Bryan Adams Releases Protest Song '51st State'

The singer's new album 'How's It Goin'' features a dozen tracks about Canada, including a response to a US order renaming Lake Ontario.

Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Canada

Bryan Adams Releases Protest Song '51st State'

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Do you support Trump's plan to make Canada the 51st state?

Bryan Adams released his 17th studio album, 'How's It Goin'', on November 6, 2025, featuring the protest song '51st State' alongside 12 new tracks about Canada. The album also includes 'Lake Ontario,' released in October in response to a Trump order renaming the lake 'Lake America' in US federal records.

Why it matters

The album reflects a broader Canadian cultural response to rising US political pressure over Canadian sovereignty and identity. For Canadian listeners and travellers, it highlights the ongoing tension in cross-border relations between the two countries.

The album is Adams's 17th studio release and was recorded at his Warehouse Studio in Vancouver over about three months. The songs debuted in concert and on Billboard Canada's charts, with '51st State' entering at No. 34 and 'The Ballad of Terry Fox' debuting at No. 25.

The players

Bryan Adams

Canadian rock singer-songwriter known for hits such as 'Summer of '69' and 'Everything I Do (I Do It for You)', who has long been a prominent voice on Canadian themes.

Donald Trump

Current President of the United States, whose administration issued the order renaming Lake Ontario 'Lake America' in federal records and who has repeatedly floated US annexation of Canada.

The details

Adams debuted '51st State' at a concert in St. Louis during the summer and says it received a standing ovation each night on his US tour. The album began with a request for a documentary song about Canada's East Coast and expanded into twelve tracks celebrating Canadian identity.

Summer 2025: '51st State' debuts at a St. Louis concert.
July 2025: '51st State' enters Billboard Canada's chart at No. 34.
September 2025: 'The Ballad of Terry Fox' debuts at No. 25 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.
October 2025: 'Lake Ontario' is released in response to the renaming order.
November 6, 2025: 'How's It Goin'' is released.

Travel Outlook

Adams's album arrives amid a broader cross-border tension that has affected Canadian travel sentiment, particularly since Trump's repeated proposals to make Canada the 51st state. The response reflects a wider Canadian push to reaffirm national identity in cultural and tourism narratives.

Travellers planning a trip to Canada may find Adams's songs and tour dates a useful way to connect with Canadian culture. Those visiting the US should be aware that cross-border political tensions continue to shape public conversation.

The takeaway

Adams's album shows how music can turn political pressure into a shared expression of national identity. For travellers, it is a reminder that Canadian culture is actively engaging with the cross-border conversation.