"Someone Like You" is a song written and recorded by English singer Adele. She and Dan Wilson created the song for her second studio album, 21, which was released in 2011. XL Recordings released "Someone Like You" as the second single from the album on January 24, 2011, the same day the album came out in the United Kingdom. The song was released in the United States on August 9, 2011. In the song, Adele sings about the end of a relationship with her former partner, who has moved on with someone else. The song features only a piano, played by Dan Wilson.

Critics praised "Someone Like You" for its meaningful lyrics, simple sound, and Adele's powerful singing. The song became a worldwide success, reaching the top of the charts in nineteen countries and the top ten in many others. After a highly praised performance at the 31st Brit Awards, the song became Adele's first number-one single in the UK. It stayed at number one for five weeks and was the best-selling single of 2011 in the UK, Ireland, and Italy. In the United States, the song became Adele's second number-one single, making her the first British female solo artist to achieve this feat from the same album. In July 2011, the song was certified 6× Platinum in both the UK and the US. It also received a Diamond certification in Canada. As of October 2025, the song has 2.4 billion streams on Spotify, making it Adele's most-streamed song on the platform.

The music video for "Someone Like You" was directed by Jake Nava and filmed in Paris, France. It shows Adele walking alone through the city. Critics said the video was simple and well-matched to the song's sound. As of September 2025, the video has 2.3 billion views on YouTube. Adele included the song in her second concert tour, Adele Live. Many artists have covered the song, including the cast of the TV show Glee. The official music video was uploaded to YouTube on September 30, 2011.

In 2012, "Someone Like You" was voted the third-favorite number-one single of the past 60 years in the UK. The song appeared on many lists of the best songs of 2011. It won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 54th ceremony in 2012. The song was also nominated for the Brit Award for British Single at the 32nd ceremony and received other nominations. As of 2015, "Someone Like You" was the fourth best-selling single of the 21st century and the 36th best-selling single in the history of the UK Singles Chart. The song was also named the UK's most popular karaoke selection for 2011 and 2012.

Writing and inspiration

"Someone Like You" is a song written by Adele about her former boyfriend, who ended their relationship. She co-wrote the song with American songwriter and producer Dan Wilson. It was one of the last songs created for Adele's album 21. The track reflects the themes of the album and describes the relationship that the record focuses on. Adele has explained that she wrote the song because she felt emotionally tired from expressing anger in other songs like "Rolling in the Deep" and "Rumour Has It." She said she needed to write "Someone Like You" to feel at peace with herself and the two years she spent with her former partner. After writing it, she felt a sense of freedom.

Adele shared that she was feeling sad and lonely when she wrote the song, which contrasts with the confident tone of "Rolling in the Deep." She described the song as a moment of vulnerability, saying it was like being "on my knees." She also imagined a future where she might meet her former partner again as an older person, only to find him happy with a family while she remains alone. This idea troubled her, and she expressed fear about that possibility.

Adele began writing the song on her acoustic guitar after ending her 18-month relationship with a 30-year-old man she had planned to marry. A few months after their breakup, he became engaged to someone else. She said the relationship was very intense, and she believed they would marry, but he never wanted that. Learning he was engaged to another person was heartbreaking for her. However, writing the song helped her feel more at peace. She said the song gave her freedom and surprised her by connecting with people worldwide. She also mentioned writing the song while lying on her bed with a cold, waiting for her bath to run, after discovering his engagement.

Recording and composition

Adele brought basic musical and lyrical ideas to the recording session with Wilson. Together, they sat at a piano to test different melodies and lyrics. They chose to keep the musical production simple: "We just wrote it on the piano and recorded it as it was written. We didn’t think about where to go next during the recording. It was very traditional." During an interview with Billboard, Wilson explained that they wanted the song to feel very personal. He added, "We didn’t try to make it open to everyone. We focused on making it specific to Adele. Even without a clear melody or lyrics, she always knew what she wanted to say. She had a clear plan." The song was recorded at Harmony Studios in West Hollywood, California, with Wilson playing piano and Philip Allen as the engineer. Tom Elmhirst and Dan Parry handled the mixing, and Tom Coyne completed the mastering.

