Adele broke Taylor Swift’s Vevo record: do you think Swifty is pissed?

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I’m not proud of this, but when Adele dropped the “Hello” single and video last Friday, one of my first thoughts was “I would love to see Taylor Swift’s face this morning.” Yes, one of the first places I went was to pit two enormously successful women against each other. As I said, I’m not proud. But to be fair to myself, there’s a lot of legitimate compare-and-contrasting going on between Adele and Swifty. Also, to be fair: both women are total professionals and their competition (or the media speculation about their competition) is completely at the professional level. Swifty isn’t singing songs about “Bad Blood” with Adele, nor is Taylor telling Vanity Fair that Adele is going to hell for whatever reason. Adele has barely said one word to or about Taylor in public. There is no “feud” in the gossip sense, they are just two professionals with a healthy sense of competition.

As for the comparing and contrasting… if we’re being honest, it’s sort of one-sided. Adele’s last studio album, 21, has sold 30 million copies and is one of the top-five best selling albums of all time. Taylor has sold about 27 million copies of all of her albums combined. Taylor held the record for most-viewed video within a 24-hour period for “Bad Blood” when it was viewed 20.1 million times on Vevo after weeks of hype, Instagrams, tweets and a big debut at the Billboard Awards (plus “Bad Blood” starred Taylor’s squad of A-list friends). With minimal advanced hype, a grand total of three Instagram posts and one Facebook post, Adele smashed Taylor’s record. “Hello” was viewed 25 million times on Vevo in a single day.

Taylor also holds/held a lot of records for downloads, single sales and album sales for 1989. Adele’s “Hello” is already the #1 download in 85 countries and there’s every expectation that when the album drops in November, Adele will smash every record then too. Adele was able to do all of this with such minimal social media effort. The only press she did was on the day she dropped her first single – she did not sit down for an advanced Rolling Stone interview or anything else, although (to be fair) I’m sure those magazine interviews are coming.

I also think it’s interesting that Adele’s first music video in more than three years stars an African-American dude as her love interest/former love interest. Taylor has a well-documented blind spot when it comes to race, and it’s doubtful that she would even consider casting a minority actor/model as her fictional love interest. Taylor doesn’t even cast minority actors when she’s filming Out of Africa-themed music videos.

As of Sunday, Taylor has made no mention of Adele on her social media. Which is weird, because she’s usually pretty engaged with what’s going on with other artists, right? Lots of celebrities have done shout-outs to Adele on their social media, but not Taylor. Will she say anything? Is Adele – more than anyone else – the one Taylor could never collect as a friend?

Oh, and let’s not forget these two have been up for the same award before: in 2013, Taylor and Adele were up for the Golden Globe for Best Song, which Adele won for “Skyfall.” Adele would go on to win the Oscar while Taylor wasn’t even nominated. Remember Taylor’s face when Adele won at the Globes? That’s why one of my first thoughts was “I would love to see Taylor Swift’s face this morning.”

swifty adele

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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135 Responses to “Adele broke Taylor Swift’s Vevo record: do you think Swifty is pissed?”

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  1. Belle Epoch says:

    I appreciated the guy being black. And he did a great job – he looked charming and funny, and then angry, and then heartbroken. Sob!

    • LadyMTL says:

      The whole video got me right in the gut, I was practically in tears by the end of it. And then I found out it was filmed here in Montreal and I loved it even more, lol. 😛
      I can’t wait until the album comes out!

    • Lulu says:

      Is it Dixon?

    • Mimz says:

      Yeah I was pleasantly surprised, because I do like him as an actor (and he sings too), and i liked loved the whole concept.
      Taylor knows not to piss off this kind of competition. She needs to keep quiet and watch herself being kicked off the pedestal. for now. Her time will come when she releases her next album: #GirlSquad

    • funcakes says:

      Me too. How long are people in the entertainment business going to ignore the fact that in real life people have interracial relationships. Gay,straight,Bi and Tran.

      • V4Real says:

        Madonna, Chris Brown, Alicia Keys, Chrisette Michelle, Justin Timberlake, Duran Duran, Janet Jackson and a host of R&B and Hip Hop artist have all used people of another race as their love interest in their videos. It’s good Adele has jumped on board.

