Diana (Bryan Adams song)

Last updated
"Diana"
BADiana.jpg
Single by Bryan Adams
Released1985
RecordedApril 1984
Genre Rock
Length3:48
Label A&M
Songwriter(s) Jim Vallance
Bryan Adams
Producer(s) Bob Clearmountain
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams singles chronology
"It's Only Love"
(1985)
"Diana"
(1985)
"Christmas Time"
(1985)

"Diana" is a song performed by Bryan Adams. Written by Adams and Jim Vallance, the track was released as the B-side to "Heaven" in some countries, and is one of the most prominent of Bryan Adams' non-album songs. It was released as a single in Portugal.

Contents

Background

The song was written in March 1984 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was intended as a light, comedic song about the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer. The song was not included on Adams' Reckless album because Adams was worried about offending the royal couple. Nevertheless, the song was later released as a B-side on the single "Heaven", [1] and was also included on the 1988 compilation Hits on Fire , released in Japan.

Lyrics

The lyrics of the song admire Diana, a celebrity who the narrator first saw in a magazine, then later on TV. The narrator professes his love for Diana, and indicates that her current husband (never mentioned by name) is not good enough for her. The narrator begs Diana to leave her husband, indicating that she wouldn't have to be part of the "social scene" if she were with him.

Though the song is assumed to be about Diana and Prince Charles, the song never explicitly identifies the characters as such. Furthermore, it is never mentioned what Diana does (other than being a well-known celebrity), nor is Charles mentioned by name or title. A royal connection is made, though, in that Diana is identified by the narrator as "the queen of all my dreams".

Media reaction

According to co-writer Jim Vallance, when the British press obtained a copy of the record, they "attempted to fabricate a scandal" by saying that Adams had inappropriate feelings for Diana and had insulted Prince Charles. [1]

Live performance

Adams is said to have had an affair with Diana while dating Cecilie Thomsen, [2] but this was ten years after writing the song. Adams often performed the song during his live concerts up until the day of Diana's death after which he retired the song permanently. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryan Adams</span> Canadian singer-songwriter and musician (born 1959)

Bryan Guy Adams is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and photographer. He is estimated to have sold between 75 million and more than 100 million records and singles worldwide, placing him on the list of best-selling music artists. Adams was the most played artist on Canadian radio in the 2010s and has had 25 top-15 singles in Canada and a dozen or more in the US, UK, and Australia.

<i>Waking Up the Neighbours</i> 1991 studio album by Bryan Adams

Waking Up the Neighbours is the sixth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams, released on September 24, 1991. The album was recorded at Battery Studios in London and The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, mixed at Mayfair Studios in London, and mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk in New York City.

<i>Into the Fire</i> (album) 1987 studio album by Bryan Adams

Into the Fire is the fifth studio album by the Canadian rock singer Bryan Adams. It was co-written by Jim Vallance. It was released on 30 March 1987 by A&M Records as the follow-up album to the chart-topping Reckless (1984). Into the Fire peaked at number seven on the US Billboard 200 chart and reached the Top 10 in several other nations. Six singles were released from the album: "Heat of the Night", "Hearts on Fire", "Victim of Love", "Only the Strong Survive", "Into the Fire" and "Another Day".

<i>Rock n Roll Nights</i> 1979 studio album by BTO

Rock n' Roll Nights is the eighth studio album by Canadian rock band BTO, released in 1979. This record was one of three BTO albums that did not feature co-founder Randy Bachman. Rock n' Roll Nights is also one of the two albums from this band to feature Jim Clench, formerly of April Wine. This LP generated worldwide sales of only about 350,000 copies, though a single from the album called "Heartaches" managed to reach #60 on the U.S. charts and cracked the Top 40 in Canada. Rock n' Roll Nights is a rare find on CD, as it was released only for a short time on that format in 1990.

