Adele has made waves in America thanks to appearances on Ellen DeGeneres and David Letterman shows. She is renowned for her expressive vocals that can elicit strong emotional responses in audiences.
Her fan base is unwavering and she is now an international superstar with unrivaled influence.
Her life
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins grew up in working-class areas of London with her mother. She loved contemporary pop music and hoped to pursue it professionally as an artist; at BRIT School in Croydon she counted fellow singers Leona Lewis and Jessie J as classmates.
Adele’s first album 19, released in 2008, became an instantaneous success, winning both a Brit Critic’s Choice award and breaking several sales records almost instantly.
Her second album, 21 (2011) was an even greater success; it topped charts worldwide and became an instant classic. Although sidelined due to vocal-cord damage, she returned to record 25 (2015) despite this setback; breaking album sales records every time out and providing hope in an otherwise struggling music industry. A celebrated icon and respected force, she represents everything the music business should stand for: genuineness, honesty and uncompromisingness.
Her music
Adele stands out in an industry where Madonna, Michael Jackson and Miley Cyrus relied heavily on videos and spectacle to build audiences. Adele’s songwriting talent stands her out.
She composes her own lyrics and performs both the piano and guitar (though not on all of her songs). Her first two albums were self-titled; 21 (released in 2011) was her breakthrough into more mature territory; becoming number one in over 30 countries worldwide and eventually the best-selling album of the 21st century.
Track titles like “River Lea” and the piano-driven “When We Were Young” allude to her nostalgic look back. Fame can have profound consequences, and on “Hello” she sings about making mistakes and lying. Fame can bring with it many baggage; she stands out among pop stars with her honest writing style.
Her career
Adele quickly rose to prominence following the release of her debut album 19 (2008), garnering critical acclaim and being predicted as the breakout act for 2008. After expanding into America via Columbia Records’ recording deal and debut appearances on Saturday Night Live by NBC NBC NBC she gained massive followings and support.
Adele’s second album 21 (2011) took the industry by storm, becoming an international success with her singles Rolling in the Deep and Someone Like You becoming global hits around the globe. Additionally, its critical and commercial reception led to Adele being awarded multiple Grammy awards for her efforts.
Adele has achieved tremendous success thanks to the A-Team lineup of producers and managers surrounding her; these talents have contributed greatly to Adele becoming one of the best-selling artists of this century. Additionally, she is an accomplished pianist – evidenced by All Night Parking and Strangers by Nature which feature sampled jazz piano sounds reminiscent of past decades.
Her future
Adele has already established an astounding career that could span decades at 27. As one of the most talented pop artists of her generation, her legacy will likely remain treasured and revered 50 years from now. A top music exec told me recently, “She doesn’t fit any category or box; she defies label-ism.”
30 was the intimate, emotive follow up to 19 and explored parenthood and love-loss through an authentic, fragile yet powerfully human lens. A massive hit in all countries around the world.
Today, she has settled into Los Angeles with an established group of friends that keep her grounded. While she occasionally returns to England for family events, she typically avoids celebrity parties and weddings as her presence could potentially lead to paparazzi disruptions or invade her privacy.