Hometown Glory

Last updated

"Hometown Glory"
Adele - Hometown Glory (Re-Release).jpg
"Hometown Glory" re-release cover on XL Recordings
Single by Adele
from the album 19
B-side
  • "Best for Last"
  • "Fool That I Am" (live)
Released22 October 2007 (2007-10-22)
RecordedNovember 2006 –June 2007
Length
  • 4:31 (album version)
  • 3:37 (radio edit)
Label
  • Pacemaker
  • XL
Songwriter(s) Adele Adkins
Producer(s) Jim Abbiss
Adele singles chronology
"Hometown Glory"
(2007)		"Chasing Pavements"
(2008)
Music video
"Hometown Glory" on YouTube

"Hometown Glory" is the debut single by English singer-songwriter Adele, released on 22 October 2007 in the United Kingdom. The song appears on her debut studio album 19 (2008). In 2008, the song was re-released as her fourth single. Adele wrote the song within 10 minutes, when she was only 16 years old, after her mother tried to persuade her to leave her home suburb of West Norwood in London for university. "Hometown Glory" is the first song that Adele ever wrote. [1]

Contents

In 2007, "Hometown Glory" was released on singer Jamie T's Pacemaker Recordings label as a limited edition 7" vinyl single, of which only 500 copies were made. [2] The song failed to chart initially. However, due to high downloads of the song during the release week of Adele's 19, the song managed to chart inside the UK Singles Chart top 40 for the first time. At the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, the song received a nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. [3]

Background and composition

"Hometown Glory" was re-released on 21 July 2008 as the follow-up to second single "Cold Shoulder". The song was added to Radio 1's B-list on 18 June 2008, and moved up to Radio 1's A-list on 2 July 2008. Its B-side now featured Adele's brand-new cover of the Etta James song "Fool That I Am", which was recorded during a live performance in Cambridge. [4] The song was later released in 2008 as Adele's debut single for the US market. Due to its popularity in the UK, which resulted in it charting inside the top 40 twice on download sales alone, it was re-released as the third single (fourth including the original single release) from the album on 21 July 2008. As of July 2008, the song has become Adele's third consecutive top 20 hit single.

The song is played in the key of B♭ minor with an intro at a tempo of 60 beats per minute, before changing to 124 beats per minute. Adele's vocal range is D♭3–A5. [5] "Hometown Glory" follows the chord progression B♭m(i) – D♭/A♭(III) – D♭/F(III) – G♭maj7/B♭(VI M7).

Chart performance

On 13 April 2008, the song entered the UK Singles Chart at No. 32, following its showcase on an episode of the British television show Skins . On 6 July 2008, "Hometown Glory" re-entered the chart at No. 74 and then climbed to No. 49 the following week. It eventually peaked at No. 19 on 27 July 2008, following its physical release.

Accolades

"Hometown Glory" received a nomination at the 52nd Grammy Awards in the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance category but lost out to Beyoncé's "Halo". [6]

YearOrganizationAwardResultRef.
2010 Grammy Awards Best Female Pop Vocal Performance Nominated [7]

Music video

The initial limited edition vinyl release of "Hometown Glory" does not have a promo video. In June 2008, XL released a Paul Dugdale-directed live video for the single's re-release. In April 2009, Columbia finally released a proper promo video directed by Rocky Schenck and filmed at Sony Pictures Studios on Stage 29. [8] The video shows Adele singing while backdrops of American cities are moved around her. As of December 2023, the music video has received over 125 million views on YouTube.

In the media

On 7 April 2008, "Hometown Glory" was featured in the critically acclaimed, British teen drama series Skins , resulting in the song re-entering the UK Singles Chart top 40 at No. 32. Later that month, on 24 April 2008, the song was featured in episode 5.15 of the American TV drama One Tree Hill . On 22 May 2008, the song was featured in the season four finale of US TV series Grey's Anatomy . According to Adele's manager Jonathan Dickins, the powerful music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas chose the song after seeing Adele perform it at the Hotel Café in Los Angeles, following a recommendation by Columbia Records' creative licensing staffer Jonathan Palmer. [9] On 10 June 2008, the song was used on popular UK soap Hollyoaks , where it has been used again on 13 October 2008 episode. It was used again on Hollyoaks on the 10 November 2010 episode which featured the death of one of the UK's most popular television characters Steph Cunningham. The opening of the song played as Steph said goodbye to her on-screen husband Gilly Roach, choosing to perish in a house fire rather than face death from the cervical cancer doctors had informed her was terminal. The episode was a season-high for Hollyoaks, viewed by 2.12 million viewers (including timeshift and E4 figures, 0.7, a high for the channel) – a high figure for a non-BBC or ITV show.

