Set Fire to the Rain

"Set Fire to the Rain" is a pop power ballad by Adele, released as the third single from her second studio album, 21, on July 4, 2011. Co-written with Fraser T. Smith, who also produced the track, the song builds from a sparse piano opening into a dramatic, string-laden chorus. Lyrically, it describes a toxic relationship where the narrator acknowledges the pain but can't let go, using the metaphor of setting fire to the rain to express futility.

The single became Adele's third consecutive number one on the Billboard Hot 100 from 21, spending two weeks at the top in February 2012. It also topped charts in Canada, Ireland, and the Netherlands, and reached number 11 in the UK. The RIAA certified it 7× Platinum, reflecting over 7 million equivalent units in the US. A live performance version from the Live at the Royal Albert Hall DVD won the Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance in 2013.

No official music video was produced, but the live performance on YouTube has accumulated over 300 million views. The song has been covered by artists like Walk off the Earth and featured in shows such as Glee and The Voice, cementing its status as one of Adele's most enduring hits.[edit]