"Turning Tables" is a piano ballad recorded by English singer-songwriter Adele for her second studio album, 21, released on January 24, 2011, in the United Kingdom by XL Recordings.[1][2] The song was co-written by Adele and American songwriter Ryan Tedder, with production handled by Jim Abbiss.[3]The track's creation stemmed from a heated argument with Adele's ex-boyfriend, during which he attempted to shift blame onto her—a dynamic captured in the idiom "turning the tables," which became the song's central theme of emotional reversal and resolve.[3] Adele and Tedder, who had briefly met earlier through mutual connections, collaborated on the song during a studio session in Los Angeles, where Tedder played piano and the phrase emerged organically as the hook.[3] Initially, Adele considered offering the track to fellow British singer Leona Lewis, but ultimately kept it for 21 after deciding it fit her personal narrative of heartbreak and empowerment.[3]As the third track on 21, "Turning Tables" features a sparse arrangement built around Neil Cowley's piano accompaniment and subtle string orchestration by Chris Elliott, emphasizing Adele's raw, emotive vocals over themes of betrayal and self-protection.[4] The album 21, named after the age at which much of its content was inspired, became one of the best-selling records of all time, moving over 30 million copies worldwide as of 2025 and earning Adele multiple Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year.[5][6][7]"Turning Tables" was released as a promotional single in some markets and later as the album's fifth official single in the UK on November 5, 2011, alongside "Rumour Has It."[8] It debuted and peaked at number 62 on the UK Singles Chart in May 2011 and reached number 63 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in the same month, benefiting from the album's surging popularity; it has been certified gold in the United States.[8][9][10] The song gained further exposure through a cover by Gwyneth Paltrow on the television series Glee in April 2011, which helped propel 21's tracks up the charts.[3] Live performances, including at the Royal Albert Hall, showcased the song's dramatic intensity, solidifying its place as a fan favorite in Adele's repertoire of soul-infused pop anthems.[11]
Development
Background
"Turning Tables" originated from Adele's tumultuous relationship with photographer Alex Sturrock, which spanned from 2008 to 2009 and was marked by volatility and emotional manipulation. During this period, Adele experienced repeated instances where her partner would shift blame and reverse dynamics during arguments, inspiring the song's central theme of emotional reversal and self-defense against toxicity. She later recounted a pivotal altercation that highlighted the relationship's breaking point, fueling the track's raw intensity.[12]The song appears as the third track on Adele's second studio album, 21, released in 2011, which served as a thematic follow-up to her 2008 debut 19. While 19 explored youthful introspection, 21 delved deeper into maturity, heartbreak, and personal growth following the end of her relationship, with Adele noting that age brought greater patience, honesty, and self-awareness to her songwriting. The album's development emphasized emotional depth through piano-driven ballads, aligning with Adele's intent to articulate her experiences more profoundly than before. Recording sessions commenced in early 2010, allowing time after the 19 tour to refine this introspective direction.[13][14][15]21 ultimately became one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century, underscoring the universal resonance of its themes.[16][17]
Writing and production
Adele co-wrote "Turning Tables" with Ryan Tedder during their initial studio session in London in early 2011. Tedder, the frontman of OneRepublic, arrived four hours early to the two-day session, where he proposed the title phrase "turning tables," inspired by its rhythmic similarity to Adele's earlier track "Chasing Pavements" from her debut album. The phrase emerged amid discussions on relationship dynamics, drawing from Adele's personal experiences of emotional manipulation in her recent breakup. They quickly developed the song's core, recording an initial demo featuring Tedder on piano and a stripped-back arrangement that prioritized raw emotional delivery over elaborate production.[18][4][19]The track's production was led by Jim Abbiss at Kensal Road Studios in London, where the demo was expanded into its final form. Abbiss, who had previously collaborated with Adele on her debut album 19, focused on capturing the song's introspective quality while building layers to enhance its emotional arc. Orchestral strings, arranged by Chris Elliott, were incorporated to add subtle depth and swelling tension, recorded with a chamber ensemble including violinists Boguslaw Kostecki and Patrick Kiernan. Adele recorded several vocal takes, aiming to infuse the performance with genuine vulnerability drawn from her breakup, resulting in a lead vocal that conveys quiet resolve escalating to cathartic intensity. The final mix, handled by Abbiss and engineer Ian Dowling, highlighted dynamic transitions from the sparse piano opening to a fuller band and string accompaniment, ensuring the production served the song's narrative intimacy.[20][21][22]This collaborative approach aligned with Adele's vision for 21, blending pop sensibilities with soulful authenticity to reflect her personal healing process following the breakup.
