Adele

“Hometown Glory” is Adele’s debut single, released on October 22, 2007. It is also the final track on her first album, 19. An understated love song to her hometown of West Norwood, South London, the singer wrote it in just 10 minutes at age 15 after having an argument wherein her mother tried to convince Adele to leave home to go to university in Liverpool. The song was rereleased as a single on July 22, 2008 with this alternate cover. In a 2008 interview with Blues & Soul, Adele explained the song’s origins: "I wrote ‘Hometown…’ on the guitar – it’s just four chords pressing one string – and it was actually the first song I ever wrote from start to finish. It was kind of about me and my mum not agreeing on where I should go to university. Because, though at first I’d wanted to go to Liverpool, later I changed my mind and wanted to go to university in London. But, because I love being at home and I’m really dependent on my mum, she still wanted me to go to Liverpool. So that I’d have to learn how to do things on my own, rather than still be coming home for dinner, having her do my washing and stuff like that. So in that way it was a kind of protest song about cherishing the memories – whether good or bad – of your hometown. Whereas – having only been to Liverpool about twice – there’s nothing there that comforts me, here in London – even if I’m having a really shit day – there’s still something I love about the place. So really yeah, in general it is an ode to the place where I’ve always lived".