Adele Accepts Her Ghosts in Teaser Track “Hello” from Upcoming “Make-up” Album, 25

Hello by Adele

After a four-year hiatus, Adele has our hearts fluttering once again after the release of a new track off her album 25 to be released on November 20^th. Described as a “make-up” album by Adele herself, 25 promises to be phenomenal considering that the teaser track, “Hello”, has beautifully crafted lyrics and speak to all of us.

While giving off a haunting, chilling vibe (just in time for Halloween), “Hello” is empowering and reminds us that we can overcome the challenges life throws at us – whether they take the shape of a failed relationship, struggling to make ends meet, or simply growing into a more mature and stronger human being.

The first few words in the song have us cheering and whooping as Adele introduces herself: Hello, it’s me. After the initial excitement, we are enamoured by the haunting lyrics and melancholy tune. The song begins as apologetic and regretful until Adele transcends what we might expect from a typical slow ballad by breaking into a strong chorus that embodies what it means to accept your past and move on:

While the video depicts a failed relationship and the lyrics complement that, the words can be interpreted in multiple ways. These lyrics are so relatable because they reflect human struggles that we face everyday. To be able to say that you’ve tried and crossed that bridge to the other side is enough. This is not resignation. This is acceptance. The way Adele is able to represent this by manipulating her voice is striking. The second time the chorus repeats, you not only hear Adele, but you also hear the ghosts of her past singing with her as multiple echoes accompany her.

“Hello” is honest and provides a real take on what it means to let go. It addresses the difference between giving up and accepting past mistakes and regrets, as heard here:

It is through these lyrics that Adele teaches us an important lesson. Giving up and running away from our problems means that we never actually confront them, and so we lose out on an opportunity for personal growth. Here, she longs to meet her ex-lover to revisit the past, not because she wants to go back to that place physically and emotionally, but because she wants to know what exactly went wrong so that she doesn’t repeat her errors in the future on the other side – she wants to grow.

I think we can all relate to this message. Sometimes we feel stuck. Whether it is at school or at work, there are periods of stagnancy where we may feel that we aren’t growing anymore as people – that we are simply going through the motions. At that point, perhaps it is time to let go. Perhaps rather than stay put on the side that we are comfortable with, it is time to cross over onto “the other side”, as Adele puts it, or into the next chapter in our lives.

The fact that Adele is not saying goodbye and chooses to say hello gives us a lot of insight into the mindset we should have when letting go of things. As a university student, I had to let go of high school, and I even had to let go of the comforts of home. Still, it’s not a goodbye. It’s a hello to the next stage in my life. This is something human beings experience every single day.

Adele’s ability to send this message so eloquently and melodiously is incredibly note-worthy. Although Adele is not new to the music scene, it is always so refreshing to hear her new tracks because they are so different. They are breath taking and hard to stop listening to. I can’t wait to see what else Adele has in store for her fans on November 20^th, because if “Hello” is any indication, 25 is going to be a fantastic, heartfelt album!

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