Many of us are familiar with Canadian musician Bryan Adams, especially those of us whose parents were enjoying their younger years during the 1980s when Adams was at his peak.
We've all heard the banging tunes 'I Do It For You', 'Run To You', and 'Heaven' - especially when someone brings out the karaoke at a party.
But it's his biggest hit 'Summer Of 69' that always seems to have people talking...
Probably because the song isn't really about enjoying the glorious summer season in the year 1969.
Adams, now 63, released the chart-topping anthem in 1984, and it became an instant hit. The song appeared on his album Reckless before being released as a fourth single the following year and was written by Adams and his longtime collaborator Jim Vallance.
The music video features Adams walking down a street with his guitar while his band performs in an old garage, as he sings: "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." Another moment in the video shows Adams spending "evenings down at the drive-in" cinema, which is where he meets the love interest in the song.
"Standin' on your mama's porch / You told me that you'd wait forever / Oh, and when you held my hand / I knew that it was now or never / Those were the best days of my life / Oh, yeah / Back in the summer of 69," he continues. The lyrics also illustrate how the two lovers were "young and restless" and "needed to unwind", singing: "I guess nothing can last forever."
Over the years, many fans of the hit have sung along, blissfully unaware that they're actually jamming to a tune about one of the more awkward sex positions - the 69.
Adams himself confirmed this in 2008 when he did an interview with CBS News about his career and the origins of the song. He was asked by the reporter, Maggie Rodriguez, whether the song was "biographical", at which point Adams replied: "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."
He then added: "It's using 69 as a sexual reference."
If anyone needs an explainer - don't worry, this is as weird for you as it is for me - "69" is the sexual position in which both partners give and receive oral sex simultaneously. Rodriguez awkwardly responded: "Ahh. Okay... Didn't know that," while Adams lightly clasped her hand and quipped: "It's morning, I can talk about it, right?"
According to Loudersound, the singer said the song is "autobiographical," revealing: "The imagery in the song is about romance, nostalgia, being a struggling musician and making love."
I don't know about you, but I definitely can't wrap my head around this... Childhood. Ruined.
