Record-breaking sales, chart-topping albums, and numerous accolades – all supported by a heavenly voice and lyrical grace – solidify Adele as a true star.
The London-born singer boasts a rich, velvety voice that captivates every listener, evoking emotions that bring tears, a high-pitched note that takes your breath away, and a melodious symphony that leaves you gazing at your loved one in admiration.
In under two decades, Adele has propelled herself from London to become one of the world’s most prominent entertainment brands.
At 36 years old, she has firmly established herself not just as one of the most popular female artists but also as one of the most skilled and lyrically gifted musicians globally.
In this article, we preview her legacy, albums, hit songs, and tours including the recently concluded “Adele in Munich” residency and sales records.
Legacy
Adele’s impact on the music world is unmistakable. Since her breakout with “19”, she has continuously ruled the charts, selling over 100 million albums globally and earning multiple Grammy Awards. Her mezzo-soprano voice, tinged with a weary edge since the late-‘00s hit “Chasing Pavements,” evolves into raw emotion on “Rolling in the Deep,” where it fractures with pain and regret, capturing her intensity.
In “Someone Like You,” the emotional ballad from “21”, she delivers a heartfelt performance fit for a solo spotlight, her rich, resonant vowels revealing her growing self-awareness after a breakup.
For her fans, the prospect of Adele retiring is a mix of emotions. On one side, she has given so much to the world through her heartfelt and relatable music, with her lyrics resonating deeply on themes of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery. Her songs have become emotional backdrops to many listeners’ significant life moments.
If Adele does choose to step back, her future could unfold in various ways. She could follow in the footsteps of artists like Barbra Streisand, who has periodically taken breaks but returned for special projects. Alternatively, she might explore other creative avenues, such as film or television, much like Lady Gaga has done with her career evolution.
Background
Born on May 5, 1988, as Adele Laurie Blue Adkins in Tottenham, London, the British pop singer and songwriter, is renowned for not only setting but also breaking records to create even higher benchmarks in the music industry. Adele was raised by her mother, Penny Adkins, as a single parent.
She began singing at the age of four, with her mother supporting her passion by purchasing a toy guitar from a charity shop to encourage her. Although there was no musical background in her family, Adele’s passion for music was undeniable. Her Welsh father, Marc Evans, divorced her mother when she was just two years old. Raised by her working-class mother, Adele was inspired to pursue music full-time by the legacy of great musicians.
Adele attended the esteemed BRIT School for Performing Arts & Technology, where she honed her skills and began writing and performing her own songs. As a teenager, she created a three-track demo for a class project, which her friend later uploaded to MySpace, a popular platform at the time. The tracks gained considerable streams and caught the eye of music executives at XL Recordings. Impressed by her soulful voice and stage presence after a performance in West London, the label’s CEO, Richard Russell, reached out to Adele. Following her graduation from BRIT School in April 2006, he signed her to the label.
First studio album
On January 28, 2008, Adele released her debut album, “19”, a Blue-eyed Soul and R&B record named after the age at which she wrote the majority of the tracks. Singles such as “Chasing Pavements” and “Make You Feel My Love” charted in the top ten on the UK Singles Chart. Adele’s appearance on “Saturday Night Live” allowed her to perform several tracks from the album, introducing her to American audiences. By the first half of 2009, Adele had become an internationally recognized artist, with several awards to her name.
At the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, she won Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Performance for “Chasing Pavements.” “19” was ranked among the top 20 best-selling albums of all time in the United Kingdom and was also shortlisted for the Mercury Prize.
Adele’s first concert tour, “An Evening with Adele,” was launched to promote her debut album. The tour kicked off on 27 January 2008 at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England, and concluded on 12 July 2009 at Theatre Hall 1 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. While her debut album suggested additional dates in the United Kingdom, the tour primarily featured more performances in North America.
Second studio album
Adele released her second studio album, “21”, on 24 January 2011. During its production, she was experiencing a tumultuous relationship with her partner, who was ten years older than her. The relationship ultimately ended after many ups and downs, and the emotions from the breakup heavily influenced the songs on “21”. This emotional release contributed to “21” being widely regarded as her best album. By channelling her heartbreak into her music, Adele received critical acclaim, and the album achieved commercial success, topping the charts in 30 countries and becoming the world’s best-selling album of 2011 and 2012.