On 2 July 2008, it was featured on season four of So You Think You Can Dance in a Mia Michaels' contemporary dance by Katee Shean and eventual winner, Joshua Allen. It also featured in a season two episode of Secret Diary of a Call Girl . A remixed version of the song was featured in the superhero drama-comedy Misfits . The track has also been used on advertisements and promotional scenes for the UK soap Coronation Street . The song was featured in a season one episode of the American teen drama series 90210 . It was also featured on the reality TV show The Hills .

"Hometown Glory" has also been sampled by other artists, including by the Mississippi rapper Big K.R.I.T. on his single "Hometown Hero", in Big Sean's song "Hometown" from his mixtape Finally Famous Vol. 3: BIG , by French rapper La Fouine on his song "Vecu" featuring French rapper Kamelancien, by The OCS on his song "Hometown" featuring Glasses Malone, Jay Rock and XO, by the Montreal rapper Boy6lue in his song "Hometown" featuring Two Two and by Minneapolis hippy-hop artist Mod Sun on his song "The Same Way".

Adele's song has been used in various soap operas in accompaniment to the deaths of Danielle Jones, Steph Roach, Joe McIntyre, Archie Mitchell, and Bradley Branning. It has also been used in EastEnders: Revealed. Various reality singing and talent shows use the song in between performances such as The X Factor in the United Kingdom and in Australia, Britain's Got Talent , and Australia's Got Talent . The song was used memorably at the end of Julien Temple's 2012 documentary, London: The Modern Babylon, which debuted on BBC in August 2012 to coincide with the end of the Olympic Games and takes its place in the film alongside other London anthems including "London Calling" by The Clash and "Waterloo Sunset" by The Kinks.

On February 22, 2018, before an NHL game between the Washington Capitals and Florida Panthers, the song was played in a tribute video at BB&T Center to honor the 17 victims who were killed in the Parkland high school shooting 8 days prior.

During the free skate of both the pairs and team events at the 2018 Winter Olympics, Canadians Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford skated to the song. "Hometown Glory" was also their winning free performance at the 2016 World Figure Skating Championships.

On the 30 September 2020, the song was used during the final moments of the BBC series Ambulance.

The song was used in commercials for the 2023 NBA playoffs.

Formats and track listings

Original release

7-inch vinyl

  1. "Hometown Glory"
  2. "Best for Last"

Re-release

CD single

  1. "Hometown Glory" – 4:32
  2. "Fool That I Am" (Live) – 3:45

Digital EP

  1. "Hometown Glory" – 3:40
  2. "Hometown Glory" (Axwell Radio Edit) – 3:35
  3. "Hometown Glory" (Axwell Club Mix) – 5:11
  4. "Hometown Glory" (Axwell Remode) – 5:55
  5. "Hometown Glory" (High Contrast Remix) – 6:36
  6. "Hometown Glory" (High Contrast Remix) [Instrumental] – 6:35

7-inch vinyl

  1. "Hometown Glory" – 4:32
  2. "Fool That I Am" (Live) – 3:45

12-inch vinyl

  1. "Hometown Glory" (High Contrast remix)
  2. "Hometown Glory" (High Contrast remix instrumental)

Official remixes

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Hometown Glory"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [21] Platinum80,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [22] 2× Platinum1,200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High Contrast</span> Welsh musical artist (born 1979)

Lincoln Barrett, better known by the stage name High Contrast, is a Welsh electronic music producer, DJ and record producer. He produces drum and bass music, and his 2009 album Confidential reached BPI gold certification.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benny Benassi</span> Italian DJ, record producer and remixer

Marco "Benny" Benassi is an Italian DJ, record producer and remixer. He is widely seen as a pioneer of electro house, a genre brought into the mainstream by his 2002 summer club hit "Satisfaction".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Am Not My Hair</span> 2005 single by India.Arie

"I Am Not My Hair" is a song by American soul and R&B singer–songwriter India.Arie from her third studio album, Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship (2006). Written by Arie, Shannon Sanders, and Drew Ramsey, it was released as the album's lead single in late 2005 to moderate chart success. The song was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song at the 2007 Grammy Awards. A remix version of "I Am Not My Hair" featuring Akon was also released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sexy Love</span> 2006 single by Ne-Yo

