Adele's sad music is the soundtrack to my happiest moments
An ode to the British chanteuse, memories and friendship
This week’s newsletter was originally going to be dedicated to yesterday’s social media shut down and the breakdown every social media manager simultaneously experienced, but then one Ms. Adkins made me have a change of heart. If you are interested in reading a post about yesterday’s mania, head over to one of my favorite newsletter’s, Embedded.
The girls continue to stay winning. In ten days, we’ll be gifted with new Adele music.
I’ve been imagining Adele’s social media team fully prepared to roll-out the new single announcement on social, when Instagram and Facebook completely collapsed, sending the world into a tizzy. The thought of her team settling on tweeting “Hiya babes!” gives me chills. What a nightmare.
The teaser below was shared today, announcing her new single “Easy On Me” which will be released on October 15. A piano ballad intro, long nails, a black-and-white shot down a country road? Frick me up.
When posters proclaiming the number 30 began popping up around the world, it was easy to assume this was the work of Adele. The singer is famous for naming her albums after the ages in which she began writing the album or that reflect her mindset during that time in her life.
Adele is a rare type of major artist - one who doesn’t have to entirely remake herself for each album cycle. She can keep wearing her signature winged-eyeliner, and we’ll continue eating it up time and time again. She doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel, she knows what works. And that isn’t a knock to any other artist who does change.
Her power to unite seemingly the world is also unmatched, which the SNL skit below captured:
It’s been six, excruciating years since she has released new music. But that is part of the appeal, charm and what works with Adele. The saying “distance makes the heart grow fonder” is especially true with her. We are willing and prepared to wait, allowing her to complete her music on her own terms. Alas, not every artist has such a luxury from their fans.
Her last album, 25 released in 2015, is an autumn album, and that is a sentiment I firmly stand behind. I’ll speak for myself when I say that 2015-2016 was a magical time. Between 25 and Lady Gaga’s Joanne, it’s safe to say I lived on Cloud 9 during that year. It may be a bold claim, but I’d like to think I have some sort of synesthesia. And this time period was a burnt orange color, a persimmon. Everything felt cozy and warm, and it was bliss. Assuming Adele’s new album will be released this fall, I’m looking forward to all of those feelings returning.
Adele has also played a pivotal role in my friendship with my best friend Katie, and many of our favorite memories together are surrounded by the artist’s music. We somehow wormed our way into a 25 listening party hosted by Columbia Records and were able to hear the album before it was out (if Columbia would like to have us back for this new album, hit a girl up and we will happily oblige).
When Adele was on tour in 2016, Katie and I attended both performances at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. I’ll never forget the British chanteuse’s eyes (seen in the bottom right photo) opening, each time the title word of “Hello” was said. Did we get into a screaming match with a woman who was telling us to sit down? It’s possible (Also, you’re at a concert, why are you sitting? A debate for another time.) After one of those shows, we then snuck our way into the Bruce Springsteen concert happening across the street at Citizen’s Bank Park. It was a sacred night.
2015 & 2016 Katie and Camille
Adele’s music has been there through the saddest (your girl was going through it when Someone Like You came out in 2011) and happiest (see above story) times of my life. I’d like to encourage you to think of an artist, an album, or any form of art for that matter that gives you a similar feeling and relish in that. And even if it takes nearly a decade for that artist to release something new, enjoy the fact that it’s going to be worth the wait.