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Adele

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Adele

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins[1] (born 5 May 1988), known professionally as Adele (stylised as ADELE),[2] is an English singer-songwriter. She was the first recipient of the BRIT Awards Critics' Choice and was named the number-one predicted breakthrough act of 2008 in an annual BBC poll of music critics, Sound of 2008. In 2009, Adele won two Grammy Awards, Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, at the 51st Grammy Awards.[3][4]

Adele attracted the attention of XL Recordings with a three-song demo posted on MySpace and subsequently signed with the label. Since her debut, 19, Adele has received much recognition both commercially and critically. The album debuted at number one, and has been certified triple platinum in the UK.[5] Her career in the US was boosted by a viewer record breaking Saturday Night Live episode in late 2008. Adele released her second album 21 on 24 January 2011 in the UK, and 22 February in the US.[6][7] The album was a critical and commercial success,[8] selling 208,000 copies in its first week in the UK and debuting at number one on the UK Album Chart and has remained there for 9 consecutive weeks tying the record for a female artist[9]. It has also charted at number 1 in nine other countries.[10] The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 in the US, selling 352,000 copies in its first week.[7][11]

After performing at the 2011 BRIT Awards, the album track "Someone Like You" reached number one in the United Kingdom, while the album also remained at number one. 'Someone Like You' held the number one position for four consecutive weeks.[12][13] The Official Charts Company announced that Adele is the first living artist to achieve the feat of two top five hits in both the Official Singles Chart and the Official Albums Chart simultaneously since The Beatles in 1964.[12][13][14]

The album has equalled Madonna's nine weeks at number one back in 1990 with her greatest hits compilation The Immaculate Collection. Meanwhile, Adele's debut album was number two. She moved back to the top of the US Billboard 200 last week after falling to number two the week before. It means the London-born singer has spent a total of three weeks at the top of the US album chart to date. The album has also broken the record for the most UK digital downloads to date.[15]

Life and career

Early life

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins was born in Tottenham, North London, on 5 May 1988.[16][17] She began singing at age four and asserts that she became obsessed with voices.[18][19] Adele has cited the Spice Girls as a major influence in regards to her love and passion for music, stating that "they made me what I am today." [20] Adele would also impersonate the Spice Girls at dinner parties as a young girl.[21] To make her look like the singer Gabrielle, her mother made an eye patch with sequins, which Adele said was embarrassing.[22] Adele claimed she was then influenced by the music of the Spice Girls, Jeff Buckley, The Cure, Billy Bragg, Etta James and Peggy Lee in her teens, as she stumbled on the artists' CDs at a local HMV store while looking for a new hairstyle. Adele wrote the music for her first record, "Hometown Glory" when she was 16 years old.[23]

2006–09: 19

Adele graduated from BRIT School in Croydon in May 2006,[24][25] where she was classmates with Leona Lewis.[1][26] Adele credits the school with nurturing her talent.[27] In school, she was more interested in going into A&R, and hoped to launch other people's careers.[1] Four months later, she published two songs on the fourth issue of the online arts publication PlatformsMagazine.com.[28] She had recorded a three-song demo for a class project and gave it to a friend[1] who posted it on Myspace where it became very successful and led to a phone call from music label XL Recordings.[26] She doubted if the offer was real because the only record company she knew was Virgin Records, and she took a friend with her to the meeting.[26][29] Nick Huggett at XL recommended Adele to manager Jonathan Dickins at September Management and in June 2006 Dickins became her official representative.[30] September was managing Jamie T at the time and this proved a major attraction for Adele who was a big fan of the English singer-songwriter. Huggett then signed Adele to XL in September 2006.[30]

Adele performing in Kilburn, London in 2007

Adele's breakthrough song, "Hometown Glory", was released in October 2007.[30] Adele provided vocals for Jack Peñate's song, "My Yvonne", from his debut album.[31] Adele became the first recipient of the BRIT Awards Critics' Choice and was named the number-one predicted breakthrough act of 2008 in an annual BBC poll of music critics, Sound of 2008. She released her second single "Chasing Pavements" on 14 January 2008, two weeks ahead of her debut album, 19. "Chasing Pavements" reached number two on the UK Chart, and stayed there for four weeks, finally remaining in the Top 40 14 weeks after its release.[32] The album itself entered the British charts at number one. The Times Encyclopedia of Modern Music would name 19 an "essential" Blue Eyed Soul recording.[33]

