Adia

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title: "Adia" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1997-songs", "1998-singles", "sarah-mclachlan-songs", "arista-records-singles", "bertelsmann-music-group-singles", "music-videos-directed-by-francis-lawrence", "nettwerk-records-singles", "songs-written-by-pierre-marchand", "songs-written-by-sarah-mclachlan"] description: "1998 single by Sarah McLachlan" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adia" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 1998 single by Sarah McLachlan ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]

Field	Value
name	Adia
cover	Adia.jpg
type	single
artist	Sarah McLachlan
album	Surfacing
released
genre
producer	Pierre Marchand
prev_title	Sweet Surrender
prev_year	1997
next_title	Angel
next_year	1998
misc
::

::callout[type=note] the song ::

| name = Adia | cover = Adia.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Sarah McLachlan | album = Surfacing | released = | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = | length =

• 4:05 (album version)
• 4:02 (remix/single version) | label =
• Nettwerk
• Arista | writer =
• Sarah McLachlan
• Pierre Marchand | producer = Pierre Marchand | prev_title = Sweet Surrender | prev_year = 1997 | next_title = Angel | next_year = 1998 | misc = "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". "Adia" was released as the third North American single from Surfacing on 2 March 1998; in Europe, it served as McLachlan's debut single, receiving a UK release in September 1998.

"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 100 Hit Tracks 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.

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.

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".

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". A live version of "Adia" appears on Mirrorball.

Track listings

Canadian CD single

1. "Adia" – 4:02
2. "Angel" – 4:30
3. "I Will Remember You" – 4:52
4. "Building a Mystery" – 4:50

US CD and cassette single

1. "Adia" – 4:02
2. "Angel" – 4:30
3. "I Will Remember You" – 4:52

UK CD single

1. "Adia" – 4:02
2. "Angel" – 4:30
3. "Possession" – 4:39 UK cassette single
4. "Adia" – 4:02
5. "Angel" – 4:30

European CD single

1. "Adia" (album version) – 4:03
2. "Adia" (remix) – 4:04

Australian CD single

1. "Adia" (album version) – 4:03
2. "Adia" (remix) – 4:01
3. "Angel" – 4:30
4. "I Will Remember You" – 4:52

Personnel

Personnel are lifted from the Surfacing liner notes.

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

Charts

Weekly charts

::data[format=table] | Chart (1998–1999) | Peak position | Canada (Nielsen SoundScan) | Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) | Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade) | |---|---|---|---|---| | 7 | | | | | | 77 | | | | | | 20 | | | | | ::

Year-end charts

::data[format=table]

Chart (1998)	Position	Canada Top Singles (RPM)	Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)	US Billboard Hot 100	US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)	US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)	US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)	US Triple-A (Billboard)
10
2
20
14
16
46
41
::

Certifications and sales

|}

Release history

::data[format=table]

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.	United States	Canada	United Kingdom
2 March 1998	Contemporary hit radio	Arista
8 May 1998
7 July 1998	CD	Nettwerk
21 September 1998
::

Cover versions

In 1999, saxophonist Richard Elliot covered the song from the release Chill Factor.

References

References

1. McLachlan, Sarah. "Adia on VH1 Storytellers". [[VH-1]].
2. Masterton, James. (27 September 1998). "Week Ending October 3rd 1998". Chart Watch UK.
3. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5wW8N4pt3U "Adia" YouTube video]
4. "Discography".
5. [http://theenvelope.latimes.com/extras/lostmind/year/1998/1998grammy.htm The Envelope Awards Database] from ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
6. (1998). "Adia". [[Nettwerk Productions]].
7. (1998). "Adia". [[Arista Records]].
8. (1998). "Adia". Arista Records.
9. (1998). "Adia". Arista Records, [[Bertelsmann Music Group.
10. (1998). "Adia". Arista Records, BMG, Nettwerk Productions.
11. (1998). "Adia". Arista Records, BMG, Nettwerk Productions.
12. (1998). "Adia". Arista Records, BMG, Nettwerk Productions.
13. (1997). "Surfacing". Nettwerk Productions.
14. {{cite Ryan
15. "Canadian Singles Chart".
16. (10 October 1998). "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles".
17. "Tipparade-lijst van week 37, 1998". [[Dutch Top 40]].
18. (14 December 1998). "RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98".
19. "RPM's Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of '98".
20. (26 December 1998). "The Year in Music 1998".
21. (December 25, 1998). "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1998".
22. (25 December 1998). "Best of '98: Most Played Triple-A Songs".
23. (30 January 1999). "Best-Selling Records of 1998".
24. (27 February 1998). "New Releases".
25. "Album Releases: July 1998". [[Jam!]].
26. (19 September 1998). "New Releases: Singles".
27. "Chill Factor Overview". [[Allmusic.
28. "Chill Factor – Richard Elliot". [[JazzTimes.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::