Live at the Royal Albert Hall cover

Released 15 years ago this November

Live at the Royal Albert Hall

Adele · 2011

170 min · 45 tracks · jazz

Adele's powerhouse vocals soar above a rich tapestry of soulful melodies and heartfelt ballads, creating an intimate concert experience.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Hometown Glory Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
  • →
    Someone Like You — This track exemplifies Adele's ability to convey deep emotion through her vocal delivery, turning a personal heartbreak into a universal anthem. Its poignant performance resonates with audiences, highlighting her connection with fans during live shows.
  • →
    Rolling in the Deep — As a defining song from '21', its live rendition electrifies the audience with powerful instrumentation and passionate vocals. The song's themes of betrayal and empowerment are amplified by Adele's commanding stage presence.
  • →
    Set Fire to the Rain — This performance showcases Adele's vocal range and emotional depth, making it a standout moment in the concert. The combination of dramatic lyrics and soaring melodies captivates listeners and highlights her artistry.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

65 /100
Treeline
Higher than 88% of albums we've rated

Adele's powerful vocals and emotional storytelling shine in this live setting, though some repetition affects cohesion.

What we noticed

  • Several tracks are repeated throughout the performance, creating a sense of continuity but also redundancy.
  • Interludes between songs provide context and personal anecdotes, enhancing the intimate atmosphere of the live setting.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
8/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • cathartic emotional release moments
  • intimate live performance atmosphere
  • soulful ballads for reflection
  • engaging sing-along opportunities
  • late-night heartfelt listening

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer upbeat, fast-paced music
  • seek short, standalone tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Critical Peak — Captures Adele's vocal prowess and emotional depth, solidifying her global status.
Themes
Royal Albert Hall intimacy· soulful resilience
Career context
Released in late 2011, 'Live at the Royal Albert Hall' captures Adele's soaring success following her breakthrough album '21'. At this point in her career, she was solidifying her status as a global superstar, having just won multiple Grammy Awards and achieved unprecedented chart dominance.
Stylistic neighbors
Sam Smith· Lana Del Rey· Emeli Sandé
New to Adele? Find your way in →

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

  • Someone Like You

    The narrative shifts to an intimate reflection as the protagonist confronts their past love directly, expressing vulnerability amid lingering feelings.

    This direct address breaks from earlier lyrical distance, creating an impactful moment where emotional walls are lowered, inviting the audience into a shared experience of loss.

Tracklist

Disc 1

  • 1 Hometown Glory Start here 4:17
  • 2 I’ll Be Waiting 3:56
  • 3 Don’t You Remember 4:04
  • 4 Turning Tables 4:11
  • 5 Set Fire to the Rain 4:16
  • 6 If It Hadn’t Been for Love 3:09
  • 7 My Same 2:34
  • 8 Take It All 3:56
  • 9 Rumour Has It 3:48
  • 10 Right as Rain 2:43
  • 11 One and Only 5:54
  • 12 Lovesong 5:17
  • 13 Chasing Pavements 3:41
  • 14 I Can’t Make You Love Me 3:39
  • 15 Make You Feel My Love 3:48
  • 16 Someone Like You 4:54
  • 17 Rolling in the Deep 4:49

Disc 2

  • 1 Hometown Glory Start here 5:06
  • 2 [interlude 1] 0:49
  • 3 I’ll Be Waiting 4:04
  • 4 [interlude 2] 0:50
  • 5 Don’t You Remember 5:22
  • 6 [interlude 3] 1:03
  • 7 Turning Tables 4:10
  • 8 Set Fire to the Rain 4:40
  • 9 [interlude 4] 1:37
  • 10 If It Hadn’t Been for Love 3:18
  • 11 [interlude 5] 2:27
  • 12 My Same 2:45
  • 13 [interlude 6] 2:12
  • 14 Take It All 4:27
  • 15 [interlude 7] 0:56
  • 16 Rumour Has It 3:46
  • 17 Right as Rain 3:43
  • 18 [interlude 8] 1:14
  • 19 One and Only 6:19
  • 20 [interlude 9] 1:56
  • 21 Love Song 6:27
  • 22 Chasing Pavements 4:03
  • 23 I Can’t Make You Love Me 5:20
  • 24 Make You Feel My Love 6:52
  • 25 [interlude 10] 3:05
  • 26 Someone Like You 6:22
  • 27 Rolling in the Deep 6:27
  • 28 [Final interlude] 2:32

What to play next

21
Listen next

21

2011

Continues the emotional depth with powerful vocals and themes of love and heartbreak.
19
Go back to

19

2008
Full Adele discography Where to start with Adele Artists like Adele
jazz soul

If this landed

Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.

In the Lonely Hour

In the Lonely Hour

Sam Smith

Shares a similar soulful vocal delivery and emotional depth in intimate arrangements.

Live in London

Live in London

Leonard Cohen

Captures profound lyrical storytelling with a lush orchestral backdrop, similar to Adele's live performance.

Come Away with Me

Come Away with Me

Norah Jones

Blends jazz and soul with intimate vocals, creating a warm, reflective atmosphere akin to Adele's live sound.

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata