Adele: Analysis of Star Image by 201560954

The Glorious Age of Adele (2022)

201560954 — 2023-10-17 15:51:51 UTC

Adele takes blame for cancelling her shows, but stands by the decision: “I was embarrassed [to cancel the shows]. But it actually made my confidence in myself grow, because it was a very brave thing to do. I’m very proud of myself for standing by my artistic needs.”

Adele: ‘It Fucking Devastated Me’ How she turned heartache over her divorce into her most honest album yet

201560954 — 2023-10-17 15:58:36 UTC

Taken from Rolling Stone (2021), Adele recalls how fans were pleased about her divorce because it would generate new and personal music. The consistency in her star image, here, has harmed her and produced negative affects to her personal life. Fans almost get pleasure from her personal issues.

Adele reunited with former teacher and childhood inspiration (2021)

201560954 — 2023-10-18 12:18:27 UTC

On the night of 'An Audience With Adele', Adele is reunited with her favourite school teacher. She cries whilst referring to her as "miss" in the crowds presence. The moment captures raw emotion and displays Adele's genuine persona.

Adele Delays Her Tour (2022)

201560954 — 2023-10-19 11:03:35 UTC

In a heart breaking video uploaded to Instagram just days before her tour, Adele announces a last minute delay. Her hand is in her head for the entirety of the video as she struggles for words through the tears. "I'm so upset and I'm really embarrassed" she cries. "I'm really, really sorry, I'm really sorry". She constructs a genuine star image here through these gestures. It is clearly something that has made her distressed and her devastation stems from the fact she knows she has let her fans down.

A Body Transformation that shocked the world (2020)

201560954 — 2023-10-19 11:04:23 UTC

Adele posted a surprising image in 2020 showcasing her dramatic weight loss. At this point in her life, her stardom begins to become characterised by her physical appearance.

'To Be Loved' - Uploaded to Instagram days before release

201560954 — 2023-10-19 11:07:20 UTC

48 hours before the release of her newest album '30', Adele uploaded this authentic video of her singing her most powerful song from the track list. She sits on her sofa in her living room, without makeup, and sings to herself as if nobody is watching. Whilst the video is completely natural, and presents Adele with an extremely genuine star image, it could be argued it is used as a marketing strategy to build excitement for the new album.

Fan Labour and Adele

201560954 — 2023-10-19 11:08:42 UTC

Adele shares a fan made meme and posts it on her Instagram feeds, in spite of the fact she looks miserable in the picture of the left. This shows she'd prefer to find the humour in a situation instead of worrying about her public and star image.

Adele on the Front Cover of the 'Rolling Stone' Magazine (2011)

201560954 — 2023-10-19 11:21:08 UTC

Described as a ‘Heartbreak Superstar’. Her music and image shapes her audiences perception of her.

Adele Opens Up About Her Inspirations, Looks and Stage Fright

201560954 — 2023-10-19 12:00:44 UTC

Taken from the April 28, 2011 issue of Rolling Stone, Adele opens up about her challenging childhood, common anxiety attacks, and her first heartbreak, moments that challenge conventions of the typical star. Additionally, she discusses her weight and that she isn't affected by it: "I don’t make music for eyes, I make music for ears.” She takes her music seriously and she doesn't need to be sexualised by the media to achieve stardom.

"My Little Love" (2021)

201560954 — 2023-10-19 12:02:37 UTC

Adele Wins Album Of The Year | Acceptance Speech | 59th GRAMMYs (2017)

201560954 — 2023-10-19 12:05:42 UTC

Adele dedicates the majority of her speech to Beyoncé, telling her "all us artists here, we fucking adore you". She trembles as she speaks and swears live on the show. She mirrors her star image and genuinity even in the most professional circumstances.

Adele - Ushi the (complete) interview

201560954 — 2023-10-19 12:06:55 UTC

Here, Adele is pranked by a woman pretending to be an interviewer who struggles with English, consequently asking Adele questions that are far from making sense. Adele's replies are comedic; she openly laughs at the interviewer whilst also making an effort to answer the questions asked. Her level of authenticity is reflected here. From a young age, she has always been herself, despite awkward and untimely situations.

