Someone Like You

Adele told the story behind this smash hit in an interview, saying: “Well, I wrote that song because I was exhausted from being such a bitch, with ‘Rolling in the Deep’ or ‘Rumor Has It’ I was really emotionally drained from the way I was portraying him, because even though I’m very bitter and regret some parts of it, he’s still the most important person that’s ever been in my life, and ‘Someone like You,’ I had to write it to feel ok with myself and ok with the two years I spent with him. And when I did it, I felt so freed. When I was writing it I was feeling pretty miserable and pretty lonely, which I guess kind of contradicts ‘Rolling in the Deep’. Whereas that was about me saying, ‘I’m going to be fine without you’, this is me on my knees really. Adele also added: “I can imagine being about 40 and looking for him again, only to turn up and find that he’s settled with a beautiful wife and beautiful kids and he’s completely happy, and I’m still on my own. The song’s about that and I’m scared at the thought of that.”

Adele started writing this song on her acoustic guitar not long after her break-up with her boyfriend—who later got engaged to someone else: “We were so intense I thought we would get married. But that was something he never wanted. So when I found out he does want that with someone else, it was just the horrible-est feeling ever. But after I wrote it, I felt more at peace. It set me free. I didn’t think it would resonate with the world. I’m never going to write a song like that again. I think that’s the song I’ll be known for. I wrote that song on the end of my bed. I had a cold. I was waiting for my bath to run. I’d found out that he’d got engaged to someone else.”

Release date

Released January 24, 2011

Songwriter/s

Adele – Dan Wilson

Label

XL

Chart Rankings

US – 1

UK – 1

GERMANY – 4

In the US, this worldwide hit topped the Billboard Hot 100, the Adult Contemporary, and the Adult Pop Songs charts. It sold over 6 million copies in the US alone and it was certified 6 times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).  In the UK, ‘Someone Like You’ sold over 1.54 million copies and topped the Official Charts Company. The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified it Double Platinum. The song topped the charts in several countries around the world, including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, and Switzerland. It peaked at number 2 in Austria, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Romania. In Germany, it peaked at number 4, at number 8 in Greece, number 5 in Hungary, number 4 in Luxembourg, number 5 in Norway, number 4 in Slovakia, and number 3 in Sweden.

‘Someone Like You’ was certified 7 times Platinum in Australia, Canada, and Italy. In Mexico it was certified Double Platinum and Gold; in Spain it was also Double Platinum. Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, and Germany certified it Platinum.

Artist’s age on release date

Adele was 23 years old when she released this song.

Cover Versions

Katy Perry – Taio Cruz – John Legend – Amber Riley – Connie Talbot – Jamie Woon – Walk Off the Earth – Charlie Puth & Emily Luther – Friends Electric – Amber Riley, Naya Rivera & Heather Morris (Glee) – Boyce Avenue – Pixie Lott – Austin Mahone – Andrei Leonte (The X Factor Romania) – David Nail – Ice Nine Kills – Manel Amara – Jaya – Sarah Georonimo – Regine Velasquez – Anne Curtis – Aegis – Sharon Cuneta – Shinedown – Iris Kroes (The Voice of Holland) – V from Bangton Boys band – Alexa Goddard – Leroy – Connie Talbot – Tony Oller – Gabriel Rocha – Damien (The Voice USA 2014) – Jannine Weigel – CIMORELLI – Kate McGill – Masha – Kelly Clarkson – Hobbie Stuart – Brooklyn Duo (cello/piano cover) – Sam Tsui – Nicholas McDonald (The X Factor UK) – Sungha Jung – Nick Gardner – Jade Richards – Christina Grimmie – Jun Sung Ahn (violin cover) – Elie Lieb – Daniela Andrade – Luke Conrad, Alex Goot & Chad Sugg – Noah Guthrie – Irene Conti – Vedo – Reality Changers – A lot of amateur artists covered this song on Youtube.