The Themes Of Heartbreak, And Similes In Today's Music Age

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In today’s music industry, it is nearly impossible to avoid mentioning one of the world’s biggest pop superstars, Adele. At 27 years old, the artist has already reached enormous amounts of success and shattered numerous music records, including best selling record of 2015 for 25, her most recent piece of work. Prior to the release of 25, Adele attained similar accomplishments in her albums 19 and 20. All of Adele’s records are named after the age at which the star wrote and recorded the album; this unique naming system allows fans to gain insight into pivotal moments of Adele’s life and see the artist mature through her music. Both 19 and 21 focus on themes of heartbreak and remorse; however, after finding inner peace and solace, Adele channeled …show more content…

For example, in the song “When We Were Young,” Adele says, “It was just like a movie/ It was just like a song/ My God this reminds me/ Of when we were young (CITE). ” These similes portray an underlying theme of nostalgia; by comparing her life to movies and songs, which typically portray picture-perfect moments, Adele is reminiscing and glorifying her childhood years. Adele is also using these similes to show how quickly time elapses. This idea is justified when Marty Berger states, “The song speaks to the haunting truth that life, like a movie or a song, passes before us (CITE).” Adele wishes that she could return to these simpler times and be a young, carefree child once again. In another song, “Remedy,” Adele discusses her feelings of love and devotion by saying, “When the world seems so cruel/ And your heart makes you look like a fool/ …I will be your remedy/ …and I will always love you.” By examining these lines, it is evident that Adele has expanded her music to include multiple dimensions of love, commitment, and affection, primarily for her newborn son. If her son ever feels “like a fool,” Adele will support and love him, which is an idea supported by Clifford Stumme when he states, “The song is a tender promise to be there for those she cares about…. Whether he [her son] feels pain from without or …show more content…

On the record, Adele’s style is raw, authentic, and extremely emotional. This sense of believability was achieved through hours in the studio and lyrics that came directly from the artist’s heart. For instance, after hearing her producer call an early version of 25 “unbelievable”, Adele confessed, “I don’t really believe myself right now… So I went back to the drawing board (CITE).” Starting over from scratch proved to pay off for the artist; in one of her early songs, “Remedy,” the artist gained back her confidence and authentic style because “I [Adele] believed in myself (CITE).” Lyrics such as “When the pain cuts too deep and the night keeps you from sleep… I will be your remedy” show Adele’s deep love and commitment through her poetic, emotional style. According to Brian Hiatt, the song’s style was so convincing that “it made her [Adele] tear up as she wrote it, and it has similar effects on listeners (CITE).” Thus, this authentic, expressive style relates to all generations and has allowed Adele to convey her themes of retrospection, love, and nostalgia with a sense of credibility. While Adele’s songs may be filled with emotion and wisdom (elements that are both rare in today’s pop music industry), the tracks on 25 are by no means old-fashioned. Instead, Adele’s utilizes an up-beat,

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