On 19 March 2008 Adele signed a deal which involved a joint venture between Columbia Records and XL Recordings for her foray into the US.[34] In March 2008, she embarked on a short North American tour.[34] On 20 June, the album was released in the US.[27][35] The album was certified as gold in February 2009 by the Recording Industry Association of America.[36] By July 2009, the album had sold 2.2 million copies worldwide.[37] Adele cancelled a 2008 US tour to be with a former boyfriend. She said in Nylon magazine in June 2009, "I was drinking far too much and that was kind of the basis of my relationship with this boy. I couldn't bear to be without him, so I was like, 'Well, OK, I'll just cancel my stuff then ... I can't believe I did that ... It seems so ungrateful". In November 2008 Adele moved to Notting Hill after leaving her mother's house, a move that prompted her to give up drinking.[38]

By October 2008, Adele's attempt to break into America seemed to have failed.[39][40] However, it was announced that she would be the musical guest on the 18 October episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL). The episode was hotly anticipated, because of an appearance by then US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, SNL earned its best ratings in 14 years with a total of 17 million viewers. Adele performed "Chasing Pavements" and "Cold Shoulder",[41] and the following day, 19 topped the iTunes charts and ranked at number five at Amazon.com while "Chasing Pavements" rose into the twenty-five.[42] The week of 26 October the album reached number eleven on the Billboard 200, a jump of thirty-five places over the previous week.[43] Several weeks later, she returned to the US for an 11-city tour.[44] Adele was nominated for a 2008 Mercury Prize award for 19.[45] She also won an Urban Music Award for "Best Jazz Act".[46] She also received a Q Awards nomination in the category of Breakthrough Act[47] and a Music of Black Origin nomination in the category of Best UK Female.[48]

At the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009, Adele won awards in the categories of Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.[3][49] She was also nominated for in the categories of Record of the Year and Song of the Year.[50] Adele launched a 15-city North American tour that started 9 March.[51] Adele was also nominated for three Brit Awards in the categories of Best British Female, Best British Single and Best British Breakthrough Act.[52] British Prime Minister Gordon Brown sent a thank you letter to Adele that stated "with the troubles that the country's in financially, you're a light at the end of the tunnel."[53] Adele relaunched the MTV Unplugged series with a six song acoustic set in June.[54] On 28 June, Adele headlined a three-act bill at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California. Etta James, originally slated to perform but suddenly taken ill, was replaced by Chaka Khan.[55] Adele dueted with Daniel Merriweather on a track called "Water and a Flame" from his debut album Love & War.[56]

2010–present: 21

In 2010, Adele received a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Hometown Glory".[57] In April her song "My Same" entered the German Singles Chart after it had been performed by Lena Meyer-Landrut in the talent show contest Unser Star für Oslo (Our Star for Oslo), in which the German entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 was determined.[58][59] In late September, after being featured on The X Factor, Adele's version of Bob Dylan's Make You Feel My Love re-entered the UK singles chart at number 4.[60]

Adele released her second studio album, 21, on 24 January 2011 in the UK and released it on 22 February in the U.S.[7][61] The album's sound is described as classic and contemporary roots and country music. The change in sound from her first album was the result of her bus driver playing contemporary Nashville music when she was touring the American South. Adele told Spin Magazine that "He listened to all this amazing country music and we'd rock out late at night, chain smoking and listening to Rascal Flatts" "It was really exciting for me because I never grew up around [that music]." [6] In explaining the title choice, she states that it reflects the growth she has experienced in the last two years.[61] The first single is a revenge tune "Rolling in the Deep", Adele described it as a "dark bluesy gospel disco tune."[61][62] 21 hit No. 1 in Ireland, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium and in March 2011 it debuted at number 1 in the United States and stayed there for another week before dropping to number 2.[63] In the United Kingdom, where the album also hit the top spot, it sold 208,000 copies in its first week making it the biggest-selling January release in five years. The single "Rolling in the Deep" was well received by critics and has reached number 13 on the Billboard 100[8][64] In mid-February 2011, after a performance at the Brit Awards, the album track "Someone Like You" went straight to number 1 on the UK singles chart, while the album 21 also remained at number 1. The Official Charts Company stated that Adele was the first living artist to achieve the feat of two top five hits in both the Official Singles Chart and the Official Albums Chart simultaneously since The Beatles in 1964.[65][66]

