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While belting out his catchy tune Roll with the Punches, it was like Bryan Adams knew when to drop the perfect soundtrack for Canada’s reality in the winter of ’25.
Just when you least expected it comes along a member of Canada’s rock ’n’ roll royalty with the perfect anthem to galvanize Canadians at just the right time.
“Sometimes life can hit ya hard, might even leave you scarred, you wanna find out who’s your friend? You may never know until the bitter end,” sings Adams. “You got to roll with the punches, take it on the chin, roll with the punches, might lose before you win. And get knocked down to the ground, but that don’t change a thing. Roll with the punches — and get back up again.”
Who knows, maybe this will help in waking up our neighbours to the south that tariffs cut like a knife in terms of hurting both countries and that Canada will never be America’s 51st state. Now, Adams, who just released this song and video Friday, was not intending to sing about the tariff war sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump or make any political commentary at all. He was just doing what he always does, from Summer of ’69 to Run to You to (Everything I Do) I Do it for You to Cloud Number Nine to so many other hits.
He was just writing and recording a great rock song. But it works perfectly. Timing is everything, even if something may not have been timed to meet the moment. People will enjoy this song alongside all of the trade and tariff talk going on and with Canadians feeling kind of confused lately.
“It’s not just Canadians, it’s the whole world it seems,” Adams said viar email from Australia, where he’s currently on tour. “So maybe the song is timely from that perspective because there seems to be a lot of kicking and punching going on politically.”
The inspiration for this number, recorded and filmed at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, is about not quitting and getting up off the canvas.
“The song is somewhat about personal resilience (I’ve been through quite a bit in the past year or so!), but really it’s written for anyone who has ever felt defeated but found the strength to rise again,” Adams said.
Canadians are known for getting back up no matter what. And they have been hit with some pretty hard punches lately from south of the border. It is such a great song and video – co-written with superstar producer pal Mutt Lange. It’s classic Adams, like Kids Wanna Rock or In the Heat of the Night, with the guitar riffs pure power.
“Thanks!” said Adams. “Yes, Keith Scott is the most underrated rock guitarist of all-time.”
Fans will hear more of Adams, Scott and the guys this year since this is the first single from Adams’s new project.
“It’s the title track from what will be a new album later in the year,” Adams told me. “As you may or may not know, I started my own record company called Bad Records and this will be the first studio album to be released on it.
“We did release three live albums at Christmas 2024 in a snazzy box set, live from the Royal Albert Hall … I had so much fun doing it, I decided I want to remain independent and I’m releasing RWTP on Bad Records, too.”
Well, looking forward to it. Exciting stuff for a Canadian who makes his music for the whole world to enjoy. Right now, Adams is playing more shows Down Under, even though the one in Perth was postponed due to issues with the sewage system near the venue — a show he’s hoping to make up before heading to the U.S. for a series of big concerts. He hopes to play in Canada as part of the Roll with the Punches Tour later this year as well.
The first song is not only poignant, but smoking hot.
“Great lyrics and a heavy rock ‘n’ roll beat,” said fellow musician Curtis Black of the 1980s Canadian band Gleneagle. “I like it. It’s a concert tune that will rock the crowd, for sure.”
It’s just what Canada needs right now.
“This song is for everyone who’s ever felt defeated, but chose to fight another day,” Adams said of Rolling with the Punches. “I believe the song captures the idea of getting through things when confronted with challenges and disappointment by simply rocking out!”
Feel free to crank it up, Canadian style.