Adele tops music sales, AMA nominations

Her song Rolling In The Deep has scored a whopping 5.3 million in digital sales. Her new single release Someone Like You is No. 1 in Billboard’s Hot 100 list and also hot everywhere else. But even if achievements such as these had not happened, I would still love Adele.

The British wonder girl has done something really great for all our young aspiring divas. With her soulful, laid-back style, she has taught these kids that you do not have to shout your lungs out or distort your notes, dress trashy or look fierce to impress your audience or to make a hit. I hope they are learning this lesson each time they listen to Adele.

It is just too bad they will not have the chance to watch Adele perform live within the next few months. The singer-songwriter has canceled all 10 remaining dates of her US tour that was set to kick off in Atlantic City last Oct. 7. I guess that means that all other gigs, including an Asian tour, have also been canceled. She has been having problems with her throat and needs to rest her vocal cords.

I guess that also means no new recordings for now. If we are to go by her previous schedule, Adele comes out with an album every two years. She had 19 when she was 19 years old and 21 two years later. She is now 23. Not that Adele has any need for a new album. 21 is doing very well. It is now generally acknowledged that 21 is the biggest selling album of the year, which makes Adele also the top artist of 2011.

 Since she is not allowed to sing these days, maybe Adele can just spend her time collecting trophies. She already has a Best New Artist and a Best Performance by a Female Artist award from the Grammys. She can expect to add one or two or more come Nov. 20 from the American Music Awards (AMAs) where she is the top nominee.

21 is Adele’s personal tale of feelings she went through during that year. Part torch, part country, part blues, a bit of rock and some other types, it tells of love, pain, vulnerability, teen-age angst and other emotions common to girls her age. Judging from the way the CD is selling, Adele has connected deeply to this market.

I am not surprised. 21 is a well-made album that smoothly moves from one song to the next with themes that everybody can relate to. And Adele certainly sounds beautiful. Her heartfelt singing is the kind that grows on the listener and makes them long for more. 

Best of the lot are the big selling singles Rolling In The Deep and Someone Like You. I also like the rousing Set Fire To The Rain, the romantic One And Only and the aching Lovesong. Also included are Rumour Has It, Turning Tables, Don’t You Remember, He Won’t Go, Take It All, I’ll Be Waiting plus live acoustic versions of the current hit Someone Like You and other cuts.

Meanwhile, here are the nominees at the 2011 AMAs. The choices were based on the hit charts, sales figures and a new addition to the criteria, the social media buzz. That means Facebook, Twitter, etc. The public, through ballots, gets to pick the winners. Here goes:

Favorite Pop Rock: Male Artist: Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, Pitbull; Female Artist: Adele, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry; Band, Duo or Group: LMFAO, Maroon 5, One Republic; Album: Adele’s 21, Lady Gaga’s Born This Way, Rihanna’s Loud.

Favorite Country Music: Male Artist: Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton; Female Artist: Sara Evans, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift; Band, Duo or Group: The Band Perry, Zac Brown Band, Lady Antebellum; Album: Jason Aldean’s My Kind Of Party, The Band Perry’s The Band Perry, Taylor Swift’s Speak Now.

 Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop: Artist: Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West; Album: Jay-Z & Kanye West’s Watch The Throne, Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV, Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday.

Favorite Soul/R&B: Male Artist: Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Usher; Female Artist: Beyonce, Rihanna, Kelley Rowland; Album: Beyoncé’s 4, Chris Brown’s F.A.M.E., Rihanna’s Loud.

Alternative Rock Artist: The Black Keys, Foo Fighters, Mumford & Sons; Adult Contemporary Artist: Adele, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry; Latin Artist: Enrique Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull; Contemporary Inspirational Artist: Casting Crowns, Tobymac, Third Day.

Artist of the Year: Adele, Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift.