21 (Adele album)

In April 2009, 20-year-old Adele, who had recently embarked on her first serious relationship with a man 10 years her senior, began composing the follow-up to her 2008 debut album 19. In response to the media's typecasting her as an "old soul" due to the vintage production and sentimental nature of her songs, Adele decided on a more upbeat and contemporary second album. However, studio sessions were generally unproductive, and after two weeks, yielded only one song recorded to the singer's satisfaction—the Jim Abbiss-produced "Take It All," a lovelorn piano ballad not unlike the songs on 19. Disillusioned with lack of inspiration and the slow progress of the studio sessions, she cancelled the remaining recording session dates.

Adele had written "Take It All" during a difficult moment in her 18-month relationship, which ended shortly after she first played this song for her boyfriend. Heartbroken but musically stimulated, Adele channelled her rush of emotions into her music, crafting songs that examined her failed relationship from the perspectives of a vengeful ex-lover, a heartbroken victim, and a nostalgic old flame.

Writing for the album began shortly after Adele separated from her lover. Within a day of her break-up, she contacted producer Paul Epworth, intent on capturing her emotion in a song: "We'd had a fuming argument the night before, I'd been bubbling. Then I went into the studio and screamed." Although she had initially planned on completing a ballad that she had begun writing with Epworth more than a year ago, the producer suggested that she aim for a more aggressive sound. Together, they restructured the song and rewrote lyrics to reflect Adele's recent experience, deciding on the title "Rolling in the Deep." The instrumentation evolved organically—after trying out various jazz riffs, Adele attempted the first verse a cappella, inspiring Epworth to improvise a melody on his acoustic guitar. A thumping drum beat was set to mimic her racing heartbeat. In two days, a demo was recorded to be produced by Columbia Records co-president Rick Rubin later that year. However, Adele re-approached Epworth months later to complete production of the song.

British producer Fraser T Smith recalled following a similar trajectory when he teamed up with Adele to compose the subsequent third single "Set Fire to the Rain" at his MyAudiotonic Studios in London. After the two had created the demo, Adele revisited her co-writer to record the song with him, instead of the intended producer Rick Rubin. Smith thought Adele's first attempt superior to subsequent takes and used the demo as the final production of the song, complete with live drum sounds and an elaborate strings section (arranged by British musician Rosie Danvers).

With the demos of two songs recorded, Adele approached American musician and OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder, who was in London at the time for a radio show. Tedder had expressed interest in collaborating with the singer after they met at the 2009 Grammy Awards ceremony in February.{{harvnb|Adkins|2011|loc=Interview: "Turning Tables"}} He arrived four hours early to their first studio session, buying time to better familiarise himself with some of her previous work. Although unaware of Adele's personal predicament, he composed the opening piano sequence and the first few lines of what became the lovelorn ballad "Turning Tables": "Close enough to start a war/All that I have is on the floor." Coincidentally, it perfectly captured the experience of the singer, who arrived at the studio moments after another altercation with her former lover. Angry and unfocused, she denounced her ex-lover's tendency to "turn the tables" on her during their arguments, an expression that Tedder decided to reference in the song's lyrics. Adele recorded the demo with Jim Abbiss the following day.

Adele and Tedder arranged a second meeting and reconvened at Serenity West Studios in Los Angeles weeks later to write and record "Rumour Has It". In an interview, Tedder recalled his astonishment at the singer's musicality and vocal prowess after she completed the main vocals to the song in 10 minutes: "She sang it once top to bottom, pitch perfect, she didn't miss a note. I looked at the engineer then at her and said, 'Adele, I don't know what to tell you but I have never had anyone do that in ten years'."

File:RickRubinSept09.jpg, known for his "stripped-down" sound and unorthodox approach in the studio, was one of the major producers for the album.]]

After working with Smith, Tedder, and Epworth, Adele travelled to the United States for the remainder of the album's production. At the suggestion of Columbia Records group president Ashley Newton, she met with songwriter Greg Wells at his studio in Culver City, Los Angeles, where they co-wrote the gospel-tinged ballad "One and Only". The song evolved from a four-chord piano progression in a 6/8-metre, which Wells had conceived before meeting with the singer. The lyrics, aimed at the singer's new love interest, came together quickly and were later completed with Dan Wilson, with whom she also composed "Someone like You".

In 2008, Adele's appearance on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live caught the attention of producer Rick Rubin. In the initial stage of the album's production, Rubin had signed on as its sole producer and was scheduled to produce all of its songs. The demos she had recorded with Epworth, Smith, and Tedder (including "Rolling in the Deep" and "Set Fire to the Rain") were subsequently rerecorded by Rubin when she met with him in his Shangri-La Studio in Malibu, California, in April 2010.

Rubin, notorious for his unorthodox production style, pushed the singer beyond her comfort zone, and despite being drawn to his unconventional methods, Adele described working with the producer as daunting. Rubin had attended many of her shows throughout 2008–2009, and after a Hollywood Bowl performance, approached her to compliment her live sound. When they met in Malibu, he attempted to "capture her live show across on [her] record," assembling a team of musicians—including drummer Chris Dave, guitarist Matt Sweeney, James Poyser on piano, and Pino Palladino on bass—to contribute live instrumentation to the recording sessions. He also decided against the use of music samples and electronic instruments. An advocate of a more free-form approach to music-making, Rubin relied on the moods and feelings behind the music itself to guide the instrumental and melodic arrangement of the songs. He isolated the singer in the studio and encouraged her, as well as his team of musicians, to approach the production process with more spontaneity and less restraint. The singer even recalled moving the musicians and production team to tears while recording some of the songs.{{harvnb|Adkins|2011|loc=Interview: "Lovesong"}} In an interview, he commented on the nature of the recording sessions:

{{blockquote|Her singing was so strong and heartbreaking in the studio, it was clear something very special was happening ... The musicians were inspired as they rarely get to play with the artist present, much less singing ... Today, most things are recorded as overdubs on track. This was truly an interactive moment where none of the musicians knew exactly what they were going to play and all were listening so, so, deeply and completely to figure out where they fitted in ... all of the playing was keying off the emotion on Adele's outrageous vocal performance.}}

After recording the album with Rubin, Adele was dissatisfied with many of the songs. Ultimately, she decided to scrap most of the work done in favour of the early takes she did with other producers, including Epworth and Tedder, in order for the music to reflect the raw emotion felt immediately after her break-up.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-triumph-of-adele-20120928|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930000444/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-triumph-of-adele-20120928|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 September 2012|title=The Triumph of Adele|magazine=Rolling Stone}} From her collaboration with Rubin, only five songs appeared on the album: "Don't You Remember," "He Won't Go," "I'll Be Waiting," "One and Only," as well as the U.S.-only track "I Found a Boy."

Weeks after her stint with Rubin, Adele learned of her ex-lover's recent engagement, inspiring the composition of the album's final track "Someone like You." Adele's record label was initially dissatisfied with the song's sparse production, which comprised Adele's voice alongside a sole piano, and requested that it be re-recorded with Rubin's band. However, the singer opted to keep the arrangement, stating that the song was personal to her and that she wrote it to "free herself."

{{Blockquote|[21]'s different from 19, it's about the same things but in a different light. I deal with things differently now. I'm more patient ... more forgiving and more aware of my own flaws ... Something that comes with age I think. So fittingly this record is called 21 ... Like a photo album you see [my] progression and change ... throughout the years. I tried to think of other album titles but couldn't come up with anything that represented the album properly.|author=Adele, on the meaning behind the title.}}

Adele first intended to title the album Rolling in the Deep, her adaptation of the slang phrase "roll deep," which summarises how she felt about her relationship; in her loose translation, the phrase refers to having someone "that has your back" and always supports you. However, the singer later deemed the title too confusing for some of her audiences. Although she had wanted to avoid the number motif of her debut, Adele considered "21" the most fitting title as it represented her age at the time of the album's composition, serving as an autobiographical period piece and symbolising the personal maturity and artistic evolution since her debut.

21 bears influences of Adele's extended exposure to the music of the Southern United States during the North American leg of her 2008–2009 tour An Evening with Adele. Frequent smoke breaks with her tour bus driver, a Nashville, Tennessee native, resulted in her introduction to bluegrass and rockabilly, and the music of Garth Brooks, Wanda Jackson, Alison Krauss, Lady Antebellum, Dolly Parton, and Rascal Flatts. Adele developed an appreciation for the country genre, praising what she described as the immediacy of the themes and the straightforward narrative structure of many of the songs she listened to.

She also expressed her enthusiasm at simply learning a new style of music. Although influenced by Adele's interest in country music at the time, 21 remains faithful to the Motown influences of 19 and exhibits both gospel and soul music inflections. Instruments such as the saxophone, harp, banjo, and the accordion contributed to its exploration of blues and soul.{{Failed verification|date=September 2012}} The singer drew from the music of Mary J. Blige, Kanye West, Elbow, Mos Def, Alanis Morissette, Tom Waits, and Sinéad O'Connor in the cultivation of the album's sound and credited Yvonne Fair, Andrew Bird, Neko Case, and The Steel Drivers with its musical direction.

Adele's style on 21 is generally characterised by critics as soul, although some suggest that the album eschews any distinct stylistic epithet. John Murphy of musicOMH characterises the album as British soul. Jon Caramanica of The New York Times wrote that the album's music is a part of a recent British soul revival that "summoned styles dating back to Motown girl groups and Dusty Springfield". Ryan Reed of Paste calls Adele a "British alt-soul prodigy" and the album's music "the stuff of sensual modern pop-noir landscape, heavy on retro textures and relationship drama". Danyel Smith of Billboard views that Adele's music exhibits influences from Northern soul, Aretha Franklin, Sade, and Bette Midler.

Larry Flick of SiriusXM called 21 "a pop record with soul leanings", while The Washington Post's Allion Stewart commented on the album's eclectic nature: "Everything on [21] is precisely calibrated to transcend genres, to withstand trends ... It's slightly angled toward country, even more toward R&B", and "informed, but never overwhelmed, by roots music". Mike Spies of Slate argues that soul music is inextricably linked to the political, historical, and cultural experience of African Americans, and that Adele and her contemporaries, far removed from this socio-cultural milieu, can offer only a mere duplicate of actual "soul", despite a capacity to convincingly channel the sound. Randall Roberts of the Los Angeles Times wrote that 21 is an "ode to, American soul, rhythm and blues, jazz, country and the myriad combinations thereof".{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Randall |date=15 August 2011 |title=Live review: Adele, Wanda Jackson at the Greek Theatre |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/pop-hiss/story/2011-08-16/live-review-adele-wanda-jackson-at-the-greek-theatre |url-status=live |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240311190721/https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/pop-hiss/story/2011-08-16/live-review-adele-wanda-jackson-at-the-greek-theatre |archive-date=11 March 2024 |access-date=11 March 2024}}

The sequence of the tracks on the deeply autobiographical album correlates with the range of emotions Adele experienced after the break-up, progressing from themes of anger and bitterness to feelings of loneliness, heartbreak, and regret, and finally, acceptance. The revenge song "Rolling in the Deep," a "dark, bluesy, gospel, disco tune" in the singer's own words, was written as a "fuck you" to her ex-lover after his disparaging remarks that she was weak and that her life without him would be "boring and lonely and rubbish."{{harvnb|Adkins|2011|loc=Interview: "Rolling in the Deep"}} Opening with an understated acoustic guitar strum, the song's first lines set the foreboding tone of the album. Pounding martial beats, shuffling percussion, and piano coalesce into a dramatic, multilayered chorus over which "Adele's voice ranges, dramatizing her search for just the right tone and words to express her dismay that a man would dare break her heart." The first single from 21, "Rolling in the Deep," is one of the more apparent influences of the bluesy Americana music that framed the album's sound.{{cite magazine|last=Walters|first=Barry|title=Rolling in the Deep by Adele – Song Reviews|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/songreviews/rolling-in-the-deep-20101215|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=16 December 2010|date=15 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714010600/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/songreviews/rolling-in-the-deep-20101215|archive-date=14 July 2012|url-status=dead}}

"Rumour Has It," the singer's tongue-in-cheek retort to the hurtful gossip that surrounded her break-up, was aimed at her own friends for their part in spreading these rumours. Fusing elements of doo-wop and Tin Pan Alley blues, the percussion-driven song is built on girl-group harmonies, piano chords, pounding kick drum, and handclaps,{{harvnb|Adkins|2011|loc=Interview: "Rumour Has It"}} and finds the singer "channeling a '40s, piano-vixen lounge singer." Jon Caramanica of The New York Times pointed out the song's "hollow counterpoint vocals" and slow, "daringly morbid" bridge that veers from the pounding rhythm before once again acceding to it. In the studio, Tedder experimented with a riff inspired by Radiohead's "I Might Be Wrong," crediting the song's drop D tuning and American blues vibe as impetus for "Rumour Has It." In "Turning Tables," a song of domestic dispute, its narrator assumes a defensive stance against a manipulative ex-lover. Reconciling herself with the termination of a contentious relationship, she vows emotional distance to shield herself from future heartbreak. Bryan Boyd of The Irish Times likened the singer to 1980s Welsh rocker Bonnie Tyler in delivering the vocals with a mixture of anger, pain, and pathos. According to Paste magazine, cinematic strings "serve as fitting counterpoint to [the song's] heartbroken, hollowed-out lyrics."

{{listen

| filename = Rolling in Deep.ogg

| title = 'Rolling in the Deep'

| description = The revenge song "Rolling in the Deep" was conceived only hours after Adele's separation from her ex-lover. A "dark, bluesy, gospel, disco tune" in the singer's own words, it was written in response to disparaging comments he made towards her during an argument.

| format = Ogg

| filename2 = Someone Like You.ogg

| title2 ="Someone like You"

| description2 = A 27-second sample of "Someone like You" which features spare and understated production. In the song, Adele wishes her former lover happiness in his new relationship and begs him never to forget her.

| filename3 = AdeleDon't You Remember.ogg

| title3 ="Don't You Remember"

| description3 = On "Don't You Remember," the singer implores her ex-lover to overlook her past mistakes and to remember her at her best. With bluesy guitar riffs and instrumental backing from the banjo and the accordion, the Rick Rubin-produced song is one of the more potent examples of the country music influences that permeate the album.

}}

The Rick Rubin-produced fourth track "Don't You Remember," co-written by Adele and Dan Wilson, marks a shift in the album's theme, from anger and defensiveness to reflection and heartbreak. A downtempo country music-styled ballad, the song was added late to the production of the album after the singer grew ashamed of her continued negative portrayal of her ex-lover throughout the album.{{harvnb|Adkins|2011|loc=Interview: "Don't You Remember"}} Its lyrics entreat a past lover to remember the happier moments at the beginning of a now broken relationship. "Don't You Remember" was the most challenging song on 21 for Adele to record.{{cite web|title=73* Questions With Adele Vogue|website = YouTube| date=21 October 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=544DTGHIBM0}} In "Set Fire to the Rain," the singer delineates the conflicting stages of a troubled union and wrestles with her inability to fully let go.{{harvnb|Adkins|2011|loc=Interview: "Set Fire to the Rain"}} Accentuated by ornate orchestral flourishes, swirling strings, crescendos, and dramatic vocal effects towards its climactic end, the song stands in stark contrast to the otherwise understated production of the album and, in reviews, was characterised by critics as a pop rock power ballad. To achieve a fuller sound, producer Fraser T Smith incorporated the popular "wall of sound" reverberative technique in framing the song's dense instrumentation.

"Take It All," the seventh track, written and recorded with Francis "Eg" White and Jim Abbiss before the breakdown of Adele's relationship, is a piano and vocal ballad that borrows heavily from pop, soul, and gospel.{{harvnb|Adkins|2011|loc=Interview: "Take It All"}} In his review of 21, Allmusic's Matt Collar called the song the album's centrepiece, "an instant classic" in the same vein as "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" and "All by Myself," a "cathartic moment for fans who identify with their idol's Pyrrhic lovelorn persona." The track precedes "I'll Be Waiting," the second of two songs produced by Epworth, which diverges from the scathing "Rolling in the Deep" in its optimistic tone and brisk, lilted melody. A protagonist's mea culpa for a relationship gone wrong, she declares to wait patiently for her lover's inevitable return.{{harvnb|Adkins|2011|loc=Interview: "I'll Be Waiting"}} The song was compared to the work of Aretha Franklin for its "huge vocal sound on the chorus, rolling piano, and boxy snare," while Tom Townshend of MSN Music described its brass section as a Rolling Stones-esque "barroom gospel."

Although the album predominantly explores the singer's failed relationship, not all songs were geared towards her ex-lover. "He Won't Go," a nod to hip-hop and contemporary R&B, was a tribute to a friend who battled heroin addiction. The ninth track "One and Only," noted for its gospel-tinged vocals, organ, and choir, was directed at a close friend for whom Adele shared romantic feelings.{{harvnb|Adkins|2011|loc=Interview: "One and Only"}} And "Lovesong" (a cover of a song by the Cure) was dedicated to Adele's mother and friends, in whom she found solace when she grew homesick and lonely while recording in Malibu.

The album closes with the "heartbreak Adagio" "Someone like You," a soft piano ballad that pairs Adele's vocals with a piano playing mostly an arpeggiated ostinato. In interviews, the singer described it as the summation of her attitude towards her ex-lover by the end of the album's production.{{harvnb|Adkins|2011|loc=Interview: "Someone like You"}} The song's lyrics describe a protagonist's attempt at dealing with her heartbreak after she learns of her ex-lover's recent marriage and happy new life. Sean Fennessey of The Village Voice praised the singer's nuanced vocal performance in the song, which ascends "into a near-shrieked whisper" during parts of the chorus, after which she once again regains composure. One of the more commended songs on the album, "Someone like You" was praised for its lyrical depth and understated simplicity.

File:Adele - Seattle, WA - 8.12.2011 (cropped0).jpg.]]

For the North American release of 21 on 22 February, Columbia Records executives employed the "'long tail' sales theory" to shape its marketing campaign, which, according to Columbia Senior VP of Marketing Scott Greer, involved "building a critical mass throughout February to reach all those people who bought 19." A key part of this strategy was the record company approaching internet and media partners Vevo, AOL, and VH1 to commence the promotion of Adele's old and new songs. In the months leading up to the European release of 21, Adele embarked on a promotional tour across Europe, performing on the UK's Royal Variety Performance on 9 December 2010, the finale of the reality singing competition The Voice of Holland on 21 January 2011, and on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge six days later. On 24 January 2011, during the week of the album's UK release, she performed an acoustic set of selected songs from 21 at London's Tabernacle music hall, which was screened live on her personal website. Adele performed "Someone like You" at the 2011 BRIT Awards ceremony, which was well received and resulted in a sales increase for both 19 and 21.

