"30" is the fourth studio album by Adele, an English singer and songwriter. It was released on November 19, 2021, by Columbia Records. This is Adele's first studio album in six years since her previous album, "25" (2015). The album was inspired by Adele's life after her divorce, her feelings of anxiety, and the challenges of being a mother and a famous person. Adele began working on the album in 2018 and collaborated with producers such as Greg Kurstin, Max Martin, Inflo, Tobias Jesso Jr., Ludwig Göransson, Shawn Everett, and Shellback.

Musically, "30" is a pop, soul, and jazz album that includes elements of dance-pop, gospel, and R&B. The album was promoted through television specials titled "Adele One Night Only" and "An Audience with…" Three singles were released from the album. The lead single, "Easy on Me," reached number one in several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. The follow-up singles, "Oh My God" and "I Drink Wine," both charted in the top five of the UK charts at the same time as "Easy on Me."

Music critics praised "30" for Adele's powerful singing, the meaningful lyrics, and the themes explored in the songs. Many media outlets listed the album as one of the best of 2021. The album was nominated for six Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. It won the Brit Award for British Album of the Year at the Brit Awards 2022, making Adele the first solo artist in history to win the award three times, having previously won for her albums "21" and "25."

"30" reached number one in 25 countries. In the United Kingdom, it had the highest first-week sales for any album by a female artist since Adele's third studio album, "25" (2015). The album spent five weeks at number one in the UK and six weeks at number one in the United States. It was the best-selling album of 2021 in both countries and worldwide, with 5.54 million copies sold.

Background

When Adele was creating her third album, 25 (2015), she wrote enough songs for three or four albums. She later said she had four or five songs she might use later, including one produced by Greg Kurstin that she thought was better suited for when she was older. In 2018, news outlets reported that Adele was working on her fourth album. Drummer Matt Chamberlain confirmed he worked with Adele on her fourth album, along with Rick Nowels, John Legend, and Raphael Saadiq, to create an album with a soulful and varied sound.

After Adele married Simon Konecki in 2018, she filed for divorce in 2019. She began therapy and repaired her relationship with her father. Adele experienced anxiety, which, along with her divorce, the pressures of fame, and motherhood, inspired her album 30. The divorce affected her relationship with her son, and she decided to have regular conversations with him, recording them as advised by her therapist. These conversations inspired her to return to the studio, and the album became a way to explain to her son why she left his father.

Early in the promotion of 25, Adele said she planned to stop naming albums after her age. However, on her 31st birthday, she posted on social media that her next album might be called 30, referencing the theme of her previous albums. On February 15, 2020, Adele announced at a friend’s wedding that her fourth album would be released by September 2020. Later, she confirmed the album’s production and release were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On October 18, 2020, Adele confirmed she would host the Saturday Night Live episode on October 24, raising hopes for new music. During the episode, she said her fourth album was not yet finished. She later hinted on Instagram that she would return to music in 2021. Comedian Alan Carr, a close friend, also suggested the album would be released in 2021, calling the material he heard “amazing” in an interview.

Writing and recording

After her divorce, Adele used music as a way to express her feelings. She described going to the studio as "basically running away." Like her earlier albums, the vocal tracks on 30 are original demos. Adele wanted to create a "safe space" during the album's recording and chose to work with fewer people than on her previous album, 25. She selected producers she felt comfortable with, which influenced her choice of collaborators. Adele reunited with Kurstin, a longtime collaborator and friend, which helped her feel free to express herself without fear of judgment. Together, Adele and Kurstin worked on six songs: "Easy on Me," "My Little Love," "Cry Your Heart Out," "Oh My God," "I Drink Wine," and "All Night Parking."

Originally a 15-minute song inspired by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, "I Drink Wine" was written by Adele to express regret for not being present for a close friend. The song was shortened after feedback from her label. "All Night Parking" credits American jazz pianist Erroll Garner as a featured artist, making it the first song on a standard Adele album to include a featured artist. Adele worked with previous collaborators and Swedish producers and songwriters Max Martin and Shellback, as well as Canadian singer-songwriter Tobias Jesso Jr. "Oh My God," produced by Kurstin, was written during a time when Adele's anxiety was improving. The song was inspired by her first experience flirting after her divorce from Konecki.

Adele also worked with new producers, including Swedish composer Ludwig Göransson and British producer Inflo (of the music collective Sault). Inspired by the Judy Garland biopic, Adele was drawn to the new sounds, chords, and musical styles Göransson introduced, leading to the song "Strangers by Nature." Adele connected with Inflo because of their similar age and shared background in North London. Their recording sessions often began with long conversations before focusing on a specific emotion to write about. Together, they created three songs: "Woman Like Me," "Hold On," and "Love Is a Game." "Love Is a Game" was inspired by Breakfast at Tiffany's, which played on mute during the recording. "Hold On" was written about the many times Adele felt hopeless during her divorce and includes backing vocals from her friends. Reflecting on writing the song, Adele said, "I remember I didn't belly laugh for about a year. But I didn't realize I was making progress until I wrote 'Hold On' and listened to it back. Later, I was like, 'Oh, fuck, I've really learned a lot. I've really come a long way.'" By February 2020, 30 was mostly finished, except for some orchestral elements and additional vocals.

