Bryan Adams and the summer of 1991 are indelibly linked in my mind.
It was the summer of my first teenage love affair, sharing our first kiss to the soft, piano intro of the UK's new number one - (Everything I Do) I Do It for You. When it was all over six weeks later, that Bryan Adams track was still topping the charts, and it would be there for another 10 weeks.
It may be his most successful song, but it is by no means his greatest hit, as the audience at the M&S Bank Arena were reminded last night. The Canadian star is currently touring the UK in support of his latest album - So Happy It Hurts - written during the pandemic years when he should have been touring with his 2020 album Shine a Light.
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The arena falls silent, and the unmistakable voice of John Cleese rings out from the darkness, lamenting the demise of rock music, and introducing the 'angel' who would bring it back to the world - Bryan Adams. The singer breaks straight into Kick Ass, a song from his new album.
Large parts of the arena may be blocked off, but you'd be forgiven for thinking it is full. The audience roars in appreciation, clapping and singing along. Bryan pauses to say hello, announcing he's asked for the barriers to be opened to allow more people to come down to the area in front of the stage, which quickly fills over the next few songs.
He breaks into Can't Stop This Thing We Started, segueing straight into his 1984 hit Run To You - a song, which to this day, send tingles down my spine. Bryan Adams' voice remains one of the most distinct in rock. Almost hoarse, but incredibly powerful after nearly 50 years in the business it's lost none of its magic.
With more than 16 albums worth of songs to choose from, the star knows the tracks his fans want to hear, and for the next two hours he plays hit after hit interspersed with newer music to keep the show fresh.
Shine A Light is followed by Heaven, the first two verses of which are sung by the audience, a grinning Bryan joining in for the chorus, as the arena glows under the lights from hundreds of swaying phones. Go Down Rockin' is followed by It's Only Love. "Tina Turner couldn't be here tonight," Bryan laughs, "but we have Keith Scott on guitar."
He pauses briefly, explaining how his previous tour was cut short by covid, and how great it is to be out playing music again for people. With that, he breaks into On The Road, then the rockabilly style You Belong To Me, the camera mounted at the front of the stage focusing in on the crowd as couples danced away to the beat.
The phones were back out for Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?, which he closed with the line "Have you ever really loved a Liverpool woman?". Here I Am is swiftly followed by an acoustic version of When You're Gone, then the first notes of (Everything I Do) I Do It for You are played, and the arena is on its feet.
Phones glowing in the dark, the crowd knows the song by heart, and there are deafening cheers and applause when it ends. He ups the tempo next with Back To You, and then, Not Guilty, Rebel, 18 Till I Die, and Summer of 69. Then he throws it open to the audience, asking for people to shout out songs they want to hear.
We're treated to short bursts of Remember, requested by Andrew, Fits Ya Good, requested by Alan, and Please Forgive me, requested by Zabrella. After a blistering rendition of Cuts Like a Knife, the star and his band take a bow and briefly leaving the stage, a large inflatable car flying above the arena to keep us entertained until Bryan and 'his boys' return.
The encore kicks off with So Happy It Hurts and These Are The Moments That Make Up My Life. At this point Keith Scott, drummer Pat Steward, bassist Solomon Walker and keyboard player Gary Breit make their exit, leaving Bryan Adams to see out the gig alone.
With just his guitar and harmonica, he plays Straight From The Heart, Whisky In The Jar, Shine a Light and finishes with All For Love - a tour de force that has the whole arena acting as his backing singers. "You've been incredible," he shouts as he takes his final bow and exits the stage, leaving the audience hungry for more.
A fantastic gig, that showcased exactly why Bryan Adams remains a legendary performer.
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