Adele - 'Chasing Pavements'
I am going to have to be honest here, it can be really scary on the thin ice, not quite knowing which way to jump, especially when a new artist is involved and they might turn out to be AMAZING, but first impressions seem to indicate that even if they are, they're only going to be the kind of AMAZING which happens to other people and not me. I have much the same problem with the Arcade Fire. I see what people like about them, I understand what it is that they do...but I can't make it do for me what it clearly does for other people. Believe me, I've tried!
Which brings me to Adele. The hotly-tipped Adele of one-to-watch fame. The girl who divine providence (and a bunch of music journos) has decided will be The Amy Winehouse Of 2008, only with perhaps a little less of that troublesome tabloid nonsense and a bit more focus on The Quality Of The Music, and stuff.
All of which sounds great! Except that Amy Winehouse only really became properly amazing when she ditched some of the jazzier elements of her muse, replacing them with '60s soul, via a '00s hip hop production. Adele's first really big proper single release seems to have been at the mercy of Maroon 5's production team, sucking out the intimacy out of her acoustic guitar demos and replacing it with an enormous pop sheen.
Normally an enormous pop sheen isn't a problem. I mean the Sugababes/Girls Aloud would both founder if their enormous pop sheen was reduced to a light buffing with a dry cloth. But all it seems to do in this case is diminish the impact of Adele's singing and songwriting skills. I mean the first minute is glorious, she's got a lovely rasp to her voice, and it really comes out when it's not being buried by the howling strings of the chorus. But once The Production takes over, she just seems to get a bit lost.
"But!" splutter the Jools Holland brigade "Adele's music is IMPORTANT, she's far more talented than the Sugababes or Girls Aloud. How dare you make a comparison? She WRITES HER OWN SONGS, DAMMIT!"
Well, that's as maybe. But on the evidence of listening with my ears, someone wants to make this song sound like a GREAT BIG CHART HIT, rather than putting across what it is about Adele that makes her worthy of all the pre-emptive guff. And that's a shame. Because if there is one over-riding lesson we can all take away from Amy Winehouse's bizarre times, it's that character is just as important as talent.
Hopefully I'm wrong, even if it does mean a soaking once this ice finally gives way...
Download: Out now
CD Released: January 26th
(Fraser McAlpine)
PS: What is her all about? She's only just started! Why would anyone believe that giving an award to someone who is just getting going is a good idea? Surely it's just going to get people's backs up? The weight of expectation is deadening, and loads of people really don't like being told what music they are going to like in 2008. And it runs entirely against the 'no hype, just talent' thing that your singer-songwriters are supposed to embody. It's a bad BAD idea. You'd think the 'critics' would have spotted this.
Comments
You've hit the nail on the head! Parts of it are too glossy and I always end up singing James Morrison's You Give Me Something half way-through the song.
Nice vid.
I agree.
Love adele, and have done since i saw her on jools holland whenever it was. But too am scared of the over production risk that seems to be popping up. Daydreamer is just her a guitar, whats with all this malarky! (altho i do love the song).
Ii'm scared that once the album comes out she will get slated for being over produced, much in the same way as James Morrison did. And this is backed up by the fact that Eg White has worked on this album, and as mentioned below, it sounds like 'you give me something' because he produced that too.
neither artists need it. and it's a shame someone somewhere keeps messing with it.
Yeah I heard this song a while ago and at the start I kinda thought I might like it.. then I didn't.. so it was just another artist name that I didn't need to remember. I'm merciless. :P
Oh this is that person I saw the ´óÏó´«Ã½ News (I think it was) tipping to be the new big thing or something. Apparently last year they said it'd be Mika who made it big. They got it pretty right didn't they, but when was the news about predicting chart toppers? Where did news reporting go?!
I totally agree with this, she doesnt deserve a BRIT award when she has only just released a single, and not even an album (correct me if i'm wrong!)
She needs to wow us a bit more and prove her staying power!
She might be raved about at the moment, but if her material keeps getting messed with then she will be ruined.
[Also, what are they going to give her next year if she does really well this year? ANOTHER Brit Award? - Fraser]
hello there
i am a very nice person and i like to eat cheese with a few crackers on the side!
adele makes me go week at the knees, even tho im not a lesbian
LOVE U LOTS AND LOTS LIKE JELLY TOTS BYE!! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I also love 'Adele' and can not wait to see her live again. But I think there is to much hype and I have just found a new 19 year old Irish soul artist on iTunes that could steal her thunder her name is Laura Izibor who is already is writing for loads of movies. I got her amazing live EP from iTunes but am looking for her song "Shine" does anyone know where I can get it and when the album is out??
