REVIEW: Adéla Proves It’s Her World and We’re Just Living in It With Her Debut Album ‘PRIMA’
REVIEW
REVIEW
☆ BY KIERRA WHITE ☆
ADÉLA IS A POP PRINCESS IN THE MAKING—with her debut album PRIMA out now. Listeners new and old get the chance to experience a multitude of different genres from her at the same time. From pop to R&B, Adéla proves she knows how to produce tracks that can get anyone on their feet or cry at the same time.
Listeners first get this introduction with the first track “KGB.” This track functions as a way to introduce newcomers to Adéla in an upbeat, high energy song. Taking a spin on the original meaning Adéla brings light into a dark past for the acronym. Focusing on her roots as a young girl in Slovakia, who dreamed about becoming big and leaving her critics behind, “KGB” functions as a song that not only deals with self identity, but acceptance as well.
The highlight of “KGB” comes not only in the form of upbeat lyrics, but also in the music video as well where watchers can experience Adéla take on the literal approach to its meaning. For listeners who have never heard of Adéla before, this song is surely a way to introduce her. Original listeners as well get to step into the new Adéla universe.
Then hot like a firecracker comes the track “Nicole Kidman.” This song serves as a way to show a different side of Adéla—just like the track's predecessor “Red Bottoms,” it leans on its vocals more than “KGB.” One thing to mention is Adéla’s penmanship. This song features multiple references of Nicole Kidman‘s career throughout.
One lyric that stands out is “Babygirl in control / I feel like Nicole,” pulled directly from Nicole Kidman‘s movie Babygirl. This is Adéla’s way of showing that she is in control of the image she wants to portray. The music video to “Nicole Kidman” is also a stunner that highlights not only Adéla’s eye for visual masterpieces, but also her attention to detail when it comes to who she is talking about in her songs.
“I’m The Man,” just like “Nicole Kidman,” is another soft pop confidence track. With heavily inspired trip-hop sounds, this is a unique track that sees Adéla dabbling into a sound she hasn't before. She’s letting us know that she’s confident to take the next leap of faith in the trajectory of her career. By turning what makes a “man“ out of her, she says that anybody can be that for themselves. It’s a matter of mindset. “I think I got it from my daddy / I answered to nobody / On my knees for nobody.”
“Boys” is the love child between Janet Jackson, Britney Spears and Adéla. There are so many elements of this song that makes it feel like it belongs in an early 2000s movie soundtrack. From the lyrics “I got boy like a vending machine / I just press the right buttons, and they're falling for me” to the Jackson inspired beat, this is one for the movies. Think John Tucker Must Die or Housebunny—this song would be perfect.
Adéla previously talked about how she is inspired by Janet Jackson and that cannot be more true than on the track “Boys.” This is a song that belongs not only in your car as you’re driving with the windows down, but also in the club. It’s a track that belongs on Blackout by Britney Spears, hitting all the heavy hitters for what makes a song truly unique.
“Red bottoms” is one of the most personal tracks from this album. It should be noted again that Adéla’s penmanship is out of this world. Equating the feeling of being loved and done wrong to that of a red bottom is something so poetic: “I can’t talk in feelings / but I can talk in fashion.”
Just like the stigmatism that is the red bottom there are many opinions on how a red bottom should be worn. Should it be scuffed up? Can it be worn until it grains? The same can be said for love. “Nobody wants dirty shoes / Nobody wants daddy issues / Don’t wanna feel secondhand / Not when it comes to you.” Everybody wants a love that feels deep and meaningful and when the feeling of abandonment happens, it can be an eye-opening experience for some. Adéla knows how to showcase that feeling in its head.
“Fantasize” by Adéla functions as a song that dabbles in the temptation of forbidden fruit. ”This is a part where human nature / Fills me with need and sways my mind.” Just like the lyrics suggest, “Fantasize” is a more risqué song with a flirty beat to match.
Then, unlike the other songs on this album, “Starving Artist” is base heavy with soft lyrics. As one of the most unique tracks on this album, it serves as a way for Adéla to show a little bit of a darker side of herself without completely leaving her identity behind. Her soft melodies are still present throughout with vocal layering as well.
“Marijuana” is a song that came directly from the 2016 vault. It’s a song that makes listeners feel high without taking any drugs. Just like this song name suggests, this upbeat song keeps listeners on their toes.
“Therapy” is another emotionally heavy track. Unlike the other songs on this album, this song carries one note throughout and focuses more on Adéla’s pain growing up while trying to make it in America. There’s no upbeat chorus or funky beat. This song feels like it’s pulled straight out of a notebook. It also blends into the next track, “Ain’t in LA,” as it functions as a way to hear the sad side of trying to make it as an artist in a country that is not your home of origin.
In the end, PRIMA is Adéla’s fully fledged welcome letter into the musical scene; and with the versatility that listeners got to experience, Adéla is making it known that she is here to stay. She is also currently on tour. Now’s the chance to hear PRIMA as it was intended: live.
