Adele Laurie Blue Atkins has made waves globally in just eight short years. After struggling with vocal cord issues that forced her to temporarily take a hiatus in 2011, she returned with 21 – the best-selling album of 2011.
She writes songs that explore female rites of passage: 19 dealt with teen angst, 21 explored transitional adulthood and 25 dealt with relationships.
1. Daydreamer
Adele first performed Daydreamer as part of a music competition when she was still in high school and placed third. Later it would make its way onto her debut album 19, originally recorded back in 2006. For the first time ever, this Mat Whitecross-directed clip depicts Adele performing in a recording studio.
Adele sings of her separation from a bisexual lover and how now all she does is daydream, in this emotive and heart-wrenching track that’s sure to stir your emotions.
No surprise that Adele’s most acclaimed song to date is Daydreamer; it has been featured on numerous television programs and live albums, such as Later… with Jools Holland, her 21 Tour, as well as fans calling themselves Daydreamers because of this track. If you are an Adele fan, listen carefully! This track should definitely not be missed!
2. Skyfall
Adele met this challenge head on with Skyfall, her third album. Composing the theme song for a James Bond film is no small task; Adele proved her mettle with this dark and dramatic song which mirrors its themes: loyalty versus betrayal in espionage. The plotline for Skyfall mirrors this track’s message perfectly.
Adele showcases her musical versatility on this track, mixing a more uptempo pop sound alongside her more traditionally slow ballads. Clapping and vocal flourishes on the bridge demonstrate an edge audiences had yet to witness.
Adele established herself as a master songwriter with 25. This catchy track from Adele’s album showcases both its rich sonority and her powerful songwriting, featuring a drum machine that pulses like a heart and her vocals that soar across registers – as well as showing her ability to fuse gospel elements with blues-influenced soul.
3. Make You Feel My Love
Adele’s rendition of Bob Dylan’s Make You Feel My Love was an extraordinary success, topping the charts both in the US and UK and appearing on popular television series like X Factor and Comic Relief – as well as featured as part of Garth Brooks’ Hope Floats album music video and Songs for Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan.
Adele released this song as the lead single from her 25 album on October 23, 2015. With its piano sound and lyrics depicting Adele picking herself back up after an unsuccessful romance, its video by Xavier Dolan became one of the highest viewed 24-hour period on Vevo.
Although Adele’s song has the traditional structure of verse-chorus-bridge, her dramatic changes in vocal intensity add depth and create an exciting listen. It sounds as if Adele can no longer contain her emotions and can no longer keep back her tears as she sings her heart out.
4. Sweetest Devotion
Adele and Rich Paul may not be big name celebrities, but that hasn’t stopped them from showing their affection publicly. Cozying up together at basketball games and vacationing in Italy are just two examples; during Adele’s Vegas residency show in September 2023 she subtly hinted marriage rumors by referring to Paul as her “husband.”
Adele returned with 25 in 2015 – an emotionally candid record detailing her divorce and recovery, breaking records worldwide while garnering her an unprecedented five Grammy awards – album and song of the year respectively.
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins first burst onto the scene with her debut album 19 in 2008. Her supple phrasing and tasteful arrangements led many critics to compare Adele to Amy Winehouse; but with more relatable vocals and more accessible arrangements. From there her career blossomed, becoming one of the most successful artists ever seen today.