Adele once tried to secure a song written for One Direction after hearing an early version of the track, according to the songwriters behind the group’s 2014 album Four.
Songwriters Jamie Scott and Mozella have revealed that Adele was so impressed by ‘Fool’s Gold’ that she contacted Scott to express her interest. However, the track had already been promised to Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik, meaning the writers could not offer it to the singer.
The story features in Jason Lipshutz’s new book, A Whole Lotta History, which explores the making of One Direction’s music.
Adele loved One Direction’s ‘Fool’s Gold’
Scott and Mozella wrote ‘Fool’s Gold’ during a productive studio session that also produced another song. The pair quickly recognised that they had created something special.
Mozella recalled:
We thought it was special – just this real, honest, raw song.
After the track was finished, Scott played it to Harry Styles, who was immediately taken with the ballad.
But Styles was not the only major artist who wanted to hear more. Adele also got hold of the song and contacted Scott.
He remembered receiving a call from the singer:
I remember getting a call from Adele, saying, ‘I just heard this song that you wrote for One Direction!’
Adele had clearly been impressed, but there was a problem. Scott had already committed the track to One Direction, and the songwriters were not prepared to go back on that agreement.
Mozella explained:
Basically, [Adele] heard it and was like, ‘I love this!’ But he had already promised it to the boys, so we couldn’t take it back.
As a result, ‘Fool’s Gold’ remained with One Direction and appeared on Four, released in 2014.
‘Fool’s Gold’ became a fan favourite on Four
The album was the group’s fourth studio release and continued One Direction’s commercial success, reaching number one in both the UK and US.
Featuring Styles, Horan, Tomlinson, Payne and Zayn Malik, Four included tracks such as ‘Steal My Girl’, ‘Night Changes’ and ‘Fool’s Gold’.
The latter went on to become a favourite among the band’s fans, although Adele’s interest offers an intriguing glimpse of how the song might have taken a different direction.
Adele also recorded an unreleased rap for Tinie Tempah
The revelation comes alongside another unusual story about Adele’s work in the studio.
Tinie Tempah has previously disclosed that the singer recorded a rap during the making of his 2011 hit ‘Earthquake’, which featured Labrinth.
According to the rapper, Adele was in the studio when the track was being put together and joined in during an informal session on the microphone.
Speaking to The Sun’s Bizarre column, Tinie said:
She [Adele] was actually in the studio when I made Earthquake with Labrinth. We were having a little muck around on the mic.
At the time, she really liked Nicki Minaj and had Nicki Minaj-type raps and stuff like that.
Asked whether the recording could eventually be released, Tinie was uncertain.
Oh my goodness, let’s see if she clears it. Let’s see.
The recording remains unreleased, while Adele’s interest in ‘Fool’s Gold’ is another reminder of the unexpected paths songs can take before reaching the public.
