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Friday, January 25, 2013
Album Review of Adele 21
More than 6 million copies sold and sales reaching over 5.8
million, Adele’s hit album, Adele 21, has made it to the #1 spot on the
billboard of 200 hundred albums with in its first week. Adele Laurie Blue
Adkins was just a normal girl who had a passion for song writing and singing.
Then in 2006 a
demo of hers was posted on MySpace and her career took off. Adele 21 features
songs that are more along the lines of relationships, however, this album is
appealing not only to the female eye but to males as well.
Regardless of the
fact that her album was made about her ex-boyfriends, her songs not only
explain the hard times she went through by ending it with them, but how strong
she stayed through the processes of getting over them. Adele21 features songs
that could possibly shed a tear or two, but some are very uplifting and
powerful and make people want to get back on their feet to try again. The
message she tries to portray through her album is that yes there will be hard
times, but anybody could overcome them because it’s not the end of the world.
In
her song, “Don’t You Remember,” she is saying that she gave everything she had
to a guy who just didn't think it was enough so he left her and she is doing
everything she can to just make him remember her for just a second. A song like
this definitely calls for a heart ache and some self-reflection of someone you
lost that meant so much to you. There are songs on the album such as, “Rolling in
the Deep,” that maintain the same message but to a different perspective. She is
saying that her and her boyfriend could have had it all, but he just played
her. Just by reading the lyrics the song could have that idea that it is just
another sad heart ache that makes a listener want to cry and feel a bit
depressed, however, when the song is actually performed there is a more
uplifting feel. The song shows that Adele is upset about the guy but she is so
angry that she puts her anger into a sentimental song which makes it feel like
an uplifting song. It gives listeners with the same sort of trouble, a little
hope.
Adele 21 has been one of Adele’s biggest album sales. In the United
Kingdom Adele 21 sold 208,000 copies in just the first week. This album has
said to be more successful than her first album release, “19.” Most artists with
a powerful voice sometimes manage to lose control and it doesn't even sound
like singing anymore, but more of a screaming, scratchy tone. A singer such as
Miley Cyrus has a decent voice, but the timbre (depth, quality, tone) of her
voice is too heavy and scratchy. In one of her famous songs, “The Climb,” this
can be heard; especially when she reaches the higher notes and sings in her
belting range or also known as chest voice. Adele, however, has control over
her voice. She sings the song; she doesn't let the song sing her. In the chorus
of Adele’s song, “Turning Tables,” she sings the line “I won’t let you…” and as
she approaching that part in the song it would be common for listeners to
expect a scratchy, screaming sound since it is a little high in the belt range
and she doesn't sustain the note but she just lightly touches it. Usually when
a high note like that is sung in the belting range it is out of tune and it has
a scratchy, screaming sound to it, Adele however keeps her control all the way
through the song and delivers it beautifully. Her voice is very pure and heavy
and that provides her with good resonance unlike many other artists.
Adele is an artist who is just real and honest
about her music. She doesn't try to be somebody else and be obnoxious like Lady
Gaga or Nicki Minaj. She is just pure soul and beauty and pours her heart out
to her audience so they can feel what she feels and connect with her. Adele
states herself, “I don't want people confusing what it is that I'm about. I
just stand there and sing. And I don't do stunts or anything. If I wanted to do
all that, I don't think I'd get away with it.” Adele is a phenomenal artist
whose album deserves a listen.
Adele's top 5 Heart Ache Songs
5) Set Fire to the Rain
- Even though Set Fire to the Rain is a very enjoyable yet different song from the bunch I would put it fifth on my list for her album because it lacks the connection value that the top three contain. It is a good song, don't get me wrong, but I am just a critic who prefers the songs with that hidden sentimental meaning and value.
4) Rolling In The Deep
- Unlike the other three hit singles in her album, Rolling In The Deep contains the same message, but not with the slow, sentimental texture like done before. She portrays this heartbreak by saying they could have had it all, but the guy basically played with her heart. In this song Adele does go back to her belting. Out of the many things I admire Adele for is that I give her so much praise on her belting. Most artist have a not so pleasing tone quality when using their belt voice and it almost sounds like they will hurt themselves, but she makes it so pure and rich, especially in this song.
- Rolling In The Deep is another great song written and performed by Adele, however, it does not stand out as much as the rest do. It had a good beat, sound quality, and even texture but I think the idea that draws me away from this song a little bit more that the others would be the receptivity. This song came out about a year or two ago and unlike the rest it is over played making the listeners just tired and bored if heard again.
3) Take It All
- The story behind Take It All is actually about Adele's ex and in one of her videos she explains how it is one of the most emotional songs for her to perform. Adele is known for her big voice and belting, but with this song she stays in half of her chest voice and a very subtle head voice. She has a nice blend of both; it makes the song have more meaning and feeling when this mixture is done correctly. Her lyrics are so real and i feel that if they were just read as a poem, they could still have so much meaning and value.
- Adele is one of the few artists that I can say makes each of her songs real and have a meaning leaving her listeners with something sentimental. This would have to be her most emotional song and the listener can tell with just the timbre and tone quality of her voice that she is pouring out her heart to her fans and telling them a personnel story. I could tie this with Don't You Remember, but that song still speaks to me more, however, this single is just gorgeous.
2) Turning Tables
- There are always the relationships where there is the constant fighting until one day each person says they can't do it anymore. In Turning Tables Adele is giving the message that if fighting is an everyday thing, then it's not worth it. It will hurt, but in the end you'll be better off. Do you want to keep the war or finally let go?
- Just like Don't You Remember, this song also contains true and meaningful lyrics that many people, mostly teenage girls and elder woman, can relate to. She starts the song by saying that the fighting isn't making anyone stronger and ends it by saying it will be okay. This is another one of those few songs that can speak to the listener.
1) Don't You Remember
- Don't You Remember explains the hardship of losing someone very dear to you. Just imagine having someone you love and care about dearly with you all the time and one day that happiness was gone without even a single goodbye. In this single and one of my personal favorites, she tells the story of going through a life without the one person that meant the most.
- Not many songs have lyrics that mean anything anymore, however, with this song there is feeling and meaning and can get anyone emotional with just one listen. This is one of the few songs that I hear from any artist that uses so much depth and emotion to make a piece the way it is. It is definitely her best single yet.
Welcome!
I am just another one of those fans of Adele who wanted to give tribute to her outstanding album, Adele 21. The purpose of this whole blog is to share my love for Adele and showcase her phenomenal album, Adele 21. I also have to make this blog for my Rhetoric 102 class, so there's that. Enjoy!
Thursday, January 17, 2013
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