Introduction
30 is the fourth studio album by Adele. It was released on Nov. 19, 2021. The album was produced and distributed by Melted Stone under exclusive license to Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. Its genre is “pop” music.
The album features songs that provide insight on Adele as a single mother and how she responds to achieving fame.
First Impressions
After listening to 30 from start to finish, it is apparent that the album is a stellar collection of songs. The only songs I heard prior to listening to the album were the ones she performed the weekend before the album’s release on a CBS special entitled “Adele: One Night Only”. Many of the songs are intently focused on piano and voice, which has set Adele a part from her contemporaries in pop music, as many of them are creating and performing songs that are more related to electronic dance music (EDM).
The album is remarkable because she takes a lot of new chances on the record. Some of the areas that stand out are the following: the ability to express her emotions in music written and performed in both major and minor key, temporarily deviating from the piano and creating songs that are driven by acoustic guitar and drums, and a willingness to express her true emotions through the lyrics of every song. It is important to give this record a listen from beginning to end, throughout the process songs will resonate with you in different ways, and before you know it you’ll have a list of songs that you really enjoy. I enjoyed the entire album, but on my list I have “Easy on Me”, “Oh My God”, “Can I Get It”, “I Drink Wine”, “Hold On” and “To Be Loved”.
Track Listing
- “Strangers By Nature”: The lyrics regard the experiences in the aftermath of a broken heart. The vocals are sung with broad notes and in a unique fashion similar to a lullaby. The instrumentation is a blend of piano, drums and violins. The recorded performance establishes the tone for the remainder of the record. It is apparent that this song is deeply personal and can be an inspiration to listeners experiencing similar situations.
- “Easy On Me”: This song is the first and currently only single released for the album. It has reached international acclaim. The lyrics are about the discovery of self and how moving forward from an intensely emotional place may require those you care about to demonstrate patience, care and love. The vocals are special, and yet are traditional when it comes to Adele; she sings the song in multiple octaves, easily and freely, which is one of the reasons why many consider her the voice of her generation. The instrumentation is voice accompanied by piano chords and scales. The recorded and live performances of this song have a similar feeling to some of Adele’s previously released, chart-topping songs. Adele is clearly inspired to take her life in a new direction, the song is kind of like a segue from being broken-hearted to completely changed.
- “My Little Love”: The lyrics are about how she is connecting with her son Angelo during her time of distress. They reveal a single mother who is trying with all of her fervor to continue to love her child even though she is hurting emotionally. One unique aspect of the lyrics is that she includes sound bytes of herself and ones where she is speaking directly to her young son. These sound clips are interwoven with the music. The vocals are steady and Adele chooses her spots where to assert her tremendous vocal range. Instrumentation is a consistent mixture of piano and drums. The overall performance is one of the most unique on the album.
- “Cry Your Heart Out”: The lyrics express the desire to remove the negative emotions and push forward with new ones. Adele is singing the vocals on the verses, chorus and background; she delivers more of an R&B style vocal on top of an instrumentation that includes piano chords and drums. This is another track where listeners can feel the lyrics and the music and possibly gain inspiration.
- “Oh My God”: The lyrics are about being free and independent. She features a broad vocal range on the track. The instrumentation is lead by live drums and drum machine; part of the percussion includes a music section of drum machine that sounds similar to contemporary Latin pop music. This is one of those tracks where she is taking chances and trying something new; it results in unique sounds and performance.
- “Can I Get It”: This is another song where Adele is trying something new. There is no piano. This song is driven by the instrumentation of acoustic guitar, live drums and drum machine. The lyrics are about finding new love. The vocals have distinct, unique sounds when heard over the guitar alone or over the layered percussion. Another unique aspect of this song is that it has a quality that makes listeners want to sing along with it; therefore, it has a strong possibility of being a released single.
- “I Drink Wine”: This is my favorite song on the album. The lyrics are about shedding the attempts to be someone else and instead embracing and loving who you really are. The vocals are broad and diverse. The instrumentation is a simple mixture of piano chords and live drums. The recorded performance features some excellent songwriting and it has a universal nature to it that can resonate with many people.
- “All Night Parking (with Erroll Garner) Interlude”: The lyrics are about falling in love. The lead and background vocals harmonize well together. The instrumentation is piano scales with drum machine. The recorded performance has a unique R&B sound to it. It is a quick song, but it has a creative musical direction.
- “Woman Like Me”: Adele takes a different lyrical perspective in this song. While much of the album she is dealing with her personal emotions, in this song she is addressing male insecurities and how they may adversely affect a developing relationship. The vocals showcase some of her lower register, which is a unique aspect of the song. The instrumentation in the beginning is voice and acoustic guitar, it is later meshed with drum machine. Adele exudes confidence and femininity throughout the lyrics, vocals and performance.
- “Hold On”: The lyrics are about not giving up and continuing to reach for the stars. Adele sings the lead and background vocals on this track as well. The instrumentation is all piano chords at the beginning and then it transitions to piano, tambourine and live drums. The performance is noteworthy for Adele’s unique approach to singing on the different sections of the music.
- “To Be Loved”: The lyrics regard the need to give up something within life in order to pursue love at the highest level. The vocals on this song are the best on the album; Adele effortlessly travels between alto and soprano throughout the song. The highest notes are sung on this track. The instrumentation begins with a piano scale, and is a variety of piano chords for the rest of the song. It feels like Adele and the piano are inseparable, which puts emphasis on the emotional qualities of each lyric. The song is inspirational and is one of the best on the album.
- “Love Is A Game”: The lyrics indicate that love is a game for fools. In the lyrics she admits to being a fool for continuing to believe that she can deal with her emotions and find true love. The vocals are broad and the instrumentation features many aspects: organ chords, violin, and live drums. In the song she isn’t downplaying the pursuit of love, but it appears that she is acknowledging how difficult things can be when your heart is on the line.
Conclusion
30 is the biggest album of 2021. It features several songs that her current fans will find excellent. There are also a few with unique sounds that may bring her music to new audiences. As a singer-songwriter in the pop genre, Adele has carved out her own space. She has essentially created her own brand of pop music that connects with people all over the world.