        From the 80’s to present we are still waiting for casting agents to say can you send me over a man/woman to play the lead interest and they don’t mention race at all. Still waiting for them to do that in Hollywood as well.

    • Alexandra says:

      I also love how this time, it’s Adele apologizing for what she did, for letting the relationship falter, instead of portraying him like a villain. It really does sound like a makeup record, where she takes responsibility for her breakups. Not like Swifty, where it’s ALWAYS HIS FAULT. And Xavier Dolan (who directed the video) IS EVERYTHING <3 <3 <3.

  2. Allie says:

    If Adele ever became friends with Taylor, I’d give up on life. I think Taylor is secretly fuming, but she’ll never show it in public. She knows better than to go against Adele, as that’s basically social suicide. Also, I know the whole bad blood video was full of people relatively famous, but are they really A list? Because Brad Pitt, Angelina…those I consider A list. Not models I’ve never heard of that are only friends with Taylor for publicity.

  3. aims says:

    Taylor is raging! !!! Lmao!!!! I wonder if her pro girlfriend feeling is what she’s feeling right now???

    Keep on doing your thing Adele! ! Love it!

  4. mia girl says:

    So THAT was the halting sound I heard over the weekend that seemed to echo off canyons, ripple through trees, make birds scatter in all directions, cause giant swells in the ocean, and even travel to the farthest reaches of the universe…
    It was Taylor Swift screaming
    “Noooooooooooooooooo!!”

    • K says:

      Hahaha dead

    • We Are All Made of Stars says:

      On the bright side, the powerful reverb from her monstrous wail did manage to break up that Mexican hurricane and spare us all from one of the greatest disasters in the history of recorded weather. No, really.

    • WinnieCoopersMom says:

      LOL I imagine that right about now she looks like SJP in the first SATC movie after Big has left her at the alter: Completely distraught, exhausted and a bit haggard.

  5. Nancy says:

    Of course she is. If Adele is feeling little pricks of pain it’s from Taylor’s little Adele doll. Take that and that and that. I am the queen, go away British woman….who actually can sing and I’m pretty sure doesn’t like kittens, ah maybe she does…..meanwhile Adele is saying now who is this Swifty person? Just shake it off yank.

  6. K says:

    I don’t care about swift but I have listened to hello on repeat non stop since Saturday. I’m obsessed

    And she didn’t just cast an African American guy she casted Tristan Wilds aka Michael from the Wire. Adele doesn’t play!

  7. peanut says:

    I’m not really keen to pit them against each other. They can each be wildly successful in their own right.

    That said, I would put the two of them now vastly different categories, vocal talent-wise. So it makes sense that Adele can easily smash Taylors records when she busts our her incredible voice. Taylor has a lot going for her, but absolutely incredible vocals aren’t really one of her “things”.

    • msw says:

      Agreed. I think Taylor knows Adele outpaces her in talent. They have different roles in the industry.

    • OhDear says:

      Yeah, I don’t think they’re competing, other than the fact that they’re both women in the music industry. Adele doesn’t seem to be interested in building an empire and PR issues, while Swift knows that she doesn’t have the musical talent that Adele has.

      • WinnieCoopersMom says:

        ” Adele doesn’t seem to be interested in building an empire.” This. Pharrell played a role in this new album and he is quoted as saying she would come into the studio for a short bit and then leave with her son, she was in and out in as little time as possible. She wants to release great music, but I dont think she is overly obsessed with the minor details and will do a pretty quick PR routine compared to someone like Swift who spent MONTHS on the PR trail for 1989 (bc she had to). Adele will sell more without trying, but I dont think she really cares that much either way.

    • lucy2 says:

      They are SO different, it’s hard for me to remember they’re about the same age, and I don’t know if they should be compared that way either. Adele is THE VOICE and doesn’t need any hype beyond her own talent, and Taylor is more of a whole pop star package and the music is just one aspect of that.

    • DiamondRottweiler says:

      Huh. I like harmless gossip, smart gossip, juicy gossip as much as the next person, but it bums me out that people are so gleefully eager to pit two insanely accomplished women against each other. Sure, Swifty’s ambitious, probably a huge pain in the ass as a human being, maybe a mean girl. But why do we WANT to see two women at the top of this game try and take each other out? Where’s the pleasure in that for us?

