SATURDAY SPECIAL: All Ears On Adele

Adele, Adele, Adele - everywhere! At least this week - or, it seems that way, doesn't it? No, no, I'm not complaining - who could? - but, between the spine-tingling cover of "Rolling In The Deep" on GLEE performed by Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff and Adele's own performance of the same song on Tuesday night's DANCING WITH THE STARS, in addition to her album 21 becoming the fastest-selling album by any artist Amazon.com history and currently sitting atop the iTunes charts, is sure cause for celebration for her fans - of which there are more and more around the world every day. Attention is particularly due for those new to her charms. This Grammy-winner for Best New Artist (over Lady Gaga, no less) has a voice to raise rafters and set souls alight and her fierce talent is amply evident on her two albums, with "Chasing Pavements" and "Running In The Deep" being her best known songs Stateside so far and ample proof of her abilities. In this timely SATURDAY SPECIAL we sample Adele's music videos - including the stunning visuals in "Chasing Pavements" and her cover of Bob Dylan's "Make You Feel My Love" - as well as live performances - such as the spellbinding and elegant "Somebody To Love" on the Brit Awards earlier this year - in addition to her Grammy Award acceptance speech, a four-way comparison of different takes on "Rolling In The Deep" - and much, much more.

Ship (& Voice) Laid Bare

Not since Amy Winehouse has such an idiosyncratically affecting, singularly emotional and palpably moving vocal instrument come upon the music scene - and the comparison between the two young, bluesy, pop-star Brits is far from a coincidence - and here we have the new r&b queen, Adele. While Amy has been away, Adele has swiped the crown of r&b/pop/blues chanteuse - or, if you prefer, r&b/pop/blues croonette - right out from the "Back To Black" multi-Grammy winner's surgically-enhanced nose. Amy supposedly will be making her grand Mark Ronson-produced return later this year after an excruciating near-five years away from the scene, but she has some fierce competition on pretty much her home turf now thanks to the many charms of Adele. Why even compare them, though? Must we? While Amy Winehouse had a grittiness and earthiness that Adele seems to exude effortlessly, whereas Amy so often affected such a vibe in an over-the-top and (some would say) obnoxious manner. Adele is truly polished and committed to her craft whereas Amy came from the Janis Joplin mold of wildly erratic and occasionally brilliant - along with everything else that comes along with it. Indeed, Adele is a consummate professional and whenever she steps on a stage the audience is made immediately aware that they are in the hands of a born performer. Though she has had some off nights (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE certainly wasn't the best US debut), when she is on there are few better in the music world or on Broadway. She's got something truly, truly special in that big voice of hers - plus, she brings so much actorly dedication to each and every performance, making her voice paint the picture and illustrate an entire world before our ears. Additionally, the mere fact that she is outperforming Lady Gaga herself in iTunes sales and YouTube hits says a lot about her staying power - so, hitch your horse to this wagon. And, anyway, Broadway baby or pop music junkie, the bottom line remains: the girl can write a damn good love song and put it across in performance like a stalwart pro. That alone puts her ahead of most - if not all; besides the odd Gaga and Beyonce - in the music business today. I mean, have you listened to the radio recently? Thought not. Whether or not you knew Adele before this instant, there is a moment coming up seemingly born of the very spirit of Dionysus (the god of theatre (as well as other things) - Adele's "Somebody To Love" at the Brit Awards. It is bliss.

Setting The Sails

First, check out the video for "Don't You Remember", recorded live at Largo, as the perfect entrée to her soul-bared and achingly sensitive singing style and the intimate and poetic nature of her lyrics - as well as how well-married they are to the genre-defying but decidedly bluesy and theatrical sound of her music. If you don't remember her, you will certainly never forget this - or her - now!

Gold

Going back to her beginning - at least on these shores - check out the riveting and surrealistic music video of Adele's first US hit single "Chasing Pavements" from her Grammy-winning debut US album. After this, you'll want to follow her career forever.

If you didn't see Adele pick up the hotly-contested prize for Best New Artist at the Grammys two years ago, now is your chance!

Now, check out her soulful performance of "Chasing Pavements" from the same Grammy Show in 2009 to see how each and every performance she gives is entirely alive, new and unique. And, you have to admit: the girl always brings it!

Love

Next up - and probably the piece de resistance of today's column - here is Adele's most thrilling and jaw-dropping live performance to date - "Somebody To Love" on the 2011 Brit Awards. This is simply exquisite in every way - and a somewhat significant departure from the album version of the same song. She always changes it up - and usually scores big with audiences (and critics, alike) by doing so. See why here. Also, it is illuminative to note that this song is due to be her next single once "Rolling In The Deep" stops chewing up the charts - her own version and the GLEE cover - and is already out in the UK doing just that.

Now, check out the album version for further comparison's sake.

For the third part in our triptych comparison of "Somebody To Love", take a peek at one of Adele's recording sessions of the song in her own home studio - an enticing entertainment also acting as the song's official musical video. And, the song - it is its own thing, yet again!

So it goes: as with many great jazz and blues artists, they never give the same performance of the same song twice.

Deep, Deep, Deep, Deep

Our next side-by-side test case of the superlative songwriting talent and musical power - and plain wittiness and catchiness - of Adele's musical output comes with the most exciting examples of the lot: "Rolling In The Deep" - times four!

First, we have Adele herself singing the song live on Tuesday's DANCING WITH THE STARS in essentially its radio-friendly, original version as it appears on her new sophomore album, 21.

Secondly, take a listen to the sophomores and juniors of McKinley High (and elsewhere) on GLEE do an a capella "Rolling In The Deep" coming courtesy of Lea Michele as Barbra Streisand-obsessed Rachel Berry and Jonathan Groff as bad boy Jessie St. James in this rousing reinvention of the bluesy barn-burner. Who knew it could work this well in this context? Probably the very best musical moment of Season Two.

Third, if you didn't see on the actual GLEE "Prom Queen" episde, check out the song as so theatrically dramatized as a duet about the rekindling of a long-lost romance - complete with a GLEE-ful back-up chorus of stage set crew!

Lastly, here is the attractive and visionary music video for "Rolling In The Deep".

All four versions considered, which version do you prefer? Can we even compare them all? Can't we just love them all and leave it at that? Bet (x4)!

Coming A-Shore(s)

Finally, as a super-special bonus, take a generous gander here and glean some oh-so-good gorgeousness from Adele courtesy of this superb Bob Dylan cover, "Make You Feel My Love".

In closing, if you feel the love for Adele like many around the world are most evidently feeling right now, be sure to pick up her album 21 and catch her next concert appearance as she sets out to conquer the world - one ear at a time. Listen up.