Composition

Adele wanted to explain her choices through her album 30. She hoped that when listeners were older, they would understand why she made decisions that changed her life to find happiness. This caused sadness for some people, and she feels this is a difficult experience she may never fully recover from.

Stereogum described 30 as a record that blends pop, soul, and jazz styles. It also includes elements of R&B, gospel, and dance-pop. The album uses choir vocals, harmonies, voice recordings, violins, strings, organs, and horns. Thematically, the album discusses Adele’s divorce, feelings of anxiety, and experiences as a mother. During an Instagram Live on October 9, 2021, Adele confirmed that 30 focuses on her divorce. She explained that this album is more about reflecting on her own life than her previous work. "I feel like this album is about self-destruction, then thinking deeply about myself, and finally finding a way to heal," she said. "I want people to hear my perspective this time."

The album begins with "Strangers by Nature," a dramatic song with organ and string music and sad lyrics. The song ends with the line "All right then, I'm ready," leading into "Easy on Me," a piano-driven ballad where Adele talks about her divorce and asks for forgiveness from her son, ex-husband, and herself. "My Little Love" is a song that mixes jazz, R&B, and soul. It includes recordings of Adele talking to her son about how her divorce affected him and her apology. The fourth track, "Cry Your Heart Out," is an upbeat piano song that contrasts with its lyrics about sadness and anxiety, but also shows a sense of relief. The production of "Oh My God" includes claps, keys, an organ, and bass, along with an R&B rhythm and a dance-pop sample. The song describes Adele’s first experience with flirtation after her divorce. "Can I Get It" is an energetic song with acoustic guitar and a whistled chorus. It talks about love and wanting a lasting relationship. "I Drink Wine" is a powerful gospel-style ballad that discusses her divorce and letting go of pride to learn how to love again.

"All Night Parking" is an interlude featuring musician Joe Garner. The song uses a sample from Joey Pecoraro’s "Finding Parking" (2017), which itself samples Garner’s 1964 live performance of "No More Shadows" on the BBC show Jazz 625. The song is about falling in love in a long-distance relationship and the excitement it brings. "Woman Like Me," the ninth track, has an acoustic arrangement and talks about a partner who refuses to move on from a past relationship, which affects their current one. Adele criticizes this person for being lazy and unsure of themselves. "Hold On" is a gospel-style song with a choir backing Adele. It describes her feelings about her divorce and her hope for the future. "To Be Loved" is a piano ballad where Adele explains her divorce to her son and hopes to find true happiness. The album ends with "Love Is a Game," a dramatic jazz-influenced song that talks about finding love again and learning to navigate a new romantic relationship.

Release and promotion

On October 1, advertisements and displays showing the number "30" appeared in many places around the world. These were linked to Adele's upcoming album, 30. On October 4, Adele's social media accounts and website changed to a blue color matching the advertisements. On October 5, Adele announced that the first single from the album, "Easy on Me," would be released on October 15. A short clip of the music video was shared on her social media accounts that day. Later that week, Adele became the first person to appear on the covers of both British and American Vogue magazines in the same month. On October 13, 2021, Adele officially named the album 30 and set the release date as November 19, 2021. The track list for 30 was shared on November 1, 2021. A preview of the song "Hold On" was shown in an Amazon commercial titled "Kindness, the Greatest Gift," which focused on anxiety among young adults during the pandemic. The commercial aired on November 8, 2021.

On November 4, Consequence reported that the production of vinyl records for 30 caused delays in the vinyl industry. Over 500,000 vinyl copies of 30 were made before its release. Sony Music paused other album pressings at its overseas plants, which, along with the pandemic, contributed to the delays. Adele faced some criticism for this, but later reports suggested it was likely not her fault. Unlike her previous album, 25, 30 was available on streaming services the same day as its physical release. Columbia Records, which previously only managed Adele's releases in North America, promoted 30 globally. A Target-exclusive version of the album included two bonus tracks and a duet of "Easy on Me" with American singer Chris Stapleton. Vinyl versions were sold through digital retailers, while cassette tapes were available on Adele's website.

The album was promoted through television specials. A CBS special titled Adele One Night Only, featuring an interview with Oprah Winfrey and performances of songs from 30, aired on November 14, 2021, and was watched by 11.7 million people. An ITV1 special titled An Audience with…, filmed at London's Palladium, aired on November 21. Adele also announced a Las Vegas concert series, Weekends with Adele, originally planned to begin on January 21, 2022. The concerts were delayed due to production issues and the pandemic, eventually starting on November 18, 2022, and ending in June 2024. Adele also performed two concerts at British Summer Time Hyde Park in London on July 1 and 2, 2022.

