Adele’s fourth studio album, 30, can only be described as sentimental and almost inexplicably emotional. The album, released on Nov. 19, mixes diverse genres through tones of heartbreak and consequential acceptance.

Notably, the worldwide superstar feels like any other ordinary person, as her heartfelt and down-to-earth words seem like a coping method, motivation to move forward. It’s clear her 2019 divorce and motherhood influenced these undertones of heartbreak and acceptance.

Despite how distinctly diverse 30 is from previous albums, fans are sure to enjoy its 12 tracks, which mark Adele’s return from a 6-year hiatus. The following tracks highlight the album’s sentimentalism and diversity.

Strangers By Nature

The first track in 30’s chronological order, “Strangers By Nature” showcases a building sense of self-awareness upon a whimsical beat that doesn’t feel like an Adele song.

Through regretful hindsight, Adele addresses her past heartbreak and the emotional mess it left her. The artist reveals this as she “[takes] flowers to the cemetery of my heart” and realizes her mistakes, “[rebuts] all my rebuttals.” The song acts as a statement of acceptance and self-awareness, as she hopes that “someday I’ll learn to nurture what I’ve done.”

Easy On Me

Released before 30 as a single, “Easy On Me” masks deeper meaning under catchy choruses and a very Adele-Esque piano melody, through somewhat vague analogies and confrontational pleadings.

This deeper meaning is immediately revealed by the opening line “there ain’t no gold in this river”, an analogy for the lack of value Adele began to find in her relationship with her ex-husband. She elaborates on this relationship, telling her ex-husband and child to “go easy on me,” because she “had no time to choose what I chose to do.” This is likely referring to her reason for the divorce, in which she sought happiness, but “there ain’t no room for things to change when we are both so deeply stuck in our ways.” In the same sense, “Easy On Me” can be interpreted as a message to her son and ex-husband, justifying her decisions and the lessons she learned as a result.

My Little Love

My Little Love combines a somber background track with splices of voice recordings to creatively emphasize the chorus, which is directed towards Angelo, Adele’s son.

This message is elaborated through snippets of conversation between Adele and Angelo, where Adele tells him “[I’ve] been having a lot of big feelings recently,” revealing how she is having trouble communicating with Angelo, who can’t grasp the concept of divorce as a nine-year-old. Adele uses the track as a personal message to Angelo, asking if he can “feel the way my past aches,” and “hear the way my heart breaks.”

To Be Loved

Adele uses powerful vocals to contrast with a soft, monotonous piano melody and proclaim the efforts and sacrifice she made and is currently making to move forward.

This reflective optimism is elaborated upon by her realization that “I’ll never learn if I never leap,” and “I’ll always yearn if I never speak.” This helps to convey that she knows she has to take initiative to achieve happiness. She adds to this, saying that she’s willing to “lose all the things I can’t live without” and “be the one to catch myself this time.” This justification of sacrifice leads to further self-love, in which she is satisfied with her decision to divorce.

I Drink Wine

Adele’s song shows the struggles of the effort in a relationship and trying to make it work. She stopped drinking, as it took her dad from her. Although it’s hard to go through a break-up Adele has a very inspiring message while she gets through it sober. 

This is arguably one of Adele’s best songs in 30. It’s 6 minutes long but it’s easy to listen to all of it. The title, including wine, shows the standpoint of her age. It gives her perspective and view of the world. She explains the difference between when she was young vs. how she is now, she says, “I only soak up wine” but when she was young she was entertained easily. The songs expressed how her life desires have shifted since her divorce. A lyric that stands out, “you better believe I’m trying to keep climbing,” reveals that she keeps trying even if times are hard as she grows.

Love Is A Game

Love is a game, the 12th song in the album. It has a captivating beat that could get stuck in your head all day. She attempts to explain to her 6-year old son about love, divorce, and overall how complicated it is through this song.

In my opinion, it seems like Adele is speaking to herself, and reflecting on her mistakes in love, rather than a message to Angelo about how she fell in love again after her divorce. She says, “love is a game for fools to play,” though she was playing the “game.” She realized that she was too young to commit to the stability Angelo wanted.

Hold On 

Hold On is a more quiet and sentimental song, she has impressive vocals throughout the song. The song begins with her challenges mentally, “it’s hard to hold on to who I am,” she says.

There is the repetition of her friends reassuring her that she will get through the divorce. You can hear a voice in the back saying, “you are still strong,” representing her friends motivating her. The build-up before the beat drop makes you want to look forward to it.