Adele's '21' Is Still Breaking Hearts (And Records)

Fifteen years later, and we’re still not over it. This album didn’t just drop; it detonated. While the music scene was a mess of niches and micro-genres, Adele’s soul-baring anthems did the impossible. She united everyone. The pop stans, the indie kids, your mom… all weeping into the same glass of wine.

The stats are frankly ridiculous. We’re talking diamond certifications, years on the charts, and a Grammy sweep that felt like a hostile takeover. It wasn’t just a soundtrack for breakups; it was a global cultural reset. An entire industry started chasing that raw, piano-ballad lightning all over again.

So, happy anniversary to the album that taught us all how to properly ugly-cry. The real question is… when are we getting the 30-year anniversary tour? Our tear ducts are ready.

Photo: Christopher Macsurak / CC BY 2.0