Adele is currently one of the most recognizable musicians on the planet. She has risen to global stardom in a relatively short space of time, and it looks like she is there to stay.
Adele has released some huge hits. But “Rolling in the Deep” was arguably the song that helped her get to where she is today. It is a song well worth exploring further, which is what I intend to do.
First, I will take a closer look at her recording career. And, after looking at the making of “Rolling in the Deep,” I will examine the meaning behind “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele. Let’s get started.
Adele’s Early Career
Adele was born in Tottenham, London, in the UK, in 1988. She exhibited an early fascination with music, especially with singing. From the age of four, she started singing and, thankfully, hasn’t stopped since.
When she got into her teens, she began playing the guitar and writing and performing songs. She also enrolled at the performing arts school, BRIT School, where she eventually graduated in 2006. Her classmates included Leona Lewis and Jessi J, whom she generously credits as having a significant impact on her career.
It didn’t take long for her immense talent to get spotted…
At just 18 years old, she was snapped up by XL Recordings and tied down to a recording deal. Probably the best bit of business they had and will ever do. Apparently, when she went to the interview with XL, she didn’t even know if the record company even existed. She had never heard of them and was worried that it might have all been a hoax.
After signing her record contract…
There wasn’t much time before she went from zero to one of the greatest recording artists of all time. However, she did squeeze in (pun intended) her first TV appearance on the superb BBC music program, “Later… with Jools Holland,” in June of 2007. Those were in the days before the madness of the BBC destroyed what was one of the greatest music TV shows of all time.
In the same year, Adele’s debut single, “Hometown Glory,” was released. That neatly takes me to the main part of her staggeringly successful career.
Chart Success
“Hometown Glory” was the lead track from Adele’s debut album, 19, which was released in 2008, a year after the release of the single. The single charted well, peaking at #19 in the UK and a few Top 100 entries within Europe. Additionally, it went platinum in the UK and Canada. Pretty impressive for a debut single from an essentially unknown teenager from the UK.
Her following three singles, also taken from 19, saw increasingly better chart results and sales. Most of the interest was shown in the UK and Europe, where she began charting in the Top 10. She even got to #1 in The Netherlands with her fourth single release, “Make You Feel My Love.”
Things were going well…
However, she had still not managed to break the Top 10 in America. And, other than #21 for “Chasing Pavements,” she had failed to chart. That said, the single did earn her a platinum disc in the US. Plus, if that wasn’t enough compensation for her efforts, the sales of her debut album were going crazy at the time.
The album went to #1 in the UK and The Netherlands. It also went to #4 in America, and the sales worldwide ended up reaching close to nine million. 19 went time eight times platinum in the UK and platinum in numerous other countries. Adele appeared to be riding the crest of a wave.
But, she was just getting started…
When she released “Rolling in the Deep,” her popularity and potential as a global artist hit their stride. The single went to #1 in the US and numerous other countries globally. Sales were crazy, but it was the American market where she enjoyed the most success. There, it went eight times platinum.
“Rolling in the Deep” was taken from the unimaginatively named album, 21. It went to #1 on every major chart in the world, which is just about unprecedented. Plus, it went on to sell more than 30 million copies. This made it one of the most successful albums in history.
She followed this feat up by releasing two more albums, 25 and 30. I think you can probably work out how old she was when they were released. Just do a bit of math to work out the year of their release. These also went on to a clean sweep at #1 on every major chart globally.
And today?
Adele has now sold over 140 million records and stands as one of the biggest recording artists in history. There is no doubt that “Rolling in the Deep” was instrumental in propelling her career to that of an international superstar. So, now let’s look at how she went about recording this pivotal song.
Recording and Video
This must be one of the ultimate breakup songs of all time. It was written by Adele and Paul Epworth, an English record producer, songwriter, and musician.
When it was written, Adele had just broken up with her longtime boyfriend. As a result, she was feeling down and thinking her life was going to be one long stretch of loneliness and boredom. Therefore, the song was recorded at a time of much vulnerability and self-doubt.
What makes this song remarkable is that she was able to record it in just one afternoon. Much of the credit for that goes to Paul Epworth. Adele further credits Epworth for giving her the confidence to express herself through the song.
During the recording…
Adele has since claimed that Epworth also was immensely encouraging and brought out a different side to her voice. He helped her to hit notes that she didn’t know she could. Additionally, he helped her to adapt a more Soul and Blues driven sound for the recording.
The music video was pure gold and perfectly depicted the aftermath and destruction of a relationship. It featured a sparse background, with Adele simply sitting on a chair singing. Then, as the song progresses, choreographed dancers start kicking up flour from the floor. Subsequently, crockery is thrown around, and a miniature white city ends up being burnt to the ground.
The video won four MTV video awards and a couple of UK Music Video Awards. A nice reward for a great video. No doubt, it went well with her other 12 awards, which included three Grammys. One for Best Single Record of the Year, one for Best Song of the Year, and another video award for Best Short Form Music Video. So, now let’s look a little closer at what “Rolling in the Deep” means.
The Meaning Behind “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele – Lyrics.
As I touched upon in the previous section, the song was written as a reaction to a breakup. However, if you are expecting a typical breakup song with images of a girl drinking wine and looking sadly out of the window as it is raining, then you are way off.
Right from the first line, you know you are going to get fireworks. The relationship was far from happy and most probably toxic. Adele comes out with all guns blazing. Singing about the fire within her heart and how her ex has stirred up anger previously not there.
Adele is as mad as hell. And she makes it obvious that she now has a crystal clear vision of what he is and what he has done to her. She feels mistreated and sings about her distrust of him. Even though they have split, she has no faith that he will still not try to hurt her in some way. What a first verse and what a way to start a song!
In the second verse…
The lyrics are equally strong, defiant, and confrontational. In expectation of some kind of spiteful action, she lays out that she is more than capable of forceful retaliation. She tells her ex to be careful and not to underestimate the things that she will do if provoked. Good for her.
Coming into the third verse and chorus, there is more venom. But, also, the hurt and pain come to the surface. This is someone pouring their heart out and expressing regret that they could have had it all.
The song is mostly full of venom and anger…
This comes out with a taunt as she suggests that she will make gold from this song, and he will be left with nothing. In some ways, an accurate assessment of the man believed to have broken her heart. That is because the man in question, musician Slinky Sunbeam, has long been forgotten after the split with Adele.
Be careful when messing with a woman’s heart because this is what you get. Adele let Slinky have it with both barrels when she wrote this song. Plus, she has subsequently rubbed salt in the wounds with her huge musical success, as well as the birth of her son and her current happy life with Rich Paul.
Interested in Other Famous Female Singers?
If so, check out our thoughts on the Best Female Singers, the Most Famous British Female Singers, the Most Famous Female Singers Of The 1970s, the Most Famous Female Singers Of The 1980s, and the Most Famous Female Singers Of The 1990s for more fabulous song selections form spectacular women.
The Meaning Behind “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele – Final Thoughts
I love nearly all of Adele’s songs. But this one is undoubtedly up there in my all-time Top 3 Adele songs. The sheer power and emotions on display are epic. The music, vocal performance, and lyrics all combine beautifully to convey her emotions in a way that we hadn’t seen. The song laid her bare. And I think this is what makes it so special to me and everyone else that loves it.
I hope you enjoyed this analysis. And, I also hope the meaning behind Adele’s song “Rolling in the Deep” is now clearer. If you disagree with anything I have written or would like to add something, please let me know in the comments.
Until next time, happy listening.