"Someone Like You," the emotional and somber final song on the album, describes Adele visiting a former love with hope for reconciliation. She discovers he has moved on and is now happy. Though heartbroken, she tries to stay strong and claims she will find someone like him, even though she knows she never will. This ending feels painful because it is both difficult and realistic. Many people have felt this way, trying to believe a different outcome was possible. In Adele’s music, as in life, there are no happy endings.

According to sheet music published by Sony Music Publishing on Musicnotes.com, "Someone Like You" has a slow tempo of 67.5 beats per minute. It is written in common time and uses the key of A major. The song follows three chord progressions. Adele’s vocal range spans from F♯3 to E5. The song is a slow, emotional ballad that pairs her voice with a repeating piano melody. It contrasts with "Rolling in the Deep," where Adele sings about accepting the end of a relationship: "Nevermind, I'll find someone like you/I wish nothing but the best for you, too/Don't forget me, I beg/I'll remember you said/Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead." Sean Fennessey of The Village Voice noted that Adele’s voice rises to a full octave and becomes a near-whisper during parts of the chorus. However, she regains control, and her voice returns to a deeper, more sorrowful tone. Critics praised the song’s thoughtful lyrics and emotional depth. "Someone Like You" has been compared to "Hometown Glory" from Adele’s 2008 album 19. John Murphy of MusicOMH described the song as showing Adele as a rejected lover visiting her ex’s home, now settled and asking for a second chance. Aamir Yaqub of Soul Culture called the track "extremely touching," noting that Adele’s performance makes the story feel real. Cameron Adams of Herald Sun called it a "spine-tingling sparse piano ballad."

Lyrically, the song describes the end of Adele’s first real relationship with her long-time friend and lover. It shows her confronting his marriage. At the beginning, she sings, "I heard that you're settled down/That you found a girl and you're married now. I heard that your dreams came true/Guess she gave you things I couldn't give to you" with a soft voice and simple piano accompaniment. The lyrics reflect on what was and what could have been, as noted by a writer for the Daily Herald. Adele finds strength to move forward, singing, "Never mind, I'll find someone like you. I wish nothing but the best for you, too/Don't forget me, I beg, I remember you said/Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead." Jer Fairall of PopMatters explained that the song’s subject—Adele addressing a former lover who has found happiness elsewhere—is familiar, but the details she adds make the story vivid and meaningful. During her concert tour in August 2024, Adele shared that this song had a significant impact on her life.

Critical reception

When the song was released, many music critics praised it highly, calling it the best part of the album 21. Joanne Dorken of MTV UK wrote in a review of each song on the album that the track was placed at the end, saying, "It may be a common saying, but Adele saved the best until last with this heartfelt and enchanting piano ballad. It is sad but beautiful and shows Adele at her best, making it the perfect ending to what we believe is a perfect album." Will Dean of The Guardian said the song was the album's "highlight," describing it as "gorgeous." This was also said by Matthew Cole of Slant Magazine, who called the song "gorgeous." Chris Parkin of NME marked the song as a highlight, describing it as "surprisingly weighty" and comparing it to the work of American country blues singer Karen Dalton.

Tom Breihan of Pitchfork Media named "Someone Like You" as a song of the day, saying it reminded people that pop music can still move people deeply: "Sometimes, pop music can still break your heart." Ian Wade of BBC Online wrote that the final track, "Someone Like You," which features only voice and piano, is "a thing of beauty" that makes listeners feel like they are in the presence of a future classic. Bill Lamb of About.com said the piano melody is "gorgeous" and that Adele's heartfelt delivery of the lyrics creates a highly emotional experience. He also said the song is one of the "top songs of 2011" and that "romantic pain has rarely been so beautiful." Jer Fairall of PopMatters called the song "absolute magic" and praised Adele's performance, saying her voice shows "rueful melancholy" in lines like "I heard that your dreams came true" and "cracks" on the word "I beg" in the chorus, calling her performance "stunning" and "finally worthy of her talents."

Gary McGinley of No Ripcord said the song has "aching beauty" and "the hallmarks of a modern standard," adding it may become the soundtrack for TV trailers. A writer for URB magazine called "Someone Like You" "a heart-wrencher made real by heartfelt phrasing and raw vocal delivery, 'I wish nothing but the best for you, too.'" John Murphy of MusicOMH said "Someone Like You" and "Turning Tables" were "the two best songs on the album," calling the former "desperately sad and utterly, utterly gorgeous." Bary Walters of Spin wrote that on the piano-led finale, Adele vows, "I'll find someone like you," as if that is progress, calling the statement "true to the cyclical nature of psychological damage." Joseph Viney of Sputnikmusic called the song "an ode to stalking" with a "perverse attitude" that may become the soundtrack to many messy breakups. Allison Stewart of The Washington Post included the song on her list of "Recommended tracks."

