I’ll admit it — I’m more than just a little bit obsessed with Adele’s voice. It’s a breathtaking blend of warm, bold, and straight-from-the-soul stunning that’s earned her the status of one of pop music’s most iconic voices. You might even describe it as timeless.
On Oct. 15, the 33-year-old singer released her newest single, “Easy On Me.” Written in her signature, piano ballad style, the song is a heartbreakingly beautiful preview of her upcoming studio album, “30,” a work inspired by her recent divorce to ex-husband Simon Konecki.
I’m a fan of many different types of music, but there’s something about the rawness and simplicity of a piano ballad that speaks to me on a completely different level of emotion. On my first listen of “Easy On Me,” I found tears in my eyes during the opening chord progression, before Adele had even begun to sing. By the time she reached the second verse, my personal favorite verse, those tears threatened to spill over. “There ain’t no room for things to change/When we are both so deeply stuck in our ways.”
At its core, “Easy On Me” is a song about a divorce, but its meaning and symbolism can truly be interpreted to span a variety of situations. This special translatability is a quality that my inner songwriter really admires. “Go easy on me, baby,” the chorus reads, “I was still a child… didn’t get the chance to feel the world around me.” While it’s a lyric that’s just about as “breakup” as one can get, I found that a connection to the concept of self-forgiveness can also be drawn. “I had no time to choose what I chose to do.” It’s almost as if Adele is reminding us to go easy on ourselves, as we learn and grow through every mistake. Perhaps this is why I find listening to “Easy On Me” to be so powerful and therapeutic.
“30” is set to be released on Nov. 19.
5/5 Big Oles