  8. Loopy says:

    Don’t see the comparisons, Taylor has no soul.

  9. smcollins says:

    The only reason (in my mind, anyway) that Taylor’s been on top is because Adele’s been on hiatus. Sorry, Taylor, you’re about to be catapulted off that pedestal of yours.

  10. als says:

    If Taylor had one ounce of self-awareness she would get that there’s no competition here. She is primarily a business woman, good at selling, Adele is primarily a singer/ musician – she sings.
    Anyone that has ears knows the difference between the two of them.

    Adele’s voice is amazing, someone said here that she would sound amazing reading the telephone book – she would and she would still break records. I don’t think Hello is a great song but her voice elevates it.
    Taylor’s voice never elevates anything.

    • claire says:

      Maybe she does have self-awareness and doesn’t see it as competition. It’s not Taylor reporting in to give us her feelings; it’s all conjecture.

  11. grabbyhands says:

    Don’t feel too bad-I have a feeling many, many people had similar thoughts. I certainly did. And I feel like it is very telling that she has been completely silent. I have a feeling that in the next few days there will be a lukewarm tweet about how she was busy or sick and just now realized it had been released and then it will end with something condescending.

  12. Louise says:

    Didn’t Taylor have dinner with Adele and a group of other famous types in London a while back? There were no photos but they were spotted? Damn, i wish i could be definite. I seem to remember Sienna Miller’s name being in the mix which is random. Adele is buddies with Kate Perry, but then again so is Selena Gomez and Ed Sheeran is tight with John Mayer so it’s not like Taylor shuns anyone who has anything to do with her or anyone she dislikes.

    I think Taylor is smart enough not to make an ‘enemy’ of Adele or even to shade her in any way. The internet would turn on her. I do think it’s unfair to judge celebs on split second facial expressions at awards. I know i have been accused of looking bored/pissed off when i really was either day dreaming or just going about my business. Curse of a resting bitch face, i guess :/

    • lolamd says:

      Same here! My resting bitch face gets me a lot of “are you okay?”, “are you mad?”. However NY Times did an article on resting bitch face and now I am validated!!!

      • Louise says:

        Yeah, it really sucks. I think i come across as unapproachable and intimidating because i don’t go around smiling all of the time or just look like i’d bite their head off… Sometimes it’s a good thing when you don’t want anybody bugging you though haha!

        The worst is when gross men are all ‘give us a smile, sweetheart’ – I want to say ‘F.U.C.K right off, you dick!’

    • Lizzie McGuire says:

      It was Adele & Beyonce having dinner in London, no Princess Rainbow Taylor invited.

  13. kri says:

    There simply is no comparison between these two. In any way. Taylor might be a bit jealous, and may write something in her pink velevet Slam Book, but she’s too savvy to say anything publicly. I expect a tweet or whatever saying “Congrats Adele-please eat that homemade jam I sent! Very special recipe!!” Don’t eat the jam, Adele. DON”T EAT THE JAM.

  14. Milena says:

    I noticed and appreciated the race thing (sorry to call it that, it’s early, can’t think of a more PC way to put it) in Adele’s video – why does it feel uncommon to see interracial couples in media these days? Am I not watching the right things??

    That actor (Tristan Wilds) is a cutie and the video for Hello made me fall a little bit in love with him, which is a testament to how emotionally it was filmed. Compare that to Taylor’s perfume ad for Wildest Dreams with cardboard cutout Generically Handsome White Man Love Interest #3. I remember thinking when it came out, how interesting would this have been if Taylor had cast a love interest who was a different race? But no way – every video of hers (and she’s made dozens) it’s just interchangeable white male models. She’s so out of tune, and a “racial blind spot” is a perfect way to put what she has. And her music grates, even though I totally listen to it, lol.

    Really, there is no comparison between Adele and T Swift. Taylor is exhausting; Adele is the real deal. So glad Adele is back!