Please help!
Sam
wot about duffy she's a good singer too. Her song's called mercy or begging for mercy. Adele is ghetting too much hype. I mean she's won a brit and she hasn't even released a single yet. But i have to admit her song is well good. I've just contradicted myself haven't I? Oh well then. I agree with
"!But!" splutter the Jools Holland brigade "Adele's music is IMPORTANT, she's far more talented than the Sugababes or Girls Aloud. How dare you make a comparison? She WRITES HER OWN SONGS, DAMMIT"
We need more singer/songwriters like her but she has a voice like Kate Nash Daaaaaarling.
I've made up my mind
Dont need to think it over
If I'm wrong I am right
Don't need to look no further
This ain't lust I know this is love
But if I tell the world
I'll never say enough
Cos it was not said to you
And thats exactly what I need to do
If I end up with you
Should I give up
Or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads no where,
Or would it be a waste
Even if I knew my place should I leave it there.
Should I give up
Or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere
I build myself up
And fly around in circles
Waiting as my heart drops
And my back begins to tingle
Finally could this be it
Or should I give up
Or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere,
Or would it be a waste
Even if I knew my place should I leave it there.
Should I give up
Or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere
Should I give up
Or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere,
Or would it be a waste
Even if I knew my place
Should I leave it there
Sould I give up
Or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere
Should I give up
Or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere
Or would it be a waste
Even if I knew my place
Should I leave it there
Should I give up
Or should I just keep on chasing pavements
Should I just keep on chasing pavements
Should I give up
Or should I just keep on chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere
Or would it be a waste
Even if I knew my place
Should I leave it there
Should I give up
Or should I just keep on chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere
Cya l8r babes.
who the hell is she? she's scary...she has a brit award and no ones heard of her...wtf?
Did anyone listen to Scott Mill's yesterday evening?
The pointless survey of the day was: 'Should Adele give up or keep chasing pavements?'
It was highly amusing. As for the song, meh!
I lovee Adele. She is actually been the best thing since Amy Winehouse. It's not her fault her record company ruined the song by making it all poppy. She is a great singer and I love thiis song.
Yes, what about Duffy?! She is MUCH better than Adele. Adele is exactly like the annoying voice of Kate Nash - who is like Lily Allen. . . So, Aimee Duffy is 'said' to be most like Amy Winehouse type of music - but not like Amy Winehouse - if you get what i mean. Duffy is more Rocky, 60's style - which is deeply unique - you would recognize her voice anywhere if it came on - unlike Adele, because if it was Adele, you would start to question your self - 'Is this Adele, Kate Nash, or Lily Allen???'
Duffy's voice has a special 'rasp' to it, but it still manages to be soft - but very powerful.[if that makes sense!] If you've got iTunes go on it, and go to the power search and type Duffy[artist] - Rockferry[title] - and listen to the previews of her songs 'Rockferry' and 'Oh Boy' - you wont hesitate at all - you will buy, and probably write a review of it with 5 stars [as every comment has!].
The album - which the song 'Mercy' is on will be out round about March! Looking forward to it! - or just Google 'Duffy' and plenty of things will come up about her .... dont hesitate - just do! You will not regret! If she wont be MASSIVE in 2008 - the whole of the UK and The World are DEAF!!
- Oh, and whats better - YES! She is Welsh .... they say us Welsh can Sing .... you will hear if you listen to this AMAZING ARTIST [that is most probably right in this case]!!
Duffy, is MUCH MUCH better than this Over-rated 'Adele' Hype.
Umm ... 'Adele' - who's she?!
Duffy's x2 Singles are availabe on iTunes now - 'Rockferry' and 'Oh Boy' and Duffy's other Single off the Album - 'Mercy' is available to be heard on Radio 1 .... until
March - when her Album is Comes out.
[None of the above are released on CD's - 'Rockferry' and 'Oh Boy' are released as EP's and on download [iTunes]/
Yes, what about Duffy?! She is MUCH better than Adele. Adele is exactly like the annoying voice of Kate Nash - who is like Lily Allen. . . So, Aimee Duffy is 'said' to be most like Amy Winehouse type of music - but not like Amy Winehouse - if you get what i mean. Duffy is more Rocky, 60's style - which is deeply unique - you would recognize her voice anywhere if it came on - unlike Adele, because if it was Adele, you would start to question your self - 'Is this Adele, Kate Nash, or Lily Allen???'
