Bryan Adams, Canada's second best export after maple syrup (because that stuff goes seamlessly with and into everything) is finally heading back to Australia for his first "arena rock" tour in several years, after his "intimate show" tour last year.
The tour will stir up 80s and 90s nostalgia and have the ladies (rightfully) screaming in Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong, Melbourne and Adelaide.
Adams brought the rock (ballad) with hits such as, "Cuts Like A Knife", "Summer of '69", "Kids Wanna Rock", "Can't Stop This Thing We've Started", “Heaven”, "Let's Make A Night To Remember" and most recently "Thought I'd Seen Everything".
My personal favourite in his back catalogue is "When You're Gone", a lovesick duet with Mel C that contained the genius line, "even food don't taste that good", confusing but poignant because it clearly still tastes kind of good.
An honourable mention goes to "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You", as I can't remember a thing about Kevin Costner's Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves film except where Alan Rickman bemoans the physical damage Maid Marian's chastity belt will cause, and when Bryan Adams explains the power of love through the language of soft rock (I also just found out this song stayed on the UK Singles Chart for sixteen consecutive weeks, which is in fact a record).
Adams is also: a Companion of the Order of Canada, in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, was nommed for Academy Awards, Golden Globes and Grammys, had his handprint added to the Wembley Square of Fame in celebration of his 25th show at the stadium, has been recognized at the Juno Awards with the Allan Waters' Humanitarian Award, received the prestigious Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, and he's also still pretty hot. What. A Dude.
I really hope Mel C makes a surprise appearance for "Where You're Gone" and it includes pyrotechnical features.
Tickets to his shows go onsale Thursday 8 November, and they will totally sell out.
- Amy Robinson
