Adele won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2013. She and songwriter Paul Epworth won for “Skyfall,” the title song of the 2012 James Bond film of the same name.
The award was presented at the 85th Academy Awards on 24 February 2013. “Skyfall” was Adele’s first song written specifically for a film, and its dramatic orchestration and Bond-style arrangement connected it to the musical tradition of earlier 007 themes.
The win was historic for the Bond series: “Skyfall” became the first James Bond theme to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Adele performed the song during the ceremony, in one of her first major public appearances after taking time away from live performance.
The date can cause confusion because “Skyfall” was released in 2012 and the film was also a 2012 release. However, the Oscars honour films from the preceding year, so the award ceremony—and the year commonly given for Adele’s win—was 2013. The song also won a Golden Globe and a Grammy.