Bryan Adams’ Reckless isn’t exactly Born in the U.S.A., but it shares at least one thing in common with the Springsteen classic. Six of its singles reached the top 15 on Billboard’s Hot 100, a feat matched (at that time) by only Born in the U.S.A. and Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
I know four of those singles well: ‘Run To You,’ ‘Somebody,’ ‘Heaven,’ and ‘Summer of ’69.’ Say what you will about Bryan Adams, but those are four absolute bangers, totally in place on any list of the best 80s songs.
I wasn’t familiar with the rest of Reckless, but running through it this week, I’m happy to say it’s the complete package.
The other two singles, ‘One Night Love Affair’ and ‘It’s Only Love’ (featuring Tina Turner), are worthy of their hit status. And the four deep cuts fit right in, not quite as hooky as the popular cuts but mining a similar hard rock party vibe.
Reckless went 5X Platinum in the U.S., making it Adams’ top-selling album, but far from his only smash. I didn’t realize how well his other albums did commercially — he had a run of strong sellers that lasted for a decade and a half.
Adams was in the news in 2020 after an Instagram post where he slammed “bat-eating” people for spreading COVID. The post was slammed as racist, though the longtime vegetarian and animal activist said he was just thinking about the bats. More recently, a fully vaccinated Adams caught COVID twice in the same month.
I’ve been lookin’ for someone
Between the fire and the flame
We’re all lookin’ for somethin’
To ease the pain
[Verse 2]
Now who can you turn to
When it’s all black and white
And the winners are losers
You see it every night
Oh yeah!
[Chorus]
I need somebody
(Somebody like you)
Everybody needs somebody
I need somebody
(Hey, what about you)
Everybody needs somebody, oh
[Verse 3]
When you’re out on the front line
And you’re watchin’ them fall
It doesn’t take long to realize
It ain’t worth fightin’ for
[Verse 4]
I thought I saw the Madonna
When you walked in the room
Well, your eyes were like diamonds
And they cut right through
Oh, they cut right through
[Chorus]
I need somebody
(Somebody like you)
Everybody needs somebody (Oh yeah)
I need somebody
(Hey, what about you)
We all need somebody (Hey)
[Guitar Solo]
[Bridge]
(Yeah)
Another night another lesson learned
It’s the distance keeps us sane
But when the silence leads to sorrow
We do it all again, all again
(Yeah)
[Outro]
I need somebody
(Somebody like you)
Everybody needs somebody (Oh yeah)
I need somebody
(Oh, what about you)
Everybody needs somebody (Hey)
I need somebody
(Somebody like you)
Everybody needs somebody
(I need somebody)
I need somebody
(Yeah, what about you, yeah)
We all need somebody (Hey, go on)
I need somebody
Everybody needs somebody
I need somebody (Hey)
Everybody needs somebody
Meet Me In Montauk 
I really wasn’t a fan of Adams’ songs back in the day but, like many songs from the 80’s, time and nostalgia have softened me.
Meanwhile, fully vaccinated with COVID twice in a month? He must have a terrible immune system!
Now THIS is what I think of when I think about the music of 1984, as if it’s sitting in a time capsule able to be opened only to be featured in a film of that era. That said, I love every poppy second of these songs.