The album was promoted with three singles. "Easy on Me" was released on October 15, 2021, and became the most streamed song in a single day and week on Spotify. It topped charts in the UK and the US. A duet version of the song with Chris Stapleton was shared with US country radio stations on November 19, 2021. "Oh My God," the second single, was released on November 29, 2021. It debuted at number two on the UK Singles Chart and number five on the US Billboard Hot 100. A music video for the song, directed by Sam Brown, was uploaded to Adele's YouTube channel on January 12, 2022. "I Drink Wine," the third single, was sent to Italian radio on November 4, 2022. A music video for the song, directed by Joe Talbot, was released with its launch.

Critical reception

When the album 30 was announced and its lead single "Easy on Me" was released, James Hall of The Daily Telegraph stated that "a new Adele album isn't just a release — it's a global cultural event." Media outlets and fans linked 30 to a 2021 music trend called "Sad Girl Autumn" or "Sad Girl Fall," which describes the release of sad and reflective music by female artists during autumn. Spotify removed the "shuffle" button for its premium users after Adele requested it, saying, "Our art tells a story and our stories should be listened to as we intended." ABC News noted her request as an example of her influence in the music industry.

30 received praise from music critics, many of whom called it Adele's best album yet. On Metacritic, which gives a score out of 100 based on reviews from publications, the album earned an average score of 88 from 23 reviews, showing "universal acclaim." This is Adele's highest score on the site. Critics highlighted the album's emotional honesty and themes of hope and acceptance. Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph said the album includes "powerhouse" songs, "intense" emotions, and "bravura" performances. Kate Solomon of The i Paper described 30 as "reverent and messy, polished and painful," created by "a woman in turmoil, from raging wine-fueled nights to quiet teary moments."

Compared to Adele's earlier albums, veteran critic Robert Christgau called 30 a "breakthrough," noting she explored new musical territory. He said it was a "step up" in variety compared to her previous work. Annabel Nugent of The Independent believed the album stood out because it included optimistic love songs, a change from her earlier work. Alexis Petridis of The Guardian thought 30 was less varied musically and lyrically than previous albums but praised the tracks that deviated from her usual style.

Adele's singing on 30 was also praised. Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone said her voice was "even more expressive" than before and compared it to "a tank division that can tap dance." Sheffield also called the production "deft," and Jillian Mapes of Pitchfork described it as "nuanced." David Cobbald of The Line of Best Fit praised the album's theatrical feel and use of electronic instruments but was less impressed by its upbeat songs. El Hunt of NME appreciated the new sounds but criticized the songs "Hold On," "I Drink Wine," and "Can I Get It" as jarring.

The A.V. Club said 30 was Adele's tribute to Amy Winehouse, comparing it to Winehouse's Back to Black, as both albums explore the pain of ending a relationship. Justin Charity of The Ringer said people's interest in Adele remains because of her vocal talent, which sets her apart from other artists. Time magazine praised Adele for "remaining relevant while ignoring trends," calling her "a master of turning life into art" who is both "unreachable and relatable." The magazine also said 30 was one of 2021's most significant pop culture moments.

Accolades

Adele received four nominations at the Brit Awards 2022 and won three awards: British Album of the Year for 30, Song of the Year for "Easy on Me," and Artist of the Year. She became the first solo artist in history to win British Album of the Year three times. Adele also received four nominations at the iHeartRadio Music Awards and won two awards for 30: Best Comeback Album and Pop Album of the Year. "Easy on Me" won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 65th ceremony, continuing Adele's record of having the most wins in that category, with four.

Commercial performance

Three weeks before its release, the album 30 became the most pre-added album ever on Apple Music and had the highest number of pre-adds in one day. On November 22, 2021, the Official Charts Company reported that 30 sold more copies in the first half of its opening week than all the other top 40 albums combined. The album had the largest opening week of 2021 and the biggest by a female artist since 2007. It debuted at number one with 261,000 copies sold, and three of its songs reached the top five on the Official Singles Chart. 30 spent five weeks in a row at number one on the Official Albums Chart, tying Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour as the longest-running number one album of 2021. It was the top-selling album of 2021 in the UK, with over 600,000 units sold, including 502,000 from pure sales. 30 debuted at number one in Germany, and with its song “Easy on Me” at number one on the German Top 100 Singles chart, Adele became the first female artist to hold the top spot on both the single and album charts in Germany three times at the same time. In Ireland, 30 debuted at number one and sold more copies than the rest of the top 10 combined. It debuted at number two in France and reached number one in its fifth week, earning a double platinum certification within two months. 30 debuted at number one in the Netherlands and became the best-selling album of 2021 there. This marked Adele’s sixth time achieving this, and she became the first artist to have the top-selling album in six different years in the Netherlands. 30 also reached number one in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

