# Why is behind the Adele phenomenon? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 7, 2012, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056 "2012-02-07T06:49:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056/41 "2012-02-12T16:04:24Z")
Adele is a nice girl who writes catchy tunes about her boyfriends – it’s ideal, with all due respect, sentimental pap ideal for the US market. Looking at other contemporaries of hers just from London, Adele can’t sing as well as Leona Lewis, she doesn’t write as interestingly as Florence, she has none of the political nous of Jesse J and she will never, ever develop the phrasing or the general musicality of Amy Winehouse. Apart from that, she an alright bird. ---
**Author:** ![Stelios](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Stelios](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stelios)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056/42 "2012-02-12T16:19:12Z")
It’s a really excellent album. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056/43 "2012-02-12T17:25:24Z")
It is a really excellent album. All of the songs are good or great. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056/44 "2012-02-12T19:45:40Z")
[This article by Greg Kot from the Chicago Tribune](http://www.popmatters.com/pm/article/154312-grammys-2012-adele-is-poised-for-grammy-coronation/) gives some good insight on this, I believe. He’s not wild about “21” as a whole, but he praises “Rolling in the Deep” highly, and spells out the elements that make it as good as it is. ---
**Author:** ![Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8dc957/32.png) [@Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Christopher_Robin_Davies)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056/45 "2012-02-12T20:02:06Z")
The secret of Adele’s success is that she has a wonderful voice. That’s all. Her singing is simply so amazing that she doesn’t need autotune or a great body. ---
**Author:** ![Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8dc957/32.png) [@Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Christopher_Robin_Davies)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056/46 "2012-02-12T20:04:25Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > The audio video department I work next to had to turn off one of her live performances because she was cursing so much every time she spoke between songs. Her singing is pleasant but she’s got a potty mouth when she talks. I do not see why that matters. I love Adele’s singing, and her personality has nothing to do with it. Also, cursing does not make one unpleasant. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056/47 "2012-02-12T20:08:16Z")
I’m rather surprised the OP thinks a _lack_ of Auto-Tune would be a drawback for a singer who can actually hit the notes on her own. Maybe I’m out of touch, but I thought Auto-Tune was a means to an end and not something that attracted music listeners in and of itself. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056/48 "2012-02-12T20:37:56Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > I’m rather surprised the OP thinks a _lack_ of Auto-Tune would be a drawback for a singer who can actually hit the notes on her own. Maybe I’m out of touch, but I thought Auto-Tune was a means to an end and not something that attracted music listeners in and of itself. No, it’s a selling point. People who have no need of auto-tune (Rhianna, Christina A., Bruno Mars. . . too many to mention, really) use it all the time now. It’s expected. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056/49 "2012-02-12T22:49:32Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > Adele is a nice girl who writes catchy tunes about her boyfriends – it’s ideal, with all due respect, sentimental pap ideal for the US market. I’m always amazed by how often the phrase “with all due respect” is followed by something that is disrespectful. I first heard Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” on Dutch radio. Adele appears to be popular in Great Britain, the United States, Canada and parts of mainland Europe. So her “sentimental pap” seems ideal for all sorts of different places. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056/50 "2012-02-13T05:13:10Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I’m always amazed by how often the phrase “with all due respect” is followed by something that is disrespectful. That’s because the phrase is often used as a nod to politeness in cases where little or no actual respect is due. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056/51 "2012-02-13T05:44:16Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > That’s because the phrase is often used as a nod to politeness in cases where little or no actual respect is due. Yep, it’s the “I’m not racist but…” of internet discussions ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056/52 "2012-02-13T06:31:02Z")