Adele remained number one for the second week with "Someone Like You" and album 21 stayed at the top of the album chart for the 5th week in a row, with "Rolling in the Deep" also remaining in the top five singles chart and 19 climbing up to number 2 in the album chart despite being released 3 years ago.[67] It is the first time that one act has held the top two places in the UK albums chart since The Corrs in 1999.[68][69] 21 has been number one for 9 straight weeks in the U.K.

It has since equaled Madonna's nine weeks at number one back in 1990 with her greatest hits compilation The Immaculate Collection. Adele's debut album 19 is still holding firm at number two, despite being released 106 weeks ago. She moved back to the top of the US Billboard 200 last week after falling to number two the week before. It means the London-born singer has spent a total of three weeks at the top of the US album chart to date. The album has also broken the record for the most UK digital downloads to date.[70]

Other work

Adele supported Will Young at the 2007 MENCAP Little Noise Sessions, a charity concert at London's Union Chapel. In 2008 she was the headliner and performed a stripped down acoustic that was supported by Damien Rice.[71][72] In July 2008, Adele paid £8,000 for a commissioned painting by Stella Vine in a charity auction in aid of Keep a Child Alive, a charity that helps African children and their families living with HIV/AIDS. Adele said she planned to ask Vine to paint a portrait of "my mum and me."[73] On 17 September 2009, Adele performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, for the VH1 "Divas" event, a concert to raise money for the Save The Music Foundation charity.[74][75] On 6 December, Adele opened with a 40-minute set at John Mayer's 2nd Annual Holiday Charity Revue held at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California.[76]

Artistry

She has described her musical style as "heartbroken soul."[27] Adele agrees with critics who have suggested that her vocals are more developed and intriguing than her songwriting.[77] She also received praises from Paul Rees, editor of Q magazine, who said it was "refreshing to hear something different" after a thousand years of "identikit bands who want to sound like The Libertines."[78] Her music was described by the Richmond Times-Dispatch music critic as "a perfect backdrop to a lazy afternoon in the coffee shop."[39]

Adele's success occurred simultaneously with several other British female soul singers. The British press has dubbed her a new Amy Winehouse.[1] Adele has also been linked to a third British Musical Invasion of the US.[26] Adele commented that while this phenomenon was unexpected she was "proud to be a part of it. I'm very pleased to be riding the wave." In December she said that Duffy was The Sound of 2008 and called the comparisons with other females lazy, noting "we're a gender, not a genre".[27][39][79] Adele, comparing herself to Winehouse and Duffy, said "I think Amy is hardcore," "I think Duffy is really soft – she's got the pin-up look going on. She's a proper lady. I think I'm really contemporary. And I'm just really mouthy!"[80] By the beginning of 2009 listeners and critics started to describe Adele as unique. AllMusic wrote that "Adele is simply too magical to compare her to anyone."[23] Venus Zine recognized Adele on its 25 under 25 list of women for her “distinctive, unusual voice” that “blends the bubbly clarity of pop with the sophisticated phrasings of jazz and blues[citation needed].

