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Adele's songwriting style

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wcadmin
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Adele's songwriting, while it can conform to traditional structures like ABABCA (verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus), often showcases a more fluid and emotive approach that aligns with her deeply personal lyrical content. This flexibility in structure allows her to emphasize the emotional arc and storytelling within her songs, making the structure serve the message rather than the other way around.

In typical ABABCA structured songs, the pattern is quite rigid, providing a predictable framework that listeners can latch onto. This framework is useful for songs aiming for a strong, memorable hook in the chorus that is revisited multiple times. However, Adele often deviates from such predictability. Her songs, like "Hello" or "Someone Like You," may still follow a verse-chorus pattern but are tailored in a way that the emotional gravity of the lyrics dictates when a chorus or a bridge might reappear, or how many verses are included before reaching a climactic bridge.

Adele's use of what might seem like a freeform approach is actually quite strategic:

1. Emotional Buildup: Instead of a repetitive chorus, she might extend a verse or insert a pre-chorus to build emotional intensity. This technique draws the listener into a deeper state of empathy and engagement with the narrative.

2. Dynamic Variation: She often incorporates significant dynamic changes within her songs. For instance, starting with a soft, almost conversational tone and building to a powerful belting delivery. These dynamics help to underline the emotional shifts in her storytelling.

3. Bridge as Climax: In many songs, the bridge serves not just as a contrast but as the emotional climax of the song. It's often here that the lyrical and vocal intensity reaches its peak, providing a cathartic release for both the singer and the listener.

4. Lyrical Intimacy and Honesty: Adele’s lyrics are intensely personal and confessional. The flexibility of her song structure allows her to explore these themes without the constraints of a more rigid format, giving her the freedom to let the lyrics and emotions dictate the song's flow.

In analyzing Adele’s songwriting, especially from a freeform perspective, it’s essential to consider how the structure is employed to enhance the storytelling. Each element of the song (verse, chorus, bridge) isn’t just a part of the songwriting formula but a tool that is used at the precise moment to heighten the emotional impact of the song. This approach makes her music resonate on a deeply personal level with her audience, transcending traditional pop song structures.

__________
Grady Lucas
Account: @wcadmin
eMail: admin@writerscritique.org


   
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wcadmin
Member Admin Registered, Customer
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 42
Topic starter  

Adele's songwriting, although it occasionally aligns with conventional structures, is characterized by a more nuanced and flexible approach that prioritizes emotional expression and narrative depth over strict structural adherence. Her songs often exhibit a fluidity that allows her to exploit various songwriting elements dynamically, adapting the structure to the emotional and lyrical needs of the piece rather than following a preset formula. This can be described in more detail by examining the components she typically employs:

1. Verse (A) - Adele’s verses are where she lays down the foundational narrative and thematic elements of her songs. These verses are rich in detail, setting the scene and mood, and often building a deep emotional connection with the listener. The verse serves not just to advance the story but to draw listeners into the emotional landscape of the song.

2. Chorus (B) - While Adele does utilize choruses, hers are not always the repetitive, hook-driven cores typical of many pop songs. Instead, her choruses often expand on the emotional or narrative themes introduced in the verses. They are memorable and impactful but serve more to deepen the listener's emotional engagement than to simply provide a catchy hook.

3. Refrain (R) - In some songs, Adele employs a refrain, which may not change lyrically but grows in emotional intensity with each repetition. This technique emphasizes key lyrical themes and enhances the emotional stakes of the song.

4.Bridge (C) - Adele's bridges are pivotal; they frequently represent a climactic point in the song’s narrative and emotional journey. The bridge provides a moment of revelation or introspection, often leading to a key change or a shift in dynamic range that heightens the song's emotional impact.

5. Outro (O) - Her songs sometimes end with an outro that either resolves the emotional narrative or leaves the listener with a lingering sense of introspection. This can be a reiteration of the chorus or a completely new section that serves as the conclusion of the song’s story.

6. Pre-Chorus and Post-Chorus Elements - Adele also makes use of pre-choruses that build tension leading into the chorus, and post-choruses that act as reflective pauses after the chorus, giving the listener a moment to absorb the emotional weight of what has just been sung.

Structural Variability: Adele’s song structures can vary significantly from one track to another, reflecting the specific emotional and narrative demands of each song. For example, in "Someone Like You," the structure is more straightforward and adheres more closely to traditional forms, emphasizing the song's lyrical plea and raw emotional appeal. In contrast, a song like "Hello" employs a more complex structure with multiple build-ups and releases, crafting a more dramatic emotional landscape.

Overall, Adele's songwriting structure is characterized by its adaptability and its focus on maximizing emotional expression and narrative depth. This approach allows her to connect profoundly with her audience, making each song a unique emotional journey rather than merely a collection of catchy tunes. This flexible structure is one of the hallmarks of her style, making her music resonate deeply and broadly, striking a chord with a diverse audience.

__________
Grady Lucas
Account: @wcadmin
eMail: admin@writerscritique.org


   
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