By Ella Mahan
Executive Arts Editor
Adele released her new, long-awaited album “30” on Nov. 19.
News of the album was first heard back in 2020, and fans have been anxiously awaiting its release since.
Adele named the album “30” because she was 30 years old when she wrote the majority of the songs in the album. That time period was the “most turbulent period” in her life, according to the artist.
With “30” now released as Adele’s fourth studio album, she has also produced one video album and 16 singles. After not releasing music for at least five years, Adele’s large fan base immediately prepared for the massive impact her new album containing 12 songs would have on the music industry.
Adele is an extraordinary singer who has worked her way up as a singer and performer since her career’s take-off in 2006. Adele’s first song to reach the Billboard Hot 100 was “Chasing Pavements.” Adele has taken off since then and now comes in fourth on the list of female artists with the most Grammy awards. She has racked up 15 Grammys in her lifetime.
The content of Adele’s album is mesmerizing, as it strays from the typical musical consistency seen in her albums. She portrays raw emotion and pristine vocals in each of her songs, but a few stand out.
“Easy on Me” was the first song to be released, on Oct. 15. According to Adele, the idea for the song came to her in the shower and she released it. Adele did not write more lyrics for six months because she believed she had gotten everything she had wanted to off her chest. However, after releasing a powerful, moving album, she clearly had more to address.
Adele says the premise of the album is centered around her divorce from Simon Konecki in March. On an Instagram live when asked what the album was about, Adele wittingly replied “divorce, babe, divorice.” She says that she created the album to answer her nine-year-old son Angelo’s difficult questions about relationships and parenting, which also answered her fans’ burning questions about the breakup.
The song “Oh my God” exhibits Adele’s typical deep tone; however, it incorporates upbeat background music. It is refreshing to hear two sides of Adele in one song, which ties back into her initial comment about “30.” She says that the album is overall disjointed but that’s what makes it so honest and intriguing for the listener.
Additionally, the very beginning of the song “Cry Your Heart Out” instills an uneasy feeling among the listener, which is atypical from Adele’s routine songs. In this song, Adele ensures the listener that sometimes being alone and sitting in your thoughts is better than keeping busy. The inspiring message of this song is healthy and one that everyone needs to be reminded of.
One of the most touching songs on Adele’s album is “My Little Love.” The voices echoing in the background of the star’s beautiful vocals adds depth to the musicality, presenting the listener with a memorable experience and leaving fans in awe. Additionally, the album differs from Swift’s typical albums in musicality and tone, which makes it thought-provoking and memorable. It contains beautiful lyrics that outline life lessons for the listener. It is refreshing to hear a different side of Adele, apart from the routine, slow tempo Adele typically follows. The five year wait was worth it.
“30” was released on Nov. 19 and can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz, and Amazon Music.
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