‘Rolling in the Deep’ Radio Success Surprised Adele
Adele told The Hollywood Reporter that she didn’t think “Rolling in the Deep” would get radio play. “This will never get on the radio. But it was my favorite.”
Adele reveals that she doesn’t recall most of the writing process because she was “so consumed in the grief of my first heartbreak.”
She also told THR that the process of writing her album 21 consisted of going to the studio to keep her distracted and prevent running into her ex. The artist recalls thinking “Rolling in the Deep” was great and sang the first verse as a cappella wherever she went.
Adele tells THR that she didn’t think “Rolling In The Deep” would get radio play:
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) December 7, 2023
“My only memory of my thoughts on ‘Rolling in the Deep’ was like, ‘This will never get on radio.’ But it was my favorite.” pic.twitter.com/rd5Lz54UDX
However, the only memory of her thoughts on that song was, it would never go on the radio. “But it was my favorite,” she confesses. Allegedly, a lot of people wanted the album to start with “Set Fire to the Rain” because it was pop. Her response was, “Oh h*ll no, we’re going with ‘Rolling in the Deep.’”
Adele reveals that “Set Fire To The Rain” was in the running to be the lead single from ‘21’:
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) December 7, 2023
“I remember a lot of people wanting to lead with ‘Set Fire to the Rain,’ because it was pop. And I was like, ‘Oh hell no, we’re going with Rolling in the Deep.’” (via @THR) pic.twitter.com/4GAtGqXzOP
After sharing the album with her mom, she remembered her being flabbergasted. “I think she knew that people were really going to like it on a different scale to the first one,” Adele stated. “But then I don’t remember anything.”
She continued, “People knew me, but they didn’t really care on a Saturday night, and by Monday morning, I was very, very famous. And it was very, very strange.”
Read the full interview here where Adele discusses her dream Hollywood gig, her first song, and more.
