Bryan Adams, Canadian

In the mid-1960s, Bryan Adams lived in Portugal. In this interview, the voice of “Heaven”, “Summer of 69” and other more recent successes, like “On a day like today” or “Open Road”, tells us, first hand, stories of his childhood, dispelling certain myths about his time in the country.

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You spent your childhood and adolescence in Portugal. What special memories do you have from those times?

I went to school in Portugal starting in 1966 and spent almost four of my best years there, so not my adolescence. It was during the time of Salazar and Portugal was very different then, like a forgotten jewel. My family and I would picnic on Guincho beach and there would be hardly anyone there. We loved the food, the sun, the waves crashing from the sea over the cars and buses on the famous Marginal road, such a simple life. Portugal is in my heart.

Do you think the years you spent here changed your way of thinking in anyway?

Certainly. I have a connection there, it was formative for me, it was the place I got my first records; it was the place I first started to love music.

What are your feelings concerning Portuguese music?

My father used to take us to see the Fado in Lisboa. I’ve never forgotten the voices of the Fado singers, so beautiful, so unique, truly Portuguese. The songs I don’t always understand, but it doesn’t matter, it’s the sound. Mariza is a friend of mine, she is the most amazing singer. She reminds me about what is original in Portugal.

What is your favourite Portuguese food? Do you know how to cook Portuguese food?

When I lived there I ate what everyone else ate. I don’t know how to cook it. I’m vegetarian now.

Do you remember the places you loved most at the time?

I was very young when I was there, so it was mostly the beach or when my parents would take us out to dinner somewhere in town. That was very exciting. One thing many people don’t know is we lived at the Estoril Sol Hotel for four months until we had a house. That was great fun for my brother and I, we loved being in that hotel, mostly because it had the best swimming pool.

Is there any special smell you remember?

The Atlantic is a good memory, perhaps the best one!

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I can imagine you went to international school. Did you hang out with Portuguese friends? Who were they?

I had a few Portuguese friends where I lived near Cascais, but we were all young silly boys and used to get in all sorts of trouble. That’s what boys do.

I read somewhere, you learnt Portuguese. Can you have a conversation in Portuguese, or is it just enough to order food in a restaurant?

My Portuguese turned into French once I left, as I was unable to practice with anyone. Mas eu precebes muito…

Why did you come to Portugal?

My father was posted there as a Canadian diplomat, we travelled all over the world before I was a teenager. Some of my time was spent in other parts of Europe and the Middle East.

Is it true you got your first guitar in Portugal?

No, that’s not true. I got my first guitar one Christmas in England.

Why did you become a musician?

I was able to get things going very early with bands and started doing some studio work, having a real job never happened because I followed what I wanted to do, and didn’t stop.

I thought “Summer of 69” had been inspired by your summers here.  After doing some research, I found out it wasn’t true. Is there any lyric you have that was inspired in Portugal?

That song is about making love, a metaphor. But in saying that, our past is what always shapes our future, but there is not a direct lyric about Portugal

I was told you used to sing on the Lisbon-Cascais train. Is that true?

As romantic as that train story is, it’s not true. Music for me in Portugal in the 1960′s was something to listen to and dream about, the idea that I could actually sing was yet to come.

Do you have any funny or bizarre story from that time?

Yes. There was an old man who used to walk his big dog past our house every day. One day he stopped walking the dog. I noticed that the dog continued to do the walk anyway because it used to be around the same time as I would get back from school. I never forgot it. I guess the old man had died and the dog just did the walk hoping his master would return.

When you come back to Portugal do you usually visit your old places, or do you want to discover more of the country? Which are your favourite spots?

I love going back to Cascais, even though it’s changed so much. I like to go back to where I know, I feel like I’m going home when I return there. People are so nice

Last year you played in Maxime, in Lisbon. What was it like performing in an old cabaret house?

It was a lot of fun, it was just me on my own with my guitar, in fact I’m still touring like that over a year later. Portugal was one of the first places to see me do a solo show.

The show was very emotional and the girls were all dressed up. How is your relationship with your Portuguese fans?

I have a twitter page and it always has Portuguese fans telling me to come back. I would like to find a house one day in Portugal, do you think you can help me find somewhere interesting?

What other places do you find interesting in Lisbon?

I like the industrial areas, the shipping areas. The long narrow streets with houses covered in beautiful old tiles. It’s one of the most romantic cities I’ve ever been in.

What about Lisbon’s nightlife? Do you have any favourite haunts?

I don’t know the nightlife in Lisbon. The only nightlife I ever had in Portugal was my concerts and my bed afterwards.

Do you have plans to visit Portugal soon?

I come nearly every year, not everybody knows that…well you do now!

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by Maria João Veloso

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