Adia

This article is about the song. For the feminine name, see Adia (name). For the genus, see Adia (genus). For the sovereign wealth fund ADIA, see Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.

"Adia" is a song by Canadian singer Sarah McLachlan from her fourth studio album, Surfacing (1997). It was co-written by McLachlan and her longtime producer, Pierre Marchand. McLachlan has said about the song, "...more than anything, it's about my problems in dealing with feeling responsible for everyone else".^[1] "Adia" was released as the third North American single from Surfacing on 2 March 1998; in Europe, it served as McLachlan's debut single,^[2] receiving a UK release in September 1998.

"Adia"
Single by Sarah McLachlan
from the album Surfacing
Released	2 March 1998 (1998-03-02)
Length	4:05
Label	Nettwerk Arista
Songwriter(s)	Sarah McLachlan Pierre Marchand
Producer(s)	Pierre Marchand
Sarah McLachlan singles chronology
"Sweet Surrender" (1997) "Adia" (1998) "Angel" (1998)
Music video
"Adia" by Sarah McLachlan on YouTube

"Adia" was McLachlan's first top-five song on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number three, totalling 14 weeks in the top five, and ending 1998 as the country's 20th-most-successful song. The song also performed well in McLachlan's native Canada, peaking at number three for three non-consecutive weeks on the RPM Top Singles chart. The song's music video shows McLachlan singing directly to the camera in various public places, including a busy intersection, an office lobby, a supermarket aisle, and in front of a store that sells wedding dresses.^[3]

Background

In concert on 13 March 2018, Sarah McLachlan spoke about the background of her song Adia. Explaining that she "crossed a line" by falling in love with "the ex of my best friend". Her friendship (with the Adia from the song's title) suffered a breakdown. The man she fell in love with was at the time "my drummer" she said, with whom she went on to have two children. The song, McLachlan explained, is about "the aftermath" of losing her best friend and her feelings of guilt.^{[citation needed]}

Composition

The song starts with no musical introduction, save two piano notes. The lyrics begin "Adia, I do believe I've failed you. Adia, I know I've let you down." The chorus says that "We are born innocent. Believe me Adia, we are still innocent." At times the music is simple and soft, with little more than a piano accompanying McLachlan.

Release and reception

"Adia" was the third of four songs from Surfacing to be released as a single. It was her most successful US single, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The single contains four tracks: the radio mix of "Adia", the Surfacing mix of "Angel", the original studio version of "I Will Remember You" (as opposed to the live version included on the Mirrorball album, also released as a single), and a live version of "Building a Mystery".^[4]

McLachlan was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards of 1999 for "Adia", losing to Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On".^[5] A live version of "Adia" appears on Mirrorball.

Track listings

Canadian CD single[6] "Adia" – 4:02 "Angel" – 4:30 "I Will Remember You" – 4:52 "Building a Mystery" – 4:50 US CD and cassette single[7][8] "Adia" – 4:02 "Angel" – 4:30 "I Will Remember You" – 4:52 UK CD single[9] "Adia" – 4:02 "Angel" – 4:30 "Possession" – 4:39

UK cassette single[10] "Adia" – 4:02 "Angel" – 4:30 European CD single[11] "Adia" (album version) – 4:03 "Adia" (remix) – 4:04 Australian CD single[12] "Adia" (album version) – 4:03 "Adia" (remix) – 4:01 "Angel" – 4:30 "I Will Remember You" – 4:52

Personnel

Personnel are lifted from the Surfacing liner notes.^[13]

• Sarah McLachlan – writing, vocals, acoustic guitars, piano
• Pierre Marchand – writing, bass, keyboards
• Ash Sood – background vocals, drums, percussion
• Brian Minato – bass

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1998–1999) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[14] Double A-side with "Angel"[15] 55 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[16] 3 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[17] 1 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[18] 7 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[19] 77 Germany (GfK)[20] 96 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[21] 20 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 85 Scotland (OCC)[23] 33 UK Singles (OCC)[24] 18 US Billboard Hot 100[25] 3 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[26] 7 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[27] 5 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[28] 6 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[29] 20

Year-end charts Chart (1998) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[30] 10 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[31] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[32] 20 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[32] 14 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[32] 16 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[33] 46 US Triple-A (Billboard)[34] 41

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[35]	Gold	1,000,000[36]

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	2 March 1998	Contemporary hit radio	Arista	[37]
	8 May 1998	CD cassette		[35]
Canada	7 July 1998	CD	Nettwerk	[38]
United Kingdom	21 September 1998	CD cassette	Arista BMG Nettwerk	[39]

Cover versions

In 1999, saxophonist Richard Elliot covered the song from the release Chill Factor.^[40][41]

References

1. McLachlan, Sarah. "Adia on VH1 Storytellers". VH-1 Storytellers. VH-1. Archived from the original on 16 September 2014 – via YouTube.
2. Masterton, James (27 September 1998). "Week Ending October 3rd 1998". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
3. "Adia" YouTube video
4. "Discography". Archived from the original on 29 December 2006. Retrieved 21 February 2007.
5. The Envelope Awards Database from Los Angeles Times
6. Adia (Canadian CD single liner notes). Sarah McLachlan. Nettwerk Productions. 1998. 0 6700 33095 2 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. Adia (US CD single liner notes). Sarah McLachlan. Arista Records. 1998. 07822-13497-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. Adia (US cassette single sleeve). Sarah McLachlan. Arista Records. 1998. 0 7822-13497-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. Adia (UK CD single liner notes). Sarah McLachlan. Arista Records, BMG, Nettwerk Productions. 1998. 74321 61390 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. Adia (UK cassette single sleeve). Sarah McLachlan. Arista Records, BMG, Nettwerk Productions. 1998. 7 43216 13904 0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. Adia (European CD single liner notes). Sarah McLachlan. Arista Records, BMG, Nettwerk Productions. 1998. 74321-60704-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. Adia (Australian CD single liner notes). Sarah McLachlan. Arista Records, BMG, Nettwerk Productions. 1998. 74321-60703-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. Surfacing (Canadian CD album liner notes). Sarah McLachlan. Nettwerk Productions. 1997. 0 6700 30116 2 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. "Issue 972" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
15. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 183.
16. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3567." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
17. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3562." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
18. "Canadian Singles Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
19. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 41. 10 October 1998. p. 16. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
20. "Sarah McLachlan – Adia" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
21. "Tipparade-lijst van week 37, 1998". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
22. "Sarah McLachlan – Adia" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
23. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
24. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
25. "Sarah McLachlan Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
26. "Sarah McLachlan Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
27. "Sarah McLachlan Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
28. "Sarah McLachlan Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
29. "Sarah McLachlan Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
30. "RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 63, no. 12. 14 December 1998. p. 20. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
31. "RPM's Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of '98". RPM. Retrieved 16 July 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
32. "The Year in Music 1998" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. 26 December 1998. pp. YE-42–YE-96. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
33. "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. 25 December 1998. p. 45.
34. "Best of '98: Most Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. 25 December 1998. p. 35.
35. "American single certifications – Sarah Mc Lachlan – Adia". Recording Industry Association of America.
36. "Best-Selling Records of 1998". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 5. 30 January 1999. p. 75. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
37. "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1237. 27 February 1998. p. 96.
38. "Album Releases: July 1998". Jam!. Archived from the original on 5 July 2003. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
39. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 19 September 1998. p. 31.
40. "Chill Factor Overview". Allmusic.com.
41. "Chill Factor – Richard Elliot". JazzTimes.com. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2010.