Adele

Adele

1988 — ?

Royaume-Uni

Music20th CenturyEarly 21st century, the digital age and cultural globalization

Adele is a British singer-songwriter born in 1988 in London. She broke through to mainstream audiences with her album '19' in 2008, and has since established herself as one of the best-selling artists of the 21st century, known for her powerful voice and introspective lyrics.

Key Facts

  • Born on 5 May 1988 in Tottenham, London
  • Her album '21' (2011) sold over 30 million copies worldwide
  • Won 6 Grammy Awards in a single evening in 2012, a record for a female artist
  • Her song 'Skyfall' (2012) earned her an Academy Award for Best Original Song
  • Her album '30' (2021) became the best-selling album of the year within just a few days of release

Works & Achievements

19 (2008)

Adele's debut album, released when she was 19 years old, blending soul, pop, and R&B. It introduced a worldwide audience to an exceptional voice and remarkably mature songwriting.

21 (2011)

Her second album, selling over 31 million copies worldwide. 'Rolling in the Deep' and 'Someone Like You' became anthems for a generation dealing with heartbreak.

Skyfall (2012)

The original song for the James Bond film 'Skyfall', which won both the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Original Song. It demonstrated Adele's ability to carry on the tradition of great cinematic theme songs.

25 (2015)

Her third album, defined by the lead single 'Hello', the first music video to reach one billion YouTube views in under a month. The album swept all sales records in 2015.

Adele Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2011)

A live album and concert film capturing Adele performing at London's legendary venue. This live recording has become a benchmark for authentic, unadorned musical performance.

30 (2021)

Her fourth and most personal album, exploring divorce, self-rebuilding, and motherhood. It was acclaimed by critics as a work of true artistic maturity.

Anecdotes

Adele won six Grammy Awards in a single night in 2012, a record for a female artist at the time. Her album '21' sold over 31 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums in music history.

After a delicate vocal cord surgery in 2011, Adele feared she might never sing again. She eventually returned to performing, and the release of her album '25' in 2015 generated over one million sales in just 24 hours in the United Kingdom.

The song 'Hello' (2015) became the first music video to reach one billion views on YouTube in under a month. This record highlights the impact of digital culture on music distribution in the 21st century.

Adele grew up in the working-class neighborhood of Tottenham, in north London, raised solely by her mother. It was while studying at the BRIT School for Performing Arts — the same school attended by Amy Winehouse — that she recorded her first demos, which she shared on MySpace.

At the 2016 Brit Awards ceremony, Adele stopped and restarted her live performance of 'All I Ask' after a technical malfunction. Her honest, unguarded reaction to the mishap was praised as a rare moment of authenticity in the entertainment world.

Primary Sources

Interview with Adele in Rolling Stone Magazine (2011)
I write songs about things that have happened to me, about things I've felt and been through. I don't need to pretend to be someone else.
Acceptance speech at the Grammy Awards (February 2012)
I'm so proud to be British and to be flying the flag for us. This is the most incredible moment of my career.
Open letter published on her official website regarding her vocal cord surgery (November 2011)
I had a haemorrhage on my vocal cord. I had microsurgery. It was terrifying and awful, not knowing if I would sing again.
Interview in Vogue UK (2016)
Fame is weird. One minute you're no one, and the next you're someone people queue to see. I still don't feel like a celebrity.

Key Places

Tottenham, London, United Kingdom

A working-class neighborhood in north London where Adele grew up with her mother. This modest social background deeply shaped her commitment to authenticity and her songwriting.

BRIT School for Performing Arts, Croydon, London

A state-funded specialist performing arts school where Adele trained from 2002 to 2006. It was here that she recorded her first demos and developed her identity as an artist.

Royal Albert Hall, London

The legendary concert venue where Adele recorded her live album 'Adele Live at the Royal Albert Hall' (2011), a landmark musical document that moved millions of viewers worldwide.

Abbey Road Studios, London

The legendary studios associated with the Beatles, where some of Adele's recording sessions took place, placing her work within the great tradition of British music.

Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, United States

The venue for Adele's residency 'Weekends with Adele' (2022–2023), illustrating the shift from touring to artist residencies — a defining trend in the contemporary music industry.

Gallery


Portrait of a Gentleman and his Doglabel QS:Len,"Portrait of a Gentleman and his Dog"

Portrait of a Gentleman and his Doglabel QS:Len,"Portrait of a Gentleman and his Dog"

Wikimedia Commons, Public domain — Adèle Varillat

(Albi) Auto-portrait devant un miroir - 1882 Toulouse-Lautrec - MLT.20

(Albi) Auto-portrait devant un miroir - 1882 Toulouse-Lautrec - MLT.20

Wikimedia Commons, Public domain — Didier Descouens

Adèle Kindt - A portrait of a young girl and her dog

Adèle Kindt - A portrait of a young girl and her dog

Wikimedia Commons, Public domain — Adèle Kindt

Adèle Kindt - A girl with two baskets of grapes in a mountainous landscape 1841

Adèle Kindt - A girl with two baskets of grapes in a mountainous landscape 1841

Wikimedia Commons, Public domain — Adèle Kindt


French:  Portrait de Mme Granier dans le rôle de Colinette à la Cour Portrait of Mme Granier in the role of Colinette a la courtitle QS:P1476,fr:"Portrait de Mme Granier dans le rôle de Colinette à l

French: Portrait de Mme Granier dans le rôle de Colinette à la Cour Portrait of Mme Granier in the role of Colinette a la courtitle QS:P1476,fr:"Portrait de Mme Granier dans le rôle de Colinette à l

Wikimedia Commons, Public domain — Adèle Romany


Ancien Atelier Portaels : exposition de peinture, sculpture, architecture : catalogue 1883, Bruxelles

Ancien Atelier Portaels : exposition de peinture, sculpture, architecture : catalogue 1883, Bruxelles

Wikimedia Commons, Public domain — Atelier Portaels


Explication des ouvrages de peinture et dessins, sculpture, architecture et gravure, des artistes vivans

Explication des ouvrages de peinture et dessins, sculpture, architecture et gravure, des artistes vivans

Wikimedia Commons, Public domain — Société des artistes français. Salon Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture (France) Salon (Exhibition : Paris


Explication des ouvrages de peinture et dessins, sculpture, architecture et gravure, des artistes vivans

Explication des ouvrages de peinture et dessins, sculpture, architecture et gravure, des artistes vivans

Wikimedia Commons, Public domain — Société des artistes français. Salon Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture (France) Salon (Exhibition : Paris


Explication des ouvrages de peinture et dessins, sculpture, architecture et gravure, des artistes vivans

Explication des ouvrages de peinture et dessins, sculpture, architecture et gravure, des artistes vivans

Wikimedia Commons, Public domain — Société des artistes français. Salon Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture (France) Salon (Exhibition : Paris


Explication des ouvrages de peinture et dessins, sculpture, architecture et gravure, des artistes vivans

Explication des ouvrages de peinture et dessins, sculpture, architecture et gravure, des artistes vivans

Wikimedia Commons, Public domain — Société des artistes français. Salon Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture (France) Salon (Exhibition : Paris

See also