"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.[3]
Background and release
Background
The song was inspired by an argument at a club between Adele and her former boyfriend, reportedly an older man considering Adele was, at the time, 19 years old.[3] In an interview with ELLE she detailed the event and that created the song: During an argument with her boyfriend at a club she slapped him and then ran away, only to look back and find that no one was chasing her.[4][3] She thought to herself, "you're chasing pavements", which then inspired her to write the hit song.[4] Adele uses the term "Chasing pavements" to mean chasing something that is not leading anywhere, and in her own words she describes the song as being about the feeling of "should I give up or should I just keep trying to run after you when there's nothing there".[3] The song itself was written in one day with the help of Francis "Eg" White, a British musician, singer, and songwriter, and was immediately sent off to Adele's record company.[4]
Release
"Chasing Pavements" is a part of Adele's album 19, and was the second single release from the album. The song was written in collaboration with Franics "Eg" White. They released the song on January 14, 2008 as a second preview to the album which would be later released on January 28.[5][6] Adele described the song as "the start of [her] career" because it launched her stardom.[4]
Promotion
Adele's song, "Chasing Pavements" was promoted as both her second single and as a precursor to her album, 19. When the album released, Adele was signed with XL Recordings, a British record label, and they promoted the album, helping it become a hit song.[7] According to Billboard, "National stations Radio 1 and Radio 2 also played a big role in making" the song "peak at No. 2 on the U.K. singles chart".[7] "Chasing Pavements" was one of three songs in the album to receive a music video, which received attention as people attempted to find the meaning behind it.[3]
Critical reception
"Chasing Pavements" is considered one of Adele's best songs by several music critics. Chuck Arnold of Billboard listed the song second in a ranking of her discography, comparing Adele's songwriting ability to Carole King and noting that its sophistication was way beyond her years.[8] In a readers' poll by Rolling Stone where it placed at number four, Brittany Spanos commented that it was not as "viscerally emotional" as Adele's later work on her second studio album, 21, but a "fantastic" early glimpse of her abilities.[9] Similarly, The Guardian's Alexis Petridis ranked "Chasing Pavements" at number five, and praised its sophistication and its chorus's emphasis on Adele's vocals.[10] Jazz Monroe of NME listed the song as Adele's eighth best, and said that it was great despite its big chorus, and described its hook as grandiose.[11]Parade and American Songwriter both ranked the song number nine on their lists of Adele's greatest songs.[12][13]
Commercial performance
"Chasing Pavements" received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its lyrics, production and Adele's vocal performance, with many citing it amongst the singer's best songs. The song topped the charts in Norway, and reached the top 10 in eight countries, including the UK. It peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and received 2x Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[14] The accompanying music video was directed by Mathew Cullen of the production company Motion Theory.[15] At the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, "Chasing Pavements", received three nominations, winning Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and being nominated for Record of the Year, and Song of the Year.
"Chasing Pavements" debuted at its peak of number two on the UK Singles Chart issued for 20 January 2008.[22] The song remained at this position for three consecutive weeks and stayed on the chart for 25 weeks, earning a double Platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[23][24] The song reached number 28 on the Canadian Hot 100.[25]Music Canada certified it double Platinum.[26] "Chasing Pavements" also peaked within the top 10 of national record charts, at number one in Norway,[27] number two in Scotland,[28] number four in Israel,[29] Japan,[30] number seven in Ireland,[31] Italy,[32] number eight in Denmark,[33] number nine in the Netherlands,[34] and number 10 in Belgium.[35] The song received a Gold certification in Denmark,[36] Italy,[37] and Norway.[38] On the US Billboard Hot 100, the song charted at number 21.[39] The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified "Chasing Pavements" Platinum, which denotes one million copies sold, while Billboard reported it had sold 1.2 million units as of October 2011.[40][41]
It features two views: one of the real-world in which the occupants of the car are lying motionless on the pavement following the accident, and the other (during the choruses) in which the camera shows them from above. Adele is seen in the first view, inside a car with a man. She sings before getting out of the car and walking past a group of people who are running towards the accident scene. Then, she stands beside a tree continuing to sing until it ends with the victims shown on stretchers, being wheeled away in different directions by ambulance crews tending to them. Adele is not one of the car crash victims.
In the second view, the couple is shown from a bird's-eye view, but as if they are shot side-on and they 'come to life' and move as if standing up. The couple appear to reenact their relationship, starting from their first meeting when the woman dropped her scarf and the man handed it back to her. For a while the couple appears happy together, though it is short-lived; the man discovers that the woman had another lover. She writes something on a piece of paper and when the man reads it, he is angered, but he forgives her and they begin rekindling the passion they once had before the crash. When Adele sings the chorus for the final time, the couple dance on the pavement surrounded by the onlookers, who are now also dancing. The man and the woman dance gracefully and intimately, but in spite of all the joy, they are still just two bodies lying motionless on the pavement, and are then wheeled away by ambulance crews in different directions.
Reception
The song's music video earned a 2008 MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Choreography.[15] On 20 December 2008, the video was ranked number 26 on VH1's Top 40 of 2008.[citation needed]
Lyrical interpretation
Adele said that the song was about an ex-boyfriend she fell out of love with. In an interview with American Songwriter, she said: "It’s me being hopeful for a relationship that’s very much over. The sort of relationship you hate when you’re in it, but miss when you’re not".[3] In different interview with ELLE, Adele reveals the story that inspired these lyrics: "I slapped my boyfriend and was running down to Tottenham Court Road in London to make sure I didn’t get in trouble, and then no one was chasing after me, and I was, like, “You’re chasing pavements, it’s going nowhere".[4]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Release history
Release dates for "Chasing Pavements"
Region
Date
Europe
11 January 2008
United Kingdom
14 January 2008
In popular culture
Melissa Benoist performed a cover of "Chasing Pavements" in a Glee episode.
Covers
The song was performed by Melissa Benoist on the 2012 episode "The New Rachel" of Glee. In 2013, American R&B singer, Candice Glover performed the song on the singing competition series, American Idol, during her time as a contestant on the show. American rapper Machine Gun Kelly also covered the song and it has over 9.5 million views on YouTube.
Soundtrack appearances
"Chasing Pavements" was featured in three episodes of Hollyoaks. The first was in a concluding scene of Hannah Ashworth's anorexia. The second instance was during the beginning scene of Charlie Dean's custody battle. The third was in a scene showing Dominic Reilly reflecting on Tina McQueen talking to him. The song was also featured in the film Wild Child, and the TV show 90210.
^Rolling Stone Staff (9 December 2021). "Every Adele Song, Ranked". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 September 2023. ...Adele harnessed those inflamed, conflicting emotions and transformed them into sublime pop.
^King, Don Roy; Taccone, Jorma (18 October 2008), Josh Brolin/Adele, Saturday Night Live, Fred Armisen, Will Forte, Bill Hader, retrieved 14 November 2023
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 18. týden 2008 in the date selector. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
^"Hits of the World: Eurocharts". Billboard. Vol. 120, no. 5. 2 February 2008. p. 55.
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