From September to October 2010, Adele embarked on a mini-promotional tour of the US, which included stops in New York and Minneapolis, as well as an exclusive appearance at the famous Club Largo in Los Angeles. Although she did not use Twitter at the time, Columbia created an account that redirected followers to the singer's personal blog. Throughout February, Adele's personal site hosted a "21 Days of Adele" promotion, which featured exclusive daily content, including a live chat and a video of the singer explaining the inspiration for each album track. The week of release was also accompanied by a spate of television appearances on many American daytime and late-night talk shows, such as the Today Show on 18 February, Late Show with David Letterman on 21 February, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live! on 24 February. Adele performed "Someone like You" at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards ceremony.

Adele embarked on her second concert tour, Adele: Live, in support of 21, scheduling more than 60 shows across Europe and North America. The shows received positive reviews, with many noting the show's understated nature, the singer's vocal performance, and her accessible persona. However, recurring health and vocal problems led to numerous alterations to the tour itinerary. The cancellation of the North American leg of the tour was due to a vocal haemorrhage on her vocal cords. The singer underwent corrective vocal surgery in November 2011 and cancelled all public appearances until February 2012.

Adele performed "Rolling in the Deep" at the 2011 ECHO Awards, 2012 Grammy Awards, and 2012 BRIT Awards ceremonies.

21 yielded five singles in total, including four worldwide releases. The lead single "Rolling in the Deep" was released in November 2010 and peaked on the charts in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Italy, and Switzerland. It became a top-ten hit in Austria, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, and Norway. Released in the UK on 16 January 2011, it peaked at number two. In the US, the song became "the most widely crossed-over song of the past twenty-five years," appearing on a record 12 different Billboard charts (including the Rock Songs chart, R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and Hot Latin Songs charts). The song spent seven consecutive weeks at the top of the Hot 100, and was ranked as the top song and the best-selling song of the year.

"Someone like You" debuted at number 36 on the UK Singles Chart due to strong digital sales, and after falling to number 47, it ascended to number one when the singer performed it at the 2011 BRIT Awards. It peaked at number one in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Finland, France, Switzerland, and the US. "Set Fire to the Rain," the third single, topped the singles chart in the US, the Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders), and reached the top five in Switzerland, Italy and Austria.

"Rumour Has It" was confirmed as the fourth and final official US single from the album by Ryan Tedder at the Grammy Awards in 2012, and was released on 1 March 2012.{{cite magazine|last=Schneider|first=Marc|title =Adele's Next '21' Single: 'Rumour Has It'|magazine=Billboard|date=13 February 2012|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/506161/adeles-next-21-single-rumour-has-it|access-date =13 February 2012}} In some countries, "Turning Tables" was released as the fourth single. It was the fifth single to be released to US mainstream stations, although it received limited airplay due to an unofficial release. Even though "I'll Be Waiting" was never released as a single, it charted at No. 29 on the US Triple A chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/chartbeat/480675/radio-on-its-own-mines-adeles-21-for-more-hits|title=Radio, On Its Own, Mines Adele's '21' for More Hits|magazine=Billboard|date=August 2012}}

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 7.1/10{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/2495/Adele-21.aspx|title=21 by Adele reviews|website=AnyDecentMusic? |access-date=31 October 2016}}

| MC = 76/100

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}

| rev2 = The Daily Telegraph

| rev2score = {{Rating|5|5}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3score = A−

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev5 = The Independent

| rev5score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite news|last=Gill|first=Andy|date=21 January 2011|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-adele-21-xl-2190065.html|title=Album: Adele, 21 (XL)|work=The Independent|location=London|access-date=23 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110228042521/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-adele-21-xl-2190065.html|archive-date=28 February 2011 }}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6score = 6/10

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7score = 8.2/10{{Cite web |last=Blum |first=Dani |date=27 September 2020 |title=Adele: 21 Album Review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/adele-21/ |access-date=1 October 2020 |website=Pitchfork}}

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

| rev9 = Spin

| rev9score = 8/10

| rev10 = USA Today

| rev10score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite news|date=22 February 2011|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2011-02-22-listen22_ST_N.htm|title=Listen Up: INXS' 'Original Sin' is salvation for band's fans|work=USA Today|location=McLean|access-date=23 October 2016}}

}}

21 received universal critical acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 76, based on 34 reviews. In the Chicago Tribune, Greg Kot deemed the music an improvement over 19, writing that "21 beefs up the rhythmic drive and the drama of the arrangements." Simon Harper of Clash wrote, "[In] two years ... she's clearly seen the world. Where 19 marked the turbulent swan song to a teenage life, 21 introduces the realities of adult life, where grown-up responsibilities collide with heartache and emotional scars run deep." John Murphy of MusicOMH said that it shared the themes of "pain, sadness and anger" explored on Amy Winehouse's Back to Black (2006), while hailing 21 as "one of the great 'break-up' albums, and the first truly impressive record of 2011." Sputnikmusic's Joseph Viney stated that 21 combined the "best bits of Aretha Franklin's old-school soul with Lauryn Hill's sass and sense of cynical modern femininity."

Sean Fennessey from The Village Voice wrote that the album "has a diva's stride and a diva's purpose. With a touch of sass and lots of grandeur, it's an often magical thing that insists on its importance ... the line here between melodrama and pathos is wafer-thin, and Adele toes it deftly. It's what separates her from her contemporaries in the mid-'00s wave of British white-girl r&b-dom." Q commented that, despite a "slightly scattershot quality ... greatness is tantalizingly within reach."{{cite journal|title=Adele, '21' (XL)|journal=Q|location=London|issue=295|date=February 2011|page=106}} In The New York Times, Jon Pareles applauded the singer's emotive timbre, comparing her to Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark, and Annie Lennox: "[Adele] can seethe, sob, rasp, swoop, lilt and belt, in ways that draw more attention to the song than to the singer." Ryan Reed of Paste regarded her voice as "a raspy, aged-beyond-its-years thing of full-blooded beauty", while MSN Music{{'}}s Tom Townshend declared her "the finest singer of [our] generation".

Matthew Cole from Slant Magazine was less impressed, believing Adele's vocals masked the "blandness" of many of the songs, a fault that he said would have been more apparent had they been performed by a lesser talent. Allison Stewart of The Washington Post claimed that many tracks were remarkable "only because Adele is singing them." Robert Christgau gave the album a two-star honourable mention in his consumer guide for MSN Music, writing that "part of me likes how many albums this proud white-soul normal has sold, but the part that likes fast ones wins".{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=20 January 2012|url=http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/expert-witness-blogpost.aspx?post=1a139a8c-5cd7-4c4f-b92d-9e0987655ff0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423225259/http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/expert-witness-blogpost.aspx?post=1a139a8c-5cd7-4c4f-b92d-9e0987655ff0|archive-date=23 April 2012|title=Odds and Ends 005|publisher=MSN Music. Microsoft|access-date=17 August 2012|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|url=http://robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=6016|title=Adele: Consumer Guide Reviews|website=robertchristgau.com|access-date=18 February 2017}}

{{see also|Album era}}

Globally, 21 is the best-selling album of the 2010s decade according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/global/ifpi-2012-report-global-music-revenue-down-1006571352.story|title=IFPI 2012 Report: Global Music Revenue Down 3%; Sync, PRO, Digital Income Up|author=Smirke, Richard|magazine=Billboard|date=26 March 2012|access-date=6 March 2012}} and topped the charts in more than 30 countries. Sales of 21 helped increase XL Recordings', Adele's record label, bank balance from £3 million to £32 million in the space of 12 months.{{cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/adele/66643|title=Adele's '21' helps boost label XL profits to £41 million|work=NME|date=3 May 2012|access-date=21 October 2012}} 21 was the best-selling worldwide release in 2011 with 18 million units sold, and it remained the best-selling release with an additional 8.3 million units sold the following year.{{cite news|url=http://www.aria.com.au/documents/RIN2013.pdf |publisher=International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|year=2013|title=Recording Industry in Numbers|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409080309/http://www.aria.com.au/documents/RIN2013.pdf|archive-date=9 April 2013|page=10|access-date=28 June 2023}}

21 debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart on 30 January 2011 with first-week sales of 208,000 copies. 21 achieved separate consecutive number-one spells during its 2011 chart run, amassing 23 weeks at number one to date. Midway through 2012, 21 was the best-selling album of the year despite being released in early 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/adeles-21-is-the-biggest-selling-album-of-2012-so-far-1469/|title=Adele's 21 is the 2nd biggest selling album of 2012 so far with Emeli Sandé's debut album Our Version of Events ahead of her.|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=7 July 2012}} 21 sold over 5.08 million copies as of May 2018, making it the biggest-selling album since 2000 in the UK.{{cite news |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/ed-sheerans-surpasses-three-million-combined-sales__23053/|title=Ed Sheeran's ÷ surpasses three million combined sales|last=White|first=Jack|date=31 May 2018|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=31 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812052431/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/ed-sheerans-surpasses-three-million-combined-sales__23053/ |archive-date=12 August 2018}} As of October 2018, the album sold 5.11 million copies, making it the second biggest-selling studio album in the UK, and fourth best-selling album of all time.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-uks-biggest-studio-albums-of-all-time__24431/|title=The UK's biggest studio albums of all time|last=Copsey|first=Rob|date=13 October 2018|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=13 October 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107091751/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-uks-biggest-studio-albums-of-all-time__24431/ |archive-date=7 January 2019}} The success of 21 brought attention to Adele's previous work. 19 climbed to number four on the UK Albums Chart, making Adele the first living act since The Beatles in 1964 to have two UK top five albums and singles simultaneously. A week later, 19 rose to number 2 in its 102nd week of release, making Adele the first act to occupy the chart's top two spots since The Corrs in 1999.

Adele claimed the Guinness World Records for becoming the first female artist to have two singles and two albums in the UK top five simultaneously. 21 also became the first album in UK chart history to reach sales of three million copies in a calendar year, and set records for the most consecutive weeks with a UK number-one album (solo female) with 11 weeks, and the most cumulative weeks at number one (solo female) in the UK. 21 has been certified 16-times platinum by the British Phonographic Industry for shipments of 4,500,000 units. It is also the most downloaded album in UK history, the biggest-selling album of the 21st century in the UK, and the 4th best-selling album in the UK of all time.{{cite news|author=Lane, Dan|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/record-beaker-adele-denies-jason-mraz-his-first-uk-number-1-1355/|title=Record breaker Adele denies Jason Mraz his first UK Number 1|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=22 April 2012|access-date=26 April 2012}}{{cite news|author=Kreisler, Lauren |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/adele-returns-to-number-1-and-overtakes-bowie-dire-straits-and-the-beatles-1338/ |title=Adele returns to Number 1 and overtakes Bowie, Dire Straits and The Beatles|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=15 April 2012 |access-date=26 April 2012}} In December 2019, 21 was unveiled by the Official Charts Company as the decade's best-seller, with 5.17 million chart sales.{{cite web|last=Copsey|first=Rob |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-uks-official-top-100-biggest-albums-of-the-decade-2010-2019__27937/|title=The UK's Official Top 100 biggest albums of the decade 2010 – 2019 |publisher=Official Charts Company |date=11 December 2019|access-date=11 December 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211082651/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-uks-official-top-100-biggest-albums-of-the-decade-2010-2019__27937/|archive-date=11 December 2019}}

In July 2012, the album was certified decuple platinum by the IFPI, denoting sales of ten million copies across Europe, making it the highest-certified album in Europe since the IFPI Platinum Europe award was launched in 1996.{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/plat_month_201207.html|title=IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – Q1 & Q2 2012|date=July 2012|publisher=IFPI|access-date=7 August 2012|archive-date=10 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810091325/http://ifpi.org/content/section_news/plat_month_201207.html|url-status=dead}} The album lodged 35 weeks atop the Irish Albums Chart, the longest in the chart's history,{{cite web | url = http://www.chart-track.co.uk/?i=1135&s=1111 | publisher = Chart-track.co.uk | access-date = 8 August 2012 | title = 21 – The Magic Number | date = 22 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131104175837/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/?i=1135&s=1111 | archive-date = 4 November 2013 | url-status = dead }} and sold over 270,000 copies. Charting 124 weeks in Finland from early 2011 to summer of 2013 (with 11 weeks atop) and re-entering in early 2014, 21 became the second-longest-charting album of all time in the country.{{r|finnishcharts alltime}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/virallinen-lista/artistit/leevi+and+the+leavings/keskiviikko+-+40+ensimm%C3%A4ist%C3%A4+hitti%C3%A4 |title=Leevi and the Leavings: Keskiviikko – 40 ensimmäistä hittiä |publisher=Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland|language=fi |access-date=23 January 2014}}{{r|FIN chart}}

Released on 22 February in the US, 21 debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 352,000 copies. The album remained in the top three for its first 24 weeks,{{cite magazine|title = Billboard 200 August 20, 2011 chart|url = https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2011-08-20|magazine = Billboard|access-date = 24 July 2016}} the top five for a record 39 consecutive weeks, and the top 10 for a total of 84 weeks. The album is tied with Bruce Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A. for the second-most weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard 200.{{cite magazine|title = Adele, 21 – No. 10 collects its 84th nonconsecutive week in the top 10|url = https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6821696/foo-fighters-sixth-million-selling-album-billboard-200|magazine = Billboard|access-date = 4 January 2016}} 21 became the best-selling digital album of all time in the US, selling 1.879 million copies by January 2012. On 17 May 2012, 21 became the 29th album since 1991 to sell over 9 million copies in the United States and became the first album in the United States to sell that amount since Usher's Confessions reached sales of 9 million in 2005.{{cite web|url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-may-13-2012-albums-9-million-151750995.html|title=Week Ending May 13, 2012. Albums: 9 Million!|last=Grein|first=Paul|date=16 May 2012|publisher=Yahoo! Music|access-date=17 May 2012}} By November 2012, it had sold 10 million copies, a feat achieved in 92 weeks, making it the fastest album to sell 10 million since 'N Sync's No Strings Attached in 2000.{{cite magazine | first=Gary | last=Trust | url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/retail/adele-s-21-hits-10-million-in-u-s-sales-1008029002.story | title=Adele's '21' Hits 10 Million in U.S. Sales | magazine=Billboard | date=27 November 2012 | access-date=28 November 2012 | archive-date=1 January 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101161939/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/retail/adele-s-21-hits-10-million-in-u-s-sales-1008029002.story | url-status=dead }}{{cite news |title=Chart Watch Extra: Adele Tops 10 Million |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/chart-watch-extra-adele-tops-10-million-120255136.html | first= Paul | last= Grein |work= Chart Watch |publisher=Yahoo Music | date=28 November 2012 | access-date=28 November 2012 }} In February 2015, the album reached 208 straight weeks, or four years, on the Billboard 200 chart, spending only 24 of those weeks outside the Top 100.{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2015/02/24/adeles-21-has-now-spent-four-straight-years-on-the-charts/ |title=Adele's '21' Has Now Spent Four Straight Years on the Charts |last=McIntyre |first=Hugh |work=Forbes |date=24 February 2015 |access-date=1 August 2015}}

21 is credited with saving the first quarter album sales of 2012 in the United States. Without 21, the first quarter of 2012 would have been down 3.4% compared to the first quarter of 2011. 21 sold more copies in the first quarter of 2012 than any album since 2005 and is the oldest album to be the best-selling album in the first quarter of the year since No Doubt's Tragic Kingdom in 1997. On 28 November 2012, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified it Diamond after having sold more than 10 million copies in the United States alone, made it the first album released in the 2010s to achieve Diamond certification.{{cite news|url=https://www.riaa.com/newsitem.php?content_selector=newsandviews&news_month_filter=11&news_year_filter=2012&id=EFB7CD0F-C057-0494-A4D0-90A5A385816E |title=RIAA – Adele Earns RIAA Diamond for "21" |date=28 November 2012 |access-date=28 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104122852/http://www.riaa.com/newsitem.php?content_selector=newsandviews&news_month_filter=11&news_year_filter=2012&id=EFB7CD0F-C057-0494-A4D0-90A5A385816E |archive-date=4 January 2013 }} In December 2012, it was announced that 21 was the best-selling album on iTunes for two years in a row.{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/adele-and-carly-rae-jepsen-top-itunes-sales-in-2012-20121213|title=Adele and Carly Rae Jepsen Top iTunes Sales in 2012|date=13 December 2012|access-date=13 December 2012}}

21 was the best-selling album of both 2011 and 2012 in the United States and Canada despite being over a year old.{{r|US ye 2011}}{{r|US ye 2012}} It is the first album to be the best-selling album two years in a row since Michael Jackson's Thriller was the best-selling album of 1983 and 1984. Despite being over a year old, 21 sold more copies in 2012 than the best-selling albums of 2006 through 2010 sold in their respective years. It is also one of only four albums in the Nielsen SoundScan era to sell over 4 million copies in each of two calendar years. Due to these successes, Billboard declared Adele the Artist of the Year for the second year in a row, making her the first solo female artist to receive the honor twice.{{cite news|url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/chart-watch-extra-billboard-end-charts-183207689.html|title=Chart Watch Extra: Billboard's Year-End Charts|date=14 December 2012|access-date=17 December 2012|publisher=Yahoo!}}{{cite news |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/chart-watch-extra-top-albums-204117904.html|title=Chart Watch Extra: The Year's Top Albums |date=12 December 2012|access-date=17 December 2012|publisher=Yahoo!}}{{cite news |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a445494/adele-announced-as-top-billboard-artist-for-second-year-running.html |title=Adele announced as top Billboard artist for second year running|date=16 December 2012|access-date=17 December 2012|last=Copsey|first=Nick |work=Digital Spy}}

In February 2013, 21 reached two full years on the Billboard 200, never charting lower than number 35 on the chart. This makes 21 the best-selling album of the past 10 years and the fifth best-selling album released since January 2000.{{cite news |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-feb-17-2003-albums-mumford-grammy-173604267.html|title=Week Ending Feb. 17, 2013. Albums: Mumford's Grammy Surge|date=20 February 2013|access-date=24 February 2013}} In March 2013, after Adele won an Academy Award for "Skyfall", the album reentered the top 10 of the Billboard 200. This marked the album's 81st week in the top 10. Only two other albums have spent as much time in the top 10: Born in the U.S.A. and The Sound of Music.{{cite news |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-march-3-2013-albums-bargain-gives-160513342.html |title=Week Ending March 3, 2013. Albums: Bargain Gives Bruno A Boost|first=Paul|last=Grein|work=USA Today|publisher=Yahoo! Chart Watch |date=6 March 2013 |access-date=8 March 2013 }} In November 2013, it was announced that 21 had become the first album to sell three million digital copies in the United States and that the album is the 13th best-selling overall in the United States since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991.{{cite news|url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/music-news/chart-watch-eminem-returns-1-gaga-sinks-8-154950758.html|title=Chart Watch: Eminem Returns to No. 1, Gaga Sinks to No. 8|date=27 November 2013|access-date=28 November 2013}}

