Adorn (song)

Music and lyrics

"Adorn" features on-beat sub-bass sounds, falsetto howls, irregular vocal echoes, obscured synths, and sparse keyboard arrangements. The lyrics feature brazen declarations of affection, including promises of adoration to a female subject. Writers liken "Adorn" to Marvin Gaye's 1982 ballad "Sexual Healing". Miguel was inspired to write the song by a series of dreams he had prior to writing it. His girlfriend (now ex-wife), model and artist Nazanin Mandi, was also an inspiration behind the song. Miguel later told People magazine: "I had been on a long trip and was anxious to see her. That's where the song began, with that emotion while I was on the plane. I don't remember how I got from 'These lips can't wait to taste your skin' to the end of the song, but when I listened to it, I thought, 'This is special.'"

Release and promotion

"Adorn" originally appeared on the Miguel mixtape Art Dealer Chic, Vol. 1, released on February 27, 2012. It was later included on a promotional extended play titled Kaleidoscope Dream: The Water Preview on July 31, one of two extended plays released by Miguel to promote Kaleidoscope Dream. On August 7, "Adorn" was solicited to rhythmic contemporary radio stations in the United States, and released to iTunes. A remix of the song, featuring American rapper Wiz Khalifa, was released on September 18. A remix featuring Jessie Ware was released on July 10 2013.

The song earned Miguel three Grammy Award nominations for Song of the Year, Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance at the 55th Grammy Awards, winning his first in the category of Best R&B Song.

Critical reception

"Adorn" received widespread critical acclaim by music critics. In a review for Seattle Weekly, Erin Thompson wrote that Miguel "made a particularly nice choice of metaphor in the song's chorus—'Let my love adorn you.' When a woman hears the word 'adorn,' she probably thinks of diamonds and Dior; Miguel's rich vocals convey the same sense of luxury. That's a man who knows how to treat a woman." SoulBounce called it an "electro soul slice of niceness", while MSN Musics Robert Christgau cited the song's "throbbing, garbled hook" as "one of 2012's signature pop moments". Brian McManus from The Village Voice called "Adorn" "the perfect amuse-bouche for the album it kicks off, priming the ears, opening them." At the end of 2012, "Adorn" was named the 33rd best song of the year in Rolling Stone. It was also voted the year's second best single in the nationwide Pazz & Jop critics' poll.

Chart performance

"Adorn" charted at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number-one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, becoming Miguel's second most successful single to date. It was also his third number-one hit on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart and still holds the record for the longest run atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, being the only song in the chart's history to spend 20 or more weeks at number-one. By July 2013, the song had reached 1,014,000 copies sold in the US. By 2019, it had three million copies according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), who certified it triple platinum.

Awards and nominations

Track listing

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Decade-end charts

Radio and release history

Certifications

References

References

1. Cooper, Duncan. (November 16, 2012). "Miguel: Second Wind". [[The Fader]].
2. "Adorn – Miguel".
3. Butta. (July 31, 2012). "Miguel Wants To 'Adorn' You With New Music". SoulBounce.
4. Larson, Jeremy D.. (October 5, 2012). "Album Review: Miguel – Kaleidoscope Dream".
5. Kellman, Andy. "Kaleidoscope Dream – Miguel". [[Allmusic]]. [[Rovi Corporation]].
6. Johnston, Maura. (October 1, 2012). "Miguel, 'Kaleidoscope Dream' (Bystorm/RCA)". [[Spin (magazine).
7. McCarthy, Sean. (October 19, 2012). "Miguel: Kaleidoscope Dream".
8. Tannenbaum, Rob. (October 5, 2012). "Kaleidoscope Dream".
9. (February 3, 2012). "Video: Miguel – 'Adorn{{'-}}". Devin Lazerine.
10. "Miguel Talks About Kaleidoscope Dream's Sex-Driven Moments". [[ABC News Radio]].
11. White, Caitlin. (July 31, 2012). "Miguel 'Adorn' Video: Singer Shares Dreamy, Kaleidoscopic Vision". [[AOL Inc..
12. "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Inc.
13. "Tuesday Tunes: "Adorn" – Miguel". Kenton Magazine.
14. (18 September 2012). "Adorn (Remix) [feat. Wiz Khalifa] – Single by Miguel". [[Apple Inc..
15. (10 July 2013). "Miguel – “Adorn (Remix)” (Feat. Jessie Ware)". [[Stereogum]].
16. (10 July 2013). "Listen: Miguel's "Adorn" Featuring Jessie Ware". [[Pitchfork (website).
17. Thompson, Erin. (October 11, 2012). "Miguel's "Adorn" Conveys Chivalry, Luxury, and Sex". [[Seattle Weekly]].
18. Christgau, Robert. (December 28, 2012). "Miguel". [[MSN Music]]. [[Microsoft]].
19. McManus, Brian. (January 16, 2013). "Pazz & Jop: Miguel Is Living The Dream". [[The Village Voice]].
20. (5 December 2012). "50 Best Songs of 2012".
21. "Singles — All Votes". [[Village Voice Media]].
22. "Miguel 'Adorn's No. 1 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay for 20th Week: Weekly Chart Notes".
23. Paul Grein. (July 31, 2013). "Week Ending July 28, 2013. Songs: Radio Hesitates On One Direction". Yahoo.
24. [https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Miguel&ti=Adorn# "American single certifications – Miguel – Adorn"]. [[Recording Industry Association of America]]. ''If necessary, click ''Advanced,'' then click ''Format,'' then select ''Single,'' then click ''SEARCH.
25. (30 April 2017). "Awards Nominations & Winners".
26. (September 16, 2013). "Chartifacts". [[ARIA Charts]].
27. "Best of 2012 – Hot 100 Songs".
28. "Best of 2012 – R&B/Hip-Hop Songs".
29. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2012". Billboard.
30. "Best of 2013 – Hot 100 Songs".
31. "Best of 2013 – R&B/Hip-Hop Songs".
32. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2013". Billboard.
33. "Decade-End Charts: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard.
34. (25 May 2014). "VÖ-Vorschau".