How Leaving Her Guitar at the Studio Overnight Turned Into Adele’s First Big Hit

At the young age of 17, Adele signed her first recording contract. Her debut album, 19, was released in 2008. From then on, her album names reflect the age she was at the time of release. A brilliant way to chronologically file your own albums, Adele’s most recent album, 30, was released in 2021.

Let’s take a look back at her debut album, 19, from 2008. The album made a statement for the teenager, reviving traditional songwriting methods and giving the album a classic sound. The album’s first single, “Hometown Glory,” was the first song Adele wrote at age 16. But it was “Chasing Pavements,” the album’s second single, that kick-started Adele’s career.

Origin of “Chasing Pavements”

In an interview with Elle in 2023, Adele told the stories behind her biggest hits. Adele said “Chasing Pavements” was a song that “may have never been written.”

She went on to explain, “I wrote this song with Eg White in London. I think I was doing three or four days in the studio with him. I left my guitar because I was going out that night. When I went back to pick it up, he had these great chords and a beautiful sample of strings, or something like that. It ended up being written in a day, and he sent it straight to Excel, my record company. That’s the start of my career, really.”

A guitar left behind in the studio led Adele to stumble in on her first big hit being written, igniting her career. The song went on to peak at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and received 3x Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry. The song also earned three Grammy nominations.

“Chasing Pavements” Set Adele up for Global Success

Adele’s second album, 21, became the “World’s Best-Selling Album” in 2011 and 2012. 21 dominated the charts, becoming the best-selling album of the 21st century. 21 also became the best-selling album by a solo artist in the UK and the best-performing Billboard 200 album of all time, spending 24 non-consecutive weeks at the top of the chart. Additionally, 3 out of 5 singles released became No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

Adele’s star-studded career launched due to the success of “Chasing Pavements” in 2008, and it all started with a guitar left behind in the studio.