Today (2/22/12) marks the first year anniversary of the multi-platinum, 20 million copies selling album '21'
Released on February 22, 2010, it out did early predictions and sold 352K first week. Looking over the year, it has given us 3 #1 singles that have all earned over 150M+ in radio audience, with RITD peaking with 167M (according to Mediabase). Adele has made numerous promotional appearances throughout the year including Ellen, David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel, Chelsea Lately, Dancing with the Stars, VMAs and most recently the Grammys. Her songs have taken on upon themseleves, with numerous singing competitions covering 6x platinum RITD, which later caused it to become one of the biggest crossover hits in 25 years. Along with a performance at the VMAs, 4x platinum SLY took upon itself to earn 5 weeks at the top, and with it being the first ballad to go #1 in 3 years. And of course most recently, 2x platinum Set Fire to the Rain which went #1 with no live performances in the States and with no official music video. Her live DVD, Live at the Royal Albert Hall has been certified 7x platinum and has been perched at #1 since it's November release.
Her strength in the music field is still shown, for example "Rumour Has It" was covered yesterday night on The Voice and so far has raced up to #24 on iTunes. It is closing in on 800K copies sold, without an official release.
Looking back to the music, '21' has been a breath of air to the music industry and some critics calling it "timeless."
"After only a handful of plays, it feels like you’ve always known it. It will see Adele become an even greater award magnet come the end of the year, leaving her contemporaries for dust. Genuinely brilliant." BBC
"A progressive, grown-up second collection, it ought to ensure Adele is around for 23, 25, 27 and beyond."The Guardian
" It showcase Adele's titanic vocal ability, which -- more than a few times on 21 -- is simply spine-tingling."All Music Guide
21 has sold 7,353,000 copies to date in the US and has been #1 for a record breaking 21 weeks.
Let's appreciate this album, share your first listen thoughts, your original favorites, how your opinion has changed on it with time, how this album has grown on you and so forth.
I remember listen to it in its entirety when it leaked. Rolling in the Deep in particular hit me like a wave. The song was bold, fresh, had a rousing and powerful chorus, and was unlike anything on the market at the time. Someone Like You and Turning Tables were also fantastic, and made me incredibly happy to know that a talented female vocalist could make seemingly accessible and powerful ballads.
I was impressed by 19, but it left me wanting more. There was something about the album that was full of so much potential but didn't meet the strong foundations that it was built upon. Fast forward to this album and the very first song proved that Adele was entirely capable.
Set Fire To The Rain is truly the standout song. I can imagine that being belted in an arena to a full show and filling the venue with the electrifying and larger-than-life chorus, melody and production. The song is incredible. A masterpiece. It's the perfect balance of commercially pop and power ballad. The tempo is just right, the production on point, and the marriage of this enthralling voice with an unbelievable wall of sound. Perfect.
Death. One year later, all the singing competitions are singing her songs like it was a requirement, the world is stanning hard, she doesn't take #2 on any chart for an answer, a single award isn't enough for an award show...