Someone Like You

A sparse piano ballad that captured global hearts as Adele's first UK number-one hit.

"Someone Like You" is a song recorded by English singer-songwriter Adele and written with Dan Wilson for her second studio album, 21 (2011). Released as the album's second single on 24 January 2011 in the UK, it features only a piano played by co-writer Wilson. The track chronicles Adele confronting an ex-partner who has moved on with someone else, marking a shift from bitterness to acceptance. The song reached number one in the UK on 20 February 2011, following her performance at the 31st Brit Awards on 15 February, and stayed atop the chart for four consecutive weeks, becoming the best-selling single of the year in the UK.

Quick Facts

Artist: Adele
Album: 21
Released: 24 January 2011
Recorded: 2010
Studio: Harmony Studios (West Hollywood, CA)
Genre: Soul, pop
Length: 4:45
Label: XL, Columbia

Lore & Background

The song emerged from a period of deep emotional exhaustion. Adele described writing it because she felt drained by portraying bitterness in tracks like "Rolling in the Deep," wanting instead to feel OK with her 18-month relationship. She began writing it on a piano after discovering her ex, whom she thought she would be with forever, was engaged to someone else. Sitting at the end of her bed while sick and waiting for a bath, she imagined being 40 years old finding him settled with a beautiful wife and kids while she remained alone. This fear drove the lyrics: "I heard that you're settled down... Guess she gave you things I couldn't give to you." The song was one of the last written for 21, epitomizing the album's lyrical content about a defunct relationship.

Reader's Guide

Lyrically, the track is the opposite of "Rolling in the Deep," moving from anger to wishing an ex well. It features the empowering mantra: "Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead." The song topped charts in nineteen countries and reached the top 10 globally. In July 2011, it became the first single of the decade certified 6× Platinum in both the UK and US, and Diamond in Canada. It won the inaugural Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 54th ceremony in 2012. As of October 2025, it holds 2.4 billion streams on Spotify, making it her most-streamed song. The video reached 2.3 billion views by September 2025. It was voted the third-favourite number-one single of the last 60 years in the UK and remains a top karaoke selection.

Track listing

Digital download

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1	Someone like You	Adele Adkins, Dan Wilson	4:47

2011 BRIT Awards performance

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1	Someone like You: Live from the BRITs	Adele Adkins, Dan Wilson	5:10

Amazon Music free download

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1	Someone like You (Performed Live in Her Home)	Adele Adkins, Dan Wilson	5:22

Did You Know?

Contrary to some claims, it was not the best-selling single of the year in Ireland; that title belongs to 'Moves Like Jagger' by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera.
The music video was filmed in various Paris locations including landmarks and parks, not entirely on the streets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who wrote Someone Like You?

Adele co-wrote this track with Dan Wilson during the creation of her second studio album, 21. It was released as a single in early 2011 and features minimal instrumentation alongside her vocals.

How did Someone Like You perform on the charts?

It reached number one in the United Kingdom for five weeks and became her best-selling single at that time. In the US, it peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

What instruments are featured in the recording?

The production is notably minimal, featuring only Adele's voice accompanied by a piano performed by Dan Wilson. This stripped-back style allows the raw emotion within the ballad to stand out clearly.