Rhetoric Like You

Recently, I came across an article in the Wall Street Journal explaining why singer and recent Grammy winner, Adele’s song “Someone Like You” has the ability to make people cry. The article talks about how the arrangement of the song forces listeners to feel certain emotions. In compliance with this ideal, the Saturday Night Live cast did a sketch in which various members burst into tears upon hearing the song. Essentially, this song makes you feel.

Personally, I attribute the emotions and connections people have to this song with successful rhetoric. Adele’s voice and lyrics, alongside with the composition of the music creates an unconscious argument that persuades listeners; it captures them.

The song uses classic rhetoric techniques by employing ethos, pathos, and logos.  The lyrics elicit pathos as they draw on emotions common to all people. Heartbreak is universal and because of this all people can relate to the song. The emotions of the song become something that the listener can understand. With that, the song also emphasizes ethos. Ethos is often described as the guiding beliefs of a community. Within this mindset, finding love is a form of ethos, and by Adele telling a story of being in love and the troubles within love, the listener understands the ethics in the song. As the listener understands the song, logos is also seen, as the song is a logical progression of emotions. Without being outwardly forward, ethos, pathos, and logos is all subliminally seen.

Adele is not the only artist to tell a story that makes the masses fall in love with it. Rhetoric in music can constantly be seen. Often, in order for songs to be successful, the artist needs to convince the consumers that their song is something they can relate to, thus the song itself has to make a subtle argument. Adele’s work is a primal example of this, winning six Grammys last weekend, proving that many can relate to her music. Simply, she has the crowds convinced, without them even knowing it.