ABA Journal The digital English academy
Hello!
I hope you are well and that you have had a good week.
Do you know the singer Adele? I am sure her name sounds familiar to you even if you do not know any of her songs.
Adele is an English soul and jazz singer and she is also a songwriter. She is 23 years old and was born in Tottenham, London. I am sure you have heard of Tottenham because of its very famous football team!
Adele’s second album, “21” is a chart phenomenon. At the recent Grammy Awards, Adele won six categories, every category she had been nominated for, including the awards for Album Of The Year for her album “21”, Record of the Year for “Rolling In The Deep” and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Someone Like You”.
“Someone Like You” is a very emotional song. It is a tear-jerker.
As the presenter at the 2012 Grammy Awards said in his introduction to Adele´s performance:
“There’s nothing quite like the feeling when you’re listening to a song, written by someone you don’t know, who you’ve never met, who somehow manages to describe exactly how you felt a particular moment in your life. […] If you’ve ever had a broken heart, you’re about to remember it now.”
Vocabulary
Sounds familiar – if something sounds familiar to you, you have the impression that you already know it, but you do not necessarily know where know it from.
Chart phenomenon – an extremely big success in the charts. The charts are the weekly lists of the bestselling pop singles and albums or the most popular videos.
Grammy Awards – annual awards (prizes) in the USA given by the Recording Academy (officially the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences). They are commonly known as “Grammies”.
Record: a recorded song.
Performance: a presentation in front of an audience (spectators). A singer´s performance involves them singing.
Tear-jerker – an excessively sentimental book, film, etc, which often makes people cry.
Manages – to manage to do something is to succeed in doing something, despite obstacles.
To prepare before you listen to the song, follow these steps:
2. Choose your language to revise the new vocabulary and structures:
English // Spanish // French // Italian // Portuguese
3. Watch Adele’s video:
It’s pretty good for a 23-year-old to be able to make people of all ages think about their own personal experiences, isn’t it?
I hope you liked this post. See you very soon!
Take care,
Nikki, Teacher at ABA English
Thank you for the beautiful song and for Pre – Listening activity!
Adele is very clever and her video sounds so romantic! The choice of ‘black and white’ and the walking along the river offer an atmosphere of ‘vintage’, with an irresistible force of attraction. The song is sad and remind us the motto ‘someone like you’, often used in our lives; we all repeat every day this sentence, but we normally realize che every single person is different from all the others…..So it’s our dream, our desire, but quite difficult to find.. Anyway Nikki is right: I like this post very much!
Thanks Roberto! It is a lovely song,
Nikki
As far as I’m concerned this song is like a personal experience when somebody was in love and remember it again. It’s a sad and romantic video . For me is important this : ” Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead ” because there are bittersweet moments also in our live.
You’re right María Dolores: there are bittersweet moments in our lives, not just as far as love is concerned.
I liked it, I think Adele is a great singer and the video is nice, it has to Paris like stage and I liked concept white-black. The song made me cry because I remembered a person whom I loved a lot.
Hi Karina! It is a very emotional song which a lot of people can associate with. I love Paris. It´s a beautiful city. I´ve been there 3 times!
I agree with Mrs. Nikki
She has a beautiful voice, strong and romantic.
I also liked of hear Adele
She is a Icon
God bless her
Recently Adele had an operation and she didn´t know if she would be able to sing again but fortunately she can and can continue to produce beautiful songs.
Adele is a young and nice artist of greit talent; ‘Someone like you’ is a very beautiful song,a little sad but
involving.It’s a love-story finished with some regrets;Adele is also a songwriter with greit feeling and personality.I like this post, it’s very pleasant and positive.
Best regards
Aventino
This is a sweet song, beautiful video and romantic place. I agree with everyboday.
Thank you!
Neuslene
Thanks Priscilla! She is wonderful 🙂
Hi Lina!
It means it has not finished. For example “the movie isn’t over” means that the movie is still on. Or in the case of love, that we feel there is more to come.
I´m glad you like the song, Josette Beloucif. Listen to Adele´s other songs. They are also really good.
beautiful song. great singer. thanks.
hello! i lke very much Adele and before the song “rolling in the deep” i don’t know.
the song is very much sad! the Adele’s voice is wonderful!
bye bye
Hi!
Thanks for this Tip!
Adele has a wonderful voice and I love her “Turning tables” sung with the orchestra.
thanks also for this song!
It’s funny to study English with you all.
Have a nice day,
Mirella
Thank you for sharing your activity!!