  15. AlmondJoy says:

    Taylor can be petty and she’s self obsessed so I wouldn’t be surprised if she was angry. Her usual tactic is to befriend those she feels threatened by… But I don’t see that happening this time.

  16. zimmer says:

    “Do you think Swifty was’ pissy? Absolutely, yes! It will just make her try that much harder, but Adele is really in a class by herself.

  17. Cait says:

    It never has to be either or. Most people enjoy a variety of music… I enjoy mine without politics. They are both good artists… pitting them against one another helps… how?

    • DaSH says:

      This. I enjoy variety of music so I don’t know why there is a need to pit them against each other. Both obviously have different range and different audience target. I highly doubt Swift is only successful because Adele is on hiatus. Majortiy of Swift’s fans are kids and teens along with their parents.

      Can’t there be a post just about Adele’s success? Why the need to mention Swift? The passion hate with Swift is hilarious, they dislike her so much they can’t stop thinking about her and compare her to everybody else.

      • PrincessMe says:

        Agree with both of you. I’m a huge fan of Adele’s music. I think she’s amazingly talented and I can’t wait for November to get here (*biting nails*). But I actually like Swifty as well. They both contribute different things and have their place. We don’t have to tear one down to lift the other up.

  18. Shelley says:

    I’m sorry I don’t see a comparison. Not in an offensive way to Taylor. There is simply no female artist who is currently comparable to Adele.

    • lbees says:

      Florence Welsch, I would think. Flo has more rock in her, Adele’s got more soul.

      • littlestar says:

        I agree with this. Florence Welsch is amazing.

        I will add one more to the list. The woman from the Alabama Shakes. I am kinda obsessed with her currently!

  19. Tig says:

    Oh c’mon-I am into a bit of snarking(witty/puny also helps) but this article is silly. There’s plenty of room for both, and evidently plenty of $$$/downloads too. Adele has an otherworldly voice, and Taylor writes/co-writes fun pop songs. You can enjoy both!

  20. vauvert says:

    I like Tay Tay a lot and I really don’t want to make it a competition – I mean any top selling artists compete sales wise but why do we need to put two succesful women against each other?

    However, I do love that Adele’s success proves you do NOT need a non stop media drive to be popular or best selling. And I am not simply referring to Swifty here, but to all the artists (and celebs) who feel the need to be in our faces 24/7 with their stupid bathroom selfies, woke up like this selfies, just had dinner ha ha selfies… Good lord people get a grip.

    • Lady D says:

      Yes, I way preferred private Beyonce to 3/4 naked Beyonce. We are drowning in D list celebrity pics. Too bad they can’t find a balance between studio protected stars of old and the instant accessibility stars of today.

  21. THOT says:

    Pretty sure Taylor has better than to try and compete with Adele

  22. hellena says:

    You shouldn’t feel bad. You’re comparing the two, because they are the same age, and both are wildly successful female artists. I but I think there are some differences. The style, the lyrics and, as you mentioned, the whole marketing. Adele doesn’t need to cast super models as friends, she lets the music do the heavy press for her. And am thinking the same as other commenters here: Taylor will be sulking because now no one is interested in her anymore.

    • WinnieCoopersMom says:

      “Taylor will be sulking because now no one is interested in her anymore.” HAHA so false and dramatic… each pop artist has their time. You do know Adele had two previous albums right? And Taylor’s peak was still after that? 1989 has been hot for a year and Adele’s ’25’ will be hot for a while..and in a couple years Taylor will have another hit album and so on…It’s not like society is so over Taylor forever. Don’t be that naive.

  23. Veronica says:

    I went back and forth about pitting two women against each other, but then I decided it was fine here because it’s about competition in CAREER work and not something idiotic like physical appearance or men. If Tay-Tay’s upset about it, GOOD. Better, even, because that gives her something to strive for. More women fighting to get to the top of the game is better, and something I like about Swift is that she makes no bones about wanting to be on top. She’s here to win, and the more women here for the win rather than the consolidation prize on the sidelines means that we all win.

