21 (Adele album)

21 (Adele album)
source
Name	21
Type	studio
Artist	Adele
Released	24 January 2011
Recorded	2009–2010
Studio	Metropolis Studios, Air Studios, EastWest Studios, Home studios
Genre	Soul, Pop, R&B
Length	48:12
Label	XL Recordings, Columbia Records
Producer	Paul Epworth, Rick Rubin, Ryan Tedder, Greg Kurstin, Jim Abbiss
Prev title	19
Prev year	2008
Next title	25
Next year	2015

21 (Adele album)

21 is the second studio album by English singer Adele, released in January 2011. The album, produced with collaborators including Paul Epworth, Rick Rubin, and Ryan Tedder, blends soul, pop, and contemporary R&B to explore themes of heartbreak, resilience, and maturation. It achieved widespread commercial success and critical acclaim, earning multiple Grammy Awards and influencing a generation of singer-songwriters and industry practices.

Background and recording

Adele began writing material after the release of her debut album 19 and following high-profile appearances at events associated with BRIT Awards, Glastonbury Festival, and television performances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The breakup that inspired much of the album took place in 2008, prompting sessions in studios such as Metropolis Studios and Air Studios, and collaborations with producers and songwriters including Paul Epworth, Ryan Tedder, Jim Abbiss, Eg White, Dan Wilson, and Greg Kurstin. Recording spanned 2009–2010 and involved engineers who had previously worked with artists like Coldplay, U2, Beyoncé, and Alicia Keys. Sessions mixed live instrumentation and sparse arrangements, reflecting influences from artists such as Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, and Amy Winehouse.

Composition and lyrics

Musically, the album draws on soul music, pop music, and R&B, with arrangements featuring piano, strings, guitar, and rhythm sections comparable to work by Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. Lyrically, the songs navigate themes of romantic separation, emotional recovery, and personal growth, informed by experiences linked to a failed relationship and touring life after appearances on shows like Saturday Night Live and festivals such as Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Tracks vary from confessional ballads to uptempo numbers, reflecting songwriting approaches similar to Taylor Swift, Sara Bareilles, and Norah Jones. Collaborators such as Ryan Tedder and Paul Epworth contributed hooks and production strategies that fused classic soul motifs with contemporary pop structures employed by artists like Adele's contemporaries.

Release and promotion

The album was released by XL Recordings in the United Kingdom and by Columbia Records in the United States. Promotion included televised performances on programs such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, appearances at award ceremonies like the BRIT Awards, and acoustic sessions on radio outlets including BBC Radio 1 and NPR. Adele embarked on tours and residencies, playing venues ranging from the Royal Albert Hall to arenas associated with tours by Beyoncé and Coldplay, and performed on international television programs including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Marketing strategies leveraged viral media and digital platforms used by contemporaries like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry while also relying on traditional press coverage in publications such as Rolling Stone, The Guardian, and The New York Times.

Critical reception

Critics widely praised the album for its vocal performance, songwriting, and production, comparing Adele’s vocal presence to historic figures like Etta James, Aretha Franklin, and Dusty Springfield. Reviews in outlets such as Pitchfork, NME, The Guardian, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times emphasized emotional directness and classicism. The album received multiple nominations and wins at major award ceremonies, including Grammy Awards, the BRIT Awards, and American Music Awards, and was frequently listed on year-end and decade-end lists alongside landmark releases by Beyoncé, Amy Winehouse, and Adele's peers.

Commercial performance

21 achieved exceptional commercial success, topping charts in over 30 countries including the United Kingdom Albums Chart and the Billboard 200. It became one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century, outselling contemporaneous releases by Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and Kanye West in multiple markets. The album's singles drove sustained sales, and strong catalog performance kept it on charts for extended periods, with certifications from organizations such as the Recording Industry Association of America and the British Phonographic Industry. It set sales records in markets like Australia, Canada, and the United States for longevity and units sold.

Singles

Singles from the album included "Rolling in the Deep", "Someone Like You", and "Set Fire to the Rain", each produced in collaboration with figures such as Paul Epworth and Rick Rubin. "Rolling in the Deep" became an international hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping charts in multiple countries, while "Someone Like You" delivered a landmark televised moment at the BRIT Awards and peaked within the top positions of the UK Singles Chart and Billboard Hot 100. The singles earned multiple awards and appeared in soundtracks, commercials, and television series alongside placements comparable to tracks by Adele's contemporaries.

Legacy and influence

The album influenced a wave of singer-songwriters and reshaped expectations for vocal-driven pop music records, prompting comparisons to revivalist movements associated with Amy Winehouse and classicists like Dusty Springfield. Its commercial model—heavy album sales driven by a few impactful singles, television appearances, and touring—affected strategies at labels including XL Recordings and Columbia Records and informed release approaches used by artists such as Sam Smith, Hozier, and Lorde. 21's cultural footprint includes references in retrospectives by BBC, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times, and its songs remain staples in live repertoire, talent shows like The X Factor and American Idol, and streaming playlists.

Category:Adele albums Category:2011 albums Category:Grammy Award for Album of the Year winners