Adele hits Radio City (and NBC) for first concert in years
NEW YORK — "Hola. Guten tag. Salut. Shalom. Ciao. Konichiwa. Ni hao. Or as Adele would say, 'Sup?' "
After a warm introduction from Jimmy Fallon, Hello hitmaker Adele took the stage in a dazzling gold-and-black gown for her NBC concert special, Adele Live in New York City, airing Monday (10 p.m. ET/PT). Taped at Radio City Music Hall last month, the sumptuous event marked the Brit's first show in four years and pulled generously from her three-album catalog (most prominently, her record-smashing 25, which has sold more than 4 million copies in just two weeks).
Clocking in at nearly 90 minutes, the taping attracted scores of eager fans, whose cheers and screams of "I love you" rang from the distant balcony. Celebrities including Jennifer Lawrence, Tina Fey, Matthew McConaughey and Donald Trump were also spotted in attendance, no doubt eager to hear new material off 25.
Even more than Adele's powerhouse voice — showing no impairment, despite her 2011 vocal-cord surgery — the special showcased the 27-year-old's winning personality, seen for years in interviews, but on full display as she had the crowd cackling as much as they clapped.
"I'm so nervous, I was trying to find the nearest exit," Adele joked, after opening the show with Hello and Water Under the Bridge from 25. "Obviously, this is going to be on TV, so don't pick your nose," she laughed, just as she slipped off her high heels to better concentrate. Self-deprecating remarks about her "potato fingers" and feeling gassy similarly humanized the glammed-up pop star.
Between performances of All I Ask, Set Fire to the Rain and One and Only, the singer dropped F-bombs as often as she did anecdotes, which ranged from working with the "cool as (expletive)" Bruno Mars to writing James Bond theme Skyfall in her bathtub. Just as she prepared to unveil a surprise — an orchestra, which rose up from the stage for Chasing Pavements — she quipped, "It's not, like, Drake or anything. Don't get excited."
Although she'll headline a European arena tour next spring, Adele described playing Radio City as a bucket-list milestone. "I've been dying to do a (expletive) show," she blurted to huge applause, before introducing the first song she ever wrote, Hometown Glory. Sweeping black-and-white images of Paris were projected behind her as the edges of the stage lit up in red, white and blue: a tribute to the victims of last month's Paris terrorist attacks, accentuated by the song's lyrics of "we are united" and "we ain't gonna take it."
One of the evening's most heartwarming moments came when she introduced rueful breakup ballad Someone Like You, written about the ex who inspired her multi-Grammy-winning 21.
"I sing it from an amazing place now, because of my man who's here," Adele said, referring to boyfriend Simon Konecki, with whom she has a 3-year-old son, Angelo. "(It's) the first show he's ever seen me do. I'm so glad you're here," she added, turning away briefly to wipe her tears. She was similarly teary-eyed and appreciative during the show's encore, which included new songs Million Years Ago and When We Were Young, and breakout hit Rolling in the Deep as her thunderous finish.
"Aw, I'm so relieved. I feel like this is the start now," Adele beamed, before waving and walking offstage. "Thank you, New York. I'll never forget it."