Affinity for Adele?

After a year vacation, I have finally been inspired to post a new entry. As an Adele lover, I wish I could say that the Adele post was inspired by one of her greater songs, but unfortunately that isn't the case. However, to give her the credit she deserves (and stick with my previous format) I figured she deserves some amount of praise first, so...

I Like: Someone Like You by Adele

As someone with a soft spot for tear-jerking slow songs, I admit I have a bias towards this one. This song is much softer than Rolling in the Deep, but at least equally powerful. Outside of the fact that Adele's true vocal talent cannot possibly be ignored in this heart-breaking ballad, the emotion that she puts into the words is moving and convinces any listener that each word, and even each note, rings painfully true to her. The difference between a sappy, cliche love song and one that truly hits home is an artist that conveys real feelings, and Adele absolutely puts genuine raw emotion into this one.

I Don't Like: Make You Feel Me Love by Adele (original by Bob Dylan)
As someone with a deep love for (almost) everything Dylan has ever written/sang, I admit I have a bias against this one. However, with all of my hatred for people mistaking covers for originals by much more legendary artists, I have enjoyed many a Dylan cover in my time, and therefore I'm deeming my assessment fair. That being said, it isn't actually that I don't like this song. This is one of my favorite Dylan songs of all time, and since Adele changed nothing about it, I do actually like her version...but I don't respect it. (It's complicated). Essentially, I am of the firm belief that if someone is going to cover a song (especially if it's a song written by a legend), they have to change something about it - preferably for the better. It seems to me as if all Adele does in this cover is perform Dylan's song in the same exact way he does (albeit with a very different voice). While she does sing with emotion, as always, and no one could deny her voice is better than Dylan's (as if that is a feat), it feels less genuine to me because nothing about this song is her own. I don't want to say she is milking the heartbreak/her talent with painful ballads, but this song leaves me skeptical. Being a talented singer/artist does not equal singing karaoke. If you're going to cover a song, do something to make it your own.