"Sexy Love" is a song by American R&B singer Ne-Yo, released on June 6, 2006 as the fourth and final US single, as well as the second and final international single from his debut studio album, In My Own Words (2006). The song peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number 21 based on digital downloads, and peaked at number five once the physical single was released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We Run This</span> 2006 single by Missy Elliott

"We Run This" is a song by American recording artist Missy Elliott. It was written by Rhemario "Rio Beats" Webber and Elliott for her sixth studio album The Cookbook (2005), while production was handled by the former. Released as both the album's third single in the United States and the lead single from her 2006 compilation Respect M.E., it samples elements from The Sugarhill Gang version of The Shadows' song "Apache". The song peaked at number forty-eight on the Billboard Hot 100. "We Run This" was nominated for a 2007 Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. An edited version of "We Run This" was used as the theme song for the gymnastics-themed film Stick It.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daydreamin' (Lupe Fiasco song)</span> 2006 single by Lupe Fiasco featuring Jill Scott

"Daydreamin'" is the third single taken from Lupe Fiasco's album Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor (2006) and features soul singer Jill Scott. The song won Best Urban/Alternative Performance at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, earning Fiasco his first Grammy and Scott's third.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Make You Feel My Love</span> 1997 song by Bob Dylan

"Make You Feel My Love", also known as "To Make You Feel My Love", is a song written by Bob Dylan for his album Time Out of Mind, released in September 1997. It was first released commercially in August 1997 by Billy Joel for his compilation album Greatest Hits Volume III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sweet Escape (song)</span> 2006 single by Gwen Stefani featuring Akon

"The Sweet Escape" is a song by American singer Gwen Stefani from her 2006 second solo studio album of the same name. It was written by Stefani, Aliaune "Akon" Thiam and Giorgio Tuinfort, and produced by the latter two. Akon, who is also a featured artist, developed the song's beat before collaborating with Stefani. He designed it based on her previous work with No Doubt, and Stefani later commented that it put her "on the yellow brick road to the No Doubt record I might do". "The Sweet Escape" is an apology for a fight between two lovers and describes a dream of a pleasant life for them. As the album's title track, its title was chosen to help market Stefani's music and fashion lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adele</span> English singer (born 1988)

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, known mononymously as Adele, is an English singer-songwriter. She is known for her mezzo-soprano vocals and sentimental songwriting. Her accolades include 16 Grammy Awards, 12 Brit Awards, an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award.

<i>19</i> (Adele album) 2008 studio album by Adele Adkins

19 is the debut studio album by the English singer-songwriter Adele Adkins, released on 28 January 2008 by XL Recordings. Following Adele's graduation from the BRIT School in April 2006, she began publishing songs and recorded a three-song demo for a class project and gave it to a friend. They posted the demo on MySpace, where it became very successful and led to interest from the record label. This led to Adele signing a recording contract at age 18 with the label and providing vocals for Jack Peñate. During this session for Peñate's song she met producer Jim Abbiss, who would go on to produce the majority of her debut album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chasing Pavements</span> 2008 single by Adele

"Chasing Pavements" is a song recorded by English singer-songwriter Adele for her debut studio album, 19 (2008). Written by Adele with her producer Francis "Eg" White, the song was released as the second single from the album on 14 January 2008. Its lyrics describe questioning whether or not to keep chasing something that is not going anywhere. Adele was inspired to write the song after a public argument and subsequent break up with an older man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cold Shoulder (song)</span> 2008 single by Adele

"Cold Shoulder" is a song by the British singer-songwriter Adele, released from her first album 19. It was released digitally in Ireland on 20 April 2008 and in the UK on 21 April 2008. "Cold Shoulder" is the only song on the album to be produced by Mark Ronson. The former Jamiroquai bass guitarist Stuart Zender plays bass guitar on the song and is also part of Ronson's touring band. Adele performed the song on Friday Night with Jools Holland on 8 February 2008 and on Saturday Night Live during the 18 October 2008 show. A remix by Basement Jaxx also received airplay and is digitally available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black and Gold</span> 2008 single by Sam Sparro

"Black and Gold" is the lead single from Australian singer Sam Sparro's eponymous debut album. The song was written by Sparro and Jesse Rogg. It has been remixed by Max Sanna and Steve Pitron, Paul Epworth, Al Usher, Kings of the Universe, Kromatik and Russ Chimes. The original version of the single was made available online on 31 March 2008. On 7 April, the CD, 12-inch, and limited edition 7-inch singles were released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bust Your Windows</span> 2008 single by Jazmine Sullivan

"Bust Your Windows" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan from her debut album Fearless. The song was available as a digital download on Amazon in the U.S. on September 16, 2008. The song was then later released as a promo CD on November 15, 2008, after it was sent to radio stations for airplay around the U.S..

