Adele released her second studio album, 21, in 2011. It became the world's best-selling album of the 21st century, with sales of over 31 million copies. It was certified 17× platinum in the UK (the highest by a solo artist of all time) and Diamond in the US. According to Billboard, 21 is the top-performing album in the US chart history, topping the Billboard 200 for 24 weeks (the longest for a female artist ever). She was the first female artist in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 to have three simultaneous top-ten singles as a lead artist, with "Rolling in the Deep", "Someone Like You" and "Set Fire to the Rain", all of which also topped the chart. The album received a record-tying six Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and the Brit Award for British Album of the Year. The success of 21 earned Adele numerous mentions in the Guinness Book of Records.
In 2012, Adele released "Skyfall", a soundtrack single for the James Bond film of the same name, which won the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. Her third studio album, 25, was released in 2015 and became the year's best-selling album and broke first-week sales records in the UK and US. 25 was her second album to be certified Diamond in the US and earned her five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and four Brit Awards, including British Album of the Year. The lead single, "Hello", became the first song in the US to sell over one million digital copies within a week of its release. Her fourth studio album 30, which contains the chart-topping single "Easy on Me", was released in 2021 and became the year's best-selling album worldwide including US and UK. 30 won the 2022 Brit Award for British Album of the Year.
Adele is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with sales of over 120 million records. Her accolades include fifteen Grammy Awards and twelve Brit Awards. In 2011, 2012, and 2016, Billboard named her Artist of the Year. At the 2012 and 2016 Ivor Novello Awards, Adele was named Songwriter of the Year by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors. In 2012, she was listed at number five on VH1's 100 Greatest Women in Music. Time magazine named her one of the most influential people in the world in 2012, 2016, and 2022. She was appointed a MBE at the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to music. Her third tour saw her break attendance records globally, including in the UK, Australia, and the US, and her album 21 has been listed in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2020).
Fascinating Rhythm
Adele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's terribly sad but true,
All dressed up, no place to go
Each evening I'm awfully blue.
I must win some handsome guy
Can't go on like this,
I could blossom out I know,
Oh, sweet and lovely lady, be good
Oh, lady, be good to me
I am so awfully misunderstood
So lady, be good to me
Oh, please have some pity
I'm all-alone in this big city
I tell you I'm just a lonesome babe in the wood,
So lady be good to me.
Oh, please have some pity
I'm all alone in this big city
I tell you I'm just a lonesome babe in the wood,
So lady be good to me.
Oh lady be good to me.
The lyrics of Adele's song "Fascinating Rhythm" express feelings of loneliness, longing, and the desire for companionship. The singer starts by painting a picture of their sad reality, stating that they are all dressed up but have nowhere to go. This situation leaves them feeling incredibly blue each evening. It conveys a sense of frustration and dissatisfaction with their current state of being.
The singer then reveals their aspiration to find love and win over a handsome guy. They express the need for a change in their life, acknowledging that they could thrive and blossom if they were with someone like the person they are addressing. The lyrics suggest that this person possesses qualities that could bring happiness and fulfillment to the singer's life.
In the next section, the plea becomes more direct. The singer addresses the "sweet and lovely lady" and begs her to be good to them. They admit feeling misunderstood and yearn for her understanding and kindness. The city context adds an element of isolation and that the singer feels lost in the vastness of urban life. They present themselves as vulnerable, a "lonesome babe in the wood," emphasizing their need for someone to care for and support them.
The repetition of the plea emphasizes the singer's desperation for connection and compassion. They implore the lady to have pity on them and acknowledge their solitary existence in the bustling city. The lyrics convey a sense of longing for someone to fill the void in their life and to offer the love and support they crave.
Overall, "Fascinating Rhythm" portrays a person who is feeling lost, lonely, and misunderstood. Their yearning for love and companionship is expressed through their plea for the lady to be good to them. The song captures the universal desire for connection and highlights the importance of empathy and understanding in overcoming feelings of isolation.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen to my tale of woe
Pay attention to my story of sadness
It's terribly sad but true
It's extremely heartbreaking but it's the reality
All dressed up, no place to go
Dressed nicely, but nowhere to go
Each evening I'm awfully blue
Every evening I feel incredibly sad
I must win some handsome guy
I need to attract a charming man
Can't go on like this
I can't continue living in this manner
I could blossom out I know
I believe I could thrive and flourish
With somebody just like you
By being with someone exactly like you
Oh, sweet and lovely lady, be good
Oh, kind and beautiful lady, treat me well
Oh, lady, be good to me
Oh, please show me kindness, lady
I am so awfully misunderstood
I am greatly and deeply misunderstood
So lady, be good to me
Therefore, please be good to me, lady
Oh, please have some pity
Oh, please feel compassion for me
I'm all alone in this big city
I am completely solitary in this large city
I tell you I'm just a lonesome babe in the wood
I'm telling you, I am merely a lonely person in this confusing situation
So lady be good to me
Therefore, lady, please treat me well
Oh lady be good to me
Oh, lady, please be kind to me
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@moonraven3
This is a fantastic rendition of a Gershwin classic. I suggest others to check out another classic "I'd Rather Charleston". I absolutely adore Adele's voice.
@lanecountybigfooters5716
Three of my very favorites from the Thirties! Amazing. Thank you for this. Fred's voice is amazing. And George.... OMG.
@sauroid1
George Gershwin on the piano, what a treat. What I wouldn't give to have a tenth of his talent. Great video.
@WondrousEarth
Outstanding video of Fred and Adele, and the commentary with the video had much information I've never heard before ☺
@maureen1938
Thank you for posting this delightful share it's fantastic a real pleasure to listen to.
@2ndviolinist
You're most welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for listening.
@CateJackson
Fantastic video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where did you find this recording?!?! What a gem!
@doyasteve
Well done. Thanks for your work and for sharing this.
@2ndviolinist
You're most welcome. Thank you for listening.
@Shabannie
I love the Gershwins and the Astaires. You made a wonderful video. ---------Ellen