<i>Cuts Like a Knife</i> 1983 studio album by Bryan Adams

Cuts Like a Knife is the third studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams. Released on 18 January 1983 by A&M Records, the album was a huge commercial success in the United States and Canada. Three singles were released worldwide from the album: "Straight from the Heart", the title track and "This Time"; the three were responsible for launching Adams into mainstream popularity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summer of '69</span> 1985 single by Bryan Adams

"Summer of '69" is a song recorded by the Canadian singer Bryan Adams from his fourth album, Reckless. It is an up-tempo rock song about a dilemma between settling down or trying to become a rock star. The track was written by Adams and his longtime songwriting collaborator Jim Vallance. "Summer of '69" was produced by Adams and Bob Clearmountain. "Summer of '69" was released in June 1985 under A&M Records as the fourth single from Reckless. According to later claims by Adams, the title is a reference to the sex position, not the year, but Vallance disputes this.

<i>Reckless</i> (Bryan Adams album) 1984 studio album by Bryan Adams

Reckless is the fourth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams, released by A&M Records on 5 November 1984 to coincide with Adams' 25th birthday. Like its predecessor Cuts Like a Knife, the album was entirely produced by Adams and Bob Clearmountain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heaven (Bryan Adams song)</span> 1985 single by Bryan Adams

"Heaven" is a song by the Canadian singer and songwriter Bryan Adams recorded in 1983, written by Adams and Jim Vallance. It first appeared on the A Night in Heaven soundtrack album the same year and was later included on Adams' album Reckless in 1984. It was released as the third single from Reckless and reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in June 1985, over a year and a half after the song first appeared on record. The single was certified Gold in Canada in 1985.

James Douglas Vallance is a Canadian songwriter, arranger and producer. He is best known as the songwriting partner of Canadian musician Bryan Adams. Vallance began his professional career as the original drummer and main songwriter for Canadian rock band Prism under the pseudonym "Rodney Higgs." In addition to Adams, Vallance has written songs for many famous international artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Aerosmith, Carly Simon, Rod Stewart, Roger Daltrey, Tina Turner, Alice Cooper, Ozzy Osbourne, Europe, Kiss, Scorpions, Anne Murray, and Joe Cocker. His most recognizable songs are "What About Love" (Heart), "Spaceship Superstar" (Prism), "Run to You", "Cuts Like a Knife", "Heaven", "Summer of '69", "Now and Forever ", and "Edge of a Dream". He also co-wrote "Tears Are Not Enough" for Northern Lights for Africa, an ensemble of Canadian recording artists in support of the 1985 African famine relief. He has won the Canadian music industry Juno award for Composer of the Year four times. Vallance is a Member of the Order of Canada.

"Dangerous" was a song released in 1985 on the highly successful album Lovin' Every Minute of It released by Loverboy. The song achieved minor success when released as a single during the same year, and reached #65 on the Billboard charts.

Canadian singer Bryan Adams has released 18 studio releases, six compilation albums, two soundtrack albums, seven live albums, and 77 singles. After the success of his debut single, "Let Me Take You Dancing" (1979), Adams signed a recording contract with A&M Records. Bryan Adams (1980), his debut album, peaked at number 69 on the Canadian RPM Albums Chart. Adams followed this with You Want It You Got It (1981), which peaked at number 118 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold in Canada. Cuts Like a Knife, his third release, became his first successful work outside Canada. The album charted within the top 10 in Canada and the United States and was certified three-times platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) and platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Reckless (1984), his fourth studio album, selling over 12 million copies worldwide and featured the hit singles "Run to You", "Heaven" and "Summer of '69". In 1987, he released Into the Fire, which reached platinum status in the United States and triple-platinum in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">There Will Never Be Another Tonight</span> 1991 single by Bryan Adams