Adele Carpool Karaoke (2016)

201560954 — 2023-10-19 12:09:01 UTC

73* Questions with Adele

201560954 — 2023-10-30 15:26:22 UTC

Adele stops show to help distressed fan in Las Vegas (2023)

201560954 — 2023-10-30 15:37:39 UTC

Adele stops her performance in the middle of a song to defend a young fan for standing up at her show. She asks "can you leave him alone please?" to security in addition to other fans in the arena. "Here's here to have fun, alright, you're all here to have fun" she adds. She illustrates authenticity here by achieving a heroic persona.

Ellen in Adele's Ear

201560954 — 2023-10-30 15:53:31 UTC

Adele does everything Ellen tells her to do, in spite of the fact it may harm her star image. This implies she isn't concerned what the public think of her.

Adele Eats: British Vogue

201560954 — 2023-10-30 16:10:39 UTC

“I mean it’s food, just coz I’ve lost weight I know everything there is to know about food, I eat so much food still.”

Regardless of her weight loss, Adele confidently talks about her diet in a humours manner with no shame, therefore opposing any perceived star-quality that arose immediately after her transformation.

Adele is finally back! (2021)

201560954 — 2023-10-30 16:57:41 UTC

This interview with Heart radio was recorded just five days after Adele's comeback single "Easy On Me" was released. She says "I’m ready to be famous again, just for a little while”. In spite of the trauma she's encountered whilst being away from the public eye, she preserves her sense of realism and keeps humour at the forefront of her star image.

"The bigger your career gets, the smaller your life gets"

201560954 — 2023-10-30 17:00:04 UTC

In this interview, Adele's shows her sincerity by openly discussing drinking, sex, and her insecurities. She additionally embodies a sense of normality, stating "I don't know how I'm gonna write records that people can relate to and enjoy if I'm living some mad life". She acknowledges that her lifestyle determines her music and she wishes to continue this pattern.

Adele tells fan to stop filming gig and enjoy it in real life (2016)

201560954 — 2023-11-04 20:50:18 UTC

Adele stops her show to ask a fan: “could you stop filming me with that video camera? Because I’m really here in real life, you can enjoy it in real life rather than through your camera.”

Adele added: “This isn’t a DVD, this is a real show.” She said she would like those in the crowd to enjoy it “because there’s lots of people outside that couldn’t come in”.

Adele says some fans ‘felt very betrayed’ by her weight loss

201560954 — 2023-11-04 20:51:25 UTC

As a result of Adele's weight loss, fans began to feel 'betrayed' because she kept her progress and transformation private as opposed to public. Because she had built a great level of trust with her fans and shared so much of her personal life with them, consequences emerged when she behaved privately.

‘It’s not my job’ to make fans feel better about my weight loss

201560954 — 2023-11-04 20:52:15 UTC

Despite the backlash, Adele remains inattentive, expressing “my body has been objectified my entire career.” Her self-awareness and acknowledgement that she will always be criticised in her career enhances her individual star image.

Adele 30: Fans react to singer’s ‘powerful’ new album

201560954 — 2023-11-04 20:53:21 UTC

Fan reactions to her latest album:

Her “best yet”
“Adele has hacked this music thing.”
“I gotta admit, I thought it was gonna be more of the same Adele, but it really does feel soo fresh and evolved and powerful.”
“Adele never misses”
"adele dropped, pass me a bottle"
"I’m not ready for it to end"

"All I Ask" (2015)

201560954 — 2023-11-04 20:54:50 UTC

"Someone Like You" (2011)

201560954 — 2023-11-04 20:55:31 UTC

"Make You Feel My Love" (2008)

201560954 — 2023-11-04 20:56:41 UTC

Adele: My Horrid Parent (2017)

201560954 — 2023-11-04 21:09:41 UTC

The article published by My Horrid Parent summarises Adele's harmful childhood, her working-class background, and her alcoholic father who abandoned her.

Someone like me: A definitive new biography reveals the abandonment, childhood trauma and teenage heartache that inspired Adele

201560954 — 2023-11-04 21:11:19 UTC

From the Mail Online, Adele's stardom was at risk in her teenage years, in which she was going through a time she referred to as her "ELC - early life crisis". During this time, she cancelled a handful of shows in the US to spend time with her first love. She confesses "I can’t believe I did that. It seems so ungrateful."