In 2011, Adele has performed at the Brit Awards and at Comic Relief, both for charity.[citation needed]

Discography

Main article: Adele discography

Awards

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Adele
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Grammy Award for Best New Artist
2009 		Succeeded by

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Frehsée, Nicole (22 January 2009), "Meet Adele, the U.K.'s Newest Soul Star". Rolling Stone. (1070):26
  2. ^ See inogolo:pronunciation of Adele.
  3. ^ a b Brits on top: Duffy, Adele and Coldplay clinch top awards as they lead British winners at Grammys Daily Mail Retrieved 21 February 2011
  4. ^ Coldplay, Robert Plant, Radiohead, Duffy and Adele win at Grammy Awards Daily Mirror Retrieved 21 February 2011
  5. ^ "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  6. ^ a b Adele: New Record is 'Quite Different' Spin Magazine 2 November 2010
  7. ^ a b c Caulfield, Keith (2 March 2011). "Adele's '21' Debuts At No. 1 on the Billboard 200 With 352,000 Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 2 March 2011. Cite error: The named reference "Billboard21" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b British soul singer Adele preps summer U.S. tour Los Angeles Times 8 February 2011
  9. ^ Adele Equals Madonna's Album Chart Record MTV UK 28 March 2011
  10. ^ Adele dominates UK album chart Reuters Retrieved 28 February 2011
  11. ^ Adele scores US number one album BBC News Retrieved 4 March 2011
  12. ^ a b Adele Ties Beatles Record on UK Charts, BRIT Awards Boost Winners‎ Billboard Retrieved 21 February 2011
  13. ^ a b Adele beats Lady Gaga to No 1... and matches Beatles for two top five singles and two top five albums in the same week Daily Mail Retrieved 21 February 2011
  14. ^ Adele's 'Someone Like You' Tops UK Singles Chart MTV Retrieved 21 February 2011
  15. ^ [1] Digital Spy Retrieved 28 February 2011
  16. ^ Patterson, Sylvia (27 January 2008). "Mad about the girl". London: Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  17. ^ Adele: i have all the say, i have power over everything i do Daily Mail Retrieved 22 February 2011
  18. ^ "Grammy-nominated Adele taking fame in stride The Baltimore Sun 15 January 2009".
  19. ^ "Singing Stronger Every Day: Adele Express from The Washington Post 15 January 2009".
  20. ^ Walker, Marie. "Adele: I Love the Spice Girls!". Now Magazine. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  21. ^ "Chasing Adele Minneapolis Star Tribune 15 January 2009".
  22. ^ Husband, Stuart (25 April 2008). "Adele: young soul rebel". London: Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  23. ^ a b Newman, Melinda (1 February 2009). "Amy Who? Now, Adele's the One With the Buzz Washington Post 1 February 2009". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  24. ^ Swift, Jacqui (18 January 2008). "I will Always Keep Feet on Ground". The Sun. Retrieved 12 February 2008.
  25. ^ Youngs, Ian (4 January 2008). "Soul singers top new talent list". BBC.co.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  26. ^ a b c d Collis, Clark (19 December 2008), "Spotlight on... Adele". Entertainment Weekly. (1026):62
  27. ^ a b c d "Interview: Adele - Singer and Songwriter BlogCriticsMagazine 16 July 2008".
  28. ^ "Platforms Magazine - Issue 4".
  29. ^ Billboard presents: Adele Billboard. Retrieved 2 July 2008.
  30. ^ a b c "Interview with Jonathan Dickins". HitQuarters. 14 July 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  31. ^ Peñate collaborates with Adele BBC 6 April 2009
  32. ^ "This Week's Releases: 21 January 2008". NME.com. 21 January 2008.
  33. ^ Cairns, Dan (1 February 2009). "Blue-eyed soul: Encyclopedia of Modern Music The Times 1 February 2009". London. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  34. ^ a b "Adele Inks U.S. Deal With Columbia Billboard 19 March 2008".
  35. ^ "Battle of the not-so-young ones at the top of the US charts Music Week".
  36. ^ Perry's Platinum Pucker Recording Industry Association of America News 23 March 2009
  37. ^ Adele 'puts career on hold for dog Digital Spy 21 July 2009
  38. ^ Adele Explains Booze & Love Meltdown Contactmusic 8 June 2009
  39. ^ a b c "The Richmonnd Times Dispatch 23 October 2008".
