Bryan Adams: Hows It Goin – Album Review and Interview

Bryan Adams: How’s It Goin’
(Badams Music Limited)
LP | CD | DL
Out now

Bryan Adams has spent a remarkable career writing songs that connect with listeners across generations and borders. On How’s It Goin’, he turns his attention homeward, drawing on Canada’s landscapes, history and people to create what began as a single song and grew into a full album.

The idea first took shape when a German documentary company invited him to write about Eastern Canada. Adams responded with Canada’s Wild Eastern Edge, then kept writing. As current events entered the picture, he added 51st State and began to see the beginnings of a larger work: a musical love letter to Canada.

The album brings together the rock anthems audiences know him for, with folk and Celtic influences that reflect the country’s musical roots. Mandolin and the rhythmic sound of stomping give several songs a fresh texture, while Adams’ subjects range from farmers, labourers and miners to the history that shaped the nation. He also writes about figures and events that stir strong feelings, including Terry Fox’s extraordinary Marathon Of Hope and the political tensions behind 51st State and Lake Ontario. Throughout, Adams follows what he sees and hears, allowing his songs to speak to the moment while keeping their focus on people and the lives they lead.

For Adams, moving into unfamiliar territory is part of staying creatively alive. He points to the influence of collaborators such as Michael Kamen, Mutt Lange, Jim Vallance, Hans Zimmer and Gretchen Peters, whose work helped open new possibilities for his own writing. How’s It Goin’ continues that journey, asking him to trust his instincts and follow the songs wherever they lead.

In this conversation, he discusses the album’s origins, the sounds and stories that shaped it, and what he hopes listeners will hear in this new chapter.

LTW: How did the idea for How’s It Goin’ begin, and what made you want to create a musical love letter to Canada?

BA: A German documentary company asked me if I’d be interested in writing a song for their documentary about Eastern Canada and I sat down and wrote Canada’s Wild Eastern Edge. Looking back at the ideas at the time, I kept writing other songs as I usually do, and liked what was happening. With the current affairs being what they are, that inspired me to write 51st State. After that, I thought this might just turn into a whole album, a concept album for lack of a better term.

This album explores folk sounds alongside the rock anthems audiences associate with you. What drew you toward those musical directions?

I wanted to be true to the many musical influences in Canada which are predominately Celtic and folk – that’s why you’ll hear mandolin and stomping on quite a few songs.

You’ve described some of the musical turns on this record as new territory for you. Which song surprised you most while you were making it?

The album is ultimately about working people, farmers, labourers, miners, people who were the backbone of what made the country what it is today. It’s also songs about history…in fact it was the most interesting history lesson I’d ever taken about Canada and it was self-perpetuated.

51st State speaks to Canadian pride and identity. What inspired the song, and what do you hope listeners take from it?

I’m just writing about what I see and hear, Canadians are being bullied, so artistically I’m simply speaking up.

The Ballad Of Terry Fox honors a Canadian hero and appears in the documentary Run Terry Run. What about Terry Fox’s story moved you to write a song about him?

In my opinion, he could be the greatest athlete of all time. Imagine running a marathon every day for 143 days – that’s 42 kilometres (26 miles) per day to be exact. And if that isn’t extraordinary enough, he did it on one working leg and a prosthetic leg. It’s completely unimaginable.

Lake Ontario has drawn attention for its political message. What prompted you to write it, and how do you approach putting current events into a song?

Again, I’m just writing about what I see and hear, and the deliberate provocation that trying to rename a body of water between us caused. You’d think if you were the leader of the free world your thoughts would be on how to make the entire world a better place, and spread goodwill amongst the neighbours and nations. But the focus seems to be foreign war, and that isn’t going down very well with people that can barely make their mortgage payments or pay for groceries. It’s probably why he lost the mid-terms. Focus on the things that people care about, not pissing people off.

Your writing has always balanced personal storytelling with big, memorable choruses. How did that balance take shape on How’s It Goin’?

Well, that’s very kind, I just try and write the best thing I can and then on to the next song, there isn’t any secret sauce (I wish there was!). Once I get an idea going I run with it, and if I can remember it in the morning, I’ll finish it, if it isn’t finished already.

After decades of making records and performing around the world, what still makes a new album feel exciting and challenging for you?

The songs and the reaction they get from people. There have been many songs I thought would get a reaction and others that surprised me, it’s the way of the world as a songwriter.

How do you think longtime fans will respond to the folk elements on this record, and what might surprise them most?

So far people have reacted positively. You have to follow your creative instincts as an artist, not what people might think of your direction. Pushing yourself into places you didn’t think you’d ever go is what you always need to do to keep things interesting. I remember back in the ’90s working with Michael Kamen and his film orchestrations and writing songs with him, I never would have written like that without him. I’m grateful for it. Same with Mutt Lange, Jim Vallance, Hans Zimmer and Gretchen Peters, all of the brilliant people I’ve had the chance to work with. It’s been a great ride, and this album is me pushing myself again.

As How’s It Goin’ reaches listeners, what do you hope they hear in it about Canada, your music, and where you are creatively today?

I hope everyone enjoys it as it as much as I did creating it.

All words by Eileen Shapiro. More of Eileen’s writing can be found in herauthor’s archive.