Our girl Adele is at it again with the release of her album titled “25.” Adele has reportedly referred to her newest work as a “make-up record” as opposed to previous albums with mostly breakup-style songs. The 11-song album includes positive reflections of past relationships as well as songs of sweet declarations of love and devotion.
The album begins with “Hello,” the song that broke the Internet in late October as the first single debut of Adele’s comeback album. “Hello” is a beautiful ballad that we have all heard and love already.
“Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” is an upbeat pop song that serves as a way to say goodbye to an old flame. She says “treat her better/ We gotta let go of all of our ghosts/ We both know we ain’t kids no more” as if she is giving permission for the relationship to be over.
“I Miss You” encompasses the longing for a person she loves deeply. The opening stanza “I want every single piece of you/ I want your heaven and your oceans too” is a confession of true devotion and desire.
My favorite songs on the album are conveniently back-to-back tracks titled “Remedy” and “Water Under the Bridge.” “Remedy” is a beautiful ballad to a loved one – significant other, family member or friend – telling that person when everything goes wrong, Adele will be there to fix what’s broken. To hear Adele passionately sing “when the pain cuts you deep/ when the night keeps you from sleeping/ just look and you will see/ that I will be your remedy” gives hope to a struggling soul.
“Water Under the Bridge” seems to me to be a very real conversation many people have in a relationship; the lyrics ask the age-old question: “Is it meant to be?” Adele asks “and if I’m not the one for you/ you’ve gotta stop holding me the way you do/ why if I’m not the one for you/ why have we been through what we have been through.” If the choice is made to end the relationship, Adele pleas “if you’re gonna let me down, let me down gently/ don’t pretend that you don’t want me/ our love ain’t water under the bridge.”
The album includes a song titled “River Lea” about growing up near the River Lea in Tottenham, London, England. The songs “Love in the Dark” and “All I Ask” are both goodbye songs to lovers that depict two distinctly different reflections.
Adele’s “25” concludes with an inspiring song for her son titled “Sweetest Devotion.” The love and devotion she has for her son is so apparent in the lyrics of the final ballad. She sings that he was the only one she never looked for but now he is the only one she will eternally be devoted to. Cue the happy tears.
Adele’s ability to write a powerful ballad is undeniable; she takes what we all feel and writes a catchy chorus.
Adele’s album brings all the feels. Whether you have experienced a great love, a great breakup or just watched a lot of romantic movies, “25” presents all the emotions you have felt in lyrical form. Adele is our girl because she’s relatable; she knows longing, heartache, desire, hope and joy. Kudos to her for the new album; the $12 was worth it.
