Rolling in the Deep
Released 29 November 2010
Format
CDdigital download
Recorded August 2010; Eastcote Studios (London, England)
Genre
Popsoulblues
Length 3:48
Label XL
Songwriter(s)
Adele AdkinsPaul Epworth
Producer(s) Paul Epworth
“Rolling in the Deep” is a song recorded by British singer Adele for her second studio album, 21. It is the lead single and opening track on the album. The song was written by Adele and Paul Epworth. The singer herself describes it as a “dark blues-y gospel disco tune”. The largest crossover hit in the United States from the past 25 years, “Rolling in the Deep” gained radio airplay from many different radio formats. It was first released on 29 November 2010 as the lead single from 21 in digital download format. The lyrics describe the emotions of a scorned lover.
“Rolling in the Deep” was acclaimed by music critics and represented a commercial breakthrough for Adele, propelling her to international success. The song reached number one in 11 countries and the top five in many more regions. It was Adele’s first number-one song in the United States, reaching the top spot on many Billboard charts, including the Billboard Hot 100 where it was number one for seven weeks. By February 2012, “Rolling in the Deep” had sold over 8.7 million copies in the United States, making it the best-selling digital song by a female artist in the US, the second-best-selling digital song in the US and Adele’s best-selling single outside her native country, topping her previous best-selling “Chasing Pavements”. Worldwide, it was the fifth-best-selling digital single of 2011 with sales of 8.2 million copies. As of 2018, “Rolling in the Deep” has sold over 20.6 million copies worldwide, making it the one of the best-selling digital singles of all-time. The song spent 65 weeks on the chart, making the song at that time the fourth-most weeks spent on the chart, tying the place with Jewel with her double single “Foolish Games”/”You Were Meant for Me”.
In July, the video was nominated for seven MTV Video Music Awards nominations, making it the most nominated music video of the year. The video won three awards: Best Editing, Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction. “Rolling in the Deep” was also the Billboard Year End Hot 100 Number One Single of 2011. On 12 February 2012, “Rolling in the Deep” received three Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Short Form Music Video. Critics and music publications ranked the song highly on their end-of-year lists.
“Rolling in the Deep” is the fourth song to top the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles chart and to win both Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Song of the Year in the same year, after “Bridge over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel in 1970/1971, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” by Roberta Flack in 1972/1973, and “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes in 1981/1982.
Track listing
Digital download
“Rolling in the Deep” – 3:48
Digital EP
“Rolling in the Deep” – 3:48
“Rolling in the Deep (Jamie xx Shuffle)” – 4:17
“Rolling in the Deep (Acapella)” – 3:56
“Rolling in the Deep (Avicii Remix)” – 4:25
CD single
“Rolling in the Deep” – 3:48
“If It Hadn’t Been for Love” (written by Mike Henderson and Chris Stapleton) – 3:09
The Remixes
Rolling In The Deep (Downtown London Remix) – 3:52
Credits and personnel
Lead vocals, backing vocals, stiletto heel tapping – Adele
Songwriting – Adele Adkins, Paul Epworth
Production, bass, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, percussion and backing vocals – Paul Epworth
Mixing – Tom Elmhirst
Mixing assistant – Dan Parry
Piano – Neil Cowley
Drums – Leo Taylor
Recording Engineer – Mark Rankin
Mastering – Tom Coyne
Credits adapted from 21 liner notes:
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