In November 2019, Billboard named 21 the best selling album of the 2010s.{{cite magazine|title=The Decade in Charts: Mark & Bruno's 'Uptown Funk!' Rules Hot 100 & Adele's '21' Tops Billboard 200|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/8543457/decade-in-charts-2010s-hot-100-billboard-200|magazine=Billboard|access-date=14 November 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115064907/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/8543457/decade-in-charts-2010s-hot-100-billboard-200|archive-date=15 November 2019}} As of January 2020, 21 has sold 12 million copies in the United States, becoming the ninth largest-selling album since Nielsen Music started tracking sales in 1991 and best selling album of the 2010s decade.{{cite magazine|last1=Caulfield|first1=Keith|title=Billboard 200 Chart Moves: Adele's '25' Hits 100th Consecutive Week on Chart|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8015028/billboard-200-chart-moves-adele-25-100th-consecutive-week|magazine=Billboard|access-date=28 October 2017|date=27 October 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://static.billboard.com/files/pdfs/NIELSEN_2019_YEARENDreportUS.pdf|title=Nielsen Music;U.S. 2019 Year-End Music Report|work=Billboard, Nielsen Soundscan|access-date=4 April 2020}} The album's performance on the Billboard 200 chart earned 21 the distinction of all-time number one album on the chart, according to a summary performed by Billboard in November 2015. In spring of 2017, the album broke the record for the longest-charting album by a female artist on the Billboard 200, surpassing Tapestry by Carole King.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7752415/adele-21-record-longest-charting-album-woman-billboard-200 |author=Caulfield, Keith|title=Adele's '21' Breaks Record for Longest-Charting Album by a Woman on the Billboard 200|magazine=Billboard |date=6 April 2017|access-date=7 April 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009083657/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7752415/adele-21-record-longest-charting-album-woman-billboard-200 |archive-date=9 October 2018}} In February 2019, 21 has been listed on the Billboard 200 album chart for 400 non-consecutive weeks.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/adele/chart-history/tlp/ |title=Adele Chart History (Billboard 200)|magazine=Billboard |access-date=17 January 2018}} 21 also became the first album by a woman to reach 450 weeks on the Billboard 200 in February 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2020/02/05/adeles-21-is-the-first-album-by-a-woman-to-reach-450-weeks-on-the-billboard-200-chart/#6f6f27c85370|title=Adele's '21' Is The First Album by a Woman To Reach 450 Weeks on the Billboard 200 Chart|work=Forbes |last=McIntyre|first=Hugh|date=5 February 2020|access-date=5 February 2020}} In February 2021, 21 made history as the first album by a woman to reach 500 weeks on the Billboard 200.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2021/02/08/adele-makes-billboard-chart-history-again-as-her-album-21-reaches-a-very-important-milestone/?sh=601292ac2361|title=Adele Makes Billboard Chart History (Again) As Her Album '21' Reaches A Very Important Milestone|work=Forbes|last=McIntyre|first=Hugh|date=8 February 2021|access-date=10 February 2021}} In December 2021, it was announced that 21 was the first album by a woman to spend an entire decade on the Billboard 200 chart.{{cite web|last=Manning|first=James|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/918888-adele-becomes-first-female-singer-to-have-a-record-on-the-billboard-200-for-a-decade|title=Adele becomes first female singer to have a record on The Billboard 200 for a decade|magazine=TheNews|date=22 December 2021|access-date=30 January 2022}}

In Canada, 21 spent 35 weeks at number one and was certified diamond in January 2012 by Music Canada for the shipment of 800,000 copies of the album.{{cite news |url=http://www.torontosun.com/2012/01/25/edwards-cant-beat-adele-on-charts |author=William, John |title=Edwards can't beat Adele on charts|newspaper=Toronto Sun|date=25 January 2012|access-date=25 January 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=&ica=False&sa=&sl=&smt=0&sat=-1&ssd=11/1/2011&sed=12/1/2011&ssb=Artist |title=Gold Platinum Database |publisher=Music Canada |access-date=25 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502114426/http://musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=&ica=False&sa=&sl=&smt=0&sat=-1&ssd=11%2F1%2F2011&sed=12%2F1%2F2011&ssb=Artist |archive-date=2 May 2012}} 21 had sold over 1.489 million copies by January 2013, making it the third best-selling album in Canada since Nielsen SoundScan started tracking sales.{{cite press release|url=http://fyimusicnews.ca/post/108245843557/2014-canadian-music-market-report|title=2014 Canadian Music Market Report|date=25 January 2015|access-date=25 January 2015|publisher=FYI Music News|archive-date=17 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317220645/http://fyimusicnews.ca/post/108245843557/2014-canadian-music-market-report|url-status=dead}}

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21 spent 32 weeks at number one on the Australian ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart, 10 of which were consecutive. Adele also replicated her UK chart record when she achieved two titles in the top five of the ARIA Album and Singles chart simultaneously. In December 2012, it was announced that 21 was nearing sales of one million in Australia. This makes 21 only the seventh album to ever achieve this feat in Australia and the first to do so since Delta Goodrem's Innocent Eyes.{{cite web |url=http://www.noise11.com/news/adele-21-about-to-pass-one-million-in-australia-20121226|title=Adele 21 About To Pass One Million Sales in Australia|date=26 December 2012 |publisher=Noise11|access-date=10 January 2013}} In January 2020, 21 was announced as the biggest album of the 2010s in Australia.{{cite web|last=Manning|first=James |url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2010/end-of-decade-albums-chart |title=ARIA releases charts of 2019 and charts of the decade|publisher=Mediaweek|date=10 January 2020|access-date=27 September 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322053750/https://www.mediaweek.com.au/aria-releases-charts-of-2019-and-charts-of-the-decade/|archive-date=22 March 2020}} On the New Zealand RIANZ Albums Chart, 21 debuted at number one in January 2011 and spent 28 weeks at the summit in 2011. Its 38 accumulated weeks at the top are the longest in New Zealand chart history.

21 was ranked as the number one album of all time on the Billboard Top 200 Albums of All Time.{{cite magazine|title=Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums|magazine=Billboard |access-date=12 November 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001122709/http://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums|archive-date=1 October 2016}} 21 appeared on many year-end best-of lists. Metacritic ranked 21 at number two on their list of 2011's most well-received records, based on inclusions in publications' year-end lists.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/feature/music-critic-top-ten-lists-best-albums-of-2011|title=Music Critic Top 10 List – Best Albums of 2011 |publisher=Metacritic|last=Dietz|first=Jason|date=7 January 2011|access-date=7 January 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110112157/https://www.metacritic.com/feature/music-critic-top-ten-lists-best-albums-of-2011 |archive-date=10 November 2018}} The album was ranked the best album of the year by the Associated Press, The Austin Chronicle, Entertainment Weekly, Star Tribune, Digital Spy, MSN Music, New York Daily News, Rolling Stone, TIME magazine, and editors of USA Today. Critics at Billboard voted the album number-one of the year, while Scottish newspaper the Daily Record, editors of Amazon and the editors at Rhapsody also ranked the album at number one. The album appeared in the runner-up spot on MTV's list of the Best Albums of 2011 as well as lists produced by The Boston Globe, The Hollywood Reporter and Toronto Sun. It placed within the top 10 on lists produced by American Songwriter, Q, Los Angeles Times, Clash, and The Washington Post. "Rolling in the Deep" consistently placed high on various year-end critics' list, and was ranked the best song of the year in The Village Voice{{'}}s Pazz and Jop mass critics' poll.

In 2012, Rolling Stone ranked the album number six on its list of Women Who Rock: The 50 Greatest Albums of All Time.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/women-who-rock-the-50-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120622/adele-21-19691231|title=Women Who Rock: The 50 Greatest Albums of All Time: Adele, '21'|magazine=Rolling Stone|location=New York|date=22 June 2012|access-date=23 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625065950/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/women-who-rock-the-50-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120622/adele-21-19691231|archive-date=25 June 2012|url-status=dead}} As of January 2015, Billboard named 21 as the third-best album of the 2010s (so far).{{cite magazine|title=Billboard's Top 20 Best Albums of the 2010s (So Far)|magazine = Billboard|date = 13 January 2015|url=https://www.billboard.com/photos/6436436/20-best-albums-2010s-half-decade?i=541727|access-date=13 January 2015}} The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.{{cite book |first1=Robert|last1=Dimery|first2=Michael|last2=Lydon|title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition|date=2014 |publisher=Universe|isbn=978-0-7893-2074-2}} In 2019, Rolling Stone,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-2010s-ranked-913997/adele-21-album-917427/|title=The 100 Best Albums of the 2010s|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=3 December 2019|access-date=3 December 2019}} Consequence of Sound,{{cite magazine |url=https://consequence.net/2019/11/top-albums-of-the-2010s/full-post/|title=Top 100 Albums of the 2010s|author=Consequence of Sound staff |magazine=Consequence of Sound|date=5 November 2019|access-date=9 November 2019}} Cleveland.com,{{cite web |url=https://www.cleveland.com/life-and-culture/g66l-2019/10/9ca10ee95f3302/100-greatest-albums-of-the-2010s.html|title=100 greatest albums of the 2010s|last=Smith|first=Troy L.|website=Cleveland.com|date=9 October 2019|access-date=23 November 2019}} Paste,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2019/10/best-albums-of-the-2010s-paste.html?p=2|title=The 100 Best Albums of the 2010s|magazine=Paste|date=9 October 2019|access-date=23 October 2019}} and The Sydney Morning Herald{{Cite web |last=Mathieson |first=Craig |date=2019-12-07 |title=Kanye, Beyonce, Taylor, Billie: The albums of the decade |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/kanye-beyonce-taylor-billie-the-albums-of-the-decade-20191205-p53h5n.html |access-date=2019-12-23 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}} named it the 8th, 19th, 47th, 55th, and 1st best album of the 2010s, respectively. Consequence of Sound also named it the fifth-best pop album of the 2010s.{{cite magazine |url=https://consequence.net/2019/11/top-25-pop-albums-of-the-2010s/full-post/|title=The Top 25 Pop Albums of the 2010s |last1=Naftule |first1=Ashley|author2=Consequence of Sound staff|magazine=Consequence of Sound|date=8 November 2019|access-date=9 November 2019}} In 2020, the album was ranked at 137 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.{{Cite magazine|date=22 September 2020|title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/|access-date=22 September 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} Consequence of Sound ranked the album at number seven on their list of "The 10 Greatest Second Albums of All Time".{{cite news|url=https://consequence.net/2017/06/the-10-greatest-sophomore-albums-of-all-time/5/|title=The 10 Greatest Second Albums of All Time: 07. Adele −21|first=Michael|last=Roffman |work=Consequence of Sound|date=19 June 2017|access-date=6 December 2017}} 21's commercial success effectively transformed Adele's image from a blue-eyed soul singer-songwriter to a global pop phenomenon. Entertainment Weekly considered it the record representing the year of 2011 on their 2020 list of the "30 essential albums from the last 30 years".{{cite news|url=https://ew.com/music-reviews/30-essential-albums/|title=The 30 essential albums from the last 30 years |first1=Leah |last1=Greenblatt |first2=Sarah |last2=Rodman |first3=Alex |last3=Suskind |date=28 August 2020 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=9 September 2020}}

The album was nominated for the 2011 Barclaycard Mercury Prize{{cite news |last=Singh |first=Anita |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/8648462/Mercury-Prize-here-come-the-girls.html |title=Mercury Prize: here come the girls |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=19 June 2011 |access-date=19 June 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720045427/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/8648462/Mercury-Prize-here-come-the-girls.html |archive-date=20 July 2011 |url-status=live}} but lost to Let England Shake by PJ Harvey.{{cite news |last=Vena |first=Joselyn |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1670306/pj-harvey-mercury-prize/ |title=PJ Harvey Beats Out Adele for Mercury Prize |work=MTV |date=9 July 2011 |access-date=9 July 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708071224/http://www.mtv.com/news/1670306/pj-harvey-mercury-prize/ |archive-date=8 July 2020 |url-status=dead}} In November 2011, Adele won three American Music Awards including Favorite Pop/Rock Album for 21 at the American Music Awards of 2011.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/465045/amas-2011-taylor-swift-nicki-minaj-win-big-on-ladies-night |title=AMAs 2011: Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj Win Big on Ladies' Night |magazine=Billboard |page=2 |first=David |last=Greenwald |date=20 November 2011 |access-date=24 November 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127212218/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/465045/amas-2011-taylor-swift-nicki-minaj-win-big-on-ladies-night|archive-date=27 November 2018}} At the 2012 Billboard Music Awards, the singer was nominated for twenty categories, winning a record-breaking twelve, including Top Billboard 200 Album and Top Pop Album for 21, and Top Streaming Song (Audio) for "Rolling in the Deep".{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/bbma/winners |title=Billboard Music Awards 2012 winners |magazine=Billboard |access-date=25 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120705065452/http://www.billboard.com/bbma/winners |archive-date=5 July 2012}}{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/earshot/billboard-music-awards-2012-winners-327091 |title=Billboard Music Awards 2012: The Complete Winners List |work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=20 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623004952/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/earshot/billboard-music-awards-2012-winners-327091 |archive-date=23 June 2018}} In May 2013, Adele received five nominations at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards, including Top Billboard 200 Album and Top Pop Album for 21 two years in a row; she won the latter award.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1707641/billboard-music-awards-winners-list/ |title=Billboard Music Awards 2013: The Complete Winners List |work=MTV |access-date=19 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306081453/http://www.mtv.com/news/1707641/billboard-music-awards-winners-list/ |archive-date=6 March 2019}}

The album earned Adele seven Grammys. In February 2012, she won the Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for 21, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Short Form Music Video for "Rolling in the Deep," and Best Pop Solo Performance for "Someone like You" at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards.{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/54th-annual-grammy-awards |title=54th Annual GRAMMY Awards |work=[Grammy.com] |date=12 February 2012 |access-date=12 February 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190312152932/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/54th-annual-grammy-awards |archive-date=12 March 2019}} Additionally, her producer Paul Epworth won Producer of the Year, Non-Classical.{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nickmessitte/2015/02/09/what-does-a-producer-of-the-year-grammy-really-mean-for-the-winner/#1fdf3e0e572c |title=What Does A 'Producer of the Year' Grammy Really Mean for the Winner |work=Forbes |first=Nick |last=Messitte |date=9 February 2015 |access-date=9 February 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209193407/https://www.forbes.com/sites/nickmessitte/2015/02/09/what-does-a-producer-of-the-year-grammy-really-mean-for-the-winner/ |archive-date=9 February 2015}} Adele, who was named Best New Artist in 2009, is only the second artist and the first female in history to win all four major Grammy categories. Christopher Cross achieved the same feat in 1981 with a four-award sweep.{{cite web |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/grammy-awards-history-11-facts-trivia-2016-awards-show-2305352 |title=Grammy Awards History: 11 Facts And Trivia Before The 2016 Awards Show |work=International Business Times |first=Brett |last=Bodner |date=12 February 2016 |access-date=12 February 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218220006/https://www.ibtimes.com/grammy-awards-history-11-facts-trivia-2016-awards-show-2305352 |archive-date=18 February 2016}} She is only the eighth artist in Grammy history to win six or more awards in one night, matching the record set among female artists by Beyoncé in 2010.{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/adele-michael-jackson-whos-won-most-grammys-night |title=Adele To Michael Jackson: Who's Won The Most GRAMMYs in a Night? |work=[Grammy.com] |first=Paul |last=Grein |date=15 May 2017 |access-date=15 May 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190310003104/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/adele-michael-jackson-whos-won-most-grammys-night |archive-date=10 March 2019}}

With her wins, Adele became only the sixth artist to win "Grammy's Triple Crown" in one night. She was only the second female solo artist to achieve this feat, following Carole King in 1972, and only the second British artist, after Eric Clapton in 1993.{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/blogs/stop-the-presses/grammy-triple-crown-203236700.html |title=Grammy's Triple Crown |work=Yahoo |first=Paul |last=Grein |date=1 February 2012 |access-date=22 February 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223214419/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/blogs/stop-the-presses/grammy-triple-crown-203236700.html |archive-date=23 February 2019}} At the age of 23, Adele was the youngest artist at the time to achieve this feat.

That record was later broken by Billie Eilish, who was 18 years old when she won all "big four" Grammys in one night in 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/01/grammys-2020-billie-eilish-most-awards.html |title=Billie Eilish Just Became the Second Artist Ever to Sweep the Top Grammy Categories, Duh! |work=Harpers Bazaar |first=Bianca |last=Betancourt |date=27 January 2020 |access-date=27 January 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127194840/https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a30675971/billie-eilish-youngest-artist-to-win-top-four-grammy-categories/ |archive-date=27 January 2020}} In February 2013, a live rendition of the album's third single "Set Fire to the Rain," included on Live at the Royal Albert Hall, won the Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards, making her the first artist to win consecutively in this category.{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/grammys-biggest-winners-10s |title=The GRAMMYs' Biggest Winners: The '10s |work=[Grammy.com] |first=Paul |last=Grein |date=2 December 2014 |access-date=2 December 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629043347/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/grammys-biggest-winners-10s |archive-date=29 June 2020}}

On 21 February 2012, 21 won the British Album of the Year at the 2012 BRIT Awards.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/504499/brit-awards-2012-adele-ed-sheeran-coldplay-win-big |title=BRIT Awards 2012: Adele, Ed Sheeran, Coldplay Win Big |magazine=Billboard |first=Richard |last=Smirke |date=21 February 2012 |access-date=22 February 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227195233/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/504499/brit-awards-2012-adele-ed-sheeran-coldplay-win-big |archive-date=27 December 2018}} It also won the International Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2012.{{cite journal |date=2 April 2012 |url=https://www.nme.com/news/feist/63001 |title=Feist scoops three awards at Canada's Juno Awards |journal=NME |location=London |access-date=16 November 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218011623/https://www.nme.com/news/music/feist-2-1283180 |archive-date=18 December 2018}}

{{quote box|align=right|width=30em|[21] appealed to Baby Boomers nostalgic for Etta James, Carole King and 'Dusty in Memphis.' It also appealed to teens struggling with the first sting of heartbreak, hipsters who missed Amy Winehouse, traditionalists weary of synthesizers and vocal effects, and non-pop fans who simply found it refreshing to hear a singer belt out her blues with conviction. By singing almost exclusively about a relationship gone wrong, Adele made songs that anyone could identify with ... 21 wasn't niche-marketed. It was made for everyone and ... everyone listened.|source= —Tris McCall of The Star-Ledger}}

The album's success has been attributed to its cross-cultural appeal, which has catered to fans of various genres of pop, adult contemporary, and R&B, as well as various generations and musical timelines. According to Sasha Frere-Jones of The New Yorker, the album's success in the US can be attributed to its target audience—that is, "middle-aged moms ... the demographic that decides American elections." Critics also suggest that the album's understated musical production and relative lack of artifice are striking deviations from the "bombastic theatrics" of the mainstream music industry. Ethan Smith of The Wall Street Journal found that Adele's "deliberately unflashy" nature, full figure, and "everywoman" appeal gave her a lucrative niche in the market, while her tendency to emphasize "substance over style" made her the "Anti-Lady Gaga". Guy Adams of The Independent argued that 21{{'}}s success signals the re-emergence of the more traditional approach to commercial success:

There are two approaches to the business of being noticed by today's record-buying public. The first ... revolves around oodles of hype and ever-more preposterous wardrobe selections. The second ... requires ... the confidence to let your music do the talking... Amazingly, given preconceived notions about America's supposed preference for style over substance, it is the second of these two sales techniques which appear to be working better.

