Draft:Don't You Remember

"Don't You Remember" is a song by English singer-songwriter Adele, recorded for her second studio album 21 in 2011. The song was written by Adele and American musician Dan Wilson, with production by Rick Rubin. One of Adele's only country-inspired songs, the ballad portrays the singer lamenting over the forgotten reason why her lover once loved her.

It received mixed reviews from critics, with many criticizing Rubin's production of the track but praising Adele's vocals. It was certified gold by Music Canada (MC) and silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

Background
The song is viewed as a more country-style ballad, and was added to the album late when a more contemplative Adele became increasingly aware of how her bitterness towards the break-up with her ex-boyfriend (the main inspiration for the album) negatively colored her perception of her former lover. Adele added that it was "just trying to remember why you loved someone in the first place."

The song is an admission of her own shortcomings ("I know I have a fickle heart/And a bitterness/And a wandering eye/And a heaviness in my head"), as well as a plea to her ex-spouse to remember why he initially fell in love with her. She has also stated that the song is also about wondering if her ex-lover felt bad about why he dumped her, and she said that her feelings toward her lover were important, because she would begin to lose it if he did not text her back within 10 seconds. She has also stated that sometimes when she hears the song, it is like discovering music for the first time.

Adele later explained the song's meaning to The Sun, saying: "You know when you forget why you loved someone? I was just thinking about how my entire body would just shiver if my ex touched me to say hello. It's sad when you can't remember why you loved someone".

During the writing of the song, the Lady Antebellum song "Need You Now" was frequently played on radio and exposed Adele to more country music (originally being exposed to the genre by her tour bus driver). The song, which she later covered with Darius Rucker and included on the deluxe edition of 21, inspired her to write "Don't You Remember" in many ways.

"Don't You Remember" was originally planned to be the first track on 21 rather than the fourth, replacing "Rolling in the Deep" as the first track on the album.

Critical reception
The song initially received mixed reviews from music critics. Melinda Newman of HitFix reacted positively to the song, complimenting its production as well as Adele's vocals: "Her voice wrenches every bit of pain out of the song, stopping just short of making it overwrought." Ian Wade of BBC Music wrote that "'Don't You Remember' is a classically styled ballad, which feels like the sort of tune you've known all your life – many are certain to bawl along to it next time their hearts are broken." Simon Harper of Clash wrote a positive review of the song as well, stating that the song "grieves in elegant acoustics."

Among the more negative reviews, James Reed of The Boston Globe wrote that the song was one of the album's weaker moments, but was still "glaring" due to Adele's vocals and sass. He went on to blame Rick Rubin for "obscuring" the song.

Kitty Empire of The Guardian also wrote a generally negative review of the song, calling it a "let-down" in contrast to the album's lead single, "Rolling in the Deep". Greg Kot of The Chicago Tribune wrote that "the sheer conviction of Adele's voice" prevented "Don't You Remember" from "drowning in its own sap."

Live performances
Adele performed the song on 3 May on Later...with Jools Holland, along with the tracks "Rolling in the Deep", "Set Fire to the Rain" and "Take It All". The song was also included in the setlist of Adele's second tour, Adele Live, in order to promote 21. A live performance of the song from the Adele Live tour was included on her live DVD/CD, Live at the Royal Albert Hall. A live acoustic version from her performance at Largo was included in the Target deluxe edition of 21, along with the live acoustic versions of "Someone Like You" and "Turning Tables" and a live performance of "Need You Now" with Darius Rucker.

Adele performed an acoustic version of the song that paid homage to Alison Krauss during her Adele Live 2016 tour.

Personnel
Personnel (according to the liner notes of 21 on the Discogs release):


 * Adele Adkins – songwriting, vocals
 * Dan Wilson – songwriting
 * Rick Rubin – producer
 * David Hidalgo – banjo, accordion
 * Pino Palladino – bass
 * Matt Sweeney – guitar
 * Smokey Hormel – guitar
 * James Poyser – piano
 * Stephanie Bennett – harp
 * Lenny Castro – percussion
 * Greg Fidelman – recording
 * Sara Lyn Killion – recording assistant
 * David Campbell – string arrangement
 * Andrew Scheps – mixer
 * Phillip Broussard Jr – mixing assistant
 * Lindsay Chase – production coordinator