Adele Nearly Recorded a One Direction Song, According to New Book

The Song Adele Wanted

Adele has long been celebrated for making other people's songs her own — from her early cover of Bob Dylan's "Make You Feel My Love" to her devastating live takes on Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me." Now, a new book by Jason Lipshutz titled A Whole Lotta History reveals that the British superstar once had her eye on a song written for One Direction. According to People.com, the book features interviews with the hitmakers behind the band's catalog, who disclose which of One Direction's songs Adele wanted for herself.

The revelation is a tantalizing glimpse into the alternate history of pop. One Direction, formed on The X Factor in 2010, became one of the biggest boy bands of the 2010s, with a run of hits that included "What Makes You Beautiful," "Story of My Life," and "Drag Me Down." Their songwriters — a roster that has included the likes of Savan Kotecha, Carl Falk, Rami Yacoub, and Julian Bunetta — crafted a sound that was both euphoric and emotionally direct. The idea that one of those compositions caught Adele's ear is a fascinating crossover between two very different worlds: the polished, high-energy pop of a global boy band and the soul-baring balladry of a once-in-a-generation vocalist.

Why Adele's Interest Matters

Adele's career has been defined by her ability to inhabit a song completely, regardless of who wrote it. Her debut album, 19, released in 2008, included "Chasing Pavements" and "Make You Feel My Love," and earned her the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. But it was her second album, 21, that turned her into a global phenomenon. Led by "Rolling in the Deep," "Someone like You," and "Set Fire to the Rain," 21 became the best-selling album of the 21st century and topped the Billboard 200 for 24 weeks — a record for the top-performing album in US chart history. The album won a record-tying six Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year.

Since then, Adele has continued to break records. Her third album, 25, released in 2015, became the first album to sell over three million copies in a single week in the US, and its lead single, "Hello," was a worldwide smash. In 2021, she released 30, led by the single "Easy on Me," which won her another Grammy Award. With over 120 million records sold worldwide, Adele is one of the best-selling music artists of all time and the best-selling female artist of the 21st century in the UK.

Given that pedigree, the notion that Adele might have recorded a One Direction song is more than a trivia nugget. It speaks to the way great pop songs circulate behind the scenes — written for one artist, considered by another, and sometimes reshaped into something entirely new. Adele's interpretive instincts have always been sharp; her choices reveal an artist who listens widely and trusts her gut.

The Book Behind the Revelation

Jason Lipshutz is a well-known music journalist, and A Whole Lotta History promises to offer a behind-the-scenes look at One Direction's music through the eyes of the people who wrote and produced it. The book's title itself is a nod to the band's song "History," a fan favorite from their 2015 album Made in the A.M. By focusing on the songwriters, Lipshutz shifts the spotlight from the famous faces to the craftspeople behind the hits — a group that has shaped the sound of modern pop far beyond One Direction.

For fans of both Adele and One Direction, the revelation is a reminder that the pop ecosystem is smaller and more interconnected than it often appears. Songwriters pitch material across genres and artists; what ends up on a record is the result of a complex dance of timing, taste, and ambition. That Adele was interested in a One Direction song is a testament to the quality of the writing — and to her willingness to look beyond the obvious.

What We Know — and What We Don't

At this point, the details remain limited. The book reportedly identifies the song Adele wanted, but it is not clear whether she ever recorded a version or whether the song was ultimately released by One Direction. What is clear is that Adele's interest in the material is a story worth telling, and one that adds another layer to her already remarkable career.

Adele's next moves remain a topic of intense speculation among fans. Her last album, 30, was released in 2021, and since then she has focused on live performances, including her acclaimed residency in Las Vegas. Whether or not she ever covers the One Direction song in question, the story serves as a reminder of her enduring curiosity as an artist — and of the hidden connections that run through the music industry.

Conclusion

For now, the revelation in A Whole Lotta History is a delightful piece of pop lore. It reminds us that even the biggest stars are listeners first, and that a great song can find its way to unexpected places. Adele's career has been built on making the familiar feel new, and whether she's singing her own compositions or interpreting someone else's, she brings the same uncompromising emotional honesty to every note. That a One Direction song caught her attention is simply another chapter in that story — one that fans will be eager to follow.