A little over a month ago, I found myself driving a van full of teenage girls to the Winterfest youth rally in Gatlinburg, TN. Despite my best efforts to introduce them to great soul artists like Sam and Dave, the only music they wanted to hear was Adele's new album, 25. Now I recognize that Adele's talent for singing and writing is God-given and she is by far the greatest singer in a generation.
That being said, 25 is quite possibly the saddest hour of music ever recorded. When the album was finished I wondered, has anyone checked on Adele lately to make sure she is ok? Ever since I've been asking myself, what is it about Adele's music that depicts such a bleak and desperate outlook. Surely something can be done to cheer up the characters whom Adele writes about, which apparently all teenage girls can "relate" to.
First, I feel like I have to state the obvious. Perhaps you should stop breaking his heart if you want him to call you back. Second, I can't emphasize the importance of perspective. The most humorous song on the album has to be, "When We Were Young," when you consider it was written by someone who just turned 25. Having lived ten years on the other side of 25, I can say with confidence that what seemed awful and heartbreaking at the time was but a molehill compared to the mountain of pain and grief I would come to know later.
Finally, I think why Adele's 25 is absent of joy and hope is because it is void of Christ. For comparison, I recommend you listen to another extremely talented female vocalist, Sara Groves. It was during college when I was first introduced to her song, "Conversations," and quickly captivated by its lyric, "...I don't claim to have found the truth, but I know it has found me..."
Back in November, Sara released a new album entitled, "Floodplain."In particular, I found that I connected most with the song, "Enough." In it she writes, "...Really we don't need much. Just strength to believe. There's honey in the rock, there's more than we see. In these patches of joy, these stretches of sorrow. There's enough for today, there will be enough tomorrow..."
It's in lyrics like these that most clearly demonstrate why Sara's music succeeds where Adele's fails. In Adele's music there is no mention of provision and redemption, which leaves the listener to assume that there is no hope for relief or escape from heartache. However, Sara's music makes it clear that there is a provider and a redeemer; and his name is Jesus Christ. And against him no fear or grief can stand. Is there any more cheerful thought than that?
Maybe I should send Adele a copy of Sara's new album? Hmm.....
CJE