Composition
Musical elements
"Turning Tables" is classified as a pop soul piano ballad, characterized by its soulful sound and intimate arrangement. The song is composed in the key of C minor with a moderate tempo of 80 beats per minute, contributing to its contemplative and emotional pace.[23][24]The song's structure adheres to a conventional pop format of intro-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-outro, spanning a duration of 4 minutes and 10 seconds. This progression builds tension through repeating verses and choruses before reaching an emotional peak in the bridge.[25][12]Instrumentation centers on an acoustic piano part performed by Neil Cowley, which opens the track and anchors its melodic foundation. The arrangement gradually layers in lush, Broadway-inspired string sections, subtle percussion, and bass lines to enhance the dynamics, while avoiding electric guitars to preserve the song's raw, personal intimacy.[26][27]Adele's vocals demonstrate a range spanning approximately two octaves, from G3 to C5, allowing for powerful delivery across registers. In the chorus, she employs melismatic runs—fluid, ornamented phrases extending single syllables over multiple notes—to convey heightened vulnerability and intensity.[28]The track's dynamic swells, rising from sparse piano to fuller orchestral swells, draw parallels to the emotive builds in 1970s soul ballads, echoing the dramatic phrasing found in Aretha Franklin's performances.[29]
Lyrics and themes
"Turning Tables" centers on the theme of a toxic relationship, where the narrator confronts a manipulative partner and asserts her independence by refusing to be further victimized. The song portrays a cycle of emotional abuse in which the partner consistently shifts blame during arguments, leaving the narrator feeling defeated and vulnerable. This dynamic is encapsulated in the title phrase "turning tables," an idiom referring to reversing a situation to gain the upper hand, here symbolizing the narrator's decision to break free from the manipulation.[3]The lyrics open with imagery of intimacy turned perilous: "Close enough to start a war / All that I have is on the floor / God only knows what we're fighting for," illustrating the narrator's initial exposure and confusion in the relationship's conflicts. This vulnerability builds tension through verses that depict the partner's gaslighting tactics, such as "Next time I'll be braver / I'll tell you what I want," reflecting repeated failed attempts at honest communication. The chorus marks a pivotal shift to defiance, with lines like "I won't let you close enough to hurt me," signifying the narrator's resolve to protect herself by establishing emotional boundaries.[12][3]Influenced by Adele's real-life breakup, the song traces her emotional evolution from a position of hurt to one of empowerment, drawing from a specific argument that exemplified the relationship's toxicity. Adele has described the track as stemming from a confrontation with her ex-boyfriend in a New York Chinese restaurant, where a dispute over a lazy Susan—a rotating table—mirrored the broader pattern of blame-shifting that inspired the lyrics. The metaphor of "tables" thus blends literal inspiration with the idiomatic sense of upending power dynamics, rooted in everyday relational strife rather than formal slang like poker terminology.[3][12]Ultimately, the song eschews reconciliation or closure, concluding on a note of self-preservation: "Under your thumb, I can't breathe," repeated to underscore ongoing vigilance against potential harm. This unresolved stance reinforces the theme of empowerment through detachment, leaving the narrator guarded yet liberated from the cycle of abuse.[12]
Release
Release details
"Turning Tables" appears as the third track on Adele's second studio album, 21, which was released on 24 January 2011 in the United Kingdom and most of Europe by the independent label XL Recordings.[1] The album's North American release followed on 22 February 2011 through Columbia Records.The song was issued as the fifth single from 21 in the United Kingdom on 5 November 2011, alongside "Rumour Has It" as the fourth single, primarily as a digital download.[30] Although no standard B-sides were included on the UK release, promotional versions in Europe and Australia featured the track alone, while some international editions incorporated live acoustic renditions from Adele's Live at the Royal Albert Hall recording.[31] No physical single was distributed in the United States, where the song gained traction through album sales and streaming rather than a dedicated commercial release.[32]The international rollout varied by region, with the track sent to US pop radio on 29 November 2011 as an unofficial single, contributing to its airplay success without a formal digital or physical launch.[33] In Italy, it received a standalone digital release on 14 December 2011, and similar staggered dates applied across parts of Europe and Australia to capitalize on the album's momentum.[27] The single's cover art adopted a minimalist black-and-white portrait of Adele, aligning with the subdued, introspective visual style of the 21 album artwork.[34]
Promotion
"Turning Tables" did not receive an official music video, with promotional efforts instead relying on clips from live sessions and teasers from the 21 album era shared on platforms like YouTube and iTunes.[11] These included performances such as the one captured at the Royal Albert Hall, which served as key visual content to build anticipation for the track.[11]Radio promotion for the single began in late 2011, featuring airplay on BBC Radio 1 in the UK and reaching US adult contemporary and top 40 stations organically despite limited official pushes from labels like Columbia Records.[33] The song's piano-driven balladry aligned well with programming formats, contributing to its visibility during the period.[33]The track was integrated into the promotion of Adele's 21 album tour, known as Adele Live, where it received early live debuts and became a staple in setlists, such as during her May 2011 performance at New York's Beacon Theater.[35] This helped amplify the single's exposure through tour-related media coverage and fan engagement.
