Someone Like You: Media Analysis

Julia McNally
Professor Quinn
English Comp 1
December 1, 2015

Media Analysis
Back on November 16th 2010 a friend of Adele’s, going by the name of xxxxWGDxxxx played a small part in shaking up the music world. This was the date Adele’s friend logged on to YouTube and uploaded a clip of her singing her new song “Someone Like You” on Jools Holland. The video soon gained thousands of views and likes along with comments saying something along the lines of "wow". There was something about the 22-year-old that captured everyone’s interest. Was it how she stood there and sang displaying her diva-like confidence or wearing her heartache on her sleeve? Adele had matured as an artist since the success of her debut album, 19. Suddenly, everyone became

very interested in hearing more from the follow-up.
Since the release of the understated song “Someone Like You”, it sure caused a whole lot of noise. On April 3rd 2011 Adele's second album, 21 had smashed Madonna's record for the longest consecutive weeks spent at the top of the album charts by a female solo artist, which Madonna held for 21 years. Adele said that she wrote “Someone Like You” after “Deep,”( another song of hers) as something of a reaction to the version of herself she saw in that song. “I wrote "Someone Like You" because I was exhausted from being such a bitch,” Adele told MTV. Adele also said “I was really emotionally drained from the way I was portraying my ex-boyfriend, because even though I’m very bitter and regret some parts of it, he’s still the most important person that’s ever been in my life.” Adele had also placed “Someone Like You” as her
closing track to her 21 album which implied a final statement for her on her relationship. The song “Someone Like You” isn’t about the feeling after a breakup-it’s actually about how Adele has gotten over her grief and anger about the breakup, but in a moment of weakness, can’t help but take one last stab at trying to get her ex to realize that she still in love with him and if possible, that he is still in love with her too.
“Someone Like You” was written by Adele and Dan Wilson for album 21.

Adele’s recording studio XL Recordings had released the song as the second single from the album on January 24 2011 in the United Kingdom and on August 9, 2011 in the United States. The song had received such positive reviews from music critics, who ended up choosing the song as a highlight of her album and praised the lyrics due to its simple sound and Adele's vocal performance. "Someone like You" became Adele's first number one single in the United Kingdom and it stayed on the top of the chart for five weeks. The song also topped the charts in Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Italy, France and Switzerland, and has become Adele's second number one in the United States. With that achievement she became the first female British solo singer in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 to have two number ones from the same album. In July of 2011 “ Someone Like You” was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), as well as being certified 5x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the United

States.
Throughout the music video for “Someone Like You” most people aren’t able to look pass her standing in front of the camera singing a sad song and see the deeper meaning to the video and what she is truly trying to convey throughout the video.

Throughout the music video for “Someone Like You” close ups and extreme close up are used numerous times throughout. This is because it allows us to see her emotional facial expressions which help us understand exactly what she is singing about. There tends to be shadows on her face, creating a sense of secretiveness and mystery, which is represents that she is trying to hide from her pain. On occasion Adele will be looking down representing the way she is feeling (sad and depressed). When she looks directly into the camera her fans are able to establish a relationship with her, which then allows us to empathize with her. Also when she looks directly into the camera we can make the connection that she is singing to the person she loves and wants to get back with. The lyrics can support this because they are very direct, even though she doesn’t directly mention someone’ name with know that she is talking/ about someone throughout the song. We only know that the person she is talking about as “someone” hence the name of the song “Someone Like You” but if the guy was to hear the song he would know that it is about him. Extreme close ups are used mainly on her eyes. This is because it is supposed to give the audience a feeling of

closeness. However the extreme close ups are also used to show the deep sadness in her eyes. This video shows more than just a young woman standing in front of a camera singing about a sad moment in her life, it shows her true emotions and what she is deeply feeling for the guy she just lost.
As we can see throughout the song “Someone Like You” there is more to it than the audience looks into, which leads the song to be over looked by thousands. Adele’s song “Someone Like You” is a work of art that more people should appreciate. If more people took the time to truly look into what she is singing about I feel they will be surprised and realize that they have a better connection to this song than they first thought they did.