If you haven't noticed Adele has been selling records like crazy. In fact she sold so much, she saved the music industry (music sales have been declining, but because of Adele music sales went up, if you take away her sales from the total the industry is in an even deeper decline). What.s unusual about this is that, she isn't like the sex charged female pop musicians. Many were expecting 2011 to be a battle between Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Katy Perry and Beyonce, the biggest pop stars right now. But she outsold them completely with all her clothes on in the process. The album broke records worldwide selling 4 million in the UK, and 6 million in the US, and a total of 17 million copies worldwide. Just this week, Adele has earned a third consecutive #1 with Set Fire to the Rain in the Us, while the album tops the chart again for its 17th week. The last album to do that was Usher in 2004, and Whitney Houston in 1993. So what is that Adele has that the other "major" pop stars don't? I think its because her music appeals to all age groups, while the other females appeal to a more younger crowd ( a crowd less likely to buy music). Because of that, both older adults, young adults, and teens will like her. I bought her album, and its good, well done. It has a variety of sound from Motown, traditional pop, to gospel. The problem now is, there will be hype, and hopes for Adele to outdo this album. And rarely that happens.

Edited by user 26 January 2012 05:24:02(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

I agree with Brownsugar. The album can be a bit bland and one-note. But, I guess she found her particular niche and perfected it. I do have respect for her as a person, rather than her art; we haven't had a genuinely passionate pop-star like this since the turn of the century. If her music is artificial or anything, she sure as hell knows how to fake it. But that passion and sadness in her music is what made her so successful, even if it's not what we'd typically call mainstream or anything. Because the mainstream works in cycles; for the past few years, being sexy or glitzy has been the 'in' thing, but now people have gotten tired of it. So, something so real and genuine would be a nice change of pace from the music that has become so artificial and fake in recent years. I don't think Adele was using this to manipulate the record-buying public or anything, I just think it's the reason she's become so successful. That, and teenage girls will always feel the need to write the lyrics to a break-up song in their journals.

With all that being said... I work at McDonalds, so I have to put up with the endless loop of songs played on the radio. If I hear 'Someone Like You' while flipping burgers one more time, I'm going to stab out both of my ears.

i think its her wide appeal to all age groups. grandma's arent going to listen to katy perry,and young kids arent going to listen to perry como. adele bridges this,and seemingly well.

i dont mind her,but rolling in the deep makes me want to find a clock tower. it has been played into the ground.

Never heard her, so I can not point to a specific reason for her success. I will, however, make the assumption that it's due to blandness.

I think she has she has an extremely devoted fan base not only in her country but in the United States also. And the fact that she doesn't take off her clothes draws more people toward her. Parents love her, in turn, their children love her, and teens love her as well. She has a universal appeal, or should I say voice.


Lana on the other hand, I do like. But she also is hypersexualized, but more in a seductive way, and will be no where near as big as Adele.

Edited by user 27 January 2012 06:30:03(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Works like that sometimes. Adam Lambert was force-fed hard here a while ago, not to mention every American Idol winner in general. Here it's moreso the blogs that control what everyone listens to (except for Rap). I remember Foster the People gained Y2K-esque hype within the course of a week, not to say they aren't talented.

I think there's two sides of her success. People who legitimately like her, and people who like her because everyone else is. A large part of her success is YouTube I bet. But her music isn't bland for me, because its part of my taste so I like it. But to others, I can see how it is.

I love Adele... I think she's "The New Era" of Soul music. Her latest album sold over 18 million copies worldwide. Lauryn Hill's album, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" took a little under a decade to sell 18 million copes. And that Lauryn's album has only stayed #1 for 4 consecutive weeks and that's it. But for Adele to stay atop the charts week after week is just unbelievable. I love her songs. Also, I do believe that her latest album, 21, will sell millions of more copies in the future.

Well, if I can remember she plays like five different instruments ranging from the Bass to the Piano. Just because she doesn't play them live doesn't mean she can't play them, James Murphy, the leader of LCD Soundsystem never touches any instruments live, but when he records, he records every instrument himself.

Also, if you think her ballads are a problem, you need to pick up a Bon Jovi album and take a gander. Hair Metal IS ballads. Skid Row.

People here need to get a perspective on the word OPINION. The world would be boring as hell if we all liked the same thing. Adele has vocal talent, yes. She makes popular music and sings it well, yes. And she is going out there and doing it without being a skinny tanned blonde. She just is not my personal cup of tea. We all have different tastes.