Adele
Many people, regardless of age, can softly hum her songs; many are imitating her, without borders. When the 54th Grammy Awards generously gave her six nominations, Adele Adkins said: "The feeling of fame is a bit strange." This 23-year-old, nearly 100-kilogram heavy girl has only released two albums, yet she topped the UK record charts for ten consecutive weeks, breaking Madonna's record and matching The Beatles. The British Prime Minister sent her a heartfelt letter of thanks, "The UK is currently facing economic difficulties, and you are the light at the end of the tunnel."
Her influence swept across Europe.
Adele Adkins was born in Tottenham, London, and grew up under the influence of jazz music. She began trying her hand at composing at the age of 14 and graduated from the London College of Music Education at 18.
The London College of Music Education is located in the small town of Croydon in South London and is a secondary art school co-funded by the UK Department of Education and Employment and the UK Record Industry Foundation. Although the school is known as the "cradle of big names," its teaching methods are very unconventional, encouraging each student to be themselves. This is almost completely opposite to the purpose of a celebrity school where people learn the formula for fame.
"If I could pass the professional courses at school, I would be doing something related to music somewhere, but becoming a singer wasn't my aspiration." Adele ran into the recording studio out of fear of failing her professional exams.
Like most teenage girls, Adele likes the taste of love and inevitably encounters love and hurt. In 2009, the song "Chasing Pavements" that helped Adele win two Grammy Awards for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance was her "heartbroken work" after learning that her ex-boyfriend of six months had cheated on her. And when creating the album "21," her inspiration still came from failed relationships. Her songs are like the whispers in love, sometimes like a gentle kitten, sometimes like a roaring lion.
In Adele's music videos, this overweight girl stands somewhat awkwardly beside the grand piano. When she closes her eyes, that darkness is her memory; when she waves her hand, it's about wanting to let go without saying much; when her eyes slightly tilt upward, it's the courage to face life.
"Adele has become the most covered singer in 'Korean Idol' programs, and her exposure rate on radio and TV shows is also very high," said Korean girl Lee Jae-Hyun.
"Since I accidentally heard Adele sing at a concert in Toronto in 2008, I've liked her," said Glen Garcia, a 27-year-old Canadian who has been a fan of Adele for years and continues to support her new album.
American film actress Julia Roberts got "21" from her hairdresser, listened to it, and then publicly announced herself as a hardcore fan of Adele.
Despite being over 50, American writer Evan Baxendale is also a fan of Adele. "My MP3 player is full of her songs. She is indeed a soul singer. Her voice can inspire my writing. In the US, her songs can be heard in any public place. Adele belongs not just to Britain," said Evan Baxendale.
Adele and her "21" are like a gentle whirlwind, sweeping through Europe with great subtlety but immense power, topping the record sales charts in 17 European countries. In the US, "21" sold 5.8 million copies, becoming the highest-selling album of the year since Usher's "Confessions" seven years ago.
The UK's trade association for record companies recently published the album sales data for 2011. "21" took the top spot with a lead of 1.3 million copies over the second place.
Since 2004, the first recovery in the UK record industry really excited the British media, and "21" is undoubtedly a strong stimulant. "Adele is now in a virtuous cycle, her continued success gets more coverage, and good word-of-mouth further drives album sales," said Gattuso Castaldo, spokesperson for the well-known chain record store HMV. Facing the sales craze sparked by "21," some British media have shouted the slogan "Records Are Not Dead."
Becoming famous because of being left alone
Adele's rise to fame made many record companies come up with the idea of finding the "next Adele." "In my view, in the past 10 months, the entire record industry has gone crazy copying Adele," said Leah Greenblatt, music critic for Entertainment Weekly UK, helplessly. "They even changed their selection criteria, no need for a beautiful face, no need for a perfect figure, listen to the voice, it must be special!"
However, a ready-made Adele seems hard to find. Adele's debut album "19," released in 2008, despite being very successful, was like a mishmash of styles from the new generation of female singers in the Western music scene at the time. "Adele did not become an overnight sensation; she proved that a talented singer needs to endure trials, know how to create, and find what suits them among different styles."
Adele's employer, independent label XL Recordings, gave her the energy to become famous. XL gave her a lot of freedom, allowing her to choose the musicians she collaborates with and decide how to market her own records. For XL, Adele is not just a singer with a unique voice; she is an artist who should have a bright career ahead.
In terms of Adele's album sales, XL Records also insisted on a unique route. Without a huge marketing budget, without sensational collaborations, they first chose radio promotion rather than television. XL even followed Adele's advice and did not participate in festival promotions.
"Every year, a large number of albums flood the market, and bombarding marketing campaigns are exhausting. This stage belongs to only a few great singers, not numerous mediocre ones. Adele should have enough freedom to surprise fans in her own way," said Richard Russell, president of XL Records. With such a boss, Adele's growth went smoothly; she didn't have to worry about being asked to lose weight or learn how to communicate with the media. And now, major record companies seem unwilling to give their singers such freedom.
Whether the well-known Adele will cause aesthetic fatigue remains unknown. In 2012, her life underwent some changes. Due to surgery on a benign polyp in her throat, doctors advised her to pay attention to her diet and eat less junk food. Fans speculated whether this "fat goddess" in everyone's heart would bid farewell to her signature obesity? Would this surgery affect the progress of Adele's new album?
Amidst all the speculation, Adele made a decision that intrigued her fans, "I want to take a break for a while. I haven't thought about the next album yet. Maybe consider releasing the third album around the age of twenty-five or twenty-six. During this period, there won't be any new songs. When I come back, I'll bring you good music." On January 8, the British media disclosed these words Adele wrote in an email.
Some people think this is related to her recent surgery, others believe it's due to her new romance with a charity organization director, but regardless, it's a very "Adele" decision.