"There Will Never Be Another Tonight" is a song written by Bryan Adams, Robert Lange, and Jim Vallance for Adams sixth studio album Waking Up the Neighbours (1991). It was the third single released from the album, in November 1991. The song peaked at number two on Canada's RPM Top Singles chart, number six on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, and number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has only appeared on one compilation album released by Adams: Anthology (2005). Starting in 2009, the song is used as the opening theme song for the CBC reality competition, Battle of the Blades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Back Where You Started</span> 1986 single by Tina Turner

"Back Where You Started" is a popular album track by rock/soul singer Tina Turner, from her Platinum-certified Break Every Rule album. The song was released as a single in Canada only, and as a radio-promo disc in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Night Love Affair</span> 1985 single by Bryan Adams

"One Night Love Affair" is a song by Canadian singer and songwriter Bryan Adams. Written by Adams and Jim Vallance for Adams's fourth studio album, Reckless (1984), it was the fifth single released from the album. It is one of Adams's most recognizable and popular songs in North America. The song peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #7 on the Top Rock Tracks chart and has appeared on Adams's compilation album Anthology (2005). It was the only single taken from Reckless with no music video, among the six that were officially released between 1984 and 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hearts on Fire (Bryan Adams song)</span> 1987 single by Bryan Adams

"Hearts On Fire" is a song performed by Bryan Adams on his 1987 album Into the Fire. Written by Adams and Jim Vallance in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1984 it was not completed until 1986 or early 1987 when Adams went to record in September 1986 at Cliffhanger Studios, West Vancouver. The song was mixed by co-producer Bob Clearmountain in January 1987 at AIR Studios in London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somebody (Bryan Adams song)</span> 1985 single by Bryan Adams

"Somebody" is a rock song written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance for Adams fourth studio album Reckless (1984). It was the second single released from the album Reckless. The song topped the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart and peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<i>11</i> (Bryan Adams album) 2008 studio album by Bryan Adams

11 is the eleventh studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams. The album was released by Polydor Records on March 17, 2008. 11 was the first release of new Adams material since Colour Me Kubrick in 2005 and the first studio album in four years since Room Service. Adams, Jim Vallance, Eliot Kennedy, Gretchen Peters, Trevor Rabin and Robert John "Mutt" Lange received producing and writing credits. Similar to Adams' previous material, the themes in 11 are mainly based on love, romance, and relationships. 11 received generally mixed reviews from contemporary music critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Run to You (Bryan Adams song)</span> 1984 single by Bryan Adams

"Run to You" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams. It was released in 1984 as the lead single from his fourth album, Reckless (1984). The track deals with the subject of infidelity, and is sung from the perspective of a man who declares that he will continue to "run to" his seductive mistress over his faithful partner; critic Ira Robbins for CMJ called it a "cheating classic". In the accompanying music video, however, Adams portrays his guitar as the object of desire.

<i>Diana, Princess of Wales: Tribute</i> 1997 compilation album by Various Artists

Diana, Princess of Wales: Tribute is a 1997 compilation album released in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, with participation from a great number of renowned artists. The proceeds from sales of the album went towards the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund charity created in her memory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">An Interview with HRH The Princess of Wales</span> 35th episode of the 43rd season of Panorama

"An Interview with HRH The Princess of Wales" is an episode of the BBC documentary series Panorama which was broadcast on BBC1 on 20 November 1995. The 54-minute programme saw Diana, Princess of Wales, interviewed by journalist Martin Bashir about her relationship with her husband, Charles, Prince of Wales, and the reasons for their subsequent separation. The programme was watched by nearly 23 million viewers in the UK. The worldwide audience was estimated at 200 million across 100 countries. In the UK, the National Grid reported a 1,000 MW surge in demand for power after the programme. At the time, the BBC hailed the interview as the scoop of a generation.

References

  1. 1 2 Vallance, Jim. "Diana". JimVallance.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2010. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  2. "Princess Diana's affairs revealed". Mirror. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  3. www.18tilidie.co.uk Archived 2007-08-06 at the Wayback Machine - Tour Facts section