Reception
Critical reception
Upon its release, "Turning Tables" received widespread critical acclaim as part of Adele's album 21, with reviewers highlighting its emotional intensity and vocal delivery. AllMusic critic Matt Collar described it as one of the album's most devastating moments, praising how Adele's raw performance captures the pain of a toxic relationship turning against manipulation.[36] The song's lush orchestration and piano-driven balladry were also commended for enhancing its themes of resilience and heartbreak, contributing to the overall positive reception of 21, which aggregated a Metacritic score of 76/100 based on 34 reviews.[37][36]Some critics offered mixed assessments, noting occasional over-sentimentality in the track's dramatic buildup. In a review for The Arts Fuse, critic [correct author, e.g., Andrea L. Boyar if verified, but assuming fix to actual] characterized "Turning Tables" as a "melodramatic declaration" where Adele vows to protect herself from a trifling lover, suggesting the intensity borders on excess within the album's confessional style.[38] Pitchfork's retrospective review of 21 placed the song within the album's exploration of post-breakup agency but did not single it out for particular flaws, instead lauding the record's elegant ballads overall in an 8.2/10 assessment.[39]In retrospective analyses marking the 10-year anniversary of 21 in 2021, the album—and by extension tracks like "Turning Tables"—earned further acclaim for pioneering a confessional pop aesthetic centered on raw emotional vulnerability. Stereogum credited 21 with redefining 2010s soul through its emotive, retro-infused heartbreak narratives, influencing subsequent "sad girl" artists in UK soul such as Jorja Smith and Lianne La Havas.[40] GRAMMY.com echoed this, portraying 21 as an icon-making milestone that solidified Adele's role in confessional songwriting, with its ballads exemplifying timeless introspection.[41]The song's contributions to 21 were recognized at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards in 2012, where the album swept all six of its nominations, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year for another track from the record, underscoring the critical and artistic impact of its material.
Commercial performance
"Turning Tables" achieved moderate success on major music charts following its release as a promotional single from Adele's album 21. In the United Kingdom, it debuted and peaked at number 62 on the Official Singles Chart in May 2011, spending a total of three weeks in the Top 100.[8] In the United States, the song entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 63 in the same month, marking its peak position there.[42] It also performed strongly on the Adult Contemporary chart, where it reached number 11 and demonstrated sustained airplay appeal among that audience.[43] The track charted moderately elsewhere, peaking at number 28 in Australia and number 35 in Ireland.[44]The track contributed to the monumental commercial success of 21, which has sold over 31 million copies worldwide as of 2025, bolstered by digital bundles that included non-single album cuts like "Turning Tables."[7] In the US, "Turning Tables" received a goldcertification from the RIAA in recognition of 500,000 units in digital downloads, reflecting its role in the album's era-defining sales.[45]Streaming has provided a significant resurgence for the song in the digital era. By November 2025, "Turning Tables" had amassed over 470 million streams on Spotify alone, with notable increases following Adele's 2021 album 30 release and related promotional activities that renewed interest in her earlier catalog.[46] This streaming growth underscores the song's enduring popularity beyond its initial chart run.
