“I just want to make music, I don’t want people to talk about me. All I’ve ever wanted to do was sing. I don’t want to be a celebrity. I don’t want to be in people’s faces, you know, constantly on covers of magazines that I haven’t even known I’m on.”  – Adele

A mega icon yet a down-to-earth personality, that is what Adele is. Known for her signature songs, ‘Someone Like You’, ‘Rolling in the Deep’, and ‘Set Fire to the Rain’ and her soulful melodious voice that never fails to enchant us. Every word she puts in the lyrics, every emotion she puts while singing the song is relatable and leaves us transfixed. Through this article, we’ll learn about the woman behind the world-renowned singer Adele and the struggles she went through to become what she is now.

Adele’s Childhood

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins was born on May 05, 1988, in the Tottenham district of London to Penny Adkins and Marc Evans. Her father left her when she was two years old and she was raised by Penny Adkins, who worked various jobs, including being a masseuse, furniture maker, and office administrator. 

Her interest in music started taking shape when she was four. Growing up, Adele found inspiration in the music of various artists. She was particularly influenced by the Spice Girls and Lauryn Hill. Adele’s passion for music led her to spend many days in Brockwell Park, where she would play the guitar and sing to her friends.

Adele discovered the music of Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald at a local music store when she was 14 years old. Their soulful and timeless music captivated her and left a lasting impression. Adele was fascinated by their powerful voices and the emotional depth of their songs.

She attended BRIT School for Performing Arts & Technology in Croydon alongside big names like Leona Lewis and Jessie J. At that time her interest was to attend Artists and Repertoire (A&R) and hoped to launch other people’s careers. While being there, she recorded a few demos for performing arts and gave them to her friend who posted them on Myspace. That gained the attention of the label XL Recordings and she got her first recording contract.

Her Career Growth With Timeline

2006

• She graduated from the BRIT School in London in 2006 when she was 18.
• She recorded a three-song demo for a class project and gave the demo to a friend who posted it on MySpace.
• The demo became popular on MySpace and led to a recording contract with XL Recordings.

2007

• She appeared on the TV show Later… with Jools Holland and sang ‘Daydreamer’.
• She released her first single called ‘Hometown Glory’ which she wrote when she was 16.

2008

• She won the first-ever BRIT Awards Critics’ Choice in 2008 and released her debut album called ’19’.
• The album included popular singles like ‘Chasing Pavements’, ‘Make You Feel My Love’, and ‘Cold Shoulder’.
• ’19’ debuted at Number 1 in the UK and is estimated to have sold around 7 million copies worldwide.
• Adele was nominated for a Mercury Prize for ’19’.

2009

• In 2009, She won two Grammy Awards: Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for ‘Chasing Pavements’.
• She received three nominations at the BRIT Awards that year.
• Adele embarked on her first world tour called ‘An Evening with Adele’.

2011

• Adele released her second album, ’21’, in 2011 which featured hit singles like ‘Rolling in the Deep’, ‘Rumour Has It’, ‘Set Fire to the Rain’, and ‘Someone Like You’.
• ’21’ was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize.
• She embarked on her second worldwide tour named ‘Adele Live’ but she had to cancel some tour dates due to a vocal cord hemorrhage.

2012

• Adele won all six categories she was nominated for at the Grammys for ’21’, including Album of the Year.
• This made her the second female artist to achieve such a feat in one night, following Beyoncé Knowles-Carter.
• She also won the British Album of the Year at the BRIT Awards for ’21’.
• She co-wrote and performed the title track for the 2012 James Bond film, Skyfall.

2013

• Adele and co-writer Paul Epworth won a Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Original Song for ‘Skyfall’.
• She also won the Best Pop Solo Performance Grammy Award for her live version of ‘Set Fire to the Rain’.
• She received an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for her contributions to music.

2015

• Adele released her single ‘Hello’ in October 2015 and her third album, ’25’, in November 2015.
• She described ’25’ as a make-up record, making up for lost time and reflecting on her experiences.
• ’25’ debuted at Number 1 in the UK and became the fastest-selling album in UK chart history.
• It was the best-selling album worldwide in 2015.
• The album stayed at the top of the UK charts for seven weeks.

2016

• She embarked on her third worldwide tour called ‘Adele Live 2016’.
• She won four BRIT Awards that year: British Female Solo Artist, Global Success Award, British Album of the Year for ’25’, and British Single of the Year for ‘Hello’.
• She also headlined the Glastonbury Festival, which she described as the “best moment” of her life so far.