    • Cait says:

      I agree that we all should try in our careers. It should never be at the expense of others. It should never be at the hurt or humiliation of others. I do not think that Adele and Taylor should be pitted against one another or are the same… Adele’s voice is remarkable. I’ve listened to her new song at least 20 times. She’s amazing. Taylor was writing songs at 14 and is a very generous/savvy person. I like her songs as well. She mentioned/recognized that we all need a break from her… Maybe that is what’s happening…
      I grew up with Bob Dylan. Janis Joplin. They’re voices are/were not remarkable. I loved listening anyway. You don’t necessarily need a 5-octive range to create something amazing. You can listen to and like more than one musician.

      And given the discussion of inequality/lack of understanding of feminism=equality… it is important that women support one another.

      • We Are All Made of Stars says:

        Dude, Janis Joplin’s voice was raw and strong and powerful and conveyed extraordinary emotion and pain. Dylan had a weird (imo) voice but is a poetic genius with a memorable sound. Lacking that level of artistry, you kinda do need some extra oomph to tide you over. Vocal ability is an art and a skill in and of itself.

      • Cait says:

        Dude, of course vocal ability is an art in and of itself. So is writing poetry to match music. All I was saying is that these artists are different…. Talented in their own ways. They should be appreciated in their own ways. They both try and succeed. They are both doing well. I am certainly no expert…

      • Veronica says:

        Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think Taylor and Adele should be fighting and/or meangirling each other. That’s just reductive and anti-feminist. There’s an important delineation here between competitiveness and pettiness. Taylor hating Adele for being a good musician is petty and self-defeating. Taylor disliking the fact that Adele outdid her RECORD – notice the focus on the objective and not the interpersonal – and wanting to strive to do even better is fine. Hell, that’s what the entire sports industry is built on. If Tay-Tay can prove herself mature enough to speak well of Adele and still want to beat her sales, even better.

    • Otaku fairy says:

      Yep, that’s the reason why I’m fine with Adele and Taylor being compared in this way. If it were about dating or who does or doesn’t conform to whichever feminine ideal, that would be sexist and irritating. But it’s just about business. Men compete in that way too.

  24. lower-case deb says:

    of all youtube records, i was surprised to learn that Gangnam Style got 100mil view in a mere 2 days! wow.

    i’m looking forward to hear the rest of the album. although i understand that if power ballad ain’t broke Adele shouldn’t mess with it, i hope to hear something more upbeat*)

    something like Clean Bandit? Jess Glyne has similar voice texture i think.

    *) upbeat also doesn’t mean that she shouldn’t do breakup songs. there are many upbeat breakup songs. one of which is Mika’s Happy Ending which amuses me to no end when unsuspecting couples played it as a soundtrack to their wedding.

  25. Tiny Martian says:

    Adele is the “Marcia Brady” to Taylor’s “Jan Brady”. Jan can only shine when Marcia’s not around, and she knows it.

    That face at the Golden Globes said it all…….”Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!!!!”

  26. Sara says:

    It’s interesting because both are singer-songwriters who use the trope of the break-up a lot in their music, but Adele gets a lot less flack. I think on the one hand Adele’s lack of reliance on her looks to sell her music makes her more palatable to parental types or older people, whereas Taylor’s shift from cutie to underwear model (in her concerts) might cement her #aspirational status with the younger audience, but if we’re talking about who actually BUYS music…Older people do. Then on the other hand, Taylor knows she isn’t cool, she’s hard-working and try-hard (not negative, I think she owns that a lot), whereas Adele doesn’t really care so much about her social media presence or about “curating” her life.

    TL;DR: I’d rather be in Adele’s squad because she looks funny and chill, but respect TS’s hustle.

    • GreenieWeenie says:

      Because Adele wrote an entire album about one breakup (or so it seems). Taylor apparently writes individual songs about each breakup.

      Adele sings about love like a woman. Taylor sings about crushes like a teenaged girl.

      I dunno, I can come up with a lot of reasons why they have different audiences/images.

      • WinnieCoopersMom says:

        I will give some props to TS for ‘All Too Well’ and ‘Back to December,’ both beautifully-composed breakup ballads. And it’s not really fair to brush off Swifts romances as crushes, just bc they were with famous guys..she may have been in love.

      • GreenieWeenie says:

        her relationships never last more than 6 weeks. I mean, how in love can you even fall?

