Summer Of '69
Recording Artist: DJ Otzi
Writers: Jim Vallance
Bryan Adams
Date Written: January 1984 / Vancouver Canada
Albums: Flying To The Sky
Audio:
Cover Versions:
Also recorded by Bowling For Soup, Emily's Toybox, Janet Theory, Jive Bunny, MxPx, Catherine Porter, Bryan Adams, John H featuring Barfalk, WC Experience
Comments:
DJ Otzi's version of "Summer Of '69" also appeared on his "Burger Dance" single, which reached #7 on the Swiss chart and #1 in Germany. "Burger Dance" is an old American children's song, adapted by the Dutch producer Eric Dikeb. Other versions of this song were hits in the UK and Ireland.
From "All Music Guide":  Few Austrians have made as much of a stir in the pop music world as DJ Otzi, otherwise known as Gerry Friedle. The bleached blond from Tyrol became a sensation in late 2001 by turning classic party songs into dance tracks, winning loads of fans and selling millions of singles in the process.

But his work has also earned him plenty of scorn from the media, especially in the U.K., with some journalists labeling his music as overtly disposable.

Friedle's initial goal in life was to be a farmer; a plan he was forced to abandon due to a fear of cows. He then tried his hand as a cook, but gave that up for a life as a tramp. Fortunately, his vagabond existence didn't last long; he discovered a passion for playing music and singing, and eventually became a DJ in the Austrian countryside.

Testicular cancer threatened Otzi's life in 1998, but he beat the illness and went on to launch a career as a recording artist. His first single, "Anton Aus Tyrol," was a massive hit throughout Central Europe in 2000. The following year, he pushed Madonna from the number one spot in the German singles charts with "Hey Baby (Uhh, Ahh)." That song went on to have a magnificent run in charts all over Europe -- including the U.K., where it stole the number one spot from Bob the Builder -- while Otzi went on to launch a brand of flavored milk.

"Do Wah Diddy" was the Austrian entertainer's next single; much like its predecessor, it charted all over Europe, including the U.K. - David Peter Wesolowski, All Music Guide
 
Additional biographical material from www.aboutvienna.org

DJ Ötzi was born as Gerry Friedle in St Johann in Tyrol. After his mother gave him up for adoption, he was raised by his grandmother.

In school he was always an outsider and after he failed the School of Agriculture, he started an apprenticeship as a cook. At the age 19, DJ Ötzi decided to conquer the world and soon ended up homeless, living on the street. After four months, he pulled himself together and started a career as a DJ in the local dance club scene.

Soon he started DJing all around Tyrol and Mallorca, working himself up as a star in rural Austria. Even the diagnosis of testicle cancer in 1998, which DJ Ötzi was healed of, couldn't slow down his career. His friend and producer Claus Marcus talked him into singing "Der Anton aus Tirol", DJ Ötzi agreed and landed a hit at once. DJ Ötzi was on top of the Austrian, German and UK charts.

DJ Ötzi is one of the most successful Austrian musicians ever.
Lyrics: I got my first real six-string
Bought it at the "Five and Dime"
Played it 'til my fingers bled
It was the summer of '69

Me and some guys from school
Had a band and we tried real hard
Jimmy quit and "Judy" got married
I shoulda known we'd never get far

Oh when I look back now
That summer seemed to last forever
And if I had the choice
Ya - I'd always wanna be there
Those were the best days of my life

Ain't no use in complainin'
When you got a job to do
Spent my evenin's down at the drive-in
And that's when I met you

Standin' on your mama's porch
You told me that you'd wait forever
Oh and when you held my hand
I knew that it was now or never
Those were the best days of my life

Back in the summer of '69

Man we were killin' time
We were young and restless
We needed to unwind
I guess nothin' can last forever - forever, no

And now the times are changin'
Look at everything that's come and gone
Sometimes when I play that old six-string
I think about ya wonder what went wrong

Standin' on your mama's porch
You told me it would last forever
Oh the way you held my hand
I knew that it was now or never
Those were the best days of my life

Back in the summer of '69