all i ask - adele -- holy hell that woman's got pipes!

there's a lot to this song that just seems wrong.

first, it's just a basic cheesy sentimental woman singing with basically just a piano backing, which is something that is typically just old and boring to me.

second, the phrasing is "off". yes, it's an "artistic" decision, but ending a vocal line at the start of the following musical phrase normally just has a very awkward feel and suggests the composers didn't try hard enough. but after the jarring first listen or two, it quickly just somehow "works".

third, the key change is the such a cliched way to manipulate emotions, i mean, really?

and yet, the simplicity of the arrangement highlights just how incredible a singer adele really is. sure, she sounds great on her bigger hits, but there's a lot of orchestration. that might make for a better song, but perhaps takes away from her actual singing.


this song, however, lets you really hear just how incredible she is. her tremolo is just on a different plane compared to other pop singers, and the power and clarity of her voice just pierces the heart: