Adele
Adele touches the hearts of millions of people who love her for her music and share the real and honest emotion she brings to each and every song. In a cynical age, she is a phenomenon.In Adele, bestselling biographer Sean Smith talks to those close to her as he follows her astonishing journey to fame that began on the gritty streets of Tottenham. Through compelling new research and interviews, he reveals that there is far more to Adele than the superstar we all think we know.He uncovers the story of her complex family relationships; the ill-starred love affair between her mother and father; her devastation at the untimely death of her grandfather; and her seemingly unpromising future in a gang-ravaged area of South London.She found salvation at the BRIT School before a series of unhappy love affairs provided the inspiration for her record-breaking albums. He describes how she conquered America and how it all could have been ended by a dramatic vocal injury. Instead, she has made an amazing comeback and found personal happiness in a new relationship and becoming a mum.Intimate and revealing, Adele is the uplifting story of the woman with the most glorious voice in the world.
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First published by HarperCollinsPublishers 2016
FIRST EDITION
Text © Sean Smith 2016, 2017
Cover layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers 2016
Front cover photograph © Mike Marsland/WireImage/Getty Images
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Source ISBN: 9780008155612
Ebook Edition © November 2016 ISBN: 9780008155629
Version: 2017-03-16
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J. K. Rowling: A Biography
Jennifer: The Unauthorized Biography
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The Union Game
Sophie’s Kiss (with Garth Gibbs)
Stone Me! (with Dale Lawrence)
To Michael and Anna
Introduction
A picture of Adele’s immaculately made-up eyes, tightly closed, with a striking pair of false lashes, illuminates an enormous screen behind the stage. Suddenly, without warning, the lights go down and the eyes open wide, creating a maelstrom of excitement and cheering. The Adele roar shakes the foundations.
‘Hello … It’s me!’ And there she is, a formidable presence, six feet in heels. She appears not on the main stage, but on a small circular platform in the centre of the audience. 20,000 people are already on their feet. Her black silk Burberry gown is speckled with hand-woven floral sequins that are instantly lit by what seem like a million mobile phones as she launches into her iconic comeback song.
How did an ordinary girl from Tottenham inspire such adulation and acclaim, mixed with a generous helping of affection? My row is full of friendly and chatty Americans, who thought it would be ‘fun’ to fly over and see her, even though she will be touring the US throughout the year. I wonder idly if there is anyone from her old neighbourhood here tonight.
Everyone seems to know the words to ‘Hello’. It’s a wall of sound, but her voice is as big as ever, refusing to be overwhelmed by the backing music or our sing-along. The track has already broken so many records. The figures are mind-boggling in an age when there’s so much choice. I read that it topped the iTunes chart in 102 countries when it was released in November 2015. I can’t name 102 countries! The problem with this song is that it will always have to be the first number at her concerts. ‘Hello’ seems a bit ridiculous as an encore anthem.
She is flanked by her security as she walks to the main stage and launches into ‘Hometown Glory’. The picture of her Dusty Springfield eyes on the big screen gives way to photographs of London. It’s a simple song, the first she ever completed, aged sixteen, and powerful in its youthful underlying message of nostalgia and empowerment.
Before we can draw breath, the blockbuster beginning continues with ‘One and Only’, arguably the best track from the record-breaking album 21. It’s smoky and soulful. Close your eyes and you can imagine one of the great divas of the past singing it in a jazz club … maybe Ella Fitzgerald or Sarah Vaughan or, best of all, Adele’s favourite singer, Etta James.
I’ve been listening to Etta a lot while I work on this book and her peerless recordings remind me so much of Adele. ‘Fool That I Am’ was on Adele’s set list when she started out, and part of me wishes it still was, but, for me, ‘One and Only’ carries the hallmark of Etta. Adele is one of those great artists who carry their influences around with them like a favourite handbag.