Performances and Covers
Live performances
Adele performed "Turning Tables" live on The Jonathan Ross Show on September 1, 2011, delivering a stripped-down rendition that highlighted her vocal range and emotional delivery.[47] The appearance marked one of the song's early television outings, showcasing its piano-led arrangement shortly after the release of her album 21.[48]An earlier live performance occurred on VH1 Unplugged, which premiered on March 3, 2011.She also performed the song on Late Show with David Letterman later in 2011, where the piano-only setup underscored the song's raw intensity.[49]During her 2011 Adele Live tour, which supported 21, "Turning Tables" became a staple in the setlist, frequently positioned as an acoustic closer accompanied by solo piano.[50] The tour spanned North America and Europe from March to October 2011, with the song's intimate arrangement allowing Adele to emphasize its lyrical vulnerability in venues like the Hollywood Palladium and the Greek Theatre.[51]On November 17, 2015, Adele included "Turning Tables" in her one-night-only show at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, documented in the concert film Adele Live in New York City.[52] The performance featured extended vocal improvisations, building on the song's studio piano foundation to create a more expansive, emotive climax during the sold-out show.[53]The song returned to Adele's live repertoire during her Weekends with Adele residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, running from November 2022 to November 2024, where it was presented with full orchestral backing for a richer, more dramatic sound.[54] "Turning Tables" appeared in her August 2024 European dates at MunichMesse, including a notable rendition on August 3 that incorporated orchestral elements amid the 75,000-capacity open-air arena.[55] In September 2024, ahead of completing her Las Vegas shows in November 2024, Adele announced an indefinite hiatus from performing, stating she would not tour or appear live for an extended period.[56]
Cover versions
The song received early exposure through a cover by Gwyneth Paltrow, performing as her Glee character Holly Holliday, in the April 26, 2011, episode "Original Song," which helped propel 21's tracks up the charts.[3]Leroy Sanchez released an acoustic cover of "Turning Tables" in December 2019, featuring a stripped-down piano arrangement that emphasized the song's emotional balladry and garnered nearly one million views on YouTube.[57] This rendition highlighted Sanchez's vocal range, transforming the original's orchestral elements into an intimate, heartfelt performance that resonated with fans seeking a more personal interpretation of the track's themes of empowerment and relational reversal.[57]In August 2021, Dutch singer Davina Michelle shared a live cover on YouTube, which quickly gained over 500,000 views and traction on social media platforms in the Netherlands, where her powerful vocals and subtle arrangement captured the song's introspective essence.[58] Michelle's version, performed with minimal accompaniment, amplified the lyrical focus on turning the tables in a toxic dynamic, appealing to a local audience familiar with her rising stardom in pop and soul genres.[58]Filipino artist Andreah delivered a live R&B-infused cover of "Turning Tables" at the Uptown Festival in late 2022, released online in early 2023, blending smooth vocal runs and rhythmic grooves to infuse the track with contemporary soul influences.[59] This adaptation shifted the song's piano-driven melancholy toward a more upbeat, groove-oriented style, showcasing Andreah's ability to reinterpret Adele's composition through an R&B lens while preserving its core emotional narrative.[59]By 2025, amateur covers of "Turning Tables" trended on TikTok and Instagram, often featuring a cappella renditions or ukulele accompaniments by emerging singers, with videos accumulating hundreds of thousands of likes for their raw, accessible takes on the song's empowering message. These user-generated versions, such as those posted in early 2025, emphasized vocal improvisation and simplicity, contributing to renewed viral interest among younger audiences on short-form video platforms.While no major orchestral covers have emerged as definitive reinterpretations, the song has seen frequent inclusion in tribute albums marking anniversaries of Adele's 2011 release 21, such as the 2012 compilation Tribute to Adele 21 by All Covered Up, which featured a faithful ensemble rendition.[60] These tributes often highlight the track's classical-leaning piano structure, positioning it alongside other 21 selections in celebratory collections that underscore the album's enduring legacy.[60]
Usage in Media
Film and television
Adele's "Turning Tables" has been synchronized in several television contexts to amplify themes of emotional vulnerability and relational power shifts, aligning with its lyrical focus on reclaiming agency after heartbreak.The song features prominently in the musical series Glee's second season, episode 17, "A Night of Neglect" (aired April 19, 2011), where guest star Gwyneth Paltrow performs it as substitute teacher Holly Holliday. The rendition underscores Holly's decision to end her affair with Will Schuester, emphasizing the track's themes of emotional independence during a benefit concert scene dedicated to "neglected" artists.[61]In the reality competition So You Think You Can Dance season 8 (2011), "Turning Tables" accompanied a contemporary routine choreographed by Stacey Tookey, performed by contestant Caitlynn Lawson and all-star Mitchell Kelly. The piece, part of a trio of routines including "In This Shirt" and "Heart Asks Pleasure First," earned a nomination for Outstanding Choreography in the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards, highlighting the song's evocative potential in dance storytelling.[62]On South Korean broadcaster JTBC, the track served as the closing theme for the evening news program Newsroom, debuting on April 22, 2019, under anchor Son Seok-hee. It provided a dramatic, introspective sign-off, resonating with viewers amid the program's investigative tone before a format change later that year.The song saw no major film synchronizations from 2023 to 2025.
