“Make You Feel My Love” is a song written by Bob Dylan from his album Time Out of Mind (1997). It was first released commercially by Billy Joel, under the title “To Make You Feel My Love“, before Dylan’s version appeared later that same year. It has since been covered by numerous performers and has proved to be a commercial success for recording artists such as Adele, Garth Brooks, Bryan Ferry, Kelly Clarkson and Ane Brun. Two covers of the song (one by Garth Brooks and one by Trisha Yearwood) were featured on the soundtrack of the 1998 film Hope Floats.[1] Dylan eventually released the song as a single.
Billy Joel version
Billy Joel covered the song as “To Make You Feel My Love” for his compilation album Greatest Hits Volume III (1997). It was released as the album’s first single and reached number 50 on the US BillboardHot 100.[2] Joel’s single pre-dated Dylan’s release of the song by one month.
In 2008, British singer Adele recorded “Make You Feel My Love” for her debut studio album 19 (2008). It was released as the album’s fourth and final single on October 27, 2008, both on CD and vinyl, originally peaking at number 26.[13] The largest sales of her recording, however, came during 2010–11 when it peaked at number 4.
After the song was performed on the seventh series of The X Factor, it re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number 24. The song then surged to number four after a second performance. Following a third X Factor performance and heavy use in the Comic Relief 2010 television, it spent three more non-consecutive weeks in the top 10. In early 2011 the song returned to the top 40 again, at number 34, after it appeared in the 2011 series of Britain’s Got Talent.
Adele’s version features in the soundtrack of the 2010 romantic comedy film When in Rome. Her cover version was also featured in the compilation album for the benefit of those affected by Supertyphoon Haiyan in the Philippines entitled Songs for the Philippines.[14] In October 2013 the song was used in the third week of Strictly Come Dancing as part of the “Love Week” theme. In January 2013, Heart Radio listed Adele’s recording as the UK’s number one song of all time in its Hall of Fame Top 500.[15]
At a concert at London’s O2 Arena on March 22, 2016, the day of the Brussels bombings, Adele dedicated a performance of the song to the victims of the attacks.[16]
Arrangement
According to Alex Fletcher of Digital Spy, the version expresses Adele’s affection for the song, “with just piano as backing, her dreamy, passionate vocals are allowed to shine”.[17] According to The Guardian‘s Dave Simpson, with her “hushed delivery”, Adele makes the song “her own”.[18]
Music video
The song’s music video features Adele singing the song in her apartment.
Television and film
In other television appearances in the UK and US, the song was used in:
In addition, Adele’s video of the song, directed by Mat Kirby, was released on music channels in late September 2008 and continues to be featured on her website.[19]
