As we stated on Day One, there would sometimes be songs that were recently released that would get some #31in31 love, and the track “He Won’t Go” from Brit sensation Adele is one of those.
What first strikes you about the tune are the drums, of course, followed by the infectious chords, and then Adele’s big voice, which is gorgeously under control as she writes a letter to her ex (basically what all of the album 21 is about… one long letter to an ex) trying to keep it together even as she’s falling apart without him. All of the heartbreak seems to mirror the stuff that great country music is made of, yet with an R&B edge. It was, in fact, her exposure to country over the years that helped her frame this album.
“He Won’t Go,” produced by Rick Rubin, is definitely one of my favorites from the project, along with the haunting “Someone Like You.” One I can listen to over and over again without getting tired of it. All of which proves to me that Adele is a force to be reckoned with. Here’s to hoping she gets over the heartbreak… or not, if it means more great music like this. Check the track below, and prepare to nod your head to it. Enjoy.
“He Won’t Go” Adele
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Adele’s 19 was strong. 21 is simply timeless. In the past two years, Adele has refined and reinvented her unique sound that always puts her aching yet powerful vocals and lyrics at the forefront. These are songs that could have been released in the 60s as easily as 30 years from now. Adele has injected her trademark piano ballads with the best from several different musical genres including Americana roots and country, r&b, blues and gospel. The music is exciting and simply is. It lives, breathes. I played a couple songs for my mom, who at forty years older than I, generally criticizes my music taste, and the first thing she said was “Wow, this girl really knows how to write a story–those songs are beautiful.”
Sara
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Been to see Adele perform a couple of times. Fantastic!
I love Rick Rubin and had to play this when I saw he was involved with her voice on this track. Listening, I feel she’s on the edge of making a decision that can cost her so much…but she knows.
Thanks Will…off to I-Tunes!!!!