“21” is the fourth-best-selling album of all time in the United Kingdom. Featuring hits like “Rolling in the Deep”, “Someone Like You”, and her iconic track “Set Fire to the Rain”, Adele earned six Grammy Awards for the album. “21” spent 23 weeks at the top of the United Kingdom Albums Chart and 24 weeks atop the US Billboard 200, marking the longest reign by a female solo artist in both countries. In 2012, Adele released “Skyfall”, the theme song for the James Bond film “Skyfall”, which won her the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
In support of her second studio album, Adele embarked on the “Adele Live” tour, which included 31 shows in Europe and 20 in North America. However, the tour schedule had to be adjusted due to Adele’s diagnosis of acute laryngitis. The tour kicked off on March 21, 2011, at Rockefeller Music Hall in Oslo, Norway, and concluded on September 25, 2011, at the O2 Academy Glasgow in Scotland. The first 10 shows alone generated $2 million in ticket sales.
Third studio album
Adele’s third studio album, “25”, released on November 20, 2015, broke first-week sales records in both the United Kingdom and the United States. Named after the year she wrote most of the tracks, “25” sold over 3.36 million copies in its debut week. It went on to become Adele’s second-best-selling album, trailing only “21”. The album earned her five Grammy Awards, and the lead single, “Hello”, debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, it set an iTunes record by reaching number one in 102 countries.
At the 59th Grammy Awards, “Hello” took home Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance. Other hit singles from “25” included “When We Were Young”, “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)”, and “Water Under the Bridge”. In November 2011, Adele underwent vocal cord surgery, and Vogue remarked, “Has any pop star ever had a bigger year shackled to a bigger letdown?”
In 2016, Adele announced her “Adele Live 2016” tour, supporting her third studio album, “25”. The tour started on 29 February in Belfast, Northern Ireland, at the SSE Arena and was planned to end on 2 July 2017 at Wembley Stadium, London. However, due to vocal injuries, Adele had to cancel her final two shows and underwent micro-throat surgery. The tour generated $278 million in ticket sales. Adele also headlined the Glastonbury Festival, calling it the “best moment” of her life so far.
Fourth studio album
Adele released her fourth studio album, “30”, on 19 November 2021, marking her first album in six years. The album reflected the emotional turmoil she experienced, including her separation from Simon Konecki and her decision to reconcile with her estranged father. While balancing motherhood, she sought therapy to help manage her anxiety. These deeply personal experiences became the foundation for “30”, with the singer pouring her feelings of heartbreak, self-discovery, and healing into the album.
The lead single, “Easy on Me”, topped the charts in 28 countries and won the 2022 Brit Award for Song of the Year, along with a Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. It also became Adele’s longest-running chart-topper in both the United Kingdom and the United States. Additional singles, such as “I Drink Wine” and “Oh My God”, also charted in the UK’s top five. “30” went on to become the best-selling album of the year, a remarkable achievement Adele has become accustomed to.
Recently concluded concert and grossing records
Adele recently concluded a successful 10-night residency concert series, titled “Adele in Munich”. The tour was a huge success with Adele tickets selling out for each event, drawing an impressive crowd of over 730,000 attendees. The event took place from August 2 to August 31, 2024, at a specially constructed 80,000-capacity stadium at Munich Messe, built exclusively for her performances.
Adele’s 10 performances at her custom-built venue at Messe in Riem, Munich, last month set new records, surpassing numerous previous milestones. The residency became a massive success, both critically and commercially, cementing her status as one of the music industry’s most powerful figures.
The “Adele in Munich” residency has been an immense financial success, with reports suggesting that Adele earned around $1 million per performance.
However, according to the New York Post, her extended run has reportedly generated approximately $2 million per show, bringing her guaranteed earnings to a total of $105 million. Additionally, Adele’s contract includes a 5% bonus if ticket sales surpass her nightly earnings after expenses.
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