        Adele’s all having an affair with a married man, waiting for him to leave his wife (wasn’t it something like that?).

        Taylor’s all, “We met at Thanksgiving. There was a car ride and you liked my lipstick. I was in love. It was forever. But you crushed my heart the week before Christmas.”

    • Leah says:

      Its very different.Nobody knows who the men adele write about are. Taylors break up songs are all about well publicised and very short lived affairs with celebrity men such as John Mayer, Harry Styles and Jack Gyllenhaal. Pr wise this is completely different, many people want to hear taylors songs because they are about well known men. Nobody is listening to Adele in that salacious way. Just like they listen to Bad Blood and think Katy perry. Taylor plays on this to an extent so i don’t see the need to feel bad for her. Its true that many people write break up songs but most artists aren’t so obvious about who they write about.

    • Veronica says:

      Adele hasn’t been in our face 24/7 for the past year, so I’m sure some of it is media fatigue and backlash. Taylor Swift has also used her relationships with high profile people to induce media intrigue, which she tends to dance around and refuse to own up to, which is a point of criticism for her. Adele’s reference to her breakup was more vague and didn’t reveal any personal details.

      But I will point out that Adele did get some flak for the theme of the record. A better comparison would be Sam Smith or Ed Shareen – why is a breakup song “petty” from a woman’s perspective but heartbreaking and moving from a man’s?

  27. Adrien says:

    Nothing against TS and her brand but If Tay welcomes Adele to the stage I will be disappointed with Adele. Resist the urge, Adele.

  28. CFY says:

    It is interesting that Taylor hasn’t said anything on social media. Weren’t they spotted having dinner in London earlier this year?

    The more I think about it, the more I realize Adele really is on a level that is wholly her own. I’m so glad she’s back.

  29. Betti says:

    I love Adele and this song just stirs so many emotions. And the video will win awards – it captures the song so very well. Adele can sing, write amazing songs and act – Swifty will be jealous on many levels but am sure there is some begrudging respect as well.

    Unlike many other ‘artists’ out there Adele doesn’t need hype to sell her talent – her talent sells itself.

  30. Rhiley says:

    I think I am the only person who has been kind of “meh” about Adele’s new single. Don’t get me wrong, I love Adele as an artist and as a human being in general. She has a wonderful personality and I can read/watch interviews with her and never get bored. She is just so vibrant, but also seems very relaxed and just damn funny too. The new single is just a little slow and sounds very similar to her “break up” singles which surprises me because she now has a new relationship and a baby. Plus, I hope she has paid royalties to Lionel Richie, seriously. I think she borrows more heavily from Lionel Richie’s “Hello,” than Sam Smith ever borrowed from Tom Petty.

    • Scotchy says:

      @Rhiley,
      to quote M.J ” You are not alone.. ”
      I was wondering the same thing. I think I may be one of the few people on the planet that is meh on Adele. Don’t get me wrong she can belt, but she isn’t that amazing of a vocalist. I work with youth in the South central LA area, and there are a couple of girls that could easily give her a run for a money. However that kind of vocal prowess is expected from brown and beige vocalist. So when it comes in a blue eyed package, it’s deemed the second coming for some reason… Ah well..
      needless to say I hope Lionel Richie gets some money!!

    • V4Real says:

      I second that Michael Jackson Quote by saying
      “I am here with you”
      Though you’re far away
      I feel what you say

      Her song is new but there isn’t anything new from Adele. This song is very familiar to her previous songs. If you’re going to compare her to Swifty compare their willingness to both do a bevy of break-up songs. Adele songs just have more of an adult feel to them whereas Swift is more youthful sounding.

      I laughed at the thought that Taylor might be a bit sad face that Adele broke her YouTube record. What I don’t get is the people on here comparing her to Adele. They are two completely different artist with different sounds. That’s like comparing Beyoncé to Britney Spears. Their sounds are completely different.

      I do believe Lionel Ritchie is looking at Adele going “Helloooooooo”
      However I think Ritchie’s song will still be the most memorable Hello out there.

      Are there any Lionel Ritchie and Adele Hello gifs yet? LOL….

    • littlestar says:

      I am a fan of Adele, but I do not like “Hello” either.

