Maps of Music

21 (2011)

Where the lyrics of 21 take you, and where it was really made.

The album takes its name from the singer's age while she was making it, and it went on to sell over 31 million pure copies worldwide.

Key places

Eastcote, London (2011)

Recording site Eastcote Studios — The album's London recording work is linked to Eastcote, one of the studios named in the source. The point marks the studio's city-level listing. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

AIR, London (2011)

Recording site AIR Studios — AIR is one of the London studios named in the source as used for recording the album. The point marks the studio's city-level listing. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Metropolis, London (2011)

Recording site Metropolis Studios — Metropolis is one of the London studios named in the source as used for recording the album. The point marks the studio's city-level listing. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Angel Recording Studios, London (2011)

Recording site Angel Recording Studios — Angel Recording Studios is one of the London studios named in the source as used for the album. The point marks the studio's city-level listing. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Sphere, London (2011)

Recording site Sphere Studios — Sphere is one of the London studios named in the source as used for recording the album. The point marks the studio's city-level listing. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Rubin's Malibu sessions (2011)

Recording site Shangri-La — Rubin re-recorded the demos made with Epworth, Smith and Tedder at his Shangri-La Studio in Malibu in April 2010, the start of the Rubin work. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Serenity West, Los Angeles (2011)

Recording site Motown Recording Studios — Adele and Tedder met again at Serenity West Studios in Los Angeles weeks after their first session to write and record Rumour Has It. The point marks the city-level listing. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• 21 is the second studio album by the English singer-songwriter Adele
• Released 24 January 2011 in Europe by XL Recordings, and 22 February 2011 in North America by Columbia Records
• Named after the singer's age during its production
• Keeps the Motown and soul influences of her 2008 debut album 19, and adds American country and Southern blues
• Themes include heartbreak, healing, introspection and forgiveness

Background

• Composed in the aftermath of the end of the singer's relationship with her then partner
• Adele began writing in April 2009, while still involved in the relationship that inspired the record
• She first aimed for a more upbeat and contemporary follow-up to her debut
• Studio sessions ended early for lack of inspiration
• Her interest in country and Southern music grew during the North American leg of her tour An Evening with Adele

Recording

• Collaborators included Columbia co-president Rick Rubin, Paul Epworth, Ryan Tedder, Jim Abbiss and Dan Wilson
• Rubin signed on as sole producer at first; the Malibu sessions with him took place in April 2010
• Rubin used live musicians and avoided music samples and electronic instruments
• Adele later scrapped most of the Rubin work in favour of early takes with Epworth and Tedder
• Only five songs from the Rubin sessions made the album

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Career

• English singer-songwriter Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, born 5 May 1988 in Tottenham, London.
• Known for mezzo-soprano vocals and sentimental songwriting; regarded as a British cultural icon.
• Debut album 19 (2008) included UK top-five singles "Chasing Pavements" and "Make You Feel My Love"; won Grammy for Best New Artist.
• Second album 21 (2011) became the best-selling album of the 21st century and held the top spot on the Billboard 200 for 24 weeks.
• Won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the James Bond theme "Skyfall" (2013).
• Third album 25 (2015) set first-week sales records in the UK and US; fourth album 30 (2021) was the best-selling album worldwide that year.
• Sold over 120 million records worldwide; 16 Grammy Awards, 12 Brit Awards, an Emmy and a Golden Globe.
• Held the Weekends with Adele Las Vegas residency (2022–2024) and announced an indefinite break from music in July 2024.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Praised for its understated production, vintage aesthetic and Adele's vocal performance
• Shortlisted for the 2011 Mercury Prize
• Won the 2012 Grammy Award for Album of the Year and the Brit Award for British Album of the Year
• Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune deemed the music an improvement over 19
• Metacritic average of 76 based on 34 reviews
• Rolling Stone's J.D. said the album created a burnished R&B sound that harks back to Sixties soul

Reappraisal

• Widely considered Adele's magnum opus
• Ranked amongst Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, at 137 in the 2020 list
• Included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
• Rolling Stone ranked it sixth on its list of Women Who Rock: The 50 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2012

Records

• Topped record charts in more than 30 countries
• Best-selling album of both 2011 and 2012 worldwide
• UK: 23 weeks at number one, the longest by a female solo artist
• US: best-performing Billboard 200 album of all time, with 24 weeks at the top
• US: certified Diamond by the RIAA for over 10 million copies
• Over 31 million pure copies sold worldwide

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The title was chosen as the singer's age during production, after she first considered Rolling in the Deep for the album name.
• Although she had wanted to avoid the number motif of her debut, she considered 21 the most fitting title.
• The album was nominated for the 2011 Mercury Prize and lost to Let England Shake by PJ Harvey.
• Adele's debut 19 was on the chart at the same time, and the success of 21 brought new attention to it.
• Adele's second and last album ranked as the best-selling album of the 2010s in the UK.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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