A couple of months ago iTunes gave away a song called "Hometown Glory" by a teenaged British singer called Adele. I like to get things for free, so I downloaded it. Adele was described by the iTunes mavens then as the Next Big Thing over in the UK. I didn't hear much about her after her moment in the Free-Download-of-the-Week Sun.
Well, that has changed, hasn't it?
I was put in mind of Adele tonight in a roundabout way. My friend Nan, over at Letters from a Hill Farm, (see the sidebar), recently posted a Dusty Springfield video on her blog. You should go to there and check out a link to a WBUR in Boston interview about the wonders of Dusty and all Nan's other great recommendations - for all manner of things, from muffin recipes to murder mysteries. (I'll give you the video here too, in a minute).
After being reminded by Nan of how great Dusty Springfield was, I ran back to iTunes and bought a few DS classics. Listening to those put me in mind of Adele, who seems to be carrying the fire of White-English-Girl-Genuine Soul. "Hometown Glory" has become one of my favorite songs. I did a little reading about Adele just now and learned that she did, in fact, seem to be fizzling in the US until she appeared on the same Saturday Night Live show that featured Sarah Palin last year. There, she sang this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz7vGW2_5c0 (sorry, you have to cut and paste the link to Youtube as embedding has been disabled; it's worth it).
I can't believe this girl is 20 years old. What a gift! I hear she is just starting a concert tour in the U.S. this month and will sing with Etta James at the Hollywood Bowl in June at the end of it. I don't like crowds, and I don't like California, but I would like to see that. So, while Fergie may claim (in "Fergalicious,") that there "ain't no other lady can put it down like [her]" here are some others who don't need to brag in or about their songs...
Some classic Dusty to complete this evening's circle:
4 comments:
Wow! That's some video. Thanks so much. I responded to your comment on my blog, but not sure if you saw it. I think I first heard Adele on Canadian radio a while back. I put her on my mental list but haven't bought her yet. A young friend left a message on my machine the other day telling me I had to buy her music! It's time. I'll do it. I'm glad you posted the Dusty video. I've been singing it all week.
Me, again. A little update on my NYC comment. Turns out the bedbugs might be spiders. Is one better than the other? I think not.
Unfortunately, I'm at home in the wilderness with mere dial-up internet access, so I can't readily access the videos. I shall try later when I get back to the office from my "stay-cation."
I love Dusty Springfield though, my choice for, if nothing else, the perfect name for a singer.
Cheers.
Hey Nan - Thanks for checking back. I hope you will like Adele as much as I do. "Chasing Pavements" is another great song. Forced to choose, I think I would pick spiders. At least they don't willingly get in bed with you, and E.B. White did wonders for their reputation. I went to the Stowe Library yesterday and got on the list to get the DVD of Frozen River. Thanks for the recommendation.
R - Hello! My jaw dropped when I read that you are working with dial up! I am sitting here in the middle of nowhere and we have broadband. I hope you say "wilderness" you really mean it, like you are at a hunting camp or something. Listening to the WBUR Boston show that Nan has on her website I learned that Dusty was not born Dusty, but Mary Anne Something or Other. I hope you are not too disappointed, and that you will get broadband!
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