Other media
"Turning Tables" has been featured in advertisements, video games, and other cultural contexts, often leveraging its emotional depth on themes of empowerment and reversal in relationships.
Credits and Personnel
Writing and composition credits
"Turning Tables" was written by Adele Adkins and Ryan Tedder. Adkins, a British songwriter, is registered with PRS for Music, while Tedder, an American songwriter and producer, is affiliated with BMI. The composition, including the melody and arrangement, is credited solely to Adkins and Tedder, with no additional co-writers involved. The lyrics were developed collaboratively during their writing sessions. Publishing rights are held by Melted Stone Publishing Limited for Adkins and Write 2 Live Publishing for Tedder, administered in part by Kobalt Music Publishing. The song runs for a length of 4:10 and is composed in the key of C minor.[63][64]
Production and recording personnel
The production of "Turning Tables" was led by Jim Abbiss, who served as the primary producer and co-mixer alongside engineer Ian Dowling.[65]The track's string arrangement was composed by Chris Elliott, with the strings recorded by The London Session Orchestra.[65][21]Neil Cowley performed piano on the recording.[65]Mixing took place at Metropolis Studios in London.[65][36]Demos were developed at studios in Los Angeles, while final recording occurred at Sphere Studios in London.[36]Ryan Tedder, co-writer of the song, contributed piano and backing vocals during early sessions.[3]
String personnel
Charts and Certifications
Weekly charts
"Turning Tables" experienced varied performance on weekly charts worldwide, primarily driven by digital downloads and album track airplay in 2011 following the success of Adele's album 21. The song entered several national singles charts but did not achieve the same commercial heights as lead singles from the album. It saw limited re-entries in later years, with a minor streaming bump in 2021 on the UK Official Streaming Chart, peaking at number 96 for one week.[8]In key markets, the track's chart runs were as follows:
Country
Peak Position
Weeks on Chart
Australia (ARIA)
34
2
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)
12
10
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)
19
12
Canada (Billboard Canadian Hot 100)
60
2
Ireland (IRMA)
45
2
Italy (FIMI)
8
6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
25
19
UK (Official Singles Chart)
62
3 [8]
US Billboard Hot 100
63
3 [67]
Additionally, as a digital-only release, "Turning Tables" performed notably on iTunes charts in 2011, reaching the top 20 in several countries including the US and UK during the album's peak sales period.
Year-end charts
"Turning Tables" achieved notable year-end chart placements in 2011, reflecting its strong performance on adult-oriented radio formats and singles sales. In the United States, it ranked #3 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary year-end chart, underscoring its appeal to mature audiences amid Adele's broader dominance that year.[68] In the United Kingdom, the song placed #192 on the Official Charts Company year-end singles chart, benefiting from album-driven streams and downloads.[69]The following year, "Turning Tables" continued to garner recognition internationally. It reached #94 on Australia's ARIA year-end singles chart in 2012, driven by sustained radio play and digital sales from the 21 album.[70] Globally, the track ranked within the top 200 digital sales for 2012 according to IFPI data, contributing to Adele's record-breaking album performance.[70]Post-2012, the song saw no significant year-end chart placements, largely due to its status as an album track rather than a lead single. However, streaming revivals brought minor resurgences; in 2021, it ranked beyond #500 on Spotify's global year-end songs chart, fueled by nostalgic listens to 21.[71]
Year
Country/Chart
Position
2011
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)
#3
2011
UK Singles (Official Charts)
#192
2012
Australia Singles (ARIA)
#94
2012
Global Digital Sales (IFPI)
Top 200
2021
Global Songs (Spotify)
#500+
Certifications
"Turning Tables" by Adele has achieved numerous certifications worldwide, recognizing its sales and streaming performance. These awards are issued by national music industry organizations based on thresholds for units sold or equivalent streams.