What went wrong with Adele?

[StrawberryBlond 14,934]

So many elements. The big gap is probably one of the most major. It was ok after a massive success like 21, as you need time to let such a huge juggernaut breathe and sink in. Same for 25. But by this time, it had got very tiresome. Look at any artist who takes big gaps and it's evident that the public moves on considerably. Secondly, a lot can change in 6 years in the industry and tastes have changed and streaming was just starting to become big when she last released, now it's the lifeblood of a song's success and she's not an artist that appeals to streaming in the same way as more uptempo artists. Next, she is getting older and her music is the kind that appeals to an older crowd and the young generation, with their fascination on Gen Z sensations like Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X and Doja Cat, are simply not feeling an artist like her and she's reached that age now where she can't be seen as cool by the young crowd. She's getting to the stage now where the up and coming generations won't remember 21 when it came out and won't have the connection to her as an artist that those around at the time did so won't get the hype. I think some people also felt a disconnect when she moved out permanently to LA and lost all that weight, feeling like she'd become too Hollywood and manufactured and that she was losing touch with her roots. And yes, there is so little growth displayed on this album, she knows her comfort zone and won't budge. That isn't going to pull in young listeners and people are looking for escape from doom and gloom right now and sad albums aren't going to have the same reception when we could all do with some cheering up. And personally, I didn't enjoy the album, but that's just me.

Her otherworldly success was never going to last. But she'll be around, she'll continue to have at least one big hit per album. But it appears the overrating of her has calmed right down. Which is great as it means other artists can actually have hits in the same time frame as her and we're not seeing and hearing her everywhere to the point where she becomes insufferable. The overexposure she had during 21 was bordering on insanity. I remember I was encountering her without even seeking her out and in ways I couldn't escape her - seeing her image on magazine stands, hearing her songs on supermarket radio, popping up on tv, even hearing her blasting out of a living room window on the walk home. It was no wonder I was so critical towards her in this time frame as I don't like anything being forced on me and am much more receptive when I have a choice.

[Jpanese 219]

Personally, I think it's kinda similar to Katy Perry. Massive mainstream success but kinda failed to maintain a healthy hardcore base.

Also, for whatever reason.....her weight and "simple look" resonated with many women. Now that she is slim and has a glamorous look, she is somehow targeted by her own fans 🤷‍♂️

[Rahrahbitchson 20,857]

2 hours ago, Kimmo said:

She got cosmetic surgery on her face? 
 

…

Me waking up in the hospital after my cosmetic surgery

[Blackout19 12,345]

5 hours ago, SummerBoy223 said:

4th album/era curse is real. Rated R, Blackout, ARTPOP, and Witness all flopped/underperformed. The majority of 25’s success was from 21 hype similar to Born This Way with TFM hype. She also took too long to release. The album is great but not worth a 6 year wait. Lastly, the lemonade snub left a bad taste with the black community.

Blackout flopped?! 

[RichAssPiss 4,976]

There seems to be single confusion because she was promo-ing "I Drink Wine" and then performed it at the Brits, but then "Oh My God" was rushed to radio instead and a video was made. Though has she performed it anywhere? She's just not that eager to push any singles it seems, which is fine. It's an album full of many six minute songs. Not really radio friendly except "Oh My God," "Easy On Me," and "Can I Get It." 

[skedaddleBItCh 2,814]

30 is literally different sonically compared to her previous albums wtf are people here saying

Ad hominem, end this fallacious thread. Adele is doing well, nothing went wrong whatever that fuxkin' means

Go praise whatever or something instead of making thid **** lmao

[GipJo 2,912]

When it comes down to the root, it's always the music that is lacking in the end. Just like Witness, it flopped for so many reasons but the music is the core problem.

I don't get why some of you think it didn't go wrong, this is her "Prism/BTW/Reputation" era, 30 came with the hype after 25, EOM's chart success doesn't mean it performed as her team expected. Her next album will be a true testament of her direction  future career, though I suspect she doesn't want hits anymore, she is fine with the first 3 album legacy. Her label probably thinks otherwise.

[TasteLikeWhiskey 1,561]

As a big Adele fan I declare the following in support of OP:

She was the 'other' girl that enjoyed drinking, having a laugh and not taking celebrity status too seriously. She was the fun/untainted girl with beautiful vocal talents and emaculate songwriting abilities. She proved herself throughout. 

Now she just seems to make choices solely based on how the media may portray her. I feel a bit gutted as an avid Adele fan. She is not the same person anymore I am happy for her... But still disappointed that she had to give in to the social construct of hapiness instead of staying true to herself. 

[TasteLikeWhiskey 1,561]

18 minutes ago, GipJo said:

When it comes down to the root, it's always the music that is lacking in the end. Just like Witness, it flopped for so many reasons but the music is the core problem.

I don't get why some of you think it didn't go wrong, this is her "Prism/BTW/Reputation" era, 30 came with the hype after 25, EOM's chart success doesn't mean it performed as her team expected. Her next album will be a true testament of her direction  future career, though I suspect she doesn't want hits anymore, she is fine with the first 3 album legacy. Her label probably thinks otherwise.

All of this is true. 

The musical connection between her and the listener is just not present. It is almost like she is rebelling against herself. 

[Future Lovers 7,098]

Nothing went wrong. People are just comparing the actual outcome (which is absolutely stellar and outpacing essentially all of her peers) to the unrealistic expectations that were placed upon this era in the lead up to it's release. You really cannot expect albums to perform now like they did when 25 was out. That just isn't how the industry works anymore. 

[Versace 7,984]

1-She took too long 

2-She did not reinvent her sound, so the album has no chance to shine in comparison to 21 and 25 

[Ziggy 12,062]

it just lacks tiktok presence, really lol it's like she said, she was aiming for people her ageish not trying to chase very young people. So I think by nature of that approach, this wasn't going to be a massively commercial era.

 

Also worth noting she never put too much effort into being a MPG; it's just now starting to take effect since different gens of young folk are coming up

[AbhainnTirim 368]

15 hours ago, SummerBoy223 said:

4th album/era curse is real. Rated R, Blackout, ARTPOP, and Witness all flopped/underperformed. The majority of 25’s success was from 21 hype similar to Born This Way with TFM hype. She also took too long to release. The album is great but not worth a 6 year wait. Lastly, the lemonade snub left a bad taste with the black community.

You cannot compare an album that has spent 5 weeks at number 1, sold millions of pure copies within 6 weeks, and has spent around 20 weeks in the top ten to theses albums, which only really spent between 20-40 weeks on the billboard 200 in it’s entire chart run. 
 

Also, Blackout was Britney’s 5th 

[AbhainnTirim 368]

8 hours ago, GipJo said:

When it comes down to the root, it's always the music that is lacking in the end. Just like Witness, it flopped for so many reasons but the music is the core problem. 

Even though 30 was Adele’s most critically acclaimed and socially praised album for being so versatile? 
 

Come on, 30 sounds nothing like her previous albums. The only songs that are predominately piano are Easy On Me and I Drink Wine, with the album experimenting with Jazz, Gospel, Dance, uptempo music ….even lo-fi in All Night Parking, for God’s sake!

[GipJo 2,912]

30 minutes ago, AbhainnTirim said:

Even though 30 was Adele’s most critically acclaimed and socially praised album for being so versatile? 
 

Come on, 30 sounds nothing like her previous albums. The only songs that are predominately piano are Easy On Me and I Drink Wine, with the album experimenting with Jazz, Gospel, Dance, uptempo music ….even lo-fi in All Night Parking, for God’s sake!

I didn't say it sounds the same, I said it's lacking.