Adele’s new song, “Easy On Me”, takes listeners on an auditory journey of her broken heart. In the past five years since her last album, “25,” Adele has poured grief into her new album, 30, following her very public divorce.
Released on October 14, “Easy on Me” is directed towards Adele’s ex-husband, Simon Konecki. She highlights the struggles of her young marriage, one that required changes through sacrifices. Before the second chorus, Adele sings, “I changed who I was to put you both first.” However, she hints that these sacrifices may have been in vain. Earlier in the second verse, she wrote “there ain’t no room for things to change/ When we are both so deeply stuck in our ways,” directly telling Simon that there was no way to fix their problems.
Adele’s instrumental decisions also contributed to the theme of heavy sorrow. The solo piano in the background was an artistic choice that reflected the key emotions in its simplicity: heartbreak. The background music is soft and clear, and the listeners are able to absorb the full weight of Adele’s words.
In addition to the audio, Adele also released a music video for the single. The simple nature of the video has the same significance as the piano—yet she takes her reflection one step further. The first half of the video is in black-and-white, symbolizing how she’s dwelling on her past and blaming herself. However, as she reaches the second chorus, the scene drips in color, representing how she is now emerging from the past towards her future and growth.
“Easy On Me” is only merely a preview of what’s to come from her new album, which will be released on November 19. Before the album release, on November 14, there will be a two hour special on “30”, featuring a special mini-concert and an exclusive interview about the album with Oprah Winfrey.
Overall, I would give “Easy On Me” an 8.5/10. The lyrical and instrumental choices give us insight into Adele’s life since her last album. The song takes us through her emotions and allows us to relate to her not only as an artist, but also as a person. However, despite the five years since her last release, Adele does not give us anything new. She knows the types of music her fans like, and sticks to it. My hopes are that the rest of the album will contain greater variety and excitement, helping it to become a 10/10.