With the release of 21, critics began to tout Adele as the new torchbearer for the British soul music that ascended to the American mainstream via Duffy, Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen. Although the initial popularity of these artists in the early 2000s incited the media to declare a "new wave of British invasion", Joseph Viney of Sputnikmusic saw their subsequent absence as an opportunity for Adele to "stake her claim as the UK's leading solo female artist". John Murphy of MusicOMH declared the album "a timely reminder that British soul hasn't lost its mojo". Indie label XL Recordings founder Richard Russell discussed what he believed to be the quasi-subversiveness of 21{{'}}s chart dominance. Characterising the success of 21 as "almost political and sort of radical", Russell stated that the lack of gimmicks in Adele's music undermined the widespread perception that female performers have to conform to specific body types, or imbue their music with gratuitous sexual imagery, in order to attain success.

Retrospectively, the album received widespread critical praise. Stereogum wrote that 21 established Adele as "pop royalty" and called the album "one of history's great, resilient breakup albums",{{cite web|last=Turner-Williams|first=Jaelani|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2113505/adele-21-turns-10/reviews/the-anniversary/|title=21 Turns 10|date=January 22, 2021|website=Stereogum|accessdate=April 15, 2022}} while Pitchfork praised the album for "cementing her legacy as an artist who could make once-in-a-generation milestones out of her music".{{cite web|last=Blum|first=Dani|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/adele-21/|title=Adele: 21 Album Review|date=September 27, 2020|website=Pitchfork|accessdate=April 15, 2022}} Atwood Magazine compared the album to Frank Ocean's Blonde, as they are both sophomore albums, and commented that both albums "could slide into the catalogues of greats like Amy Winehouse and Aretha Franklin and no one would be the wiser" and called Adele "one of the most captivating songwriters of the 21st century".{{cite web|last=Culp|first=Leo|url=https://atwoodmagazine.com/tss7-adele-frank-ocean/|title=The Sophomore Series: Adele's '21'and Frank Ocean's 'Blonde'|date=October 27, 2020|magazine=Atwood Magazine|accessdate=April 15, 2022}} NME described 21 as a "heartbreak pop classic" and further emphasized that it is "so classic in a way that stands the test of time".{{cite web|last=Hunt|first=El|url=https://www.nme.com/features/adele-21-anniversary-10-years-tom-grennan-paul-epworth-2862957|title=10 years of Adele's record-smashing '21': the story of a heartbreak pop classic|magazine=NME|date=24 January 2021 |accessdate=April 15, 2022}} In an article explaining Adele's record-breaking achievements and impact, The Recording Academy wrote that "Plenty of albums have tapped into emotional truths; few have endured like 21", and further commented that 21 "continues to resonate with audiences in 2021 as much as it did in 2011".{{cite web|last=Alkins|first=Gabriel|url=https://www.grammy.com/news/adele-21-10-year-anniversary|title=For The Record: Adele's Icon-Making '21' At 10|date=January 24, 2021|website=The Recording Academy|accessdate=April 15, 2022}} Both Junkee and Consequence of Sound credited the album for revitalizing pop music, heralding "a new era of relatable pop", and inspiring a new generation of artists.{{cite web|last=Murphy|first=Sam|url=https://junkee.com/adele-21-anniversary/285398|title=How Adele's '21' Heralded A New Era Of Relatable Pop|date=19 January 2021|magazine=Junkee|access-date=15 May 2021}}{{cite web|last=Thiessen|first=Christopher|url=https://consequence.net/2021/01/adele-21-anniversary/|title=Adele's 21 Brought Sincerity to Pop Music When It Needed It Most|date=24 January 2021|work=Consequence of Sound|access-date=15 May 2021}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Standard edition

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 48:01

| title1 = Rolling in the Deep

| writer1 = {{hlist|Adele Adkins|Paul Epworth}}

| extra1 = Epworth

| length1 = 3:49

| title2 = Rumour Has It

| writer2 = {{hlist|Adkins|Ryan Tedder}}

| extra2 = Tedder

| length2 = 3:43

| title3 = Turning Tables

| writer3 = {{hlist|Adkins|Tedder}}

| extra3 = Jim Abbiss

| length3 = 4:10

| title4 = Don't You Remember

| writer4 = {{hlist|Adkins|Dan Wilson}}

| extra4 = Rick Rubin

| length4 = 4:03

| title5 = Set Fire to the Rain

| writer5 = {{hlist|Adkins|Fraser T. Smith}}

| extra5 = Smith

| length5 = 4:01

| title6 = He Won't Go

| writer6 = {{hlist|Adkins|Epworth}}

| extra6 = Rubin

| length6 = 4:37

| title7 = Take It All

| writer7 = {{hlist|Adkins|Francis White}}

| extra7 = Abbiss

| length7 = 3:48

| title8 = I'll Be Waiting

| writer8 = {{hlist|Adkins|Epworth}}

| extra8 = Epworth

| length8 = 4:01

| title9 = One and Only

| writer9 = {{hlist|Adkins|Wilson|Greg Wells}}

| extra9 = Rubin

| length9 = 5:48

| title10 = Lovesong

| writer10 = {{hlist|Robert Smith|Laurence Tolhurst|Simon Gallup|Boris Williams|Pearl Thompson|Roger O'Donnell}}

| extra10 = Rubin

| length10 = 5:16

| title11 = Someone like You

| writer11 = {{hlist|Adkins|Wilson}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|Wilson|Adkins}}

| length11 = 4:47

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = iTunes Store bonus track

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 51:40

| title12 = I Found a Boy

| writer12 = Adkins

| extra12 = Rubin

| length12 = 3:37

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = iTunes pre-order edition bonus track{{Cite web|url=http://www.adele.tv/news/204/watch-adele-s-rolling-in-the-deep-live-acoustic-performance-exclusively-on-ping|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101174034/http://www.adele.tv/news/204/watch-adele-s-rolling-in-the-deep-live-acoustic-performance-exclusively-on-ping|url-status=dead|title=ADELE: Watch Adele's "Rolling In The Deep" Live Acoustic performance exclusively on Ping!|archivedate=1 November 2013}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 52:10

| title13 = Rolling in the Deep

| note13 = live acoustic

| writer13 = {{hlist|Adkins|Epworth}}

| extra13 = Epworth

| length13 = 4:07

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = United Kingdom, Taiwan, Poland and Bulgaria limited edition bonus tracks

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 54:39

| title12 = If It Hadn't Been for Love

| writer12 = {{hlist|Mike Henderson|Chris Stapleton}}

| extra12 = Rodaidh McDonald

| length12 = 3:08

| title13 = Hiding My Heart

| writer13 = Tim Hanseroth

| extra13 = McDonald

| length13 = 3:28

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japan edition bonus tracks

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 65:32

| title12 = I Found a Boy

| writer12 = Adkins

| extra12 = Rubin

| length12 = 3:37

| title13 = Turning Tables

| note13 = live acoustic

| writer13 = {{hlist|Adkins|Tedder}}

| extra13 = Abbiss

| length13 = 4:20

| title14 = Don't You Remember

| note14 = live acoustic

| writer14 = {{hlist|Adkins|Wilson}}

| extra14 = Rubin

| length14 = 4:18

| title15 = Someone like You

| note15 = live acoustic

| writer15 = {{hlist|Adkins|Wilson}}

| extra15 = {{hlist|Wilson|Adkins}}

| length15 = 5:14

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Deluxe edition bonus disc

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 65:50

| title12 = Need You Now

| note12 = featuring Darius Rucker) (live at CMT Artists of the Year Awards

| lyrics12 = {{hlist|Dave Haywood|Charles Kelley|Hillary Scott|Josh Kear}}

| extra12 =

| length12 = 3:55

| title13 = Someone like You

| note13 = live acoustic

| lyrics13 = {{hlist|Adkins|Wilson}}

| extra13 = {{hlist|Wilson|Adkins}}

| length13 = 5:14

| title14 = Turning Tables

| note14 = live acoustic

| lyrics14 = {{hlist|Adkins|Tedder}}

| extra14 = Abbiss

| length14 = 4:20

| title15 = Don't You Remember

| note15 = live acoustic

| lyrics15 = {{hlist|Adkins|Wilson}}

| extra15 = Rubin

| length15 = 4:18

}}

;Notes

• "Lovesong" is a The Cure cover.
• "If It Hadn't Been for Love" is a The SteelDrivers cover.
• "Hiding My Heart" is a Brandi Carlile cover.
• "Need You Now" is a Lady A cover.

Adapted from AllMusic and 21{{'}}s liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title= 21 |year= 2011 |type= booklet |publisher= XL, Columbia}}

Production

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Jim Abbiss – producer and mixing (3, 7)
• Adele – design, producer (11)
• Philip Allen – engineer (11)
• Beatriz Artola – engineer (5)
• Phillip Broussard Jr. – assistant engineer (4, 6, 9, 10)
• Lindsay Chase – production co-ordination (4, 6, 9, 10)
• AJ Clark – assistant engineer (2)
• Tom Coyne – mastering
• Ian Dowling – mixing (3, 7)
• Lauren Dukoff – photography
• Tom Elmhirst – mixing (1, 2, 8, 11)
• Paul Epworth – producer (1, 8)
• Greg Fidelman – engineer (4, 6, 9, 10)
• Sara Lyn Killion – assistant engineer (4, 6, 9, 10)
• Phil Lee – design
• Dana Nielsen – editing, Pro Tools
• Dan Parry – assistant mixing (1, 2, 8, 11), vocal engineer (2)
• Steve Price – strings engineer (5)
• Mark Rankin – engineer (1, 8)
• Rick Rubin – producer (4, 6, 9, 10)
• Andrew Scheps – mixing (4, 6, 9, 10)
• Isabel Seeliger-Morley – assistant engineer (5)
• Fraser T Smith – producer and mixing (5)
• Ryan Tedder – producer, engineer, programming and arranger (2)
• Dan Wilson – producer (11)

{{Div col end}}

Music

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Adele Adkins – lead vocals
• Jo Allen – violin (5)
• Stephanie Bennett – harp (4, 6, 9, 10)
• Jerrod Bettis – drums and acoustic guitar (2)
• Rachel Stephanie Bolt – strings (3)
• Natalie Bonner – violin (5)
• Harry Brown – horn arrangements and trombone (8)
• David Campbell – string arrangements (4, 6, 9, 10)
• Ray Carless – tenor saxophone (1, 8)
• Carmen Carter – choir (4, 6, 9, 10)
• Lenny Castro – percussion (4, 6, 9, 10)
• Stephanie Cavey – violin (5)
• Neil Cowley – piano (1, 3, 7, 8)
• Caroline Dale – strings (3)
• David Daniels – strings (3)
• Rosie Danvers – string arrangements and violin (5)
• Chris Dave – drums (4, 6, 9, 10)
• Chris Elliot – string arrangements (3)
• Paul Epworth – bass, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, percussion, and background vocals (1, 8)
• Jimmy Gilstrap – choir (4, 6, 9, 10)
• David Hidalgo – accordion and banjo (4, 6, 9, 10)
• Smokey Hormel – guitar (4, 6, 9, 10)
• Patrick Kiernan – strings (3)
• Boguslaw Kostecki – strings (3)
• Peter Lale – strings (3)
• Noel Langley – trumpet (1, 8)
• Chris Laurence – strings (3)
• Julian Leaper – strings (3)
• Rita Manning – strings (3)
• Eleanor Mathieson – violin (5)
• Stephen Morris – strings (3)
• Jane Oliver – strings (5)
• Emma Owens – strings (5)
• Pino Palladino – bass (4, 6, 9, 10)
• Tom Pigott-Smith – strings (3)
• Ruston Pomeroy – violin (5)
• Hayley Pomfrett – violin (5)
• Josef Powell – choir (4, 6, 9, 10)
• James Poyser – piano (4, 6, 9, 10)
• Jenny Sacha – violin (5)
• Kotono Sato – violin (5)
• Jackie Shave – strings (3)
• Lucy Shaw – strings (5)
• Emlyn Singleton – strings (3)
• Ash Soan – drums (5)
• Fraser T Smith – bass guitar and piano (5)
• Amy Stanford – strings (5)
• Matt Sweeney – guitar (4, 6, 9, 10)
• Leo Taylor – drums (1, 8)
• Ryan Tedder – electric guitar, bass, piano, Hammond B3, drums, and string arrangement (2)
• Ben Thomas – acoustic and electric guitar (8)
• Cathy Thompson – strings (3)
• Julia Tillman Waters – choir (4, 6, 9, 10)
• Carmen Twillie – choir (4, 6, 9, 10)
• Lorna Maxine Waters – choir (4, 6, 9, 10)
• Oren Waters – choir director (4, 6, 9, 10)
• Bruce White – strings (3)
• Dan Wilson – piano (11)
• The Wired Strings – strings (5)
• Chris Worsey – strings (3)
• Terry Young – choir (4, 6, 9, 10)
• Warren Zielinski – strings (3)

{{Div col end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{Year-end album chart top}}

|-

{{Year-end album chart year|2011}}

|-

! scope="row"| Argentine Albums (CAPIF){{cite web |url=http://www.capif.org.ar/archivos/Informes/Informe_CAPIF_2011_1.pdf |publisher=Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas |language=es |access-date=24 January 2013 |archive-date=19 November 2012 |title=Mercado argentino de la música 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119210425/http://www.capif.org.ar/archivos/Informes/Informe_CAPIF_2011_1.pdf |page=4 |url-status=dead}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 10

|-

! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2011.htm |title=ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 2011 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |access-date=25 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112045637/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2011.htm |archive-date=12 January 2012}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria){{cite web |url=http://www.austriancharts.at/year.asp?id=2011&cat=a |title=Jahreshitparade Alben 2011 |language=de |publisher=IFPI Austria. Hung Medien |access-date=25 January 2012}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 2

|-

! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders){{cite web |url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2011&cat=a |title=Jaaroverzichten 2011 |language=nl |publisher=Ultratop. Hung Medien |access-date=25 December 2011}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia){{cite web |url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2011&cat=a |title=Rapports annuels 2011 |language=fr |publisher=Ultratop. Hung Medien |access-date=25 December 2011}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Brazilian Albums (ABPD){{cite web|url=http://abpd.org.br/downloads/Fina2011.pdf |publisher=ABPD |access-date=7 October 2012 |title=Top 20 CDs 2011 – Page 10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813163657/http://www.abpd.org.br/downloads/Fina2011.pdf |archive-date=13 August 2012 }}

| style="text-align:center;"| 8

|-

! scope="row"| Canadian Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/top-canadian-albums |title=Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2011 |magazine=Billboard|date=31 December 2016 |access-date=8 April 2017}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Danish Albums (Hitlisten){{cite web|url=http://www.hitlisterne.dk/yearlist2011.asp?list=Album%20100 |title=Album-Top 100 |publisher=Hitlisten.NU. IFPI Denmark |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609045421/http://www.hitlisterne.dk/yearlist2011.asp?list=Album%20100 |archive-date=9 June 2012 |access-date=23 January 2012 |url-status=dead}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 2

|-

! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100){{cite web |url=http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2011&cat=a |title=Jaaroverzichten 2011 |language=nl |publisher=MegaCharts. Hung Medien |access-date=25 December 2011}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

{{Year-end album chart|Finland|1|year=2011|refname=FIN ye 2011|accessdate=29 August 2013}}

|-

! scope="row"| French Albums (SNEP){{cite web |url=http://www.chartsinfrance.net/actualite/news-77280.html|title=Quels sont les tops musicaux de l'année 2011 ?|language=fr |publisher=Chartinfrance|access-date=26 December 2011}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

! scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100){{cite web|url=http://www.viva.tv/charts/viva-album-jahrescharts-2011-2011-849/ |title=Viva Album Jahrescharts 2011 – 2011 |language=de |publisher=Chartinfrance |access-date=11 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308202328/http://www.viva.tv/charts/viva-album-jahrescharts-2011-2011-849/ |archive-date=8 March 2012 }}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ){{cite web|url=http://www.mahasz.hu/?menu=slagerlistak&menu2=eves_osszesitett_listak&id=album_db&ev=2011|title=Best selling albums in 2011 of Hungary|publisher=Mahasz|access-date=22 February 2012}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 33

|-

! scope="row"| Irish Albums (IRMA){{cite web |url=http://www.irma.ie/best2011.htm|title=Best of 2011|publisher=Irish Recorded Music Association |access-date=10 January 2012}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Italian Albums (FIMI){{cite web|url=https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/classifiche.kl#/charts/11/2011/0|title=Classifica annuale 2011 (dal 27.12.2010 al 01.01.2012) – Album & Compilation|publisher=Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|language=it|access-date=16 January 2012}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 4

|-

! scope="row"| Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico){{cite web|url=http://www.amprofon.com.mx/Archivos/PDF/top_anual/Top_100_Album_2011.pdf |title=Los Más Vendidos 2011 |language=es |publisher=Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas |access-date=19 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131103352/http://www.amprofon.com.mx/Archivos/PDF/top_anual/Top_100_Album_2011.pdf |archive-date=31 January 2012 }}

| style="text-align:center;"| 5

|-

! scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/2011-12-31|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=26 December 2012|title=End of Year Charts 2011 – Albums}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Polish Albums (ZPAV){{cite web|url=http://zpav.pl/rankingi/listy/top100/roczna.php?lang=2 |title=Top 100 – annual chart – 2011 |publisher=Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry|language=pl |access-date=29 January 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311032926/http://zpav.pl/rankingi/listy/top100/roczna.php?lang=2 |archive-date=11 March 2012}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

