“Sunny” is an evergreen written by the late American r&b singer/songwriter Bobby Hebb (1938-2010). The song was written in 1963 right after Hebb suffered the loss of his older brother, Harold, who was stabbed to death the same day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. “Sunny,” with its optimistic lyrics, came as a reaction to those sad events. Hebb recorded the song in 1966 and that single skyrocketed to the top of Billboard’s Pop and R&B charts reaching #2 and #3 respectively. “Sunny” has had hundreds of cover versions to this day.

Among those renditions was a very successful cover by German disco act Boney M in 1976 and others by legends including Stevie Wonder, Johnny Mathis, the late James Brown (1933-2006) and the late Frank Sinatra (1915-1998).

In recent years, David Foster crafted a very special cover of “Sunny” for Bryan Adams’ 2014 Tracks Of My Years cd. That project saw the Canadian rocker performing some of his favorite pop songs ever. Adams beautifully delivered the songs with the Hitman’s impeccable studio help. On Tracks Of My Years, “Sunny” receives a delicious pop reworking with a minimal backing track that leaves the spotlight on the legendary singer’s raspy voice. On this song, as on every track of this cd, Adams makes the material his own and the listening experience is total ear candy thanks to the spectacular instrumental arrangements and sounds cooked by Foster and his team.

Listen

Lead Vocals & Acoustic Guitar: Bryan Adams
Keyboards: David Foster
Drums: Mickey Curry
Electric Bass: Keith Scott

Produced by David Foster & Bryan Adams

Lyrics

Sunny, yesterday my life was filled with rain
Sunny, you smiled at me and really eased the pain
The dark days are gone, and the bright days are here,
My Sunny one shines so sincere
Sunny one so true, I love you

Sunny, thank you for the sunshine bouquet
Sunny, thank you for the love you brought my way
You gave to me your all and all
Now I feel ten feet tall
Sunny one so true, I love you

Sunny, thank you for the truth you let me see
Sunny, thank you for the facts from A to C
My life was torn like a windblown sand,
And the rock was formed when you held my hand
Sunny one so true, I love you

Sunny
Sunny, thank you for the smile upon your face
Sunny, thank you for the gleam that shows its grace
You’re my spark of nature’s fire,
You’re my sweet complete desire
Sunny one so true, I love you

Sunny, yesterday my life was filled with rain
Sunny, you smiled at me and really eased the pain
The dark days are gone, and the bright days are here,
My Sunny one shines so sincere
Sunny one so true, I love you

I love you
I love you
I love you
I love you