Somebody

The magic of Somebody lies in its chorus: a phrase that repeats like a heartbeat yet never sounds repetitive. Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance wrote it in 1984 for the album Reckless, but the song has something that transcends its time. It’s not a slow ballad nor an upbeat anthem, but straightforward rock with a chorus that invites singing even for those unfamiliar with the song. The arrangements, with those backing vocals that join in at the end, give it a cheap but effective anthem feel, perfect for amateur bands to choose as a closing track in bars.

The recording took place at Little Mountain Sound studio in Vancouver in 1984, with Bob Clearmountain at the helm of production. The track was released in January 1985 as the second single from the album and climbed to number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, while also topping the Top Rock Tracks chart for two weeks. In Canada, it reached position 13 and stayed six weeks in the top 20, solidifying Adams as one of the most-listened-to names on North American radio. The official video, filmed live at Toronto’s Massey Hall over three nights in January 1985, blends the album’s sound with the crowd’s cheers, creating an immediacy few clips manage to capture. The other, more narrative version shows Adams walking through an empty stadium while a woman—played by Lysette Anthony—appears to grapple with a complicated relationship, a visual contrast that reinforces the song’s central theme.