Adele At The Grammys: Why The Singer Is The Solution To All Of Our Problems

Sunday night's Grammy Awards were a big night for Adele: The British singer performed publicly for the first time since her vocal chord surgery in November 2011, and she won Grammys in six categories -- including best album, song and record -- making her the first artist since The Dixie Chicks to sweep all three of these top prizes (the country trio did so in 2007).

But even before her wins last night, Adele's resume wasn't too bad for a 23-year-old. The singer won the "Best New Artist" Grammy and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Chasing Pavements" in 2009, which she performed during the ceremony.

As for the accomplishments that can't be measured in awards and iTunes sales, there are many. She's turned heartbreak into a series of cathartic songs that have been the soundtrack for us as we've fallen in love, broken up, wallowed in our sadness and -- once we've played out "Someone Like You" enough times (as if there is such a thing as 'enough' Adele) -- been right there with us as we've moved on ("Set Fire To The Rain," anyone?). Adele has shown grown men it's okay to cry (at least on SNL), proven that there is no one way women in entertainment have to look and shamed one very powerful grown man, Karl Lagerfeld, into apologizing to her, turning the tables on an industry's view of what a woman should look like.

In fact, if you think about it, Adele (or her music, at least) offers us solutions to many of life's most pressing problems.

SLIDESHOW: What Adele Can Do For You

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Follow Jessica Pearce Rotondi on Twitter: www.twitter.com/lanewyorkaise

Comments

[jf12]

12:09 PM on 02/20/2012

Adele heretic here. I think she is better looking than her voice sounds. Her phrasing is captivating, but her smoke-destroyed vocal cords sound ill. Her voice, per se, stinks, like overly smoked ham.

[CLoveHuff8045]

02:12 PM on 02/16/2012

Note to author: LL didn't make his reputation based on his abs. He made his reputation by being a fresh, exciting new voice in hip-hop! The six pack came later. L-U-V Adele!!

[Lola21139]

07:52 PM on 02/15/2012

Easy to be generous on $12 million, tax write off?

[MickStep]

10:56 AM on 02/15/2012

She doesn't provide the solution for how to pluralise pavement. Hint it's pavement.

[AnimalLover6]

09:24 PM on 02/13/2012

Adele is highly talented, beautiful, and seems to be a down-to-earth thoroughly likeable person.

But she's no Aretha.

[hrayovac]

08:38 PM on 02/13/2012

One problem that the singer (psychiatrist for the author?) didn't solve: The desperate music business had nothing else to brag about so it was, "all Adele," who is good, don't get me wrong ..but let's take note that she is not breaking new ground, she is imitating (well) the great black soul singers of the past. I hope she does well in the future but this is not equivalent to Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" or Prince or even Madonna as trend-changing music (sorry, I mentioned a dirty word). I can imagine the dilemma NARAS had as downloading for free has replaced what was once a booming trade.

[rosered60]

05:08 PM on 02/20/2012

Adele's album,"21" was made WHEN she was 21." Her first album, she was only "19." It's not just her voice people enjoy. It's that she's the total package. She's entertaining. Her lyrics are amazing! She doesn't need to use nudity or gimmicks. She doesn't have to be vulgar and rude on stage to entertain. She is intelligent and funny. She is comfortable in her own skin. Before we start comparing her to MJ, Prince, and Madonna perhaps we should give Adele a little time. Time to heal her voice. Time to grow as an artist. Time to experiment with her music. Time to grow as an adult. I don't think Adele cares whether her music is "trend sitting." I might point out that "trend setting' is NOT always a positive thing. (Rap? The Macarena? Madonna?) She is who she is. Adele, if anything, has revived the CD/Album industry. Everyone I know has her CD or have bought and downloaded it off of iTunes. Her music reaches beyond the age barrier. I am 53, my son 22, and daughter 15 all enjoy her music.BTW Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So what if she is "imitating"soul. The point is she IS singing soul music. Music that touches OUR souls. I look forward to seeing and hearing what she produces next. Even if she NEVER produces another album, the two she HAS given us, are priceless and timeless.

[hrayovac]

11:51 PM on 02/20/2012

..a fine endorsement of her and I thank you for your comment. Many of the points sound like endorsements for someone who runs for public office (remember the old, "...but I defend their right to say it.." quote?). I'm a singer and we don't care, we are very severe and strict in bestowing the title of greatness..it is only granted to those who do something that hits our ears, not our eyes, so vanquish the talk of nudity drugs age whatever considerations you have..because we did in putting our Billie Holiday and Ray Charles at the top of the list. They not only touch our souls but they started entire trends, movements in music, the kind where other MUSICIANS followed. That's what I'm saying.

[1088]

08:28 PM on 02/13/2012

Sorry, she does nothing for me thank you! None of today singers does it for me, for they all cannot sing.

[Mary Kessel Starr]

11:21 PM on 02/13/2012

Have you heard her?

[OhHeyJere]

02:16 AM on 02/14/2012

Like her or not, you can't deny the fact that she can sing.

[cuteliberalchick]

07:00 PM on 02/13/2012

talented singer Yes she is.Solution to my problems nooooooo I pay my own bills.

[VerdureVision]

04:28 PM on 02/13/2012

This was clever and cute! Love the advice, and LOVE Adele!

[EvenThen]

02:30 PM on 02/13/2012

The really wonderful thing about Adele is that she totally shows up the Lady Gaga/Madonna no-talents. Yes Gaga and Madonna make loads of dough, but it's not based on talent. Adele just stands there and sings with that wonderful voice, and she's a very real person.

[hrayovac]

08:52 PM on 02/13/2012

fantasy alert: everyone's a real person. Whether you like their art or not determines your reaction. If you think all the staging is phony, cool, I'm old school and loved the old time crooners too. But what Michael did and Madonna and Gaga do is visual art, completely different experience. To view every artist as if you're on a panel of "Idol" and thumbs-downing others because you have to choose one winner is weird because to do what Gaga or Rihanna does requires tremendous talent and drive. Try just singing that well, then add the dancing..

[little wing]

09:59 PM on 02/13/2012

Madonna may not have Adele's vocal prowess, but her gift is that of a true and consummate performer. That is as much of a rare talent as is an incredible voice.

[hrayovac]

04:29 PM on 02/14/2012

..And a very astute businesswoman who saw the potential of video and visuals early on.