2017

• Adele continued her world tour and concluded it with two shows in Wembley.
• She had initially planned to add two more dates but had to cancel them due to vocal damage.
• At the Grammy Awards 2017, Adele won all five of her nominations.
• ’25’ won Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album, while ‘Hello’ won Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance.
• She dedicated her Album of the Year win to Beyoncé and expressed her belief that Beyoncé should have won for ‘Lemonade’.

2021

• On October 15th, 2021, Adele released her first single in nearly six years, titled ‘Easy On Me’.
• The music video for ‘Easy On Me’ includes scenes filmed in the same house as the ‘Hello’ video.
• She released her fourth album, ’30’, on November 19th, 2021 which features 12 songs and three bonus tracks.
• Some of the song titles on the album include ‘My Little Love’, ‘I Drink Wine’, ‘Cry Your Heart Out’, and ‘Woman Like Me’.

2022

• Adele won three awards at the ceremony: Song of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Mastercard Album of the Year. With these wins, Adele’s total count of BRIT Awards has reached an impressive 12.
• She began her ‘Weekends with Adele’ Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in November 2022 which is scheduled to end in November 2023.

2023

• At the 2023 Grammys in February, Adele won the Best Pop Solo Performance award for ‘Easy On Me’.

The Challenges She Faced in Her Career

Throughout her career, Adele has faced various challenges that have tested her in many ways but she always came up strong and still is a legend.

1.Vocal Cord Hemorrhage:

In 2011, Adele faced a significant setback when she experienced a vocal cord hemorrhage. This condition required emergency surgery and posed a risk to her voice. However, she underwent the procedure and successfully recovered, demonstrating her strength and determination to overcome obstacles.

2.Career Breaks and Hiatus:

She has taken intentional breaks from her music career to prioritize her well-being and personal life. These breaks, while necessary for her, have also created anticipation and speculation among fans and the industry. 

3.Navigating Industry Pressures:

Adele has had to navigate the pressures and expectations of the music industry. From staying true to her authentic sound to resisting the temptation to conform to industry standards, she has faced the challenge of maintaining her artistic integrity while still achieving commercial success.

How Impacted the Music Industry

1.Reviving the Music Industry:

Adele’s breakthrough album, “21,” released in 2011, played a significant role in revitalizing the music industry. With its emotionally charged ballads and relatable lyrics, the album resonated with listeners worldwide and became a cultural phenomenon.

2.Authenticity and Relatability:

Adele’s music is often described as authentic and relatable. She has a unique ability to connect with her audience through her powerful vocals and heartfelt lyrics. Her songs touch on universal themes of love, heartbreak, and self-reflection, making her music accessible to a wide range of listeners.

3.Trailblazer in Body Positivity:

She has been a trailblazer in promoting body positivity and self-acceptance in the music industry. She has openly discussed her struggles with body image and has inspired countless individuals to embrace their own bodies and love themselves as they are.

4.Influence on Other Artists:

Her success has had a ripple effect on the music industry, inspiring other artists to embrace a more authentic and emotionally driven approach to their music. Her influence can be seen in the rise of artists who prioritize storytelling and vulnerability in their songs.

5.Breaking Barriers:

Adele’s achievements have shattered barriers and challenged industry norms. She has become one of the most successful female artists of her generation, breaking records and receiving numerous awards, including multiple Grammy Awards.

6.Resisting Industry Pressures:

Adele has maintained her artistic integrity and resisted industry pressures to conform to a specific image or sound. She has been vocal about her dislike for industry jargon and has focused on creating music that is true to herself, rather than chasing trends or endorsements.

7.Adapting to the Streaming Era:

Adele’s return to the music scene in 2021, after a long hiatus, marked a shift in the industry landscape. Streaming had become the dominant format, and Adele’s highly anticipated album release demonstrated how artists can navigate and succeed in this new era.

The Timeless Beauty In The Melody of Adele’s Songs

Adele isn’t just a celebrity singer, she is a person who shares her pain through her music. To this day, people enjoy listening to ‘Someone Like You’, ‘Set Fire to the Rain’ and many of her classic songs on repeat. She doesn’t just sing songs, she narrates her personal experience and life story and that’s what captivates everyone’s heart. She is an icon who knows how to win our hearts with her melodious voice and amazing personality.

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