"I Found U" is a single by Swedish DJ Axwell featuring Max'C. The song was popular on the UK Singles Chart, reaching a peak of number 6 in August 2007. The "Remode" version became popular among fans and was widely used as the radio version. The song is still one of Axwell's most recognisable hits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rolling in the Deep</span> 2010 single by Adele

"Rolling in the Deep" is a song by English singer-songwriter Adele from her second studio album, 21 (2011). It is the lead single and opening track on the album. The song was written by Adele and Paul Epworth. The singer herself describes it as a "dark blues-y gospel disco tune". In 2011, it was reportedly the biggest crossover hit in the United States since 1985; "Rolling in the Deep" gained radio airplay from many different radio formats. It was released on 29 November 2010 as the lead single from 21 in digital download format. The lyrics describe the emotions of a scorned lover.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axwell</span> Swedish DJ, remixer and record producer (born 1977)

Axel Christofer Hedfors, better known by his stage name Axwell, is a Swedish DJ, record producer, remixer and owner of Axtone Records. He is a member of Swedish House Mafia along with Sebastian Ingrosso and Steve Angello. He is a two-time DJ Awards winner, and in 2013 he was placed 19th on the DJ Magazine Top 100 DJ Poll.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turning Tables</span> 2011 single by Adele

"Turning Tables" is a song recorded by English singer-songwriter Adele for her second studio album, 21 (2011). Conceived after an altercation with her former lover, the song was co-written by Adele and singer-songwriter Ryan Tedder, whilst the production was completed by Jim Abbiss. "Turning Tables" is a pop ballad with a soulful sound; its instrumentation consists of piano, "Broadway-worthy" strings, and guitar. Lyrically, the song describes a domestic dispute in which its narrator assumes a defensive stance against a manipulative ex-lover. XL Recordings sent the song to UK mainstream radio on 5 November 2011 as the fifth single from 21 along with "Rumour Has It".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarity (Zedd song)</span> 2012 single by Zedd

"Clarity" is a song by Russian-German DJ Zedd featuring the vocals of singer Foxes. It was released on 14 November 2012 as the third single from the former's debut studio album of the same name. The song was written by Zedd, Matthew Koma, Porter Robinson and Skylar Grey. It was released as iTunes Single of the Week on 2 October 2012, and as an 4-track remix EP on 12 February 2013, by Interscope Records. Zedd released an extended mix of the song exclusively on Beatport on 18 February 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feel the Vibe</span> 2005 single by Axwell

"Feel the Vibe", also released as "Feel the Vibe (Til the Morning Comes)" and "(Can You) Feel the Vibe", is a song by the Swedish dance producer Axwell, co written by and featuring the English/Irish singer-songwriter Tara McDonald. It was a breakthrough record for both Axwell and McDonald and was a number-one club record and a radio hit as well.

References

  1. ↑ "YouTube". www.youtube.com.
  2. ↑ "Pacemaker Recordings web site". Pacemakerrecordings.com. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  3. ↑ "Grammy Awards: List of Winners". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  4. ↑ "Adele interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' July 2008". Bluesandsoul.com. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  5. ↑ "Adele: Hometown Glory Sheet Music". sheetmusicdirect.com. Universal Music Publishing Limited. 2007.
  6. ↑ "List of Grammy winners". CNN Entertainment. 1 February 2010. Archived from the original on 4 February 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  7. ↑ "Complete List of Nominees for the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards". E Online. 3 December 2009. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  8. ↑ Glossolalia7 (12 February 2010). "ADELE / HOMETOWN GLORY -Behind the Scenes DIRECTOR: ROCKY SCHENCK" – via YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ "Interview with Jonathan Dickins". HitQuarters. 14 July 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  10. ↑ "Adele – Hometown Glory" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  11. ↑ "Adele – Hometown Glory" (in French). Ultratip.
  12. ↑ "Chart Search Results - European Hot 100 Singles 2008-08-09". Billboard.biz. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  13. ↑ "Adele – Hometown Glory" (in French). Les classement single.
  14. ↑ "Irish Charts Portal: Discography Adele". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  15. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Adele" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  16. ↑ "Adele – Hometown Glory" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  17. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  18. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  19. ↑ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 37". Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  20. ↑ "UK ChartPlus - Official singles chart - 2008" (PDF). Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  21. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Adele – Hometown Glory". Music Canada . Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  22. ↑ "British single certifications – Adele – Hometown Glory". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 4 October 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.