Bryan Adams takes jab at ’51st state’ rhetoric with Canada Day release

New single 'tribute to the pride and spirit of my fellow Canadians'

Published Jul 01, 2026  •  3 minute read

Bryan Adams has announced a new run of cross-Canada tour dates later this summer in support of his 2025 release Roll with the Punches. Photo by Departure Festival + Conference

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O Canada, Bryan Adams stands on guard for thee.

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The 66-year-old veteran Canadian rocker chose Canada Day to release a “tongue-in-cheek” new single called 51st State, which appears to be a response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s constant remarks about Canada becoming their “51st state,” which he has repeated frequently in his second term — including a mocking social media post exactly a month ago that was shared by U.S. Ambassador to Canada Peter Hoekstra.

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The song also makes reference to increased U.S. tariffs when it comes to its northern neighbour.

“Let me give it to you straight. When you’re talking about my home, you better show some respect. Cuz up here we take care of our own.” sings Adams in the song’s chorus, which continues: “So let me give you some advice, mister, you might have too much on your plate. Go’n load us up with tariffs, but we’ll never be the 51st state.”

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‘Canada is home’

Adams said he was feeling patriotic when he wrote the song.

“I wanted to write something about Canada because Canada is home,” said the singer-songwriter-guitarist in a statement. “There is more that binds us than divides us. This is a tribute to the pride and spirit of my fellow Canadians — the rest is just noise.”

In the second verse, Adams sings: “Yeah, we’re better off together. We’re way better hand in hand. But the 49th parallel has become a line drawn in the sand.”

The single art for 51st State, a patriotic new song by Canadian rocker Bryan Adams released on Canada Day Photo by Red Umbrella PR

The tune is described in a news release as “a tongue-in-cheek response to the ridiculous narrative around Canada being better off becoming anything other than Canadian. The message of 51st State is ultimately one of unity and optimism and rooted in Adams’ own connection to home.”

The third and fourth verses go: “Maybe you’ve forgotten, maybe you just don’t care, but we always stood beside you for that liberty we share. You can push us to to the brink, but where the road divides, you’ll find a wall of maple with us on the other side.”

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Adams most recently played in Toronto headlining the FIFA World Cup countdown concert locally (there were also concerts in Los Angeles and Mexico City) on June 10 performing two songs, Roll with the Punches and Summer of ‘69, as part of a lineup that included The Beaches and Wyclef Jean.

Previously, the Kingston-born, Vancouver-raised Adams has had a contentious relationship with the country’s Canadian content rules when his 1991 No. 1 hit (Everything I Do) I Do it for You was deemed by regulators not to be Canadian enough because it involved international collaborations

Just last year at the Departure Festival in Toronto, Adams reignited his calls to repeal Canadian content rules that have decided radio station playlists for more than 50 years, saying they are “really stupid,” according to reports.

“It’s an archaic system; we don’t really need it in Canada,” he said. “People listen to music, they don’t consider nationality.”

Adams’ 17th studio album, 2025’s Roll with the Punches, was the first of his issued on his independent record label and he’s touring 13 Canadian cities this summer including Hamilton’s TD Coliseum on Aug. 28 as the closest Toronto date.

The Grammy and Juno award-winning singer, songwriter and recording artist’s career spans more than four decades.

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