In the Village Voice’s Pazz & Jop annual critics’ poll of the best songs of 2011, "Someone Like You" ranked number nine; Adele’s previous single, "Rolling in the Deep," topped the same list. In 2019, Stereogum, Rolling Stone, and Pitchfork ranked the song as the 39th, 64th, and 71st best song of the 2010s, respectively. Parade and American Songwriter both ranked the song number six on their lists of Adele’s greatest songs.

Commercial performance

"Someone like You" became very popular worldwide, reaching the top of music charts in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It also entered the top ten in many other countries. The song first appeared at number 36 on the UK Singles Chart in late January 2011 because of strong online sales. After Adele performed the song at the 2011 BRIT Awards, it rose 46 positions to number one, surpassing Lady Gaga's "Born This Way," which was at number 18 on the mid-week chart update. When "Someone like You" was number one, Adele's earlier song, "Rolling in the Deep," was at number four. This made Adele the first living artist since The Beatles in 1964 to have two top-five songs on the charts at the same time. "Someone like You" stayed at number one for four weeks before dropping to number two on 26 March. After a performance on Comic Relief, the song returned to number one for a fifth week. It was certified 6× Platinum by the BPI, meaning it sold and streamed 3,600,000 units. On 5 July 2011, it was announced that the song sold 1 million copies in the UK, becoming the first single of the decade to reach that milestone and the sixteenth song of the 21st century to do so. It was the biggest-selling single of 2011 in the UK, with over 1,240,000 copies sold. By June 2015, UK sales reached 1,570,000 copies, making "Someone like You" the second best-selling single of the 2010s and the third best-seller of the 21st century. As of November 2015, the song had sold 1,584,000 copies in the UK.

In Finland, "Someone like You" debuted at number 14 in October 2011 and reached number one in its 12th week in early 2012. At that time, Adele had three songs in the top ten: "Rolling in the Deep" at number two and "Set Fire to the Rain" at number seven. In France, the song sold 350,800 copies and became one of the best-selling singles in the country, even though it was not officially certified. It debuted at number 47 on the Australian Singles Chart and remained at number one for seven weeks, earning a 4× Platinum certification from ARIA. In New Zealand, the song reached number one for five weeks, ending an 11-week run by "Party Rock Anthem."

In the United States, the single sold 51,000 copies in its first week, debuting at number 65. It re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 97 on the week ending 30 July 2011. After its radio release and a rise in popularity following Adele's performance at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, the song climbed 18 positions to number one, becoming her second consecutive number-one single on the Hot 100. This made Adele the first British female singer to have two consecutive number-one singles from the same album. After the performance, the song moved from number 11 to number one on the Digital Songs chart, with 275,000 downloads sold, a 191% increase. On Radio Songs, the track rose from number 42 to number 19, with 46 million audience impressions, a 59% increase. The song made Hot 100 history by achieving the biggest jump to number one in the chart's 53-year history without being released as a single. It was the first strictly voice-and-piano ballad to top the Billboard Hot 100 and the first "unquestionably slow song" to reach number one since Rihanna's "Take a Bow" in 2008. The song topped the chart for one week before being replaced by "Moves Like Jagger" by Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera. A few days after its music video was released, the song returned to number one and spent four more weeks at the top, later being replaced by Rihanna's "We Found Love" featuring Calvin Harris. With "Rolling in the Deep" spending seven weeks at number one and "Someone like You" spending five weeks, Adele became the first female solo artist to reach 12 weeks at number one in a calendar year with two solo songs. Beyoncé, Monica, and Mariah Carey also achieved this milestone in 2003, 1998, and 1995, respectively, but only if collaborations are included. As of April 2015, the song had sold 6 million downloads in the United States alone.

