If I was getting married, I’d want her songs playing at my wedding. If I was involved in a breakup, I’d use her music for solace. If I had just returned to my suburban hometown after years out of the country, I’d want “Hometown Glory” on my MP3 player, on repeat.
Her name is Adele.
Adele, a London native who comes from a “resolutely un-musical family,” was signed by XL Recordings (think The White Stripes, Radiohead, Karen Elson, and Sigur Rós) in 2006, and released her first full-length album, 19, in February 2008. By 2009 she’d scored two Grammys (Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance) and an appearance on Saturday Night Live, which boosted her US fan base to the next level.
And if you still haven’t heard her voice, now is the time.
When asked about her debut album, Adele credits love: the firsts, the worsts, and everything in between. It’s fitting that her songs are the type that resonate with all kinds of love, since her inspiration does, too:
“The whole album is about being between 18 and 19; about love,” she continues. “‘Daydreamer’ is about this boy I was in love with, like proper in love with. He was bi and I couldn’t deal with that. All the things I wanted from my boyfriend, he was never going to be. I get really jealous anyway, so I couldn’t fight with girls and boys. It’s quite a sad album, [with songs about] being cheated on and not getting what you want.”
Now, to the elephant in the room: Adele isn’t skinny. She’s not even “average.” She’s a heavy girl, with a large frame and classic face. While she would have been a muse for kings’ courts and in Ruben’s paintings, she’s not the “beauty standard” of the modern day.
And yet, her songs and videos don’t even mention it.
In Make You Feel My Love Adele sits in her high rise downtown apartment, lamenting that her would-be lover hasn’t “made his mind up” about her yet…but there are no shots of some other (read: thinner) woman, or any other explanation for his hesitancy. She’s just a girl, waiting for his text message. He’s just a boy who hasn’t made up his mind.
She does classic beauty; she does messy nighttime gorgeous. Girl’s just plain stunning, with a crazy amazing voice.
In May, Adele began working on her second album at Shangri-La Studios in Malibu, California.
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wow… i’ve never heard of this girl, but she’s amazing.
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Posted by katherine | July 26, 2010, 7:58 ami LOVE adele. thank you for reminding me, she is a PERFECT musical choice for my drive to work. xox.
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Posted by marzipan | July 26, 2010, 8:58 amAdele is such an inspiration, she has helped me through some recent tough times.
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Posted by eyeliah | July 28, 2010, 12:15 pmthat song – Hometown Glory – is one of my latest discoveries, and I love it! her voice is amazing.
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Posted by F (The Very Subjective) | August 6, 2010, 6:02 amI’d only heard a live version of Adele singing this song, and I’d always thought of it as a sweet love song – someone singing about what they’d do for the person they loved. This version with the video broke my heart, but in a gorgeous way.
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Posted by Katie | August 7, 2010, 11:11 amgreat post.
I have loved her since I first saw her on Jools Holland a few years ago and bought her album as soon as it came out. None of my friends were interested in her but fast forward a few years and they now watch her videos on YouTube.
As for her size – who cares when she has such a beautiful, haunting voice.
Hometown Glory is also one of my favourites
Myalou x
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Posted by myalou | August 10, 2010, 6:43 pm