100,000 Adele Fans Sing 'Someone Like You'

201560954 — 2023-11-04 21:16:47 UTC

Adele exemplifies here that she is a part of consumer culture. She acts as an aspirational object in which her audience have related to and therefore consumed her.

'It devastated me': Adele opens up on struggle with anxiety and depression after divorce

201560954 — 2023-11-04 21:21:28 UTC

The ITV News article discusses the depression and anxiety that stemmed from Adele's divorce.

Adele on “Rolling in the Deep” of Depression

201560954 — 2023-11-04 21:22:11 UTC

The FHE Health article describes Adele's life-long battle with depression. Nobody, in spite of stardom, is exempt from mental illness. Fans that consume Adele can learn this by connecting with her music. She informs her audiences of the harsh reality that surrounds us but offers them a "safe space" to heal.

"These shows have changed my life"

201560954 — 2023-11-06 10:44:16 UTC

Posted on Twitter (X) by Adele, the tweet highlights her recovery from all the trauma. Ultimately, her music and her fandom have healed her.

"Being on stage over the last year so up close and personal with an audience again after all these years has been a truly extraordinary restorative experience that I’ll never forget."

Adele rakes in huge royalties even though she hasn't released an album in three years

201560954 — 2023-11-06 12:16:26 UTC

Mail Online (2021) reflects upon Adele's turnover which indicates her "worldwide success" and longevity.

Full List: The World's Highest-Paid Celebrities Of 2016

201560954 — 2023-11-06 15:17:49 UTC

In 2016, Adele was recognised by Forbes magazine as the 9th highest payed celebrity of that annual year, making $80,500,00.

201560954 — 2023-11-06 15:33:01 UTC

Adele: Mummy's been having a lot of big feelings recently
Angelo: Like how?
Adele: Just, like, hang on, my fingers are trapped
Like, um, I feel a bit confused
Angelo: Why?
Adele: I don't know
Adele: And I feel like I don't really know what I'm doing
Angelo: Oh, at all?
Adele: At all

The song includes heartfelt conversations between Adele and her song that allude to previous heartbreak in her life. Here, her divorce and present anxiety. She attempts to communicate with her 9-year-old son what it is she's going through.

201560954 — 2023-11-06 15:45:34 UTC

"I'm having a bad day, I'm having a very anxious day

I feel very paranoid, I feel very stressed

Um, I have a hangover, which never helps, but
I feel like today is the first day since I left him that I feel lonely
And I never feel lonely, I love being on my own"

The outro of the song is a monologue of Adele speaking alone, expressing that she is "anxious", "paranoid", "stressed" and "lonely". From this, she is enable to establish a relationship with her fandom, in particularly those who may be going through similar struggles.

201560954 — 2023-11-06 15:55:28 UTC

A deeply personal song that is simply about an obsolete relationship. Many of her young fans listen to this song to relate to their own extinct relationships, thus leading to a Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance in 2012.

201560954 — 2023-11-06 16:05:20 UTC

She sings about a relationship she knows is coming to an end, but asks for one more night, to delay the trauma, and remember how love should be.

201560954 — 2023-11-06 16:16:56 UTC

This song is about a girl who has fallen in love with a boy and her struggles in pursuing him, evoking a lonely and helpless feeling when you are forced to supress such a strong emotion.

Retention in music genre

201560954 — 2023-11-06 16:23:02 UTC

Each song, despite being taken from different albums, are consistent in retaining the infamous blue-eyed soul music genre that ultimately shapes her star image. She is primarily known for being a singer synonymous with heartbreak and she has maintains this perception over four different stages in her young life.

The Successful Star

201560954 — 2023-11-06 16:31:43 UTC

The Betrayer

201560954 — 2023-11-06 16:32:08 UTC

The Authentic Star

201560954 — 2023-11-06 16:32:29 UTC

The Inspirational Star

201560954 — 2023-11-06 16:36:37 UTC

A Star Synonymous with Heartbreak

201560954 — 2023-11-06 16:37:31 UTC

Why Adele Won't Agree To Endorsement Deals

201560954 — 2023-11-06 17:29:34 UTC

“What have I said ‘no’ to? Everything you can imagine,” she said, before elaborating. “Literally every-fucking-thing. Books, clothes, food ranges, drink ranges, fitness ranges… That’s probably the funniest. They wanted me to be the face of a car. Toys. Apps. Candles. It’s, like, I don’t want to endorse a line of nail varnishes, but thanks for asking. A million pounds to sing at your birthday party? I’d rather do it for free if I’m doing it, cheers…?