! scope="row"| South African Albums (RiSA){{cite web|url=http://www.rsg.co.za/Program-Vorige/44/SA-Top-20 |title=Radio Sonder Grense: SA Top-20 |language=af |publisher=South African Broadcasting Corporation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701120417/http://rsg.co.za/Program-Vorige/44/SA-Top-20 |archive-date=1 July 2014 |access-date=5 August 2014 |url-status=live}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE){{cite web|url=http://www.promusicae.es/files/listasanuales/albumes/Top%2050%20ALBUMES%202011.pdf |title=Top 50 Albumes 2011 |language=es |access-date=28 January 2012 |publisher=Promusicae. Media Control. GfK International |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123134003/http://promusicae.es/files/listasanuales/albumes/Top%2050%20ALBUMES%202011.pdf |archive-date=23 January 2013}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 5

|-

! scope="row"| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=83&dfom=20110001&navi=no |title=Årslista Album – År 2011 |language=sv |publisher=Sverigetopplistan. Swedish Recording Industry Association |access-date=25 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413131857/http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=83&dfom=20110001&navi=no |archive-date=13 April 2013 }}

| style="text-align:center;"| 2

|-

! scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web |url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2011/alben |title=Swiss Year-End Charts 2011 |publisher=Media Control. Hung Medien |access-date=2 January 2012}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC){{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-top-20-biggest-selling-albums-of-2011-revealed/ |title=The Top 20 biggest selling albums of 2011 revealed! |publisher=Official Charts Company |date=2 January 2012 |access-date=2 January 2012}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

{{Year-end album chart|Billboard200|1|year=2011|refname=US ye 2011|accessdate=29 August 2013}}

|-

! scope="row"| Worldwide Albums (IFPI Global Music Report){{cite web|title=IFPI Global Music Report 2013|url=https://www.ifpi.org/downloads/dmr2013-full-report_english.pdf|page=11|access-date=26 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308045522/https://www.ifpi.org/downloads/dmr2013-full-report_english.pdf|archive-date=8 March 2014}}

| 1

|-

{{Year-end album chart bottom}}

{{Year-end album chart top}}

|-

{{Year-end album chart year|2012}}

|-

! scope="row"| Argentine Albums (CAPIF){{cite web|url=http://www.capif.org.ar/rankings.aspx |publisher=Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas |language=es |access-date=24 January 2013 |title=Rankings |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703101140/http://www.capif.org.ar/rankings.aspx |archive-date=3 July 2013 }}

|style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web |url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2012/albums-chart |title=ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles Chart{{pipe}} Australia's Official Top 50 Songs |publisher=ARIA Charts |access-date=8 April 2017 }}

| style="text-align:center;"| 3

|-

! scope="row"| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria){{cite web|url=http://www.austriancharts.at/year.asp?id=2012&cat=a |title=Jahreshitparade Alben 2012 |language=de |publisher=IFPI Austria. Hung Medien |access-date=8 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828134843/http://austriancharts.at/year.asp?id=2012&cat=a |archive-date=28 August 2013}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders){{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2012&cat=a |title=Jaaroverzichten 2012 |language=nl |publisher=Ultratop. Hung Medien |access-date=23 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927052820/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2012&cat=a |archive-date=27 September 2013}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia){{cite web |url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2012&cat=a |title=Rapports annuels 2012 |language=fr |publisher=Ultratop. Hung Medien |access-date=23 December 2012}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Brazilian Albums (ABPD){{cite web|url=http://abpd.org.br/downloads/ABPD_Publicacao2013_CB_final.pdf |title=Top 20 CDs 2012 |language=pt |publisher=Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos |page=8 |access-date=6 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907093749/http://abpd.org.br/downloads/ABPD_Publicacao2013_CB_final.pdf |archive-date=7 September 2013 }}

| style="text-align:center;"| 6

|-

! scope="row"| Canadian Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/top-canadian-albums |title=Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2012 |magazine=Billboard|date=31 December 2016 |access-date=8 April 2017}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Danish Albums (Hitlisten){{cite web|first=Thomas|last=Treo|title=Så lidt solgte popstjernerne i 2012|url=http://ekstrabladet.dk/musik/dkmusiknyt/article1903008.ece|work=Ekstra Bladet|access-date=21 January 2012|date=21 January 2012|language=da}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 5

|-

! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100){{cite web |url=http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2012&cat=a |title=Jaaroverzichten 2012 |language=nl |publisher=MegaCharts. Hung Medien |access-date=13 September 2021}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

{{Year-end album chart|Finland|1|year=2012|refname=FIN ye 2012|accessdate=29 August 2013}}

|-

! scope="row"| French Albums (SNEP){{cite web|url=http://proxy.siteo.com.s3.amazonaws.com/www.snepmusique.com/file/albumsfusionnes2013.pdf |publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique |language=fr |access-date=28 January 2013 |title=Classement des 200 premiers Albums Fusionnés par GfK – année 2012 |archive-date=30 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930141258/http://proxy.siteo.com.s3.amazonaws.com/www.snepmusique.com/file/albumsfusionnes2013.pdf |url-status=dead}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

! scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100){{cite web | url = http://www.einslive.de/musik/charts/jahres_charts_2012.jsp | publisher = 1Live | access-date = 9 January 2013 | title = Die Jahres-Charts 2012| date = 3 January 2013}}

|style="text-align:center;"| 3

|-

! scope="row"| Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ){{cite web|url=http://zene.slagerlistak.hu/archivum/eves-osszesitett-listak/album_db/2012|title=Best selling albums of Hungary in 2012|publisher=Mahasz|access-date=7 February 2012}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 6

|-

! scope="row"| Irish Albums (IRMA){{cite web |url=http://www.irma.ie/best2012.htm|title=Best of 2012|publisher=Irish Recorded Music Association |access-date=7 March 2014}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 7

|-

! scope="row"| Italian Albums (FIMI){{cite web|url=https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/classifiche.kl#/charts/11/2011/0|title=Classifica annuale 2012 (dal 02.01.2012 al 30.12.2012) – Album & Compilation|publisher=Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|language=it|access-date=8 July 2021}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 2

|-

!scope="row"|Japan Hot Albums (Billboard Japan){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=albums_year&year=2012|title=Top Albums Sales 2012|work=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=5 June 2021}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 78

|-

! scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/y/2012/p/4/|title=年間 アルバムランキング 2012年度|trans-title=Annual Album Ranking 2012|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020030412/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/y/2012/p/4/|archive-date=20 October 2019|access-date=15 February 2021}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 35

|-

! scope="row"| Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico){{cite web|url=http://www.amprofon.com.mx/Archivos/PDF/top_anual/Top_100_Album_2012.pdf |title=Los Más Vendidos 2012 |language=es |publisher=Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas |access-date=23 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6DuDuXGkh?url=http://www.amprofon.com.mx/Archivos/PDF/top_anual/Top_100_Album_2012.pdf |archive-date=24 January 2013 }}

| style="text-align:center;"| 2

|-

! scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/2012-12-31|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=26 December 2012|title=End of Year Charts 2012 – Albums}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Polish Albums (ZPAV){{cite web|url=http://zpav.pl/rankingi/listy/top100/roczna.php?lang=2 |title=Top 100 – annual chart – 2012 |publisher=Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry|language=pl |access-date=29 January 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927134131/http://zpav.pl/rankingi/listy/top100/roczna.php?lang=2 |archive-date=27 September 2013}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Russian Albums (2M){{cite web |url=http://lenta.ru/articles/2012/12/28/chart |publisher=lenta.ru |access-date=29 December 2012 |title=Триумф нестыдной попсы |language=ru|date=28 December 2012}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 4

|-

! scope="row"| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE){{cite web|url=http://www.promusicae.org/files/listasanuales/albumes/Top%2050%20ALBUMES%202012%20.pdf |title=Top 50 Albumes Anual 2012 |publisher=Promuiscae.es |access-date=15 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527011030/http://www.promusicae.org/files/listasanuales/albumes/Top%2050%20ALBUMES%202012%20.pdf |archive-date=27 May 2013}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 4

|-

! scope="row"| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=83&dfom=20120101 |publisher=Hitlistan.se. Sverigetopplistan |language=sv |access-date=17 January 2013 |title=Årslista Album – År 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007021443/http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=83&dfom=20120101 |archive-date=7 October 2015 }}

| style="text-align:center;"| 15

|-

! scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2012/alben |publisher=hitparade.ch |access-date=9 January 2013 |title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2012 |date=31 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060835/http://hitparade.ch/year.asp?key=2012 |archive-date=21 September 2013 }}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

|-

! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC){{cite web | url = http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-40-biggest-selling-albums-of-2012-revealed-1785/ | publisher = Official Charts Company | access-date = 2 January 2013 | title = The Official Top 40 Biggest Selling Albums of 2012 revealed! | first = Dan | last = Lane | date = 2 January 2013}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 2

|-

{{Year-end album chart|Billboard200|1|year=2012|refname=US ye 2012|accessdate=29 August 2013}}

|-

! scope="row"| Worldwide Albums (IFPI Global Music Report)

| 1

|-

{{Year-end album chart bottom}}

{{Year-end album chart top}}

|-

{{Year-end album chart year|2013}}

|-

! scope="row"| Argentine Albums (CAPIF){{cite web|url=http://www.capif.org.ar/noticia.aspx?id=26 |title=El álbum más vendido durante 2013 en Argentina: "Violetta – Hoy somos más" |language=es |publisher=Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas |access-date=7 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140202210610/http://www.capif.org.ar/noticia.aspx?id=26 |archive-date=2 February 2014}}

| 39

|-

! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web |url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2013.htm |title=ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 2013 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=7 March 2014}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 60

|-

! scope="row"| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria){{cite web |url=http://www.austriancharts.at/year.asp?id=2013&cat=a |title=Jahreshitparade Alben 2013 |language=de |publisher=IFPI Austria. Hung Medien |access-date=7 March 2014}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 63

|-

! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders){{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2013&cat=a |title=Jaaroverzichten 2013 |language=nl |publisher=Ultratop. Hung Medien |access-date=7 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417130753/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2013&cat=a |archive-date=17 April 2014}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 8

|-

! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia){{cite web |url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2013&cat=a |title=Report Annuels 2013 |language=fr |publisher=Ultratop. Hung Medien |access-date=7 March 2014}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 32

|-

! scope="row"| Canadian Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/top-canadian-albums?page=2|title=Canadian Albums: 2013 Year-End Charts|magazine=Billboard|access-date=3 May 2014}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 21

|-

! scope="row"| Danish Albums (Hitlisten){{cite web |url=http://www.hitlisterne.dk/yearlist2013.asp?list=Album%20100 |title=Album-Top 100 2013 |publisher=Hitlisten.NU. IFPI Denmark |language=da|access-date=7 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140131171824/http://www.hitlisterne.dk/yearlist2013.asp?list=Album%20100 |archive-date=31 January 2014}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 48

|-

! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100){{Cite web|title=Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2013&cat=a|access-date=2023-01-02|website=dutchcharts.nl}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 23

|-

! scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100){{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-2013 |title=Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts|language=de |work=GfK Entertainment |publisher=offiziellecharts.de |access-date=31 October 2015}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 100

|-

! scope="row"| Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ){{cite web |url=http://zene.slagerlistak.hu/archivum/eves-osszesitett-listak/album_db/2013 |title=Összesített album- és válogatáslemez-lista – eladási darabszám alapján – 2013 |language=hu |publisher=MAHASZ |access-date=22 January 2014}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 35

|-

! scope="row"| Italian Albums (FIMI){{cite web|url=https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/classifiche.kl#/charts/11/2013/0|title=Classifica annuale 2013 (dal 31.12.2012 al 29.12.2013) – Album & Compilation|publisher=Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|access-date=7 March 2014}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 51

|-

! scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/2013-12-31|title=Top Selling Albums of 2013|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=31 December 2016}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 18

|-

! scope="row"| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=83&dfom=20130001 |title=Årslista Album – År 2013 |language=sv |publisher=Sverigetopplistan. Swedish Recording Industry Association |access-date=7 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012232732/http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=83&dfom=20130001 |archive-date=12 October 2014}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 93

|-

! scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web |url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2013/alben |title=Swiss Year-End Charts 2013 |publisher=Media Control. Hung Medien |access-date=7 March 2014}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 15

|-

! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC){{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/UKChartsPlusEOY2013.pdf|title=End of Year 2013|publisher=UKChartsPlus|access-date=8 June 2014}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 72

|-

! scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine | url = https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/the-billboard-200?page=2 | magazine = Billboard | access-date = 22 December 2013 | title = Billboard 200 2013 | date = 22 December 2013}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 21

|-

{{Year-end album chart bottom}}

{{col-2}}

{{Year-end album chart top}}

|-

{{Year-end album chart year|2014}}

|-

! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders){{cite web |url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2014&cat=a |title=Jaaroverzichten 2014 |language=nl |publisher=Ultratop. Hung Medien |access-date=26 December 2014}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 33

|-

! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia){{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2014&cat=a |title=Report Annuels 2014 |language=fr |publisher=Ultratop. Hung Medien |access-date=26 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102163859/http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2014&cat=a |archive-date=2 January 2015}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 108

|-

! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100){{Cite web|title=Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2014&cat=a|access-date=2023-01-02|website=dutchcharts.nl}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 98

|-

! scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/2014-12-31|title=Top Selling Albums of 2014|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=31 December 2016}}

|42

|-

! scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine | url = https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2014/top-billboard-200-albums | magazine = Billboard | access-date = 19 December 2014 | title = Billboard 200 2014 | date = 19 December 2014}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 76

{{Year-end album chart bottom}}

{{Year-end album chart top}}

|-

{{Year-end album chart year|2015}}

|-

! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2015.htm |title=ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 2015 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |access-date=6 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112063600/http://www.aria.com.au/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2015.htm |archive-date=12 January 2016}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 32

|-

! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100){{Cite web|title=Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2015&cat=a|access-date=2023-01-02|website=dutchcharts.nl}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 26

|-

! scope="row"| Italian Albums (FIMI){{cite web|url=https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/classifiche.kl#/charts/11/2015/0|title=Classifica annuale 2015 (dal 29.12.2014 al 31.12.2015) – Album & Compilation|publisher=Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|language=it|access-date=10 January 2015}}

| 89

|-

{{album chart|New Zealand|35|M|title=The Official NZ Music Charts – End of Year Charts 2015| url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/2015-12-31|rowheader=true}}

|-

! scope="row"| South Korean Albums International (Gaon){{cite web |url=http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=year&hitYear=2015&targetTime=15&nationGbn=E|title=2015년 Album Chart |language=ko |publisher=Gaon Music Chart |access-date=13 January 2017}}

| 17

|-

! scope="row"| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/83?dspy=2015&dspp=1|title=Årslista Album – År 2015|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|language=sv|access-date=10 May 2021}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 38

|-

! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC){{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/|title=End of Year 2015|publisher=UKChartsPlus|access-date=23 October 2016}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 45

|-

! scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine | url = https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/top-billboard-200-albums | magazine = Billboard | access-date = 13 December 2015 | title = Billboard 200 2015 | date = 12 December 2014}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 74

{{Year-end album chart bottom}}

{{Year-end album chart top}}

|-

{{Year-end album chart year|2016}}

|-

! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2016.htm|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums 2016|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=6 January 2017}}

| 29

|-

! scope="row"| Canadian Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/top-canadian-albums |title=Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2016 |magazine=Billboard|date=31 December 2016 |access-date=8 April 2017}}

| 25

|-

! scope="row"| Danish Albums (Hitlisten){{cite web|url=http://hitlisten.nu/top2016.asp |title=Album Top-100 2016 |publisher=Hitlisten.NU |language=da |access-date=31 December 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230202617/http://hitlisten.nu/top2016.asp |archive-date=30 December 2016 }}

| 43

|-

! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100){{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2016&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 2016|publisher=Hung Medien|language=nl|access-date=26 December 2016}}

| 27

|-

! scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/2016-12-31|title=Top Selling Albums of 2016|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=25 December 2016}}

| 31

|-

! scope="row"| South Korean Albums International (Gaon){{cite web |url=http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=year&hitYear=2016&targetTime=16&nationGbn=E|title=2016년 Album Chart |language=ko |publisher=Gaon Music Chart |access-date=13 January 2017}}

| 10

|-

! scope="row"| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/83?dspy=2016&dspp=1|title=Årslista Album – År 2016|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|language=sv|access-date=10 May 2021}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 32

|-

! scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2016/alben|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade Alben 2016 – hitparade.ch |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=2 January 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202065157/http://www.hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2016 |archive-date=2 February 2017 }}

| 49

|-

! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC){{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/|title=End of Year Album Chart 2016|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=31 December 2016}}

| 47

|-

! scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2016|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/top-billboard-200-albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=8 December 2016}}

| 24

{{Year-end album chart bottom}}

{{Year-end album chart top}}

|-

{{Year-end album chart year|2017}}

|-

! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.ariacharts.com.au/annual-charts/2017/albums-chart|title=ARIA End of Year Albums 2017|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=5 January 2018}}

| 26

|-

! scope="row"| Danish Albums (Hitlisten){{cite web|url=http://hitlisten.nu/top2017.asp?list=Album%20100|title=Album Top-100 2017|publisher=Hitlisten|language=da|access-date=11 January 2018}}

| 75

|-

! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100){{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2017&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 2017|publisher=Hung Medien|language=nl|access-date=23 December 2017}}

| 55

|-

! scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/2017-12-31|title=Top Selling Albums of 2017|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=22 December 2017}}

| 16

|-

! scope="row"| South Korean International Albums (Gaon){{cite web |url=http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=year&hitYear=2017&targetTime=3&nationGbn=E&year_time=3 |title=2017년 Album Chart |language=ko |publisher=Gaon Music Chart |access-date=16 February 2021 }}

| 27

|-

! scope="row"| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=83&dfom=20170001|title=Årslista Album – År 2017|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|language=sv|access-date=16 January 2018}}

| 40

|-

! scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2017|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/top-billboard-200-albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=12 December 2017}}

| 107

{{Year-end album chart bottom}}

{{Year-end album chart top}}

|-

{{Year-end album chart year|2018}}

|-

! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.ariacharts.com.au/annual-charts/2018/albums-chart|title=ARIA End of Year Albums 2018|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=10 January 2019}}

| 87

|-

! scope="row"| Icelandic Albums (Tónlistinn){{cite web|url=https://plotutidindi.is/arslistar/tonlistinn-plotur-2018/|title=Tónlistinn – Plötur – 2018|publisher=Plötutíóindi|language=is|access-date=January 3, 2022}}

| 69

|-

!scope="row"| South Korean International Albums (Gaon){{cite web |url=http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=year&hitYear=2018&targetTime=3&nationGbn=E&year_time=3 |title=2018년 Album Chart |language=ko |publisher=Gaon Music Chart |access-date=16 February 2021 }}

| 55

|-

! scope="row"| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=83&dfom=20180001|title=Årslista Album – År 2018|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|language=sv|access-date=15 January 2019}}

| 59

|-

! scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=5 December 2018}}

| 179

{{Year-end album chart bottom}}

{{Year-end album chart top}}

|-

{{Year-end album chart year|2019}}

|-

! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.ariacharts.com.au/annual-charts/2019/albums-chart|title=ARIA End of Year Albums Chart 2019|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=10 January 2020}}