Music video

The music video for the song was filmed in Paris by English director Jake Nava, who said:

The video begins with a scene of a road in Paris, where Adele is seen walking alone. She continues walking and starts singing the song with a sad expression as the camera moves around her and shows other places in Paris, including the Eiffel Tower. During the second chorus, Adele stops singing and pauses on the Pont Alexandre III to look over the Seine River. She walks through empty streets during the bridge scene before entering a building where she sees her ex-lover. After seeing her, he walks away, and the video shows several scenes of Adele looking at him.

The video was first shown on MTV and Vevo on September 29, 2011. It received positive feedback from music critics. James Montgomery of MTV News described the video as "a serious, black-and-white video featuring Adele walking the early morning streets and thinking about her lost love. It matches the song's strong emotions—raw, honest, and very sad but also beautiful and determined." He also praised the black-and-white style, saying, "director Jake Nava made the smart choice to film it in smudgy black-and-white, which adds to the video's lonely, haunted feeling." He noted that the video has no special effects, no camera tricks, or complicated dance moves, and called Adele the "Queen of Pain." A writer from HitFix said the video fits with Adele's calm style and matches the song's sad tone. Entertainment Weekly's Tanner Stransky called the video "quiet" and said it is exactly what one would want to see for this sad breakup song. Krista Wick of Entertainment Tonight praised the video for being "more than enough to match Adele's powerful singing."

Amanda Dobbins of New York magazine said the video for "Someone Like You" will remind Adele's ex-lover of what he did by leaving her. A writer from The Huffington Post praised the video's simple and sad style. Sarah Dean of the same publication called it an "uncomplicated, moving film" and wrote, "the video is nothing more than Adele walking alone through the empty city of Paris under grey skies, singing her sad notes. Because it's her, we don't need anything else." Jason Lipshutz of Billboard magazine said the video is as simple as the song's vocal-and-piano arrangement. Marc Hogan of Spin said the scene where Adele looks directly at the camera "speaks for itself" about the sadness in the video. Andrew Matson of The Seattle Times said, "the song of the year now has a simple, perfect video: Adele in Paris, singing and walking, as if she is thinking about the breakup described in the song's lyrics. Her face during the line 'I wish nothing but the best for you' is the best part—very emotional, a real achievement of how she shows her feelings without being sarcastic. I think in times of sadness, everyone wants to stand on a bridge over the Seine on a cold day, looking into the wind, trying to sort things out."

A writer from Rolling Stone said, "this video for the ballad 'Someone Like You' follows the singer's simple but emotional approach with black-and-white footage that focuses on her expressive face as she sings while walking along sad, grey city streets." Andrea Devaro of Long Island Press said, "its simplicity beautifully shows the complex emotions in the song." Leah Collins of Dose called Adele "'60s bombshell glam" and said the video's "simplicity is its strength." She added, "There's something about streetlights, cafes, and the River Seine that give the video a feeling of sad elegance, which would otherwise be just another lonely walk by a girl with two-day-old hair. Not everyone gets to experience moments as sad and beautiful as a weepy walk through Paris landmarks. But then, we don't all have voices as sad and beautiful as Adele's either." A more mixed review came from Ashley Percival of AOL, who called the video predictable and said, "It's all very pleasant, but after all this time, what's the point?" Nicole Eggenberger of OK! wrote that Adele "created the perfect music video to go along with her hauntingly beautiful ballad" and described it as "simple yet stunning."

Accolades

At the 2011 Q Awards, the song "Someone like You" was nominated for Best Track. It was also nominated for Best Song at the 2011 Music of Black Origin Awards. The song won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 54th Grammy Awards, which took place on February 12, 2012. It was also nominated for the Brit Award for British Single at the 32nd Brit Awards but did not win, losing to "What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction.

Live performances

Adele first performed "Someone Like You" in October 2010 at The Current studios in Saint Paul, Minnesota. During a November 2010 performance on the BBC music show Later… with Jools Holland, the audience remained silent for a moment after the song ended before applauding loudly. Adele later called this performance a defining moment in her career. She performed the song again at the 2011 BRIT Awards on February 15, 2011, at The O2 Arena in London. On stage, she was accompanied only by her pianist. According to The Daily Telegraph, the performance included limited special effects, such as glitter and Adele’s tears, as she nearly broke down while singing about a past relationship. After the performance, Adele explained on ITV2 that she cried because she felt overwhelmed and imagined her former partner watching her at home and laughing. She added that the audience’s applause made her feel even more emotional. A writer from Daily Mirror said Adele’s performance was so impressive that she “stole the show.” The Daily Telegraph’s Neil McCormick called the song a highlight, noting that Adele’s performance relied only on her voice, a piano, and the song itself.