  40. ^ Reed, James (12 January 2009). "'19' going on superstar Boston Globe 12 January 2009". The Boston Globe.
  41. ^ Saturday Night Live Season 34 Josh Brolin/Adele The New York Times
  42. ^ "Adele enjoys an "SNL" bump Newsday 20 October 2008".
  43. ^ "AC/DC Debuts At No. 1 With 784,000 Billboard 29 October 2008".
  44. ^ "Adele offers many reasons for adulation Boston Herald 15 January 2009".
  45. ^ "http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/entertainment-catch-all/2008/07/25/albums-86908-20669867/ Liverpool Echo 23 July 2008". {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  46. ^ "Winners for 6th Annual Urban Music Awards 2008 Announced Urban Music Awards website 16 November 2008".
  47. ^ "Duffy nominated for Q awards double Wales Online 3 September 2008".
  48. ^ "Estelle/ Leona Lewis Lead 2008 Mobo Nominations Gigwise 11 September".
  49. ^ "Grammy Award Website 2009 Winner List Page".
  50. ^ "The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Nomination List 22 September 2008".
  51. ^ "LIVE AND DANGEROUS: Adele is definitely no Pop-Tart The Daily Aztec 12 March 2009".
  52. ^ "Best British breakthrough act BBC 20 January 2009". BBC News. 20 January 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  53. ^ Prime Minister Thanks Adele For Keeping Britain Happy In Dark Times Contact Music 9 June 2009
  54. ^ Adele Relaunches Unplugged MTV Uk10 June 2009
  55. ^ Live: Adele at the Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles Times 29 June 2009
  56. ^ "Amy Winehouse's Daniel duet MyPark Magazine 2 February 2009".
  57. ^ "Two-time Grammy Award winner Adele to perform on CBS". CBS Radio. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  58. ^ Klier, Marcus (2 February 2010). "Live: First heat in Germany". ESCToday. Retrieved 22 February 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  59. ^ Template:De icon"Musicline.de - Chartverfolgung - Adele - My Same". Media Control Charts. 21 February 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  60. ^ Oasis, Radiohead and Adele set for chart re-entries thanks to 'The X Factor'? NME 29 September 2010
  61. ^ a b c Levine, Nick (2 November 2010). "Adele announces second album details". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  62. ^ Adele Debuts Fiery New Song, 'Rolling in the Deep' People 16 November 2010
  63. ^ Lupe Fiasco's Lasers Blasts To Top Of Billboard 200 MTV
  64. ^ Billboard Adele Song and Chart history
  65. ^ Adele matches the Beatles in latest chart success The Guardian Retrieved 23 February 2011
  66. ^ It’s A-dell of a week for chart star The Sun Retrieved 23 February 2011
  67. ^ Adele on track to stay at No 1 BBC Radio 1 Retrieved 23 February 2011
  68. ^ "Adele scores fifth week at album No.1". Digital Spy. 27 February 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  69. ^ "Adele tightens grip on charts". Yahoo! News UK & Ireland. 27 February 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  70. ^ [2] Digital Spy Retrieved 28 February 2011
  71. ^ "Q&A: Adele's charity acoustic set BBC Radio 1 12 November 2008". BBC News. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  72. ^ "Adele hits the big time ITN 12 November 2008".
  73. ^ "Soul diva Alicia helps raise half a million, 11 July 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
  74. ^ Liwanag, Punch (20 September 2009). "VH-1 Divas returns with new batch". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  75. ^ Adele, Leona Lewis and Kelly Clarkson for VH1 'Divas' NME 21 July 2009
  76. ^ "www.nokiatheatrelalive.com/detail.php?section=detail&page=120608 800".
  77. ^ "Despite four Grammy nominations, Adele is figuring out how to be herself Westworld 21 January 2009".
  78. ^ Youngs, Ian (4 January 2008). "Soul singers top new talent list". BBC News. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  79. ^ Pool, Hannah (11 December 2008). "Adele Guardian Interview 11 December 2008". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  80. ^ "Adele Recoils from Botched Meeting with Justin People Magazine 5 March 2009".
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Adele (vocalist).
Preceded by Sound of... (BBC poll)
2008 		Succeeded by

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