| 90

|-

! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2019&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 2019|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=20 December 2019}}

| 75

|-

! scope="row"|Icelandic Albums (Tónlistinn){{cite web|url=https://plotutidindi.is/arslistar/tonlistinn-plotur-2019/|title=Tónlistinn – Plötur – 2019|publisher=Plötutíóindi|language=is|access-date=1 April 2022}}

| 76

|-

! scope="row"| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/83?dspy=2019&dspp=1|title=Årslista Album, 2019|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|language=sv|access-date=14 January 2020}}

| 75

|-

! scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2019|magazine=Billboard|access-date=5 December 2019}}

| 158

{{Year-end album chart bottom}}

{{Year-end album chart top}}

|-

{{Year-end album chart year|2020}}

|-

! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2020/albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2020|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=15 January 2021}}

| 92

|-

! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2020&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 2020|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=18 December 2020}}

| 79

|-

! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2020&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 2020|publisher=MegaCharts|language=nl|access-date=6 January 2021}}

| 58

|-

! scope="row"| Icelandic Albums (Tónlistinn){{cite web|url=https://plotutidindi.is/arslistar/plotur-2020/|title=Tónlistinn – Plötur – 2020|publisher=Plötutíðindi|access-date=8 March 2024|language=is}}

| 87

|-

! scope="row"| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/83?dspy=2020&dspp=1|title=Årslista Album, 2020|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|language=sv|access-date=20 January 2021}}

| 80

|-

! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20201231/37502|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2020|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=5 January 2021}}

| 98

|-

! scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2020|magazine=Billboard|access-date=3 December 2020}}

| 132

{{Year-end album chart bottom}}

{{Year-end album chart top}}

|-

{{Year-end album chart year|2021}}

|-

! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2021/albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2021|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=13 January 2022}}

| 57

|-

! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders){{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2021&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 2021|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=5 January 2022}}

| 40

|-

! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia){{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2021&cat=a|title=Rapports annuels 2021|publisher=Ultratop|language=fr|access-date=5 January 2022}}

| 141

|-

! scope="row"| Danish Albums (Hitlisten){{cite web|url=http://hitlisten.nu/top2021.asp|title=Album Top-100 2021|publisher=Hitlisten|language=da|access-date=6 January 2022}}

| 54

|-

! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2021&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 2021|website=dutchcharts.nl|language=nl|access-date=4 January 2022}}

| 31

|-

! scope="row"| Icelandic Albums (Tónlistinn){{cite web|url=https://plotutidindi.is/arslistar/plotur-2020-2/|title=Tónlistinn – Plötur – 2021|publisher=Plötutíðindi|access-date=8 March 2024|language=is}}

| 44

|-

! scope="row"| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/83?dspy=2021&dspp=1|title=Årslista Album, 2021|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|access-date=14 January 2022}}

| 38

|-

! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20210101/37502|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2021|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=6 January 2022}}

| 49

|-

! scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/top-billboard-200-albums/|title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2 December 2021}}

| 198

{{Year-end album chart bottom}}

{{Year-end album chart top}}

|-

{{Year-end album chart year|2022}}

|-

! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2022/albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums Chart for 2022|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=4 January 2023}}

| 76

|-

! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2022&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 2022|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=13 January 2023}}

| 37

|-

! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2022&cat=a|title=Rapports annuels 2022|publisher=Ultratop|language=fr|access-date=13 January 2023}}

| 130

|-

! scope="row"| Danish Albums (Hitlisten){{cite web|url=http://www.hitlisten.nu/top2022.asp|title=Album Top-100 2022|publisher=Hitlisten|access-date=1 February 2023}}

| 60

|-

! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2022&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 2022|website=dutchcharts.nl|language=nl|access-date=4 January 2023}}

| 23

|-

! scope="row"| Icelandic Albums (Tónlistinn){{cite web|url=https://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn-plotur-2022/|title=Tónlistinn – Plötur – 2022|publisher=Plötutíðindi|access-date=8 March 2024|language=is}}

| 45

|-

! scope="row"| Lithuanian Albums (AGATA){{cite web|url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/2022m/|title=2022 metų klausomiausi (Top 100)|publisher=AGATA|language=lt|access-date=28 February 2023}}

| 68

|-

! scope="row"| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/83?dspy=2022&dspp=1|title=Årslista Album, 2022|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|language=sv|access-date=15 January 2023}}

| 51

|-

! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC){{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20221231/37502|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2022|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=4 January 2023}}

| 79

|-

! scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/top-billboard-200-albums/|title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2022|magazine=Billboard|access-date=4 December 2022}}

| 164

{{Year-end album chart bottom}}

{{Year-end album chart top}}

|-

{{Year-end album chart year|2023}}

|-

! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2023/albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums Chart for 2023|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=12 January 2024}}

| 62

|-

! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2023&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 2023|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=7 January 2024}}

| 41

|-

! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2023&cat=a|title=Rapports annuels 2023|publisher=Ultratop|language=fr|access-date=7 January 2024}}

| 109

|-

! scope="row"| Danish Albums (Hitlisten){{cite web|url=https://hitlisten.nu/aarslister.asp?list=Album%20100&year=2023|title=Album Top-100 2023|publisher=Hitlisten|access-date=13 January 2024}}

| 52

|-

! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2023&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 2023|website=dutchcharts.nl|language=nl|access-date=3 January 2024}}

| 14

|-

! scope="row"| Icelandic Albums (Tónlistinn){{cite web|url=https://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn-plotur-2023/|title=Tónlistinn – Plötur – 2023|publisher=Plötutíðindi|access-date=8 March 2024|language=is}}

| 27

|-

! scope="row"| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/83?dspy=2023&dspp=1|title=Årslista Album, 2023|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|access-date=18 January 2024}}

| 25

|-

! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20230101/37502/|title=End of Year Albums Chart – 2023|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=3 January 2024}}

| 61

|-

! scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/top-billboard-200-albums/|title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2023|magazine=Billboard|access-date=23 November 2023}}

| 163

{{Year-end album chart bottom}}

{{Year-end album chart top}}

|-

{{Year-end album chart year|2024}}

|-

! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2024/albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums Chart for 2024|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=13 January 2025}}

| 95

|-

! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2024&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 2024|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=1 January 2025}}

| 25

|-

! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2024&cat=a|title=Rapports annuels 2024|publisher=Ultratop|language=fr|access-date=1 January 2025}}

| 86

|-

! scope="row"| Danish Albums (Hitlisten){{cite web|url=https://hitlisten.nu/aarslister.asp?list=Album%20100&year=2024|title=Album Top-100 2024|publisher=Hitlisten|access-date=15 January 2025}}

| 57

|-

! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2024&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 2024|website=dutchcharts.nl|language=nl|access-date=3 January 2025}}

| 13

|-

! scope="row"| Icelandic Albums (Tónlistinn){{cite web|url=https://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn-plotur-2024/|title=Tónlistinn – Plötur – 2024|publisher=Plötutíðindi|access-date=January 13, 2025|language=is}}

| 51

|-

! scope="row"| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=https://sverigetopplistan.se/chart/83/?dspy=2024&dspp=1|title=Årslista Album, 2024|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|access-date=15 January 2025}}

| 25

|-

! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20240101/37502/|title=End of Year Albums Chart – 2024|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=1 January 2025}}

| 85

{{Year-end album chart bottom}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for 21, with pure sales where available}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|region=Argentina|award=Platinum|number=4|certref={{cite journal|url=http://www.prensariomusica.com/Multimedios/pdfs/6882.pdf|title=2012: Gran año de Sony Music|journal=Prensario Musica|language=es|page=6|date=1 February 2013|access-date=7 March 2015}}|nosales=yes}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=17|certyear=2019|access-date=27 February 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|certyear=2011|region=Austria|award=Platinum}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=album|relyear=2011|certyear=2012|award=Platinum|number=6|access-date=12 June 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|region=Brazil|award=Diamond|number=3|certyear=2019|access-date=11 October 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|region=Canada|award=Diamond|number=2|certyear=2018|access-date=20 September 2018}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Chile|award=Platinum|number=2|salesamount=40,000|certref={{cite web|url=https://los40.cl/2012/adele-alcanzo-doble-platino-en-chile-por-su-disco-21-3580.html|title=Adele Alcanzo Doble Platino En Chile Por Su Disco '21'|publisher=Los 40 Chile|language=es|date=April 13, 2012|access-date=February 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203044637/https://los40.cl/2012/adele-alcanzo-doble-platino-en-chile-por-su-disco-21-3580.html|archive-date=February 3, 2021|first=Javier|last=Sandoval}}|salesref={{cite news|url=http://papeldigital.info/lt/2012/12/15/01/paginas/106.pdf|title=One Direction vende 20 mil discos en Chile en dos meses|date=December 15, 2012|access-date=December 8, 2021|newspaper=La Tercera|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906065524/http://papeldigital.info/lt/2012/12/15/01/paginas/106.pdf|archive-date=September 6, 2014|url-status=dead|language=es|page=106}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Colombia|award=Gold|nosales=true|certref={{cite web|url=https://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/MAM-4688862|title=El 'soul' de Adele vence a Lady Gaga|work=El Tiempo|language=es|date=July 17, 2012|access-date=February 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203045410/https://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/MAM-4688862|archive-date=February 3, 2021|first=Carlos|last=Solano|location=Colombia}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|region=Denmark|award=Platinum|number=10|id=13193|relyear=2011|certyear=2023|access-date=28 November 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|region=Finland|award=Platinum|number=2|salesamount=83,234|access-date=29 August 2013}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|nocert=true|salesamount=1,740,000|salesref=Claimed sales in France for 21:

• {{cite web|url=https://www.ozap.com/actu/ces-albums-qui-ont-seduit-plus-d-un-million-d-acheteurs-depuis-2003/451607|title=Ces albums qui ont séduit plus d'un million d'acheteurs depuis 2003|publisher=OZAP|editor=Pure Charts|access-date=19 June 2022|language=fr|date=23 February 2014|first=Charles|last=Decant}}
• {{cite web|url=https://www.nrj.fr/music-awards/actualites/adele-10-millions-d-exemplaires-de-21-vendus-aux-etats-unis-293904|title=NRJ Music Awards 2012 - Adele : 10 millions d'exemplaires de « 21 » vendus aux Etats-Unis!|publisher=NRJ|access-date=26 September 2023|language=fr|date=28 November 2012}}

}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|region=Germany|award=Platinum|number=8|access-date=12 June 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|region=Greece|award=Platinum|id=20121020044338|refname=Greece|access-date=August 31, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|region=Hungary|award=Platinum|certyear=2015|access-date=21 November 2015}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Iceland (FHF)|certref={{cite web|url=https://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/|title=Tónlistinn – Plötur|trans-title=The Music – Albums|language=is|publisher=Plötutíðindi|access-date=October 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009210918/http://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/|archive-date=October 9, 2023}}|award=Gold|salesamount=2,500|salesref={{cite web|url=https://fhf.is/soluvidurkenningar/|title=Söluviðurkenningar|publisher=Félag hljómplötuframleiðenda|language=is|access-date=January 5, 2023}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|region=Ireland|award=Platinum|number=18|salesamount=270,000|salesref=|certref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Israel|award=Platinum|salesamount=40,000|certref={{cite web|url=https://www.frogi.co.il/music/2354|title=בתוך שנה: 40,000 ישראלים קנו את אדל|publisher=Frogi|language=he|date=May 5, 2012|access-date=March 28, 2021|editor=Ynet|editor-link=Ynet|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328072622/https://www.frogi.co.il/music/2354|archive-date=March 28, 2021|first=אלכס|last=נסטר}}|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|certyear=2022|region=Italy|award=Platinum|number=9|id=10318|accessdate=5 December 2022}}

|-

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|region=Japan|award=Gold|certyear=2012|certmonth=2}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|certyear=2020|region=Mexico|award=Diamond+Platinum|number2=3|access-date=2 December 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|region=Netherlands|award=Platinum|number=4|refname="Dutchcert"|salesamount=500,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://www.entertainmentbusiness.nl/muziek/adeles-21-opnieuw-best-verkochte-album-van-het-jaar-in-nederland/|publisher=Entertainment Business|title=Adele's 21 opnieuw best verkochte album van het jaar in Nederland|date=21 December 2012|accessdate=25 May 2023|language=nl}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|certyear=2024|region=New Zealand|award=Platinum|number=17|source=radioscope|access-date=31 December 2024|refname="New Zealand"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|region=Norway|award=Platinum|salesamount=100,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/2012/04/12/149446/adele-pa-pengetoppen|title=Adele på pengetoppen|publisher=ABC Nyheter|date=12 April 2012|accessdate=27 September 2023|language=no|first=Leif|last=Gjerstad}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|region=Poland|award=Diamond|number=2|access-date=12 January 2012|certyear=2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|relmonth=12|region=Portugal|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427010214/http://www.artistas-espectaculos.com/topafp/pt/201211.htm|archive-date=27 April 2012|id=201211|access-date=28 December 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|region=Russia|award=Platinum|certref={{cite web|url=https://lenta.ru/articles/2012/03/30/chart/|title=Адель в платине|publisher=Lenta.ru|access-date=March 28, 2021|language=ru|date=March 30, 2012}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=South Africa|nocert=true|salesamount=30,000|salesref=Claimed sales in South Africa for 21:

• {{cite web|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2011-04-21-hit-the-road-adele/|title=Hit the road, Adele|work=TimesLIVE|access-date=27 September 2023|date=21 April 2011|first=Andile|last=Ndlovu}}
• {{cite web|title=Just Music — About Us|url=http://www.justmusic.co.za/about-us|publisher=JustMusic.com|access-date=October 14, 2021|archive-date=18 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718153843/http://www.justmusic.co.za/about-us|location=South Africa}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=South Korea |artist=Adele |title=21 |type=album |nocert=true |salesamount= 11,583 |salesref=Cumulative sales of 21 in South Korea, according to Gaon Music Chart:

• {{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=year&hitYear=2015&targetTime=3&nationGbn=E&year_time=3|title=2015년 Album Chart|access-date=30 September 2018|language=ko|publisher=Gaon Music Chart}}
• {{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=year&hitYear=2016&targetTime=3&nationGbn=E&year_time=3|title=2016년 Album Chart|access-date=30 September 2018|language=ko|publisher=Gaon Music Chart}}
• {{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=year&hitYear=2017&targetTime=2018&nationGbn=E&year_time=3|title=2017년 Album Chart|access-date=30 September 2018|language=ko|publisher=Gaon Music Chart}}
• {{cite web|url= http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=year&hitYear=2018&targetTime=3&nationGbn=E&year_time=3|title=2018년 Album Chart|access-date=30 September 2018|language=ko|publisher=Gaon Music Chart}}
• {{cite web|url= http://mobile.gaonchart.co.kr/musicAlbum.gaon?serviceGbn=ALBUM&termGbn=year&hitYear=2019&targetTime=03&nationGbn=E|title=2019년 Album Chart|language=ko|publisher=Gaon Music Chart}}
• {{cite web|url= http://mobile.gaonchart.co.kr/musicAlbum.gaon?serviceGbn=ALBUM&termGbn=year&hitYear=2020&targetTime=03&nationGbn=E|title=2020년 Album Chart|language=ko|publisher=Gaon Music Chart}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|relmonth=1|region=Spain|award=Platinum|number=5|id=adele-21|certyear=2012|access-date=November 11, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|region=Sweden|award=Platinum|number=3|certweek=49|certyear=2012|salesamount=140,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/playground-music-scandinavia-ab/pressreleases/adele-oscarsvinnare-med-bondlaaten-skyfall-840319|title=Adele - Oscarsvinnare Med Bondlaten 'Skyfall'|publisher=Mynewsdesk|date=February 25, 2013|access-date=September 12, 2023|language=sv}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|region=Switzerland|award=Platinum|number=7|certyear=2011|access-date=2 May 2016}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Taiwan|artist=Adele|title=21|type=album|relyear=2011|nocert=yes|salesamount=12,000|salesref={{cite web|url=http://tw.nextmedia.com/applenews/article/art_id/33918343/IssueID/20111228|title=卡卡《天生完美》踢走愛黛兒 登寶島唱銷王 {{pipe}} 蘋果日報|language=zh|publisher=Next Media|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228085600/http://tw.nextmedia.com/applenews/article/art_id/33918343/IssueID/20111228|archive-date=December 28, 2011|access-date=April 27, 2023}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|certyear=2018|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|number=18|id=8720-417-2|refname="BPI"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|region=United States|award=Platinum|number=14|refname="RIAADiamondAward"|salesamount=12,009,000|salesref=|access-date=4 April 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Venezuela|nocert=true|salesamount=10,000|salesref={{cite web|last=Sanchez|first=Jeannariana|title=Adele alcanza "Disco de Oro" en Venezuela|url=http://www.sinflash.com/celebridades/adele-alcanza-disco-de-oro-en-venezuela/16188/|publisher=SinFlash.com|access-date=October 14, 2021|language=es|archive-date=January 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130112913/http://www.sinflash.com/celebridades/adele-alcanza-disco-de-oro-en-venezuela/16188/}}}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=21|artist=Adele|relyear=2011|region=Europe|award=Platinum|number=10|certyear=2012|access-date=1 January 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|nocert=true|region=Worldwide|salesamount=31,000,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

• List of best-selling albums
• List of best-selling albums by women
• List of best-selling albums in the United Kingdom
• List of best-selling albums of the 21st century in the United Kingdom
• List of best-selling albums of the 2010s in the United Kingdom
• List of best-selling albums in Australia
• List of best-selling albums in Canada
• List of diamond-certified albums in Canada
• List of best-selling albums in France
• List of best-selling albums in Germany
• List of best-selling albums in the Netherlands
• List of best-selling albums in New Zealand
• List of best-selling albums in the United States
• List of best-selling albums by year in the United States
• List of best-selling albums in the United States of the Nielsen SoundScan era

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2012/06/return-soul-music|title=Authenticity makes a comeback|newspaper=The Economist|date=11 June 2012|access-date=8 September 2012|archive-date=28 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928095036/http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2012/06/return-soul-music|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-jan-1-2012-albums-she-back-153256993.html|title=Week Ending Jan. 1, 2012. Albums: She's Back|last=Grein|first=Paul|publisher=Chart Watch. Yahoo!!! Music|date=4 January 2012|access-date=5 January 2012|archive-date=3 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403023410/http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-jan-1-2012-albums-she-back-153256993.html|url-status=live}}

{{cite news|last=Caramanica|first=Jon|date=6 June 2012|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/07/arts/music/emeli-sandes-our-version-of-events.html|title=A Singer With Many Influences But a Soul That's Hers Alone|newspaper=The New York Times|page=C1k|access-date=9 September 2012|archive-date=11 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211104644/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/07/arts/music/emeli-sandes-our-version-of-events.html|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|title=ADELE – 21 (ALBUM)|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Adele&titel=21&cat=a|publisher=charts.nz|access-date=28 January 2011|archive-date=5 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405214521/http://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Adele&titel=21&cat=a|url-status=live}}

