Which '21' song did Adele co-write with Fraser T. Smith?

The story behind the answer

Which “21” song did Adele co-write with Fraser T. Smith? “Set Fire to the Rain” is the song. Adele and Smith wrote it together, and Smith also produced the track.

The song stands out on 21 for its lush arrangement, swelling strings and dramatic power-ballad scale. Its lyrics describe the contradictions of a failing relationship and the difficulty of letting go. Adele has linked the song’s title and inspiration to a mundane rainy-day moment when her lighter stopped working.

Released as the third US single from 21 in November 2011, it became Adele’s third consecutive US number-one single from the album. The recording was shaped heavily by Smith, who handled production, guitar, piano, bass and mixing-related musical duties. It is sometimes confused with other 21 songs such as “Turning Tables” or “One and Only,” but those tracks have different writing credits.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

Add question to a list

Choose a list to keep this question in: