Adele Brings Her Soulful Songs To 'Live On Letterman'
NEW YORK (CBS) - British singer-songwriter Adele was barely 20 years old when she won a pair of GRAMMYs in 2009 for her acclaimed debut album 19. Two years later, the soul-infused vocalist is back with a new record, 21, and she has featured songs from that bold new collection during her exclusive Live on Letterman webcast from the stage of New York's famed Ed Sullivan Theater. If you missed the live show, click here to watch Adele's amazing performance.
Adele is also set to perform at The Warfield in San Francisco on Saturday, June 4th. Tickets go on-sale to the public on this weekend. Visit CBS Local Events: San Francisco for more information.
"As much as '21' is about love's rocky road, it's also about finding peace in life's turmoil."
Adele Voices like that of Adele Laurie Blue Adkins (her full name) don't come every day–a rich beauty shines on the surface, but is propelled by a deep heritage underneath that reaches back to classic jazz, blues, and pop singing. You can feel the connection to such soulful greats as Dusty Springfield and Etta James in the way she handles her words on songs like the delicate "Hometown Glory," her smash hit "Chasing Pavements," the Bob Dylan cover "Make You Feel My Love," and her brand-new single, "Rolling in the Deep."
VIDEO: "Make You Feel My Love"
"Chasing Pavements" was Adele's second single, released in early 2008. It reached Number 2 on the British charts, and helped 'pave' the way for her album 19, which debuted at Number 1. It took a bit more time, though, for Adele to truly connect with her American audience. She played Coachella, but it was her October, 2008 performance on Saturday Night Live that clinched it. (It didn't hurt that she performed on the same episode where Sarah Palin made an appearance.) The following day, 19 topped the iTunes charts.
VIDEO: 'CHASING PAVEMENTS' PERFORMED IN SAN FRANCISCO
INSIDE THE ALICE LOUNGE | ALICE @ 97.3
READ MORE: Adele Talks "Rolling In The Deep"
PICTURES: Adele in the Alice Lounge (Photos by Steve Wyrostok)
In 2009 Adele was nominated for several GRAMMY Awards, including Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, which she won, beating out Katy Perry, Pink, the Jonas Brothers, and fellow blue-eyed British soul vocalist Duffy. For a young artist who was barely in her 20s, it was an impressive feat. By that point, too, in her home country she'd also racked up a "Critics Choice" Brit award, taken home a BMI London award for "Chasing Pavements," and been nominated for the coveted Mercury Prize.
British singer-songwriter Adele was barely 20 years old when she won a pair of GRAMMYs in 2009 for her acclaimed debut album 19. Two years later, the soul-infused vocalist is back with a new record, 21, and she will feature songs from that bold new collection during an exclusive Live on Letterman webcast on Monday, February 21 from the stage of New York's famed Ed Sullivan Theater. The free online concert takes place live and begins at 9pm Eastern (6pm Pacific) on CBS.com.
On her brand-new 2011 album, 21, Adele again covers themes of love, heartbreak, and the emotions that come with a sensitive soul on the brink of adulthood. Her soulful sound in a new direction, one influenced by American roots and country music, which she began listening to during a tour of the American South ("we'd rock out late at night, chain smoking and listening to Rascal Flatts"). "Rolling in the Deep" is the first single from the album, cowritten with her producer Paul Epworth, and while it won't be mistaken for Hank Williams, it does reflect bold, powerful Southern music traditions (Adele calls it "a dark bluesy gospel disco tune").
21 released Stateside on February 22, but British and European fans got an early taste, as the album has been out overseas since January–and has already topped charts in 14 countries, including the U.K., Ireland, and Germany. In England, in fact, it became the best-selling January release in five years. Fans were obviously hungry, and Adele clearly delivered.
Following her amazing performance at Live On Letterman last night, Street Date has a full stream of Adele's new album 21.
21 is currently sitting at #1 on the UK charts, as is her single "Someone Like You"! Not bad for a 21-year-old girl.
Click on the icon below and see what all the fuss is about!
All of the album's tracks were penned by Adele over the last year in collaboration with such cowriters as Epworth, Ryan Tedder, and Dan Wilson. The only exception is an acoustic take on "Lovesong" by The Cure. Half of the songs on 21 were produced in Britain with Epworth; the rest she recorded in Malibu with superstar producer Rick Rubin, whose stellar and amazingly diverse credits include work with Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, Slayer, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
"The band Rick put together was amazing," says Adele. "It's all about the song. We could've been in 1920 or we could've been in 2060. [It's] completely overwhelming to be given the opportunity to make a record like this so early on in my career."
"I think I come across moody and serious with my music," Adele continues. "But, in real life, I'm sarcastic and very cheeky." So she deliberately wanted the songs on 21 to represent herself "as a person. I don't think the playful me came across on the first album. It's important to show growth and development."
Read more about Adele on Last.fm
Check out Adele's 2011 tour dates
Post originally published at liveonletterman.radio.com
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