Rumour Has It By Adele - Songfacts

Toggle navigation

• Home
• Categories
• Places
• Blog
  • Blogs Home
  • News
  • Lists
  • Features
  • Songwriter Interviews
  • Song Writing
  • Fact or Fiction
  • They're Playing My Song
  • Music Quiz
  • Songfacts Pages
  • Songwriting Legends
  • Songfacts Podcast
  • All Titles
  • Authors
    • Amanda Flinner
    • April Fox
    • Bruce Pollock
    • Carl Wiser
    • Corey O'Flanagan
    • Dan MacIntosh
    • Developer
    • Ed Pearce
    • Greg Prato
    • Jeff Suwak
    • Jess Grant
    • Laura Antonelli
    • Leslie Michele Derrough
    • Maggie Grimason
    • Nicole Roberge
    • Roger Catlin
    • Shawna Ortega
    • Stephanie Myers
    • Trevor Morelli
• Browse
  • Songs
  • Artists
  • Places
  • Years
  • Categories

Search

Rumour Has Itby Adele

Album: 21 (2011)Charted: 16 License This Song  artistfacts

Songfacts®:

• This bluesy stomp is part of Adele's second album, titled 21. She penned the song with Beyoncé/Leona Lewis songwriter Ryan Tedder.
• The song sounds like it could be about the famous folks who show up in the tabloids, but it's not. Adele says the inspiration was a lot closer to home. After being away from home for about 18 months, she returned to the UK and reconnected with her old friends, meeting up for lunch and going out at night. She was shocked when her friends asked her about rumors that they had heard about Adele. "My own friends were gossiping about me and believing stuff that they'd hear," she said. "I was mortified, really. I had to set the record straight with my own girlfriends who know and love me."
• Ryan Tedder was in the middle of touring his band OneRepublic's second album Waking Up when the opportunity came up to write with the British songstress. He recalled to Billboard magazine: "I blocked off a week and said, 'I have to work with Adele.' Our management was like, 'She's good, but what's the big deal?' I thought she was the best singer in the world, so I wanted to halt everything to make sure there was time to work with her."
• Tedder (from Billboard magazine): "This was written on the first day, sang on the second and she knocked it out in one pass. And much like everything else on 21, she walked in with a very clear idea of what she wanted to say and write about, so the writing was superfast." "The music I came up with was initially inspired by a Radiohead song," Tedder added. "I loved that had a dirty blues feel to it."
• Ryan Tedder believes his catholic taste in music helps with his songwriting. "The music that I listen to and the music that I write and produce inform each other in the strangest of ways," he told The London Sunday Times. Tedder added that when Adele and him came up with this raw, bluesy tune he was listening to a lot of Muddy Waters.
• Rumor, a German shepherd that won Best In Show at the 2017 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, was named after this song.
• Ryan Tedder told the US breakfast show Today that this song was inspired by Adele's frustration at false speculation about her love life. He recalled how an angry Adele stormed into one of their recording sessions exclaiming: "People in London, my friends are saying, 'Rumour has it that Adele has gone off and done this with this guy and she's done this with another guy,' and I didn't do any of it, it's a rumour!'"Tedder responded: "There it is. We're gonna write a song called Rumour Has It."

• More songs from Adele
• More songs about being misunderstood
• More songs covered by the Glee cast
• More songs about gossip or rumors
• More songs written by Ryan Tedder
• More songs from 2011
• Adele Artistfacts

Your name as you would like it displayed Your Locaton Your Comment send your comment

Comments: 5

• Luna Loud from Royal Woods, MichiganMushroomed covered this song. I like it, but it's metal, so I'm guessing most Adele fans won't dig it like I do.
• George from Vancouver, CanadaHere's where her fangirl like of Lady Gaga comes home.
• George from Vancouver, CanadaI love how the last line puts a whole new twist into the lyrics -- first the rumours are he has a new girlfriend -- now SHE has the nee boyfriend -- BOOYA!!
• Samantha from Harare, Zimbabweamazing hit.....
• Danielle from Houston, TxI love this song because people do start rumors and they need to know that it is not always a good thing.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Forever Your GirlPaula Abdul

Paula Abdul's "Forever Your Girl" was written by Oliver Leiber, who despite being the son of Jerry Leiber from Leiber & Stoller, was an unknown songwriter.

Without YouNilsson

The song "Without You," a hit for Nilsson in 1972 and Mariah Carey in 1994, was written and originally recorded by Badfinger in 1970.

Rock LobsterThe B-52s

Sea creatures mentioned in "Rock Lobster" by The B-52's include a jellyfish, piranha, bikini whale and narwhal.

Uptown GirlBilly Joel

Billy Joel's "Uptown Girl" is about Christie Brinkley, who he married, but it started as a song about Elle McPherson, who he also went out with.

Total Eclipse Of The HeartBonnie Tyler

"Total Eclipse Of The Heart" by Bonnie Tyler is a tribute to the vampire movie Nosferatu, depicting an immortal "love in the dark."

Do You Want To DanceBobby Freeman

Bobby Freeman's '50s hit "Do You Want To Dance" was also a Hot 100 hit for Del Shannon, The Beach Boys, The Mamas & the Papas, Bette Midler and the Ramones.

Editor's Picks

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Janet JacksonFact or Fiction

Was Janet secretly married at 18? Did she gain 60 pounds for a movie role that went to Mariah Carey? See what you know about Ms. Jackson.

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

Benny MardonesSongwriter Interviews

His song "Into The Night" is one of the most-played of all time. For Benny, it took him to hell and back.

Songfacts® Newsletter

A monthly update on our latest interviews, stories and added songs

What's your email? SUBSCRIBE

Information

• About Us
• Terms of Service
• Our Privacy Policy
• Google Privacy Policy
• Songfacts API
• Music History Calendar
• Song Licensing
• Affiliate Disclosure
• Contact Us
• Privacy Manager

Follow Us

• Facebook
• X (Twitter)
• YouTube

Contribution

• Message Boards
• Songfacts Writers

©2026 Songfacts, LLC