{{cite news|last=St. Asaph|first=Katherine|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2012/01/18/the-spotlight-shines-on-adeles-heartbreak/|title=The Spotlight Shines on Adele's Heartbreak|work=The Village Voice|location=New York |date=18 January 2012|access-date=2 February 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913065902/https://www.villagevoice.com/2012/01/18/the-spotlight-shines-on-adeles-heartbreak/ |archive-date= 13 September 2018}}

{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1595326_1595332_1616413,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829200357/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1595326_1595332_1616413,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 August 2008|magazine=Time|title=The Time 100: Artists and Entertainers—Rick Rubin|author=Maines, Natalie|date=3 May 2007|access-date=28 January 2012}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/chart-news/adele-equals-oasis-and-queen-chart-record/|title=Adele equals Oasis and Queen chart record|author=Kreisler, Lauren|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=22 January 2012|access-date=28 January 2012|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628163557/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/adele-equals-oasis-and-queen-chart-record/|archive-date=28 June 2012}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/chart-news/adeles-21-smashes-official-albums-chart-records-again/|title=Adele's 21 smashes Official Albums Chart records, again!|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=8 January 2012|access-date=28 January 2012|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629032443/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/adeles-21-smashes-official-albums-chart-records-again/|archive-date=29 June 2012}}

{{cite web|author=Grein, Paul|title=Week Ending Jan. 15, 2012. Albums: Good News & Bad News|url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-jan-15-2012-albums-good-news-164954026.html|publisher=Chart Watch. Yahoo!!! Music|date=18 January 2012|access-date=18 January 2012|archive-date=20 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020081801/http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-jan-15-2012-albums-good-news-164954026.html|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.theaureview.com/news/adele%E2%80%99s-21-becomes-second-longest-running-number-one-aria-chart-album-this-decade|title=Adele's 21 becomes second longest running number one ARIA chart album this decade|author=Lendrum, Tony|publisher=The AU Review. Heath Media & the AU review|date=18 July 2011|access-date=19 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102045657/http://www.theaureview.com/news/adele%E2%80%99s-21-becomes-second-longest-running-number-one-aria-chart-album-this-decade|archive-date=2 November 2013|url-status=dead}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Adele-21/release/2992461|title=Adele–21|date=20 January 2011|publisher=Discogs. Zink Media|access-date=16 January 2012|archive-date=2 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102104908/http://www.discogs.com/Adele-21/release/2992461|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1048053&c=1|author=Jones, Alan|title=TAlbum Chart Analysis: Adele needs just 38k weekly sales to claim No.1|date=9 January 2012|work=Music Week|access-date=9 January 2012|archive-date=2 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102231946/http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1048053&c=1|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|title=The Adele Experience |work=M Magazine |publisher=PRS for Music |date=22 December 2011 |url=http://www.m-magazine.co.uk/featuresinterviews/interviews/the-adele-experience/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121074106/http://www.m-magazine.co.uk/featuresinterviews/interviews/the-adele-experience/ |access-date=9 January 2012 |archive-date=21 January 2012 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.americansongwriter.com/2011/11/adele-one-and-only/|title=Adele, "One And Only"|author=Inman, Davis|date=21 November 2011|work=American Songwriter|access-date=9 January 2012|archive-date=17 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717225155/http://www.americansongwriter.com/2011/11/adele-one-and-only/|url-status=live}}

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{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/click-track/post/allison-stewart-picks-her-top-10-albums-of-2011/2011/12/12/gIQAT2d2tO_blog.html|title=Allison Stewart picks her top 10 albums of 2011|newspaper=The Washington Post|author=Stewart, Allison|date=14 December 2011|access-date=27 December 2011|archive-date=13 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113184234/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/click-track/post/allison-stewart-picks-her-top-10-albums-of-2011/2011/12/12/gIQAT2d2tO_blog.html|url-status=live}}

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{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/best-albums-2011-foo-fighters-adele-276168|title=THR Music Editor's Top 10 Albums of 2011|work=The Hollywood Reporter|location=Los Angeles|author=Halperin, Shirley|date=23 December 2011|access-date=27 December 2011|archive-date=7 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107164926/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/best-albums-2011-foo-fighters-adele-276168|url-status=live}}

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{{cite web|author=|title=The Top 50 Albums of 2011|url=http://www.rhapsody.com/blog/2011/12/50albums|publisher=Rhapsody|date=14 December 2011|access-date=27 December 2011|archive-date=19 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419081542/http://www.rhapsody.com/blog/2011/12/50albums|url-status=live}}

{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/2011/12/23/the-20-best-albums-of-2011-86908-23654830/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130114021100/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/2011/12/23/the-20-best-albums-of-2011-86908-23654830/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 January 2013 |title=The 20 best albums of 2011 |location=Glasgow |work=Daily Record |author=Harrison, Rachel |date=23 December 2011 |access-date=27 December 2011 }}

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{{cite web|author=|title=2011 Critics Poll: Best Albums|url=http://music.msn.com/music/year-in-review/best-albums/?photoidx=2|publisher=MSN Music. Microsoft|date=26 December 2011|access-date=27 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504203008/http://music.msn.com/music/year-in-review/best-albums/?photoidx=2|archive-date=4 May 2012|url-status=dead}}

{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.digitalspy.ca/music/i381137-1/digital-spys-top-25-albums-of-2011-1-adele-21.html|title=Digital Spy's top 25 albums of 2011|publisher=Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi|date=26 December 2011|access-date=27 December 2011|archive-date=2 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102130610/http://www.digitalspy.ca/music/i381137-1/digital-spys-top-25-albums-of-2011-1-adele-21.html|url-status=live}}

{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/story/2011-12-27/our-critics-top-five-albums/52234144/1|title=Year-end music: Our critics' picks for top albums|work=USA Today|location=McLean, Virginia|author=|date=26 December 2011|access-date=27 December 2011|archive-date=27 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227080136/http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/story/2011-12-27/our-critics-top-five-albums/52234144/1|url-status=live}}

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{{cite web|author=Moody, Nekesa Mumbi|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/20/ap-adele-best-album_n_1160949.html|title=No Surprise: Adele Tops AP's List of Best Albums|work=HuffPost|date=20 December 2011|access-date=27 December 2011|archive-date=23 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223000142/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/20/ap-adele-best-album_n_1160949.html|url-status=live}}

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{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1675398/best-albums-2011-drake-adele.jhtml|title=Drake, Adele And More: The 20 Best Albums Of 2011|author=Montgomery, James|date=6 December 2011|work=MTV|access-date=9 December 2011|archive-date=18 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418170743/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1675398/best-albums-2011-drake-adele.jhtml|url-status=dead}}

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{{cite web|author=Winistorfer, Andrew |title=Rolling in the Deep: Why Can't Anyone Explain Adele's Chart Domination |work=Prefix Magazine|date=9 August 2011 |url=http://www.prefixmag.com/features/adele/rolling-in-the-deep/54656/|access-date=15 September 2011|url-status=live |archive-date=6 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006142327/http://www.prefixmag.com/features/adele/rolling-in-the-deep/54656/}}

{{cite web|author=Grein, Paul|title=Chart Watch Extra: Adele's Past, Present And Future |url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/74404/chart-watch-extra-adeles-past-present-and-future/|publisher=Chart Watch. Yahoo!!! Music|date=15 September 2011|access-date=15 September 2011|archive-date=1 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201210032/http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/chart-watch-extra-adeles-past-present-and-future.html|url-status=live}}

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{{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1045913&c=1|author=Jones, Alan|title=Beyoncé's 4 overtakes Adele to top the world sales chart|date=13 July 2011|work=Music Week|access-date=15 July 2011|archive-date=19 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719161355/http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1|url-status=dead}}

{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2011-07-13-eminem-adele-digital-sales_n.htm|title=Digital album sales soar, thanks to Adele, Eminem|author=Jones, Steve|date=13 July 2011|work=USA Today|location=McLean, Virginia|access-date=15 July 2011|archive-date=14 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714234149/http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2011-07-13-eminem-adele-digital-sales_n.htm|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|author=Krajewski, Jill |url=http://www.canculture.com/2011/05/19/adele-plays-first-arena-gig-at-acc/ |title=Adele plays first arena gig at ACC |publisher=CanCulture |date=19 May 2011 |access-date=15 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531175520/http://www.canculture.com/2011/05/19/adele-plays-first-arena-gig-at-acc/ |archive-date=31 May 2011}}

{{cite web|author=Levine, Nick|url=http://www.digitalspy.ca/music/singlesreviews/a297731/adele-rolling-in-the-deep.html|title=Adele: 'Rolling in the Deep'|work=Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi|date=17 January 2011|access-date=15 July 2011|archive-date=4 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404044606/http://www.digitalspy.ca/music/singlesreviews/a297731/adele-rolling-in-the-deep.html|url-status=live}}

{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/23/adele.soul.music/index.html|title=Cover Story: Adele keeps old soul fresh|author=Hare, Breeanna|date=24 February 2011|work=CNN. Turner Broadcasting System|access-date=15 July 2011|archive-date=31 January 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140131101252/http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/23/adele.soul.music/index.html|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|title=Top 50 Prodejní: Adele|url=http://www.ifpicr.cz/hitparada/index.php?a=titul&hitparada=14&titul=148940&sec=be32f8e9984e90ccb36864af5c5f7734|language=cs|publisher=IFPI ČR Hitparáda. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Czech Republic|access-date=31 May 2011|archive-date=15 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515225558/http://www.ifpicr.cz/hitparada/index.php?a=titul&hitparada=14&titul=148940&sec=be32f8e9984e90ccb36864af5c5f7734|url-status=live}}

{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/may/29/adele-change-women-music-business|title=Adele can change how music industry markets female acts, says label boss|last1=Topping|first1=Alexandra|date=29 May 2011|work=The Guardian|location=London|access-date=29 May 2011|archive-date=30 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930075749/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/may/29/adele-change-women-music-business|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|title=Adele 21|date=21 January 2011|url=https://itunes.apple.com/fr/album/21/id405293187|publisher=iTunes Store (FR). Apple Inc|access-date=27 May 2011|language=fr|archive-date=20 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120010948/http://itunes.apple.com/fr/album/21/id405293187|url-status=dead}}

{{cite web|title=Adele 21|url=https://itunes.apple.com/at/album/21/id405293187|publisher=iTunes Store (DE). Apple Inc|access-date=27 May 2011|language=de|archive-date=10 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110230811/https://itunes.apple.com/at/album/21/id405293187|url-status=dead}}

{{cite web|title=Adele 21|url=http://www.cdwow.com.au/CD/adele-21/dp/19805713|publisher=CD Wow! (Australia)|access-date=27 May 2011|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425083138/http://www.wowhd.com.au/CD/adele-21/dp/19805713|archive-date=25 April 2012}}

{{cite web|title=Deutschland im Adele-Fieber|url=http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=Adele&title=21&cat=a&country=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141206215328/http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=Adele&title=21&cat=a&country=de|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 December 2014|publisher=Media Control GfK|access-date=27 May 2011|language=de}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.ca/music/news/a317902/adele-tops-us-album-chart-for-sixth-week.html|title=Adele tops US album chart for sixth week|first=Lewis|last=Corner|publisher=Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi|date=5 May 2011|access-date=24 May 2011|archive-date=21 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321201408/http://www.digitalspy.ca/music/news/a317902/adele-tops-us-album-chart-for-sixth-week.html|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|title=Set Fire to the Rain|publisher=Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Hung Medien|access-date=18 May 2011|language=it|url=http://italiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Adele&titel=Set+Fire+To+The+Rain&cat=s|archive-date=28 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628102809/http://italiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Adele|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|title=Adele—"Set Fire to the Rain'|url=http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Adele&titel=Set+Fire+To+The+Rain&cat=s|publisher=Ultratop. Hung Medien|access-date=26 May 2011|language=nl|archive-date=12 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612205448/http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Adele&titel=Set+Fire+To+The+Rain&cat=s|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|title=Adele 21 (Album)|url=http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Adele&titel=21&cat=aa|publisher=Schweizer Hitparade. Hung Medien|access-date=18 May 2011|language=de|archive-date=11 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111160638/http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Adele&titel=21&cat=aa|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.ca/21-Adele/dp/B004AB2JVI/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1305207122&sr=1-1|title=Adele 21|website=Amazon.com (CA)|access-date=18 May 2011|archive-date=20 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720210651/http://www.amazon.ca/21-Adele/dp/B004AB2JVI|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/21-Adele/dp/B004EBT5CU/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1305207192&sr=1-1|title=Adele 21|website=Amazon.com (US)|access-date=12 May 2011|archive-date=31 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731041357/http://www.amazon.com/21-Adele/dp/B004EBT5CU|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/21-%E3%82%A2%E3%83%87%E3%83%AB/dp/B0048JEEH4/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1305206993&sr=1-3|title=Adele 21|website=Amazon.com (JP)|access-date=12 May 2011|language=ja|archive-date=11 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811085033/http://www.amazon.co.jp/21-%E3%82%A2%E3%83%87%E3%83%AB/dp/B0048JEEH4|url-status=live}}

{{Cite news|last=Collins |first=Leah |title=Another broken heart pays off: English singer Adele uses second breakup for equally emotional followup to debut album |newspaper=Edmonton Journal |publisher=John Connolly |date=12 March 2011 |url=http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/archives/story.html?id=d704fb59-7157-4693-bc83-e02105d7abf8&p=1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130307211753/http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/archives/story.html?id=d704fb59-7157-4693-bc83-e02105d7abf8 |access-date=2 November 2011 |archive-date=7 March 2013 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web|author=Hurley, James|title=Adele interview – part two|url=http://music.uk.msn.com/xclusives/adele/article.aspx?cp-documentid=155829693|publisher=MSN Music. Microsoft|date=12 January 2011|access-date=16 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105092039/http://music.uk.msn.com/xclusives/adele/article.aspx?cp-documentid=155829693|archive-date=5 November 2011|url-status=dead}}

{{cite news|author=Stevenson, Jane|title=Adele, Rubin an oddly perfect pair|url=http://www.calgarysun.com/entertainment/music/2011/03/10/17569906.html|work=Calgary Sun|date=13 March 2011|access-date=14 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219174156/http://www.calgarysun.com/entertainment/music/2011/03/10/17569906.html|archive-date=19 December 2011|url-status=dead}}

{{Cite news|last=Verrico |first=Lisa|title = Ready to join the A list. Interview: Feisty, fashionable and feted by the stars, Adele could be set for Amy-style success with her second album| newspaper=The Sunday Times |location =London| page = 22|date = 9 January 2011}}

{{cite news|author=Gipson, L. Michael|title=Adele: 21|url=https://creativeloafing.com/content-166833-adele-21|work=Creative Loafing|publisher=Sharry Smith|date=2 February 2011|access-date=13 May 2011|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182625/http://clatl.com/atlanta/adele-21/Content?oid=2722004|url-status=live}}

{{cite news|author=Harmsworth, Andrei|title=Adele: Bitter break-up drove me to drink|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/showbiz/856432-adele-bitter-break-up-drove-me-to-drink|work=Metro|location=London|date=23 February 2011|access-date=12 May 2011|archive-date=31 January 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140131101252/http://www.metro.co.uk/showbiz/856432-adele-bitter-break-up-drove-me-to-drink|url-status=dead}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.top40.nl/bundle.aspx?bundle_id=539951&tid=1|title=Nederlandse Top 40—Dutch Charts Portal|language=nl|publisher=MegaCharts. GfK|access-date=11 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112030523/http://www.top40.nl/the-script/the-script-nothing_21401|archive-date=12 January 2013|url-status=dead}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20110123/7501/|publisher=Official Charts Company|title=2011 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive|date=29 January 2011|access-date=11 May 2011|archive-date=10 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110002750/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20110123/7501/|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|last=Grein |first=Paul |url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/74360/week-ending-may-1-2011-songs-even-divas-struggle/ |publisher=Chart Watch. Yahoo! Music |title=Songs: Even Divas Struggle |date=6 April 2011 |access-date=9 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509033110/http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/74360/week-ending-may-1-2011-songs-even-divas-struggle |archive-date=9 May 2011 }}

{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/471630/adeles-rolling-in-the-deep-tops-hot-100|title=Adele's 'Rolling in the Deep' Tops Hot 100 |author=Trust, Gary |date=11 May 2011 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=11 May 2011}}

{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/471954/rihannas-sm-reigns-on-hot-100-lady-gagas-judas-debuts |title=Rihanna's 'S&M' Reigns on Hot 100, Lady Gaga's 'Judas' Debuts |author=Trust, Gary |date=20 April 2011 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=20 April 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110416044749/http://www.billboard.com/| archive-date= 16 April 2011 | url-status= live}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.top40.nl/bundle.aspx?bundle_id=499496&tid=1&jaar=2010&maand=12&week=50|title=Nederlandse Top 40 – Dutch charts portal: "Set Fire to the Rain"|language=nl|publisher=MegaCharts. GfK|access-date=11 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903131059/http://www.top40.nl/mads-langer/mads-langer-you-re-not-alone_21225|archive-date=3 September 2014|url-status=dead}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/Search.aspx |title=Certified Awards Search |publisher=British Phonographic Industry |access-date=31 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511120001/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx |archive-date=11 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/chart-news/adele-equals-beatles-record-to-lead-official-charts-brits-bonanza/ |title=Adele equals Beatles' record to lead Official Charts Brits Bonanza |publisher=Official Charts Company |author=Howard, Amy |date=20 February 2011 |access-date=28 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225003800/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/chart-news/adele-equals-beatles-record-to-lead-official-charts-brits-bonanza/ |archive-date=25 February 2011 }}

{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/21-r2078324/credits|title=21 Credits|publisher=All Media Network|work=AllMusic|access-date=11 May 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820112256/https://www.allmusic.com/album/21-mw0002080092/credits| archive-date= 20 August 2018 | url-status= live}}

{{cite web|author=Breihan, Tom|date=15 February 2011|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/12105-someone-like-you/|title=Adele's "Someone like You"|work=Pitchfork|access-date=11 May 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110613071729/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/12105-someone-like-you/| archive-date= 13 June 2011 | url-status= live}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/newsPage.cgi?news08442m01|title=Success of 21 is Continuation of Successful Launch|publisher=Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures|date=7 March 2011|access-date=10 May 2011|archive-date=23 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223003659/http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/newsPage.cgi?news08442m01|url-status=dead}}