Duffy's voice has a special 'rasp' to it, but it still manages to be soft - but very powerful.[if that makes sense!] If you've got iTunes go on it, and go to the power search and type Duffy[artist] - Rockferry[title] - and listen to the previews of her songs 'Rockferry' and 'Oh Boy' - you wont hesitate at all - you will buy, and probably write a review of it with 5 stars [as every comment has!].
The album - which the song 'Mercy' is on will be out round about March! Looking forward to it! - or just Google 'Duffy' and plenty of things will come up about her .... dont hesitate - just do! You will not regret! If she wont be MASSIVE in 2008 - the whole of the UK and The World are DEAF!!
- Oh, and whats better - YES! She is Welsh .... they say us Welsh can Sing .... you will hear if you listen to this AMAZING ARTIST [that is most probably right in this case]!!
Duffy, is MUCH MUCH better than this Over-rated 'Adele' Hype.
Umm ... 'Adele' - who's she?!
Duffy's x2 Singles are availabe on iTunes now - 'Rockferry' and 'Oh Boy' and Duffy's other Single off the Album - 'Mercy' is available to be heard on Radio 1 .... until
March - when her Album is Comes out.
[None of the above are released on CD's - 'Rockferry' and 'Oh Boy' are released as EP's and on download [iTunes]/
I like to know the point of media music critique now.
With the advent of Myspace players, itunes where you can audition tracks. The opinion of just one or two big heads who missed their chance to be in a band are completely irrelevant, As is your review.
Get a proper job.
[Haha! OK, well you're better placed to answer your own question than I am. I mean why, if MySpace and iTunes are so good, did you bother to come to read this review? Because you like to argue? Good, me too! - Fraser]
Adele os amazing. And to be honest the critics choice is no different from the list the ´óÏó´«Ã½ produce. Ok so she may only have made one or two songs so far but for me those one or two songs are more deserving any award than what the spice girls have done over 12 or 13 years. Rightfully this song will go to number one and deservedly so its better than the basshunter rubbish which sits there at the moment.
Also i wasnt keen on your arcade fire comparison either, perhaps you should go and watch them live. Next thing youll be saying that radiohead might as well just tap a spoon against their ass (they probably have done this), but its genius all the same.
It seems you need to go and revise this comment before you come back eating your own words. Right off this HTML edited article!!!
[Weird ending, there Rox. You lost me a bit. Anyway, the point is you can't MAKE music work for you. It either does or it doesn't. And even if I worshipped Adele as the best thing ever ever, I still think it's a bad idea to hand out awards to people before they've actually done anything. It's counter-productive. - Fraser]
I hope that album answered your criticism mr reviewer. I think it dispelled any doubts u might have. Possibly even kicked them out of the water.
Lol accept you were wrong and we can all move on.
And im still offended by the arcade fire reference. Go and kill another band like the hoosiers or scouting for girls. Just not one who play proper music.
[Why on earth are YOU offended? Surely this is between me and the Arcade Fire? Butt out, nosey! - Fraser]
[PS: I've not heard the Adele album yet, so shhh - Fraser]
Ok so i bought the Adele Album yesterday after all these reviews and i have to say, chasing pavements and cold shoulder are "good" - the rest of the albums SERIOUSLY overrated!
is it me, or is this an album you could put your baby to sleep to?!?! its boring, unimaginitaive - all the songs sound the same, and lifeless.
If im honest, this album would be good for dinner parties as background music.
Coooool. Don't like her or the song.
Annoyingly she just won a Brit.
Undeserved!
You missed a key point in your breakdown of amy winehouse, who, although her voice is an incredible instrument, is a boring, boring, boring songwriter. I don't know how people miss this. The key point is: what makes her more recent album so superior to the debut release is the dapper kings. It sounds like authentic souls because her backup band is authentic, it's not just the production, it's the wisdom and experience of the band. You want the real deal? try sharon Jones, who also uses them. Now That's the soul music.
[I did neglet to mention the Dap Kings by name, it's true. I meant 'production' in the widest sense, meaning arrangement, mixing, orchestral score, etc, which includes the band. Also, it's a bit unfair to credit them with ALL of 'Back To Black's success. The album is a great collaboration of unique talents, all of whom seem to have brought the best out in one another. - Fraser]