song, it was originally called "Best Days Of My Life". The words "summer of '69" only appeared once, right after "played it 'til my fingers bled". That was it! The song really was about the summer of 1969! It took us a week or two to fine-tune the lyric. At some point we realized that "Summer Of '69" was a better title, so we literally "shoe-horned" that phrase into a few more places in the song. At no time do I recall discussing sexual innuendo with Bryan ' except for one little thing. When we recorded the demo in my basement, towards the end of the song Bryan sang a little naughty bit: "me and my baby in a '69". We had a laugh about it at the time, and Bryan decided to keep it when he did the final recording a month or two later. Nobody seemed to notice, and that was the end of it until a few years ago when Bryan started introducing the song in concert by saying, "This song has nothing to do with the year 1969". The audience reaction was predictable. Let me qualify this by saying I don't pretend to speak for Bryan. Two of us wrote the song. Maybe he was thinking about something completely different ... but I was thinking about that amazing summer when I turned 17. There were brand new vinyl albums released by The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Kinks, Janis Joplin, The Band. It was awesome and I'll never forget it. Bryan Adams is a great writer, a great singer, and a great friend. He's entitled to his recollections as to what inspired the song "Summer Of '69". My recollections just happen to be different than his. - Jim, Vancouver, Canada

Bryan Adams rocks whooo —Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.197.168.221 (talk) 05:59, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

On stage Bryan Adams often says, "I'd like to clear something up... this song has absolutely nothing to do with the year 1969". I've heard him say it twice at sheffield hallam arena once at the MEN arena and once at Keepmoat Stadium in doncaster. However, i always assumed it was a joke on his part. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 195.99.190.172 (talk) 15:09, 18 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Its clear that Jim vallance's take (as quoted above) is that the song is about the year 1969, or rather just a period of nostalgia when you're younger, although hes not clear on what bryan's take is.


 * I recently saw Bryan in concert on September 5th, 2008. And he joked that "This song has to do with a position".. then a pause as the audience laughs "... a postion of nostalgia". I think bryan has never honestly revealed what his take on the song is about, and instead he only fuels the controversy as a joke for a few laughs and to keep people guessing. Therefore I believe both takes from both writers should be included in the article Silver007 (talk) 03:10, 18 September 2008 (UTC)

I've removed the half-sentence in the opening par about the supposed sexual "69" meaning of the title; there was no reference for the assertion, and the above accounts pretty much confirm exactly what the lyrics suggest -- it's about the summer of 1969.121.214.175.225 (talk) 11:45, 11 September 2010 (UTC)

Lyrics
Please Read!!! - one of the most common questions asked about the song (apart from with regards to the title) is "who are Jimmy and Jody??". It's an important point to make regarding the song. Why does someone insist on removing this??? If there's a valid reason for doing so, please discuss. Else leave it where it is. When someone is curious about a song beyong the lyrics, where do they think to look? Here, probably. So why not leave it?

Anyone know who "Jimmy" is in the lyrics? Jody is Jody Perpick. I have put this reference back in, as it's a commonly asked question. Not too clued up on adding sources properly but here's the mention of Jody Perpick: http://18tilidie.co.uk/discography/official/albums/reckless/themakingofreckless/reckless20th.htm I have a mild feeling (from years back) that Jimmy was Jim Vallance, but cannot be sure.


 * I believe that "Jimmy" is a reference to Vallance. Adams stated in an interview once that "Jimmy" was "a reference to an old drummer" of his.  Vallance did play drums for Adams early in his career.  Hero1701 23:44, 25 September 2006 (UTC)

Did he a sing "I had my first real six string"...? Back then, I never heard the word six string. --83.108.28.130 (talk) 21:40, 10 November 2011 (UTC)

Why does the Theme section contridict itself?
Theres one part where it says the song is referring to the sex position, while right below it, it says that Adams wasn't talking about the sex position. I would like to see some clarification, since I've heard both from different parties, though the 1969 car seems more plausible. Farmer88 05:33, 1 February 2007 (UTC)
 * This quote from Jim Vallance explains things: "At no time do I recall discussing sexual innuendo with Bryan except for one little thing. When we recorded the demo in my basement, towards the end of the song Bryan sang a little naughty bit: “me and my baby in a ’69.” We had a laugh about it at the time, and Bryan decided to keep it when he did the final recording a month or two later. Nobody seemed to notice, and that was the end of it until a few years ago when Bryan started introducing the song in concert by saying, “This song has nothing to do with the year 1969.” The audience reaction was predictable." Is Bryan Adams’ ‘Summer Of ’69’ About What You Think It Is?--174.99.238.22 (talk) 22:02, 26 July 2020 (UTC)
 * I've only skimmed the sources but as it stands, the paragraph (and lead) takes both their views and isn't confusing any more. Adams' official view supporting it is well sourced while Vallance counter view may be needs better refs. Ugog Nizdast (talk) 17:30, 29 June 2024 (UTC)

Green Day
Has Green Day said this song inspired them? I've never heard that before. is this stated fact or simply just a Dean Gray fan making a huge assumption?


 * Listen from 2 minutes and 22 seconds into this video and I am pretty sure you notice some inspiration. Of course it is a very different sort of music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNKPYhXmzoE&list=PLo6aG-353CqkrrzXl8NWN6bEDdKjfH4gi --Oddeivind (talk) 15:50, 28 November 2015 (UTC)

no. green day sucks. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.239.141.40 (talk) 23:23, 9 September 2009 (UTC)

NOFX
the artical states NOFX covered the song on Heavy Petting Zoo but i dont think they did or at least it isnt listed among the tracks on that page

Messed up sources
I've noticed that after Canadaolympic989's edits many sources in the article got messed up. Can anyone help fix the sources? Nataev (talk) 11:42, 22 April 2012 (UTC)

External links modified
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UK 2023 chart position
From a look at https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/bryan-adams-summer-of-69/, the 2023 position of 98 in the UK charts is not the year-end chart, but just the weekly top 40. 2001:8B0:6406:D605:16D6:ECF8:8A6E:8DDE (talk) 19:16, 5 February 2024 (UTC)
 * It says, "The UK's Top 100 biggest singles of the year is compiled by the Official Charts Company and is based on the formula for the weekly Official Singles Chart, covering the period from January to December". Doctorhawkes (talk) 19:44, 5 February 2024 (UTC)