AdeleChart Topping Pop Star (2008- )

Adele’s Life •Adele Laurie Blue Adkins born 5 May 1988

•At 13 blown away by Pink Concert at Braxton Academy

•Attended BRIT School for Performing Arts

•At first drawn to A&R (Recruiting and Developing Artists)

Early Song•“Hometown Glory” when she was 16•Round my hometown Memories are fresh Round my hometown Oh the people I’ve met Are the wonders of my world

I like it in the city when two worlds collide You get the people and the government Everybody taking different sides

Shows that we aren’t going to take s.... Shows that we are united

You get the people and the governmentEverybody taking different sides

Shows that we ain't gonna stand s…Shows that we are unitedShows that we ain't gonna take itShows that we ain't gonna stand s…Shows that we are united

Round my hometownMemories are freshRound my hometownOoh the people I've met

Are the wonders of my worldAre the wonders of my worldAre the wonders of this worldAre the wonders of my world

“Hometown Glory”- 2007

I've been walking in the same way as I didMissing out the cracks in the pavementAnd tutting my heel and strutting my feet"Is there anything I can do for you dear? Is there anyone I could call?""No and thank you, please Madam. I ain't lost, just wandering"

Round my hometownMemories are freshRound my hometownOoh the people I've metAre the wonders of my worldAre the wonders of my worldAre the wonders of this worldAre the wonders of my world

I like it in the city when the air is so thick and opaqueI love to see everybody in short skirts, shorts and shadesI like it in the city when two worlds collide

“Someone Like You” - 2011

I heard you settled down

That you found a girl and you’re married now

I heard that your dreams came true

Guess she gave you the things I didn’t give to you

“Someone Like You” - 2011

Old friend, why are you so shy?

Ain’t like you to hold back or hide from the light

I hate to turn up out of the blue, uninvited

But I couldn’t stay away, I couldn’t fight it

I had hoped you’d see my face and that you’d be reminded

That for me, it isn’t over

Critiquing the Lyrics

• Some object to critiquing song lyrics, do you?

• Do you see possible adultery in these words?

• Is the theme somewhat similar to Whitney Houston’s old song, “Saving all my love for you.” (“A few stolen moments is all that we share, You’ve got your family... I’m last on your list... but tonight is the night... and I’m saving all my love for you.”)

• There’s lots of adultery in real life. Where does that leave us?

What do we get from the last words of Adele’s song?

“Sometimes it lasts in love,but sometimes it hurts instead,

yeah”

Three-fold Significance of Adele

1. Clean-cut role model

2. Positive self- and body image

3. Getting over romantic disappointments

1. From Forbes: “How Adele and (actress) Elle Fanning Kicked Lindsay Lohan out of the Picture” 21Oct2011

• “... the ‘bad girl’ image of the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and the recently deceased Amy Winehouse is now a thing of the past. The sex tapes, shoplifting, driving under the influence, dancing on tables and private parts-baring stunts of recent years have all been eclipsed by the clean and well-scrubbed images of the Grammy-winning singer Adele, the sisters Elle and Dakota Fanning and Hailee Steinfeld.”

• “At the height of the Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie escapades, it became common among girls to refer to each other as b...hes and hos.... played out in the demoralizing effect of ... Mean Girls which starred Lohan. These days scandalous acts... left to Jersey Shore...” and who’s watching?

Now, it’s all about Good Girls

• “Adele is such a good role model for young girls,” says designer Barbara Tfank who has dressed the singer for various events. This is part of the reason why she is topping the charts. Her soulful voice, powerful lyrics, emotional maturity and scandal-free image add to her allure and drawing power.”

• “The same can be said for the Fanning sisters and Hailee and Emma Stone. Looking at these girls, you kind of wish there could be more of them in the entertainment industry.” (Forbes)

From Christian Today: Entertainment“Could Adele break the sexualization of music

today?”• “A top music executive is hoping that singer Adel’s phenomenal global success will challenge the sexualized style of many female artists in the music industry today.

• Richard Russell, founder of Adele’s record label, XL Recordings, says some female artists have become “boring, crass, and unoriginal.”

• For instance, Rihanna’s song, “S&M” includes lyrics; ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but chain and whips excite me.”

• Adele is going to make artists and young girls rethink positive and negative styles.

2. Self- and Body Image:Girls have seen too much

Adele

Even so, Look what V0GUE will do

Psychologists are Hopeful Adele’s acceptance of her Body and

Confidence in her Music will have positive affect

• Girls chosing not to compare their bodies to impossible and sexy standards

• A lowering of eating disorders

And how many, feeling put down or rejected, need encouragement?

Sometimes it lasts in love, butsometimes it hurts instead.

Questions for reflection and discussion1. What do you like or not-like about Adele’s voice, music and life style?

2. How has Adele turned possible negatives in her life into positives?

3.Do you think she and a few others can have a positive affect on the music industry?

4.Do you think girls (and perhaps boys) might benefit from the life-style of artist like Adele and others, in contrast to Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, Rihanna, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan?

5.Is it possible that Adele’s songs have helped someone through heartbreaking romantic rejection?

6.How might a person’s faith affect their body-image and self-confidence, the way they treat sexualization and hanclle romantic break-ups?