As one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, it’s no surprise that Canadian rocker Bryan Adams has performed in the Philippines quite a few times.
With a string of global hits dating back to the 1980s, Bryan has endeared himself in the hearts of countless Filipino fans that bought his records, went to his concerts, and sang along to his greatest hits in karaoke bars everywhere in the country.
To date, Bryan has released 18 studio albums, six compilation collections, two movie soundtracks, six albums, and 74 singles. Among his biggest hits are “Straight from the Heart,” “Run To You,” “Summer of ’69,” “Heat of the Night,” “Please Forgive Me” and “I Finally Found Someone” (a duet with Barbra Streisand).
Four times, he topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts in the U.S. with “Heaven,” “Everything I Do (I Do It For You),” “All For Love” (with Rod Stewart and Sting), and “Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?,” all iconic tunes that mostly remain staples in his live concerts.
In a recent interview with SoundStrip and other media, Bryan, now 63, said he’s excited to be coming back to the Philippines which he describes as “unlike any other country in the world because of how much Filipinos love a love song.”
Yes, because while Bryan has also scored hits with rockers like “Hidin’ From Love,” “Cuts Like A Knife,” “This Time,” “Somebody,” “One Night Love Affair” and “Can’t Stop This Thing We Started,” it’s the popular ballads that also include “Do I Have To Say The Words” and “Please Forgive Me” which he calls the “national anthem” of Filipino fans that have been among his most well-received recordings.
And even though Bryan believes he has all the bases covered as far as his most favorite hits are concerned, he is still encouraging his Filipino fans to message him with songs they would love to hear when he performs in the country once again on March 15 for his So Happy It Hurts tour.
“It’s always good to find out what other songs we might need to add to the show. I also accommodate requests from the audience when I’m onstage. All the songs that come up during that part of the show is quite surprising. If you have recommendations, then by all means, send me a message on my Instagram page and we’ll see what happens,” he quipped.
Throughout his career, Bryan has always loved to take his show on the road. He lamented the fact that he was not able to do shows for two years at the height of the pandemic but is thrilled to reveal that he has done over a hundred shows once Covid restrictions have relaxed.
But decades of touring have neither slowed Bryan down nor hampered his ability to create more new music.
“One of the things about music for me is that it always begins from live shows. I didn’t start my music in the studio. It’s what I’ve always done and to stop doing it feels kinda strange,” he admitted.
“All kinds of things happen when you perform live. It’s like playing again for the first time because something always happens whether it be something with the musicians or with the people singing the song back to you.”
This also explains why he never gets tired of performing the same old songs. As a matter of fact, he even re-recorded a good number of his greatest hits to give them “a breath of fresh air.”
“This is sort of my way of opening them up to a new audience. What’s exciting about music, you can re-introduce it,” he enthused.
And even though, he is in his own words, “living in a bubble of his own music,” Bryan does occasionally appreciate music by other artists including Coldplay, The War on Drugs, recent Manila performers The Arctic Monkeys and rising English sensations, Suki Waterhouse and Cassyette, who he finds particularly “amazing.”
As he had done so many times in his career, Bryan says he is always open to collaborating with other artists regardless of genre. In addition to those earlier mentioned in this piece, the impressive list of artists that he has made music with over the course of his career also includes Tina Turner, Bonnie Raitt, Michael Bublé, Chicane, Melanie C, Jennifer Lopez, Robbie Williams, and even opera legend Luciano Pavarotti.
“As a musician, you can’t do everything on your own. You need other musicians and producers to work with. You need to be open and willing to work with other people [because] all these people can help you get to where you want to go,” he concluded.
Presented by Wilbros Live, the Manila leg of Bryan Adams’ So Happy It Hurts tour is happening this Wednesday, March 15 at the Araneta Coliseum. Tickets available via TicketNet.com.ph and TicketNet outlets nationwide.
Image credits: Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP