The Adele addiction

USD students discuss her new single, upcoming album, and massive influence

ISABELLA SANCHEZ / ASST. A&C EDITOR / THE USD VISTA

Almost everyone has belted the song “Rolling In The Deep” whenever it plays. It’s a song that people can’t help but sing along to. Adele’s powerhouse voice and powerful ballads that navigate complex, emotional terrain make the artist one-of-a-kind in the industry. 

She completely deviated from the typical pop-centric music being made at the rise of her popularity in 2010 and carved her own mark on music. 

Adele’s influence stretches over millions of people, which is all due to her emotional tracks. For some USD students, Adele’s influence can be seen in blasting “Someone Like You” after a breakup or just simply the emotional journey they embark on when listening to one of her albums. 

For these reasons, fans were anxiously awaiting Adele’s comeback for six years, which she kicked off with her newest single “Easy On Me.”

For USD sophomore, Emma Shea, Adele’s massive fanbase can be attributed to the fact that her music stands out from other artists. 

“Her music is very honest and relatable because she puts out anthems that people can relate to,” Shea said. “It is personable to her yet everyone can relate to it, and I think that is why she has such a big fan base. ”

Her hits like “Hello” and “Turning Tables” explore deep themes, ranging from relationships with others, relationship with oneself, and of course the topic that Adele is a master at unpacking – heartbreak. 

These themes are universal: almost everyone has had their fair share of messy breakups and struggles within their own relationships. 

Adele’s recent release, “Easy On Me,” touches upon divorce, an extremely personal topic to the singer. 

USD first-year, Isaac Soto, weighs in on if the icon’s newest single is a hit or miss. 

“I love her new song,” Soto shared. “Even though some might not like it, we have seen this stripped back, mellow sound in other artists such as Taylor Swift, Lorde, and Lana Del Rey.” 

Soto shared how he believes this music genre has evolved.

“This style emerged post-covid, kind of representing a simplistic culmination of intense emotion based on the grueling time we all had alone with our own thoughts,” he said.

In true Adele fashion, “Easy On Me” got students in their feels and was on repeat, especially for Shea. 

“Every time I listened to it, it just kept getting better and better,” Shea said. “I loved how raw and emotional the song was and I feel like everyone can relate to the whole concept which is about basically giving people the benefit of the doubt and giving them a chance.” 

Shea appreciated Adele touching on such significant themes throughout this song.

“This is such an important message at a time when people are always at each other’s throats for the smallest things,” Shea said. “The song encourages people to go easy on each other.”

For Soto, the emotional ballad resonated with him on a personal level. 

“As I was closeted in a small, conservative town for most of my life, the line ‘I was still a child, I didn’t get the chance to feel the world around me,’ struck something vulnerable in me,” Soto admitted. 

“I feel like it represented so much of the sadness and frustration I felt, not feeling like I could be myself as a kid, or have that story book love story I saw in the media.”

Adele’s comeback not only involves this new single but also an entire album release on Nov. 19 titled 30. 

This means it’s time to stock up on tissues sooner rather than later. Soto knows the emotional rollercoaster that comes with listening to Adele’s albums. 

“Historically, a lot of Adele’s music rocked the world emotionally, and I’m not trying to be in a depressed state right before the holidays, so I’m in a conflicted state,” Soto said. “Regardless, I am eager and excited to see what Adele releases and how it will impact the music industry.” 

Soto also noted how long it’s been since Adele has been in the music scene.

“It feels like a resurgence of our childhood as she is finally coming back after what feels like a decade,” Soto said. “Overall, it’s very nostalgic, but in a good way.”

But for a lot of her fans, the upcoming album will be good no matter what, since the wait for new music has been too long.

“I’ve been waiting forever,” Shea said. “The whole time during quarantine everyone was coming out with new music and she never did.” 

The time couldn’t come soon enough for Shea.

“I love how she did it on her own time, but at the same time, I was anxiously awaiting her return,” Shea said. “I already know it is going to be better than all her previous music.”

It is no secret that the Adele addiction is real. With her emotionally-charged music and its ability to connect on a personal level with so many people, Adele is one of the biggest musical influences of our generation. USD students can always count on Adele to bring them on an emotional rollercoaster. 

So, no matter what the album entails, it is certain that students are going to have to emotionally prepare and brace themselves for the singer’s devastating heartbreak anthems. 

However, that’s not always a bad thing.