Episode #276 | 6.2.26

Adele: The Pop Star Repurposed by the Criminal Underworld

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In this episode

With the release of her smash sophomore album 21, Adele became one of the most beloved pop stars of the 21st century. Her songs were the most played at karaoke bars, weddings, and funerals – not to mention a criminal element in America which sought to use Adele’s newfound fame for their nefarious purposes.

 

Sources

Adele: One and Only (Vogue)

Adele on Her New Album, Anxiety & Workout Routine (Vogue)

Adele: ‘I can finally reach out a hand to my ex. Let him know I’m over it’ (The Guardian)

Adele Opens Up About Her Inspirations, Looks and Stage Fright (Rolling Stone)

Adele: Inside Her Private Life and Triumphant Return (Rolling Stone)

Adele: 'It Fucking Devastated Me' (Rolling Stone)

From The Archive: Adele Gets Candid About Divorce, Body Image, Romance & Her “Self-Redemption” Record (British Vogue)

Convicted felon sings Adele-inspired apology (CNN)

Ex-offender looks to future after Adele-inspired “sorry” goes viral (M Live)

Adele’s son gets payout in privacy case (The Guardian)

Couple Allegedly Posed as Adele's Manager in Scam to Score Kendrick Lamar Tickets (Time)

Conman posed as Adele's manager to bilk NBA stars of sneakers, police say (The Guardian)

The Singularity of Adele’s Soul (The New Yorker)

'Yardie' killers jailed for life (BBC News)

How Adele's heartbreak inspired Rolling in the Deep (The Independent)

Adele’s ‘Someone Like You’ the best song for nervous flyers, study finds (NME)

Adele’s music voted the most popular to fall asleep to (NME)

Adele song wakes schoolgirl from coma (Digital Spy)

Adele’s ’21’ Turns 15: Here’s 12 Records It Set and Feats It Achieved (Billboard)

Brazilian judge orders Adele song removed over plagiarism claim (Reuters)

Adele on 60 Minutes in 2012

Adele: World Exclusive Interview (60 Minutes Australia)

Adele interview with Rolling Stone

Welcome back, Adele (Artists Den)

 

Credits

Hosted by Jake Brennan.

Written by Zeth Lundy.

Copy edited by James Sullivan.

Mixed by Colin Fleming.

Produced in partnership with the Exactly Right Network and iHeartPodcasts.

DISGRACELAND theme song, “Crenshaw Space Boogie,” written and produced by Jake Brennan. Performed by Jake Brennan, Bryce Kanzer, Jay Cannava, and Evan Kenney. Mixed and engineered by Adam Taylor.

*illustrations by Avi Spivak @avispivak