Music review: Bryan Adams – 鈥楽o Happy It Hurts鈥�
Just like back in 1991, Bryan Adams is once again waking up the neighbors on his latest studio release.
鈥淪o Happy It Hurts鈥� finds Adams crafting more of his signature straightforward pop-rock offerings that follow the Canadian singer-songwriter鈥檚 simplistic formula for delivering infectious arrangements filled with an abundance of catchy guitar riffs and singalong choruses.
The title track opens the set by detailing the exhilarating feeling of hitting the open road after two years of lockdown with Adams announcing, 鈥淏lacktop burning underneath my wheels/It鈥檚 crazy how I feel.鈥�
Adams goes on to summarize the album鈥檚 overall mood by declaring, 鈥淚鈥檓 so happy it hurts/That stupid grin on my face/Must be some kind of curse.鈥�
He continues to focus on the positive by turning misfortune into an uplifting, teachable moment on 鈥淣ever Gonna Rain.鈥� With time as a healer and love as a teacher, Adams finds a silver lining proclaiming, 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 gonna smile like I never had a heartache/Laugh like I never had a care.鈥�
鈥淥n the road again/Since I can鈥檛 remember when/It鈥檚 back to the music/Where I know I can lose it,鈥� sings Adams as he expresses his excitement for once again hitting the road to perform, something he was destined to do since he got his first real six-string at the five-and-dime.
Tracks like 鈥淵ou Lift Me Up,鈥� 鈥淎lways Have, Always Will鈥� and 鈥淛ust Like Me, Just Like You,鈥� feature Adams serving up messages of love and partnership similar to earlier hits such as 鈥淗eaven,鈥� 鈥淚t鈥檚 Only Love鈥� and 鈥�(Everything I Do) I Do It for You.鈥�
Adams embraces a rockabilly vibe on 鈥淚鈥檝e Been Looking for You.鈥� It鈥檚 a great change of pace as Adams discovers his soulmate and enthusiastically confesses, 鈥淚 know it might sound crazy/Ever since I was a baby/I鈥檝e been looking for you.鈥�
鈥淭hese Are the Moments That Make Up My Life鈥� brings the set to a sentimental close with Adams reflecting on the simple everyday wonders that make life worth living. The 62-year-old sounds comfortably content as he tenderly sings, 鈥淪tones turn to diamonds/Days turn to years/Old flames turn to ashes/But love perseveres.鈥�
Adams鈥� joy is certainly contagious as he shows no signs of slowing down or wiping that smile from his face anytime soon.