Adele is not a profit-making machine. Instead, she challenges this celebrity norm that and distances herself from commodifying daily pleasures and avoids being a part of a wider economic structure.

Adele Debuts James Bond Theme: Listen to ‘Skyfall’ (2012)

201560954 — 2023-11-06 17:35:02 UTC

Speaking about her collaboration with the James Bond franchise, Adele described this as a "no brainer". Her music and persona resents themes relevant to the film, therefore she is of high celebrity value. The film generates new fans for the star, and the star attracts new fans to the film.

From the Public Sphere

201560954 — 2023-11-06 18:16:16 UTC

To the Private Sphere

201560954 — 2023-11-06 18:17:08 UTC

And returns full circle back to the Public Sphere

201560954 — 2023-11-06 18:17:44 UTC

Adele's stardom is so successful that she is a part of consumer culture and is targeted by marketers who "use celebrity endorsements as a means of profiling and branding their products, television programmes feature guest appearances from celebrities to build their audiences" (Turner, 2013: 37).

201560954 — 2023-11-06 19:41:39 UTC

Turner, G. (2013) ‘The Economy of Celebrity’, in Graeme Turner (2013) Understanding Celebrity (2nd Edition), London: Sage pp.33-55.

Adele with her Five Grammy Awards (2017)

201560954 — 2023-11-06 19:47:24 UTC

Adele with her Six Grammy Awards (2012)

201560954 — 2023-11-06 19:48:15 UTC

Adele with her Four BRIT Awards (2016)

201560954 — 2023-11-06 19:54:21 UTC

Adele with her Three Brit Awards (2022)

201560954 — 2023-11-06 20:33:57 UTC

Longevity

201560954 — 2023-11-06 20:36:05 UTC

She has retained her success since 2012 and this establishes her as a star. Her stardom has been created solely through musical ability, performance and skill.

201560954 — 2023-11-07 13:07:43 UTC

The video has been watched by over 262 million people, the most viewed Carpool Karaoke to date, highlighting her superstardom.

201560954 — 2023-11-07 13:57:07 UTC

It’s difficult to buy into a fake celebrity persona with Adele because she sometimes gets irritated on stage and this is often by her own fans.

201560954 — 2023-11-07 14:16:33 UTC

She raps Nicki Minaj's verse in the hit song 'Monster'. Here, she utilises other musical talents outside of the soul music genre she is known for to magnify her persona.

201560954 — 2023-11-07 14:17:24 UTC

Discusses buying families birthday meals and giving fans free tickets to shows when she's drunk.

2008

201560954 — 2023-11-07 16:08:32 UTC

2023

201560954 — 2023-11-07 16:08:50 UTC

She has never sexualised herself to achieve stardom.

Style

201560954 — 2023-11-07 16:10:14 UTC

2015

201560954 — 2023-11-07 16:15:20 UTC

According to Rojek, Adele is an "achieved celebrity" whereby she "derives from the perceived accomplishments of the individual in open competition" because she possesses "rare talents or skills" (2001: 18).

201560954 — 2023-11-07 18:33:57 UTC

Rojek, C. (2001). Celebrity. Reaktion Books.

201560954 — 2023-11-07 18:59:26 UTC

Redmond (2013: 4) states that "a celebrity is someone that for the most part leads a glamorous and wealthy life, and they are especially talented". Here, Adele guides her viewers through her 'glamourous' home in Los Angeles whilst attending to regular daily chores such as unpacking shopping and watering flowers. Whilst her home is "glamorous and wealthy", she still continues with house work.

201560954 — 2023-11-07 19:00:20 UTC

Question: You became a star; how did you handle being recognised in public?

Adele: Erm, I don’t love it, but ever since 21 sort of came out really my hair gets bigger, and my makeup gets thicker, and my dresses get bigger so that I practically look a bald eagle or something like that in day to day life

201560954 — 2023-11-07 19:01:02 UTC

"Comfort over style" (Adele)

201560954 — 2023-11-07 19:04:13 UTC

Adele Has A Framed Piece Of Celine Dion's Gum at Home

201560954 — 2023-11-08 11:02:08 UTC

Adele names a framed piece of Celine Dion's gum as her most "prized possession".

