| "Turning Tables" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Adele | ||||
| from the album 21 | ||||
| Released | 5 November 2011 | |||
| Studio | Sphere Studios (London) | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 4:10 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Jim Abbiss | |||
| Adele singles chronology | ||||
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| Live video | ||||
| "Turning Tables" on YouTube | ||||
"Turning Tables" is a song recorded by English singer-songwriter Adele for her second studio album, 21 (2011). Conceived after an altercation with her former lover, the song was co-written by Adele and singer-songwriter Ryan Tedder, whilst the production was completed by Jim Abbiss. "Turning Tables" is a pop ballad with a soulful sound; its instrumentation consists of piano, "Broadway-worthy" strings, and guitar.[1] Lyrically, the song describes a domestic dispute in which its narrator assumes a defensive stance against a manipulative ex-lover. XL Recordings sent the song to UK mainstream radio on 5 November 2011 as the fifth single from 21 along with "Rumour Has It".
"Turning Tables" received acclaim from music critics, who praised its lyrics, production, and Adele's vocal performance. The song reached the top-twenty of the singles charts in four countries, including Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands. It also peaked at number 62 on the UK Singles Chart and 63 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over 500,000 digital downloads. Adele performed "Turning Tables" on television shows such as Late Night with David Letterman in the US and The Jonathan Ross Show in the UK and included it on the Adele Live concert tour. American actress and singer Gwyneth Paltrow performed a cover of the single in the Glee episode "A Night of Neglect".