Top 10 Hardest Adele Songs to Sing

Adele has one of the greatest voices of her generation, and it’s a voice we fell in love with immediately upon the release of her first album “19” in 2008. It’s also a voice that many of us knew right away we’d never be able to match. Just listen to “Chasing Pavements” and the way she’s able to go big in the chorus - hit some beautiful high notes - then come right back down to earth in the verse. And speaking of high notes - “Crazy For You” is filled with them - along with a slightly staccato tempo.

Adele has said that “When We Were Young” is her favorite song off of her “25” album, and we can see why. The beautiful music and emotional lyrics about getting older and looking back on one’s life feel very personal and introspective for the artist. However, while we too love this track, when it comes to singing it, love isn’t the word we’d use. Not only does the singer need to make the listener really feel the lyrics, but they have to do so while also hitting notes that don’t come as easily to most people as they do to Adele.

Whether you like them or not, “James Bond” theme songs almost always go big. They are cinematic, operatic and by the time they’re over have you extra hyped for the movie you’re about to watch. And Adele’s “Skyfall” from the similarly-titled 2012 film fits that description to a “t.” The problem comes when a listener decides to try to replicate that experience on their own - whether it be the grandness or the actual high notes that Adele lays into with perfect precision. A precision as dead-on in its vocal accuracy as 007 is in the accuracy with which he wields his Walther PPK.

We’re starting to think that it would probably be easier to literally set fire to the rain than to properly sing almost any Adele song - and this one is definitely not an exception. To quote various reviewers, Adele sounds “epic” here, and the song, “surge[s] on the pure force of her titanic wail.” Now, we don’t know about you, but no one has ever referred to our voice as epic or claimed we had a “titanic wail.” Now, if you do, then going big in the chorus might not be an issue. But for the rest of us… it’s a problem.

“Rolling in the Deep” was Adele’s first song to hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and has gone on to become one of the best-selling digital singles ever. We’ve all probably heard the song a million times since 2010, but have you ever really tried to sing it? If you have, then you know exactly what we’re talking about. This, like other Adele songs, has beautiful vocals in the verses, but when that chorus kicks in, that’s when our thoughts go from “maybe we can do this” to “there’s no way we can do this.”

Most of us have been broken up with at one time or another and therefore the pain and struggle of the emotional aftermath is something we can all relate to. This at least makes the emotion of this song something we can all get to if we try. But getting there and getting our voice to also hit all those notes - especially the octave it jumps in the chorus - well, that’s a little less relatable for the general population. It will take someone like you to sing this song properly… assuming you are someone that has a big vocal range and beautiful control over it.

Writing about the song “Turning Tables,” a highlight of Adele’s second studio album “21,” one reviewer said that it showed off the artist’s “wonderful voice to its best effect.” And any song that makes Adele’s beautiful voice a showcase, well, you know it sure ain’t going to be an easy one for the rest of us normals to try and master. The pop ballad about a domestic dispute brings forth some powerful emotions, and Adele - as she always does so masterfully - exhibits each and every one of those emotions through her vocals.

“Love in the Dark” is another song that digs deep with an emotional shovel and requires range and control over the instrument that is your voice. This melodic torch ballad was released in 2015 as part of her third studio album, “25.” The song is written in the key of A minor, and whether that means anything to you or not, just listen to the track and you’ll feel that it gives it a touch of melancholy. Adele’s voice is able to go from quiet and contemplative to big and bold. But just because she can do it - doesn’t mean we can.

“Smoky sound,” “belting” and “vocal power” are just some of the words critics used when discussing Adele’s voice on her 2015 hit, “Hello.” Intimidating much? Well, it should be, because this beautiful track is definitely a difficult one to replicate. Sure, James Corden did a pretty good job of it, and even got a “that was amazing” from Adele herself. But the shock on her face when he sings just goes to show how hard it is to hit all of those notes. I mean, this lady knows what it takes, so those of us without a musical background can only try to match her.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Rumour Has It” (2011)
Rumor Has It That This Is Easy to Sing; Those Rumors Are False!

“All I Ask” (2015)
Bruno Mars Said That Adele Hit Notes That Made a Glass of Water Vibrate

“Million Years Ago” (2015)
You Need an Impressive Range to Go From the Lows to the Highs of This One

“Hold On” (2021)
Just Hold On & Maybe One Day You’ll Be Able to Hit Those Notes Just as Smoothly

“My Same” (2008)
Vocal Range & a Jazzy Staccato Beat Make “My Same” Quite Different - & Difficult

When it comes to praise for Adele’s vocals, there might be no other song in her catalog that gets the levels of acclaim that have been heaped on “To Be Loved.” You don’t have to be a music critic to understand why either - you just have to listen to the track. And also understand why trying to sing this one may be a true lesson in futility. Emotion, vocal range, controlled lengthy notes… there’s many reasons why some critics compare Adele’s vocals in this song to Whitney Houston. Which is also just another reason to maybe try singing something else.


Which Adele song do you think you could nail? Let us know in the comments.