Six Grammy awards is pretty darn good. Adele is the best right now. > [@](#): > > Adele took home the album of the year Grammy for “21,” one of six awards won by the British songstress Sunday night. > **[Adele dominates Grammys as tributes to Whitney Houston flow | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2012/02/12/showbiz/grammy-awards/index.html?hpt=hp_c1)** > > Adele thanked her doctors “who brought my voice back” as she accepted one of six Grammy awards Sunday night. ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056/53 "2012-02-13T12:16:06Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > That’s because the phrase is often used as a nod to politeness in cases where little or no actual respect is due. Of course she deserves respect - due respect - which is exactly what I did “Adele is a nice girl who writes catchy tunes about her boyfriends”. Nor is that faint priase, it’s my honest judgement. She is really not all that. She is, however, flavour of the month/year, in a poor year. As mentioned upo thread, there really are 4-5 contemporary female Londoners who are more interestting. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056/54 "2012-02-13T13:28:20Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > Adele is a nice girl who writes catchy tunes about her boyfriends – it’s ideal, with all due respect, sentimental pap ideal for the US market. > > Looking at other contemporaries of hers just from London, Adele can’t sing as well as Leona Lewis, she doesn’t write as interestingly as Florence, she has none of the political nous of Jesse J and she will never, ever develop the phrasing or the general musicality of Amy Winehouse. Apart from that, she an alright bird. You’re kind of missing the point; Adele can connect with her audience based on the quality of her voice and how it fits in the songs she sings. Snobbishly breaking down her attributes and dismissing them misses the fact that what she does works. And given that it is grounded on straight-up singing and straightforward songs, she feels easy to root for. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056/55 "2012-02-13T13:44:58Z")
Well you know what, I was sitting on my balcony today and the neighbours had a radio on, and I heard this amazing, soulful voice singing a really gripping tune that I’d never heard before. Strained my ears to hear some words so I could google it. Guess who it was? The song was Rolling in the Deep. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056/56 "2012-02-13T14:18:41Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > Adele is a nice girl who writes catchy tunes about her boyfriends – it’s ideal, with all due respect, sentimental pap ideal for the US market… Oh, so her music doesn’t sell in the UK? ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056/57 "2012-02-13T14:22:35Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Well you know what, I was sitting on my balcony today and the neighbours had a radio on, and I heard this amazing, soulful voice singing a really gripping tune that I’d never heard before. Strained my ears to hear some words so I could google it. Guess who it was? The song was Rolling in the Deep. this, So very rarely does contemporary music grab me by the nuts but Adele certainly does. I’m sure there are technically better singers out there. I’m sure there are better songwriters. I’m sure there are people with better stagecraft, who can dance better and look more beautiful. All that is incidental. Adele is greater than the sum of her parts. It is obvious even to such an old fart such as myself that she believes and cares deeply about every word she writes and sings and she has talent enough to get that across to an audience. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056/58 "2012-02-13T14:55:17Z")
Like **jjimm** , I overheard “Rolling in the Deep” on the radio and had to Spotify, Google to find out who it was. The last time I did that was when I first heard Spoon’s “Don’t You Evah.” So if you saw the Grammys, you saw one side of what is popular music today. Perry, Minaj… sort of identikit pop stars, who you know won’t be remembered in 5 years. Hell, maybe even 2. Even Gaga’s flash is fading. Adele is a real musician, with a real voice. She has staying power. And that’s from someone who isn’t a particular fan of the genre (Winehouse, Duffy, et al are fine but I’m not salivating over blue-eyed soul - Dusty Springfield did that oh-so-well so long ago). She’s credible, which is more than 95% of artists on the radio. They’re given a sheet of lyrics, a dance routine, and that’s their art. I see Adele as the complete opposite. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056/59 "2012-02-13T18:01:01Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > Of course she deserves respect - due respect - which is exactly what I did “Adele is a nice girl who writes catchy tunes about her boyfriends”. Nor is that faint priase, it’s my honest judgement. You think that’s why anyone thought you were being disrespectful? > [@PrettyVacant](#): > > Adele is a nice girl who writes catchy tunes about her boyfriends – it’s ideal, with all due respect, **sentimental pap ideal for the US market**. I put the relevant part in bold. If you don’t understand why someone might interpret this as disrespectful, well, I don’t know what to say. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056/60 "2012-02-13T19:57:49Z")
Great voice, she’s got soul, and she’s “real” and not all gimmicky. That said I only liked about 1/3 of her albums once I heard them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-behind-the-adele-phenomenon/612056.md?page=4)