Later, Adele performed "Someone Like You" on a VH1 special called Unplugged and on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on February 24, 2011. She also performed the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on the same day.

Adele performed the song again at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards on August 28, 2011, at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. She was introduced by singer Katy Perry and wore a black scalloped lace dress by Barbara Tfank. Standing alone on stage with only her pianist, Adele sang the song and used her voice to deliver an emotional performance. MTV’s Kelley L. Carter described the audience as “transfixed” by her performance. Afterward, Adele received a standing ovation. USA Today’s Cindy Clark said Adele “captivated the audience with her powerful performance.” The Baltimore Sun’s Wesley Case wrote that Adele’s voice was “gorgeous” and that her performance could move even a tough person to tears. Time magazine’s Claire Suddath gave the performance an A grade, saying Adele’s singing was heartfelt and that her nervous wave to the audience at the end was memorable. A Los Angeles Times writer called her vocals “strong and direct” and praised her ability to express grief through the melody. Rolling Stone’s writer said Adele brought “elegance” to the VMAs with a simple but moving version of the song.

Gina Sepre of E! Online praised Adele’s performance, noting that it relied on nothing but her voice and piano, and that it was “refreshing” to see MTV focus on music rather than effects. Consequence of Sound’s Chris Coplan said the performance showed how powerful a simple, heartfelt performance can be. Jam!’s Lindsey Ward gave the performance an A+ grade, calling it “quality music television.” Entertainment Weekly’s Kyle Anderson called it “one of the best performances of the show.”

The song was also included in Adele’s second concert tour, Adele Live, and was performed during the encore. Joanne Dorken of MTV UK wrote that the audience was “moved to tears” as Adele sang the song and encouraged the crowd to join her in singing the chorus. San Jose Mercury News’ Jim Harrington called the song a highlight of the concert, noting it showcased Adele’s “supreme vocal talent.”

Cover versions

Charlie Puth first became famous for his cover of "Someone Like You," which he sang as a duet with fellow Berklee student Emily Luther. The video was uploaded to YouTube in September 2011. Ellen DeGeneres saw the video and invited Puth to appear twice on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. She also signed him to her record label, eleveneleven. This marked the beginning of Puth's rise to fame.

On Glee, Amber Riley, Naya Rivera, and Heather Morris performed a mash-up of "Someone Like You" and Adele's song "Rumour Has It" during the episode "Mash Off," which aired on November 15, 2011. The cover was posted online on November 10. Jenna Mullins of E! Online praised the performance, saying it would "knock your socks right off." A writer for OK! called it "AMAZE-ing." Erica Futterman of Rolling Stone described it as "one of the greatest things the show has done so far." Billboard's Raye Votta noted it was "arguably the best performance Glee has done since 'Don't Stop Believin'." Their version of the song reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, sold 160,000 digital downloads in its first week, and became the fifth highest-selling Glee single in a single week. As of March 2015, it remained the ninth best-selling Glee recording in the show's history, with 413,000 copies sold in the United States. In Canada, the song made a "Hot Shot Debut" on the Canadian Hot 100 at number 12, selling 14,000 downloads. It peaked at number 35 on the UK Singles Chart, the first Glee recording to reach the UK top 40 since "I Feel Pretty / Unpretty."

Country musician David Nail recorded a cover of "Someone Like You," which was posted on his YouTube account on May 15, 2012. The song was included on Nail's three-song digital EP, 1979, released on July 17, 2012. Nail's version debuted at number 57 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in September 2012, reaching as high as number 52. Metalcore band Ice Nine Kills released a cover version in 2012. Andy Black and Juliet Simms released a cover version in 2017 for the album Punk Goes Pop Vol. 7. Dan Wilson recorded "Someone Like You" with the Kronos Quartet on his 2017 album Re-Covered, which features songs he wrote for or with other performers.

Credits and personnel

The following credits are listed in the liner notes:

• Adele Adkins – lead vocals, backing vocals, songwriter, and producer
• Dan Wilson – songwriter, producer, and pianist
• Philip Allen – engineer
• Tom Coyne – mastering
• Tom Elmhirst – mixer
• Dan Parry – assistant mixer