In the United States, 30 became the top-selling album of 2021 on its first day. It had the largest opening week of 2021, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 with 839,000 album-equivalent units sold, including 692,000 pure album sales. It had the fourth-largest streaming debut week for an album by a woman in 2021 and sold more copies than all the top 100 best-selling albums combined that week. All 12 songs from 30 charted on the Billboard Hot 100 after its release, with six in the top 40. Adele’s total chart entries increased from 14 to 25, tying her with Billie Eilish as the female artist with the third-most entries on the chart in 2021. 30 had the largest second-week sales of the year and the biggest second-week total since 2018. By the middle of its third week, 30 had sold over a million pure copies in the US, becoming the first 2021 album to reach this milestone. During its fourth week, 30 became the best-selling vinyl album of 2021. The album spent six weeks at number one on the Billboard 200.

30 was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling over three million album-equivalent units in the US. It was the best-selling album of 2021 in the US, with 1.990 million copies sold—1.219 million physical copies and 845,000 digital downloads—making it the only album to sell a million copies. This marked Adele’s fifth time with the year’s best-selling album. 30 was the fourth-most consumed album of 2021 and second among women, and Adele was the second best-selling artist of the year. 30 was also the top-selling digital album, CD, and vinyl LP of 2021. CNN reported that 30 contributed to an increase in vinyl and CD sales, which rose for the first time in 17 years. 30 ranked number two on the 2022 Billboard 200 Year-End chart and number one on the 2022 Billboard Top Album Sales Year-End chart. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry reported that Adele was the world’s third best-selling artist of 2021. 30 was the best-selling album of 2021 worldwide, topping the Global Album All-Format Chart, Global Album Sales Chart, and the newly created Global Vinyl Album Chart. The Wall Street Journal noted that 30 had a strong impact on vinyl and CD sales compared to Adele’s previous albums.

30 debuted at number one on the Billboard Canadian Albums Chart with 70,000 units sold in its first week, marking Adele’s third number one album in Canada. For 2021, 30 was Canada’s top-selling album across all formats—digital, CD, and vinyl LP. In total, the album spent six nonconsecutive weeks at number one. 30 topped Australia’s ARIA Albums Chart for seven consecutive weeks. It debuted at number one on New Zealand’s Albums Chart and was certified gold within its first week, spending seven additional consecutive weeks at number one. In Japan, 30 debuted at number five on the Oricon Japanese Albums chart and number four on the Billboard Japanese Albums Chart, while reaching number 68 on the Gaon Album Chart in South Korea.

Track listing

The song "All Night Parking" is based on "Finding Parking" (2017) by Joey Pecoraro. This song also samples the earlier piece "No More Shadows" (1964) by Erroll Garner.

Personnel

Credits adapted from official liner notes.

• Adele – vocals (all tracks), voice notes (3), tambourine (5), stomps (6), handclaps (6, 12)
• Ludwig Göransson – piano, bass, rhodes, mellotron, synth programming (1)
• David Campbell – strings (1, 3, 7, 10, 12–15)
• Serena Göransson – strings (1)
• Greg Kurstin – bass, piano (2–5, 7); kick drum (2), mellotron (3, 4, 7), steel guitar (3), handclaps (4, 5), guitar (4), hammond B3 organ (4, 5, 7), drum programming, keyboards (5); percussion (5, 7), orchestron, rhodes (7)
• Angelo Adkins – voice notes (3)
• Chris Dave – drums (3–5, 9), percussion (3, 9, 12), bongos, vibraslap (4)
• Max Martin – piano, programming, keyboards, background vocals (6)
• Shellback – drums, bass, guitar, percussion, programming, whistle, keyboards, stomps, handclaps (6)
• Joey Pecoraro – drums, additional piano, trumpet, violin (8)
• Erroll Garner – piano (8)
• Inflo – bass (9, 10, 12), guitar (9), electric guitar, drums, piano, organ, percussion (10, 12); wurlitzer, handclaps (12)
• Tobias Jesso Jr. – piano (11)
• Chris Stapleton – vocals (15)

References

1. "Adele 30 Cassette" . Adele | Official Store. Archived from the original on 14 October 2021 . Retrieved 14 October 2021 .
2. "Adele 30 CD" . Adele | Official Store. Archived from the original on 14 October 2021 . Retrieved 14 October 2021 .
3. "Adele 30 Digital Download" . Adele | Official Store. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021 . Retrieved 14 October 2021 .
4. "Adele 30 Double LP" . Adele | Official Store. Archived from the original on 14 October 2021 . Retrieved 14 October 2021 .