{{cite news|url= https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/straight-in-at-no-1america-embraces-adele-the-antigaga-2232943.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306122415/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/straight-in-at-no-1america-embraces-adele-the-antigaga-2232943.html |archive-date=2011-03-06 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Straight in at No 1...America embraces Adele, the 'Anti-Gaga'|author=Adams, Guy|work=The Independent|location=London |date=5 March 2011|access-date=10 May 2011}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/adele-opens-up-about-the-relationship-that-inspired-her-new-album/24664|title=Adele Opens Up About the Relationship that Inspired Her New Album|author=Jewell, Stephen|work=BlackBook|publisher=Brett Wagner|date=31 January 2011|access-date=8 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603100934/http://www.blackbookmag.com/music/adele-opens-up-about-the-relationship-that-inspired-her-new-album-1.37349|archive-date=3 June 2012|url-status=dead}}

{{cite web|url= http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/76b6c314-6a9a-11e0-80a1-00144feab49a.html|title=Adele 21|author=Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic|work=Financial Times|publisher=Pearson|date=19 April 2011|access-date=7 May 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110429094235/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/76b6c314-6a9a-11e0-80a1-00144feab49a.html| archive-date= 29 April 2011 | url-status= live}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/thesound/a312738/11-chart-facts-about-adeles-21.html|title=11 Chart Facts about Adele's 21|first=Robert|last=Copesy|publisher=Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi|date=4 April 2011|access-date=4 April 2011|archive-date=5 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405180742/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/thesound/a312738/11-chart-facts-about-adeles-21.html|url-status=dead}}

{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/472944/adele-ties-beatles-record-on-uk-charts-brit-awards-boost-winners|title=Adele Ties Beatles Record on U.K. Charts, BRIT Awards Boost Winners| magazine=Billboard |first=Paul|last=Sexton|date= 21 February 2011 |access-date=4 May 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130529190507/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/472944/adele-ties-beatles-record-on-uk-charts-brit-awards-boost-winners| archive-date= 29 May 2013 | url-status= live}}

{{Cite news|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/41520/Adele-21/|title=Album review: Adele – 21|work=Sputnikmusic|first=Joseph|last=Viney|date=29 January 2011|access-date=4 May 2011|archive-date=8 December 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121208141955/http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/41520/Adele-21/|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url=http://music.uk.msn.com/xclusives/adele/article.aspx?cp-documentid=155818465|title=Album review: Adele – 21|publisher=MSN Music. Microsoft|first=Tom|last=Townshend|date=11 January 2011|access-date=4 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330051436/http://music.uk.msn.com/xclusives/adele/article.aspx?cp-documentid=155818465|archive-date=30 March 2012|url-status=dead}}

{{Cite news|url=http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2011/02/album-review-adele-21.html/|title=Adele 21|work=Chicago Tribune|first=Greg|last=Kot|date=20 February 2011|access-date=4 May 2011|archive-date=1 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501084425/http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2011/02/album-review-adele-21.html|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/adele-21-xlcolumbia|title=Adele, '21' (XL/Columbia)|work=Spin|author=Walters, Barry|date=22 February 2011|access-date=4 May 2011|archive-date=3 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903155353/http://www.spin.com/reviews/adele-21-xlcolumbia|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.urb.com/2011/02/25/adele-21/ |title=Adele: 21 |work=URB |publisher=Raymond Roker |date=25 February 2011 |access-date=3 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219151036/http://www.urb.com/2011/02/25/adele-21/ |archive-date=19 December 2011 }}

{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/arts/music/01choice.html|title=Adele:21|work=The New York Times|first=Jon|last=Caramanica|date=11 February 2011|access-date=3 May 2011|archive-date=12 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712035957/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/arts/music/01choice.html|url-status=live}}

{{Cite news|url=http://www.noripcord.com/reviews/music/adele/21|title=Adele 21|publisher=No Ripcord|first=Gary|last=McGinley|date=25 January 2011|access-date=1 May 2011|archive-date=11 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411090546/http://www.noripcord.com/reviews/music/adele/21|url-status=live}}

{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/471847/katy-perrys-et-returns-to-no-1-on-hot-100|title=Katy Perry's 'E.T.' Returns To No. 1 on Hot 100|magazine=Billboard |first=Gary|last=Trust|date=27 April 2011|access-date=4 May 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110505151248/http://www.billboard.com/| archive-date= 5 May 2011 | url-status= live}}

{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/blogs/rolling-stone-video-blog/adele-on-21-the-songs-on-here-are-the-most-articulate-ive-ever-written-20110217?page=2|title=Adele on '21': 'The Songs on Here are the Most Articulate I've Ever Written'|last1= Staff|date= 17 February 2011|magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=30 April 2011}}

{{cite news|url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/LifeStyle/Reviews/-/691232/1149248/-/c4ig0v/-/|title=This is what 21 years sound like|last1=Mpubani|first1=Raymond|date=23 April 2011|work=Daily Monitor|publisher=Monitor Publications|location=Kampala|access-date=29 April 2011|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303173308/http://www.monitor.co.ug/LifeStyle/Reviews/-/691232/1149248/-/c4ig0v/-/|url-status=live}}

{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/apr/06/adele-music-interview?intcmp=239|title=How Adele conquered the world|last1=Jonze|first1=Tim|date=6 April 2011|work=The Guardian|location=London|access-date=28 April 2011|archive-date=6 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006142326/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/apr/06/adele-music-interview?intcmp=239|url-status=live}}

{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/blogs/rolling-stone-video-blog/adele-impresses-david-letterman-with-a-stunning-version-of-rolling-in-the-deep-20110222|title=Adele Impresses David Letterman With a Stunning Version of 'Rolling in the Deep'|last1=Perpetua|first1=Matthew|date=22 February 2011|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=28 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710071719/http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/blogs/rolling-stone-video-blog/adele-impresses-david-letterman-with-a-stunning-version-of-rolling-in-the-deep-20110222|archive-date=10 July 2012|url-status=dead}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1657301/adele-inspired-by-lady-antebellums-need-you-now.jhtml|title=Adele Inspired by Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now": Grammy-Winning Singer Discovers Country Music Through Her Bus Driver|last1=Shelburne|first1=Craig|date=4 February 2011|publisher=Country Music Television. MTV Networks|access-date=28 April 2011|archive-date=6 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106032738/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1657301/adele-inspired-by-lady-antebellums-need-you-now.jhtml|url-status=dead}}

{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/mar/27/adele-21-letterman-no1-interview|title=Adele: the girl with the mighty mouth|last1=Lamont|first1=Tom|date=27 March 2011|work=The Observer|location=London|access-date=27 April 2011|archive-date=21 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921223116/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/mar/27/adele-21-letterman-no1-interview|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/21/id420075073|title=Adele 21|date=24 January 2011 |publisher=iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc|access-date=23 February 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110308193206/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/21/id420075073| archive-date= 8 March 2011 | url-status= dead}}

{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/472127/adele-jennifer-lopez-extend-reign-on-uk-charts|title=Adele, Jennifer Lopez Extend Reign on U.K. Charts|last=Sexton|first=Paul|magazine=Billboard|date=21 February 2011|access-date=11 April 2011}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.adele.tv/blog/160/i-m-very-excited-nervous-eager-anxious-but-chuffed-to-announce-my-new-album |title=Adele: I'm very excited, nervous, eager, anxious but chuffed to announce my new album! |last1=Adkins |first1=Adele |date=1 November 2010 |publisher=Adele.tv. XL Recordings |access-date=24 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424094802/http://www.adele.tv/blog/160/i-m-very-excited-nervous-eager-anxious-but-chuffed-to-announce-my-new-album |archive-date=24 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}

{{cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/adele-2_0111.htm |title=Adele: 21 Review |last1=Murphy |first1=John |date=24 January 2011 |publisher=MusicOMH |access-date=24 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106134729/http://www.musicomh.com/albums/adele-2_0111.htm |archive-date=6 November 2011 }}

{{Cite video | url = http://www.mtv.ca/news/video_content.jhtml?id=1660115 | people = Mark McInnis (Creator and Executive Producer) | title = Adele Plays with MTV News | medium = Television production | publisher = MTV Live, MTV Canada. Bell Media | location = Toronto, Canada | date = 16 March 2011 | access-date = 21 May 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110913093556/http://www.mtv.ca/news/video_content.jhtml?id=1660115 | archive-date = 13 September 2011 | url-status = dead}}

{{cite web|last=Still|first=Jennifer|url=http://www.digitalspy.ca/music/news/a305347/adele-writing-album-broke-my-heart.html|title=Adele: 'Writing album broke my heart'|publisher=Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi|date=23 February 2011|access-date=24 April 2011|archive-date=4 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404044546/http://www.digitalspy.ca/music/news/a305347/adele-writing-album-broke-my-heart.html|url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/adele-21 |title=Adele 21: All About That Voice |author=Harper, Simon |date=24 January 2011 |work=Clash |access-date=24 April 2011 |archive-date=13 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713061420/http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/adele-21 |url-status=live }}

{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/in-the-studio-adele-goes-country-on-fall-disc-20100723 |title= In the Studio: Adele Goes Country on Fall Disc|last1=Eliscu |first1= Jenny |date=23 July 2010 |magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=24 April 2011}}

{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703408604576164631795665192|title=America Goes Gaga for Adele|last1=Smith|first1=Ethan|date=25 February 2011|work=The Wall Street Journal|location=New York|access-date=24 April 2011|archive-date=17 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117231336/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703408604576164631795665192|url-status=live}}

{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/473347/adele-the-billboard-cover-story |title= Adele: The Billboard Cover Story|last1=Wood |first1= Mikael |date=28 January 2011 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=24 April 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110501020710/http://www.billboard.com/| archive-date= 1 May 2011 | url-status= live}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/adele/news/254508-adele-21-track-by-track-review|title=Adele 21 – Track By Track Review|last1=Dorken|first1=Joanne|date=21 January 2011|publisher=MTV (UK). MTV Networks|access-date=24 April 2011|archive-date=21 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021220610/http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/adele/254508-adele-21-track-by-track-review|url-status=dead}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.ca/music/news/a298869/adele-aimed-to-surprise-with-tedder-song.html|title=Adele aimed to "surprise" with Tedder song|last1=Levine|first1=Nick|date=19 January 2011|publisher=Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi|access-date=24 April 2011|archive-date=21 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321201755/http://www.digitalspy.ca/music/news/a298869/adele-aimed-to-surprise-with-tedder-song.html|url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2011/02/adele-21.html |title=Adele: 21 |last1=Reed |first1=Ryan |date=22 February 2011 |work=Paste |publisher=Wolfgang's Vault |access-date=24 April 2011 |archive-date=20 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020170954/http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2011/02/adele-21.html |url-status=live }}

{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2011/04/album-review-adele-21/|title=Adele:21|last1=Freed|first1=Nick|date=8 April 2011|publisher=Consequence of Sound. Complex Media Network|access-date=24 April 2011|archive-date=28 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028034537/https://consequence.net/2011/04/album-review-adele-21/|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.soulculture.co.uk/reviews/adele-21-album-review/ |title= Adele: 21|last1=Yaqub|first1= Aamir|date= 26 January 2011 |work=Soul Culture |access-date=24 April 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110429214039/http://www.soulculture.co.uk/reviews/adele-21-album-review/| archive-date= 29 April 2011 | url-status= live}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.de/song.asp?artist=Adele&title=Rolling+In+The+Deep&cat=s&country=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141206205049/http://www.officialcharts.de/song.asp?artist=Adele&title=Rolling+In+The+Deep&cat=s&country=de|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 December 2014|title= Adele, "Rolling in the Deep"|publisher=Media Control Charts. Media Control GfK International |access-date=20 February 2011|language=de}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/21-mw0002080092|title=21 – Adele|publisher=All Media Network|work=AllMusic|author=Collar, Matt|access-date=16 November 2019|archive-date=29 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329090242/https://www.allmusic.com/album/21-mw0002080092|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url=http://absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?p=87809521|title=Review: Adele 21|publisher=AbsolutePunk. Buzz Media|author=Walker, Ian|date=8 April 2011|access-date=24 April 2011|archive-date=11 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711155210/https://chorus.fm/|url-status=live}}

{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2011/02/09/21-5/|title=Adele's '21': The EW review|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|author=Greenblatt, Leah|date=9 February 2011|access-date=24 April 2011}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/adele/11814 |title=Adele – 21 (XL) |work=NME|author=Parkin, Chris |date=24 January 2011 |access-date=20 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062740/http://www.nme.com/reviews/adele/11814|archive-date=4 March 2016}}

{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2011/02/22/2011-02-22_adele_21_review_perfect_album_floats_beyond_countries_and_time.html?r=entertainment|title=Adele 21 review: Perfect album floats beyond countries and time|work=Daily News|location=New York|author=Farber, Jim|date=22 February 2011|access-date=22 February 2011|archive-date=15 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815090452/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-02-22/entertainment/28639578_1_adele-divas-southern-blues|url-status=live}}

{{cite magazine|author=Hermes, Will|author-link=Will Hermes|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/21-20110217 |title=21|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=17 February 2011|access-date=20 February 2011}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/adele-21/2403|title=Adele: 21 – Music Review|work=Slant Magazine|date=20 February 2011|author=Cole, Matthew|access-date=21 February 2011|archive-date=22 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222144738/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/adele-21/2403|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/21/adele|title=Reviews for 21 by Adele|website=Metacritic. CBS Interactive|date=27 January 2011|access-date=20 February 2011|archive-date=29 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729050211/http://www.metacritic.com/music/21/adele|url-status=live}}

{{cite news|author=Dean, Will |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jan/20/adele-21-review|title=Adele: 21 – review |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=20 January 2011 |access-date=31 January 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110210093343/http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/jan/20/adele-21-review| archive-date= 10 February 2011 | url-status= live}}

{{cite news|last=McNulty |first=Bernadette|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/8269649/Adele-21-CD-of-the-week-review.html |title=Adele: 21, CD of the week, review |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=19 January 2011 |access-date=31 January 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110125234148/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/8269649/Adele-21-CD-of-the-week-review.html| archive-date= 25 January 2011 | url-status= live}}

{{cite news|url=http://blog.washingtonpost.com/clicktrack/2011/02/album_review_adele_21.html |title=Adele, 21: Album review |newspaper=The Washington Post |author=Stewart, Allison |date=22 February 2011 |access-date=22 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219142231/http://blog.washingtonpost.com/clicktrack/2011/02/album_review_adele_21.html |archive-date=19 December 2011}}

{{cite web|title=Adele comes of age with 21 at number one|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/chart-news/adele-comes-of-age-with-21-at-number-one/|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=6 February 2011|date=30 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110214133844/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/chart-news/adele-comes-of-age-with-21-at-number-one/|archive-date=14 February 2011|url-status=dead}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a306142/adele-scores-fifth-week-at-album-no1.html|title=Adele scores fifth week at album No.1|author=Sperling, Daniel|date=27 February 2011|access-date=28 February 2011|work=Digital Spy | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181214172018/https://www.digitalspy.com/music/uk-album-chart/a306142/adele-scores-fifth-week-at-album-no1/| archive-date= 14 December 2018| url-status= live}}

{{cite news|author=Croft, Adrian|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-charts-idUKTRE71Q2B520110227|title=Adele tightens grip on charts|date=27 February 2011|access-date=28 May 2011|publisher=Reuters. Thomson Reuters|location=London | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180820150853/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-charts/adele-tightens-grip-on-charts-idUKTRE71Q2B520110227| archive-date= 20 August 2018| url-status= dead}}

{{cite magazine|first=Keith|last=Caulfield|title=Adele's 21 Debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 With 352,000 Sales|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts-articles/chart-alert/adele-s-21-debuts-at-no-1-on-the-billboard-1005054242.story|magazine=Billboard |date=2 March 2011|access-date=2 March 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180820150853/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-charts/adele-tightens-grip-on-charts-idUKTRE71Q2B520110227| archive-date= 20 August 2018| url-status= live}}

{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/472799/adeles-21-sells-over-350k-to-top-billboard-200|title=Adele's 21 Sells Over 350k to Top Billboard 200|author=Caulfield, Keith|magazine=Billboard |date= 2 March 2011|access-date=27 April 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130217102249/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/472799/adeles-21-sells-over-350k-to-top-billboard-200| archive-date= 17 February 2013| url-status= live}}

{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/21/id405293187 |title=Adele 21|publisher=iTunes Store (UK). Apple Inc. |date=21 January 2011 |access-date=27 April 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110317024306/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/21/id405293187| archive-date= 17 March 2011 | url-status= dead}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Adele-21/release/2665297|title=Adele (3) – 21 (CD, Album) at Discogs|date=20 January 2011 |publisher=discogs|access-date=5 June 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129043200/http://www.discogs.com/Adele-21/release/2665297 | archive-date= 29 January 2011| url-status= live}}

{{cite web|title=Ultratop Belgium (FL): Adele-21|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/album/2445d/Adele-21|language=nl|publisher=Ultratop. Hung Medien|access-date=28 January 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217100058/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Adele&titel=21&cat=a | archive-date= 17 February 2011| url-status= live}}

{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/13380753|publisher=BBC Online. BBC|title=Digital music sales 'pass £1bn'|date=12 May 2011|access-date=12 May 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512164138/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/13380753 | archive-date= 12 May 2011| url-status= live}}

{{cite web|url=http://finnishcharts.com/bestall_a.asp |title=Top 100 of all Albums in the charts since 1995. |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=27 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802054644/http://www.finnishcharts.com/bestall_a.asp |archive-date=2 August 2014 }}

}}

• {{cite web

|last=Adkins

|first=Adele

|year=2011

|title=Adele 21 Track by Track Interview

|url=http://www.adele.tv/trackbytrack/archive/

|publisher=adele.tv

|access-date=22 May 2011

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923231403/http://www.adele.tv/trackbytrack/archive/

|archive-date=23 September 2011

}}

• {{Official website|http://adele.com}}
• [https://blog.zona-lagu.net/download/Adele Lagu Adele] at [https://blog.zona-lagu.net/ Zona Lagu]

{{Adele}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Awards for 21

|titlestyle = background: lightblue

|list1 =

{{Brit British Album}}

{{Grammy Award for Album of the Year}}

{{Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album}}

{{Juno Award for International Album of the Year}}

}}

{{Billboard Year-End number one albums 2010–2029}}

{{IFPI Global Year-End}}

{{UK best-selling albums (by year) 2010–2029}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2011 albums

Category:Adele albums

Category:Albums produced by Jim Abbiss

Category:Albums produced by Paul Epworth

Category:Albums produced by Rick Rubin

Category:Albums produced by Fraser T. Smith

Category:Albums produced by Ryan Tedder

Category:Albums produced by Dan Wilson (musician)

Category:Albums recorded at Shangri-La (recording studio)

Category:Brit Award for British Album of the Year

Category:Columbia Records albums

Category:Grammy Award for Album of the Year

Category:Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album

Category:Juno Award for International Album of the Year albums

Category:XL Recordings albums