Bryan Adams says his “51st State” performances helped him sense a political shift in the United States ahead of last week’s midterm elections.
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Bryan Adams says he began to suspect the political mood in the United States was changing after concertgoers cheered his anti-Donald Trump song “51st State,” following what he described as backlash against the Trump agenda in last week’s midterm elections.
Adams said that earlier this year, when he started performing “51st State,” he wasn’t sure how American audiences would respond. He said he noticed a difference when, as he moved through tour stops including St. Louis and Texas and “several red states in between,” people reacted strongly to the track.
“Every night, man, people stood up and cheered for that song,” Adams said. “That’s when I thought to myself, ‘Maybe the temperature in the room is different than what we thought.’ Perhaps it was inevitable that things were going to be a blue wave come the midterms.”
Adams linked his interpretation of the crowds to the Democrats’ gains in last week’s elections, which he said reflected everyday pressures in the U.S. economy. He said, “Groceries are more expensive, gas is more expensive, they’re on the streets with ICE,” adding that “The budget’s gone up trillions of dollars. The average guy, the promises that were made (to them) aren’t being delivered.”
Speaking from Madrid, where he is on tour, Adams discussed his new album “How’s It Goin’?” He said the record finds him moving toward more elbows-up patriotism, including songs that explore Canada’s history and current political tensions.
Adams said he wrote “Lake Ontario,” a mid-tempo singalong that targets Trump’s executive order directing U.S. federal agencies to refer to the water as “Lake America.” He added that other material on the album includes commentary he says he chose to include alongside Canada-focused themes as Trump’s provocations toward Canada continued.
“It’s so easy for people in positions of power just to mouth off. What surprises me is if you’re a man in such an enormously powerful position, why would you not want to turn all of your power for the power of good?” Adams said. “Just think of the money that’s been spent going after Iran. Imagine if you put all that money into taking care of people in your own country and start using diplomacy instead of using weapons.”
Adams said he believes there is an “enormously powerful position” available to political leaders and argued for using power “for the power of good.” He also said he added “Lake Ontario” to the album at the last minute.
He said the album came together after he was asked earlier this year to write a song for the nature documentary “Canada’s Wild Eastern Edge.” With annexation threats dominating headlines at the same time, he said he was inspired to make more music about Canada, “writing one song at a time while touring Africa.”
Alongside the politically pointed material, Adams described multiple tracks rooted in Canadian history, including “A Handful of Gold” about the Klondike Gold Rush, “Iron Ribbon,” chronicling the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and “The Battle of Lundy’s Lane,” revisiting a clash from the War of 1812.
Adams also highlighted “The Ballad of Terry Fox,” which he said has drawn cheers at European concerts, where he said a subtitled video introduces Fox’s story to audiences largely unfamiliar with it. He said his reception to the Marathon of Hope theme has remained positive internationally.
Adams said he recently bonded with Prime Minister Mark Carney over their shared admiration for Fox when separate engagements brought them to Thunder Bay, Ont. He said the two “grabbed coffee at local spot the Persian Man before visiting the Terry Fox memorial,” and that the photo from the outing circulated online.
Adams said of Carney, “I think he’s the right man at the right time,” adding, “particularly because he was able to stand up to the bullying that’s been going on.”
Despite his criticism of Trump’s administration, Adams said he remains hopeful about Canada-U.S. relations and said he has “no reservations” about performing south of the border again. “I’m an eternal optimist, so I’m going to say it’s going to get better.”
Adams said his father’s diplomatic career took the family around the world, but Ottawa remained a home base before they eventually settled in Vancouver. He said he lives in Vancouver now while taking care of his 98-year-old mother, whom he called “the legend.”
He said he is also filming his second annual holiday jam broadcast in Vancouver. The lineup he named includes Sarah McLachlan, Blue Rodeo, Lindsay Ell and the East Pointers.
Adams said he has “enough unfinished ideas for a second volume of Canadian-themed songs,” including one “nearly complete.” He added, “I’m already in love,” when asked whether his focus on Canadiana has changed how he sees his homeland.
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