Adele cries when a fan shows her a picture of his late wife (2023)

201560954 — 2023-11-08 11:18:54 UTC

Adele's star image is affectionate and sympathetic here. Her own past trauma has shaped her into a charming, amiable figure that helps her relate to the struggles her fans are experiencing.

Adele's interaction with Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Hailey Baldloose (2023)

201560954 — 2023-11-08 12:12:17 UTC

At a recent show, whilst walking through the crowd past some of the globes most well-known celebrities, Adele focuses her attention on her plain folk fans and deviates from other stars. By prioritising her fans, she not only strengthens her relationship with them, but allows her audience to consume her further.

Adele's First Instagram Live (2021)

201560954 — 2023-11-08 12:46:50 UTC

Adele's sincere star image contributes to her behaviour in this Instagram Live. She exemplifies her authenticity by crafting a grandma-like persona as she openly demonstrates her cluelessness with the concept of Instagram Live. She blends this persona with her humour to heighten her legitimacy.

"Liveness on social media increases claims of intimacy and authenticity instead of quality" (Howell, 2021: 266)

201560954 — 2023-11-08 12:50:56 UTC

Howell, C.E. (2021) ‘A Touch More with Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird- authenticity, intimacy and women’s sports celebrity on Instagram Live’, Celebrity Studies, 14 (3), pp. 264-279.

DOI: 10.1080/19392397.2021.1958694

'30' Announcement

201560954 — 2023-11-08 13:28:46 UTC

Adele markets her work appropriately - she announced her latest album on the 13th October, just under a month from its release date in order to ensure enough time to create excitement, but not too much time to bore her audience.

Adele ‘got addicted’ to exercise to lose 7st - singer's intense exercise plan shared

201560954 — 2023-11-08 17:48:33 UTC

Adele explains the reason for her seven-stone weight loss. She states that she "did it for myself and not anyone else”. Her physique has shifted from her public to private sphere.

Because Adele "articulate[s] what it is to be a human being in contemporary society" (Dyer, 2003: 7), her music retains its popularity, regardless of her music hiatus.

201560954 — 2023-11-09 14:38:33 UTC

Dyer, R. (2003) Heavenly Bodies: Film Stars and Society, London : Routledge

The philanthropist

201560954 — 2023-11-09 15:54:40 UTC

A Multimedia Star?

201560954 — 2023-11-09 19:04:08 UTC

Adele is a music star and this remains her primary function. This collaboration is to showcase her as a music star. Whilst she's working in the film industry, she does not need to elevate her stardom by acting or showing her face in the film. This gives us a deeper impression of the real her; she is solely focussed on her primary function as a musician.

Media convergence "involves the same content being delivered by way of different media platforms" (Turner, 2013: 36). This doesn't damage Adele's star image.

201560954 — 2023-11-09 19:31:11 UTC

Turner, G. (2013) ‘The Economy of Celebrity’, in Graeme Turner (2013) Understanding Celebrity (2nd Edition), London: Sage pp.33-55.

Adele in Industry

201560954 — 2023-11-09 19:33:24 UTC

Adele: Fan Interaction

201560954 — 2023-11-09 23:35:43 UTC

Adele reads a fan-made sign requesting a hug. She invites the fan and his mum to the stage where she hugs him and re-seats them close to the front. Her sincerity and love towards her fans is truly exemplified here.

"Artists that market their albums for months may run the risk of their audience losing interest." (Boyajan: 2018). Adele's announcement of the release of her album is timely and does not run the risk of losing momentum.

201560954 — 2023-11-10 11:16:25 UTC

Boyajan, N. (2018) ‘Surprise Albums & Ad Fatigue in the Music Industry’, Medium, 25 July (Accessed: 03 November 2023)

Hello (Official Music Video)

201560954 — 2023-11-10 12:21:23 UTC

Someone Like You (Official Music Video)

201560954 — 2023-11-10 12:22:14 UTC

201560954 — 2023-11-10 12:26:16 UTC

Adele's music video are a reflection on her mentality. Her music videos typically:

Lack colour
Are low-budget
Adhere to her style
Don't pursue CGI or special effects