"Rolling in the Deep"

"Rolling in the Deep"
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Name	Rolling in the Deep
Artist	Adele
Album	21
Released	2010
Recorded	2010
Genre	Soul, pop, blues
Length	3:48
Label	XL Recordings, Columbia Records
Writer	Adele Adkins; Paul Epworth
Producer	Paul Epworth

"Rolling in the Deep" is a song by English singer Adele from her second studio album, 21. Released in 2010, the track became a global hit that bridged soul music, pop music, and blues influences, winning multiple awards and charting across Billboard Hot 100, UK Singles Chart, and other national charts. The song's commercial success and critical acclaim established Adele as a major international artist alongside contemporaries such as Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Taylor Swift.

Background and writing

Adele wrote the song with Paul Epworth after a period of personal upheaval following a breakup; the session took place in London, with influences drawn from classic gospel music and contemporary R&B. The songwriting process referenced traditions associated with singers such as Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, and songwriters like Diane Warren, Max Martin, and Bernie Taupin. During development, collaborators and industry figures including executives at XL Recordings, producers who worked with Mark Ronson and Rick Rubin, and friends from the Camden music scene provided feedback. The composition was positioned by Adele and Epworth to harness the dramatic narrative conventions of works by Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and songwriters behind Stax Records.

Composition and lyrics

Musically, the song employs a driving backbeat, handclaps, piano, and a rhythmic guitar groove evoking the textures of soul music recordings from Atlantic Records and the Motown era. The melody showcases Adele's contralto range with dynamic shifts that reviewers compared to performances by Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin, and Dusty Springfield. Lyrically, the song uses metaphors and evocative phrasing to address betrayal and empowerment, drawing parallels to themes in songs by Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Nina Simone, and Patti Smith. Critics noted narrative concision reminiscent of Tin Pan Alley songwriting and the emotional directness found in Billie Holiday recordings.

Recording and production

Produced and engineered by Epworth, sessions took place in studios associated with producers who have worked with U2, Coldplay, Florence and the Machine, and Arctic Monkeys. The production techniques emphasized live takes, sparse overdubs, and analog textures similar to projects from Abbey Road Studios and Sun Studio. Musicians involved reflected the London session community that had contributed to records by Paloma Faith, Emeli Sandé, and Florence Welch. Mixing choices highlighted vocal immediacy, a common approach among producers such as Nigel Godrich and Steve Albini; mastering was executed with a focus on dynamic impact akin to releases by XL Recordings and Columbia Records.

Release and promotion

The single was issued by XL Recordings in the United Kingdom and by Columbia Records in the United States, supported by radio campaigns across networks like BBC Radio 1, Capital FM, iHeartRadio, and SiriusXM. Television performances and appearances included programs and events connected to Saturday Night Live, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and award ceremonies such as the Grammy Awards and the BRIT Awards. Promotional partnerships and placements aligned the song with campaigns using sync licensing strategies similar to those employed by artists like Coldplay and U2.

Critical reception

Music journalists from outlets aligned with critics who cover Rolling Stone, NME, Pitchfork, The Guardian, and The New York Times praised the song's emotional power and production. Reviews compared Adele's vocal and interpretive strength to legends such as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney, and contemporaries including Bruno Mars and John Legend. The track received accolades from institutions like the Grammy Awards and the Brit Awards, and it featured on numerous year-end and decade-end lists curated by publications like Time (magazine), Billboard (magazine), and The Washington Post.

Commercial performance

The single topped charts in multiple countries, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100, the UK Singles Chart, and charts across Australia, Canada, Germany, and France. It achieved multi-platinum certification from agencies including the Recording Industry Association of America and the British Phonographic Industry, joining sales milestones attained by releases from Michael Jackson, Madonna, The Beatles, and Whitney Houston. Streaming and radio airplay propelled the record into the catalog of enduring pop hits alongside catalog staples from Prince, David Bowie, and Elton John.

Music video and visuals

The official music video, produced with a visual vocabulary informed by filmmakers and stylists who have collaborated with artists like David Fincher, Spike Jonze, and Sofia Coppola, emphasized stark monochrome imagery and symbolic props. Visual references and cinematography drew comparisons to videos by A-ha, Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Sinead O'Connor, and to photography styles of Annie Leibovitz and Rankin. The video received rotation on music channels such as MTV, VH1, and Vevo and contributed to the song's cultural penetration.

Live performances and legacy

Adele performed the song on tours and residencies including international legs that visited venues associated with Madison Square Garden, Wembley Stadium, Royal Albert Hall, and festivals such as Glastonbury Festival and Coachella. Live renditions influenced subsequent covers and reinterpretations by artists across genres, with notable performances by Aretha Franklin-style vocalists, John Legend, Kelly Clarkson, and contestants on competitions like American Idol, The Voice, and The X Factor. The song's legacy endures in its influence on 2010s pop and soul, cited alongside landmark singles from Beyoncé, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Kendrick Lamar as shaping the decade's mainstream sound.

Category:2010 singles Category:Adele songs