  31. Saywhatwhen says:

    Swifty wouldn’t get pissed. It is not the PR thing to do. Instead, she will totally make Adele her new BFF and become Godmother extraordinaire to Adele’s tot.

    • WinnieCoopersMom says:

      Once she stops mourning, she will send Adele some congratulatory flowers (like she did with Lorde) and post it on twitter/IG.

  32. Leah says:

    I love adele but its not her that did the interracial casting, it was the director, Xavier Dolan. I read an interview with him on billboards website, he said he always liked the guy from the wire and wanted to use him in something. Adele didn’t even meet the actor as they were filmed separately. That said props to Adele for choosing the relatively unknown Dolan as a director. Such a talented guy.

  33. HeySandy says:

    I don’t have deep opinions on either of these two, but is anyone else tired of female artists seeming to exclusively write and sing about relationships? Relationship trouble, my man is this and that. It would be nice if more mainstream female singers would explore other concepts in their music. Lorde and Florence and the Machine are the only ones I can think of right now that do. Maybe there are some great underground female singers exploring more in their songs.

    • Scotchy says:

      @HeySandy
      Finally someone else that feels the same way about the state of female singers. It’s how it’s been for years as the music business is very patriarchal.
      Here are some artists to check out if you haven’t already, they are varied in style.. but they are all really talented.
      Laura Marling, Laura Mvula, Alabama Shakes, The Kills, hell Loretta Lynn( she wrote an entire song about birth control), Sleater-Kinney, Asha.. hmm there are more.. my morning brain is slow. None of these artists are mainstream unfortunately. …

      • WinnieCoopersMom says:

        Sia is really hot right now as well and def sings about other things.

      • HeySandy says:

        Thanks for the suggestions! I know the music industry is very sexist, I’m sure they like putting otherwise talented female singer songwriters into a box…which the public eats up. To be fair, most pop music is paint by numbers these days. I wish there were more Patti Smiths, Leonard Cohens, and Bob Dylans out there, musical poets.

      • Cynthia says:

        Yess!!

    • Tia says:

      Well scotchy… Laura marling sings about relationships too, her record was supposedly about her break up with Markus Mumford, Bon iver made a whole record about his ex.
      People have been doing this for hundreds of years they draw on real life experiences. I don’t have a problem in this in its essence.
      It’s the profiting on celebrity, the gossip angle that is tacky. It often feels as if Taylor has these brief superficial dalliances I/o to write a song that she can profit from. I don’t see it as genuine. Imo.

    • Veronica says:

      In fairness, a lot of male music is about sex, love, and relationships, too. They’re just not as precious about it because men are allowed to be more blunt about their sexuality. I’ll agree that I’d like to see more expansion in the lyrical repertoire of female singers, but honestly, relationships are easy and relatable, which is probably take center stage in music.

  34. Halvin Carris says:

    Yeah, Taylor’s plate just got a whole lot fuller this weekend. Taylor “knew” Adele was coming for quite a while. Taylor has “other” fish to fry. She’s been spending the last few months trying to figure out how to get the hell away from “DJ Douche” and get with Ryan Adams without looking like a total $lut circa 2012. Mark my words, that hook-up is gonna go down if it hasn’t already started. Personally, I think Ryan Adams is WORSE than John Mayer. Adams would LOVE to have an album written about a torrid affair with Swifty. Look for an entire “Dear John (Ryan)” album by ’17……

    • Rhiley says:

      I agree with your analysis of Ryan Adams. He needs to get the hell out of LA because it is ruining him. I really liked Whiskeytown a lot and Adams as a solo artist up until about Easy Tiger and then I just couldn’t anymore. I think he and Swifty hooked up while he was married to Mandy Moore which is why he made the awful remake of her whole album. I think 1989 is a fine album with some of the songs being great for the gym or dancing with the nieces and nephews, but Ryan Adams “interpretation” of it is so lackluster and pointless. But I think it was made to send a message that they had been hooking up and hanging out.

      • Halvin Carris says:

        I don’t think they’ve hooked up yet. The 1989 tribute is part of his long end game. Taylor is way too calculating to EVER get with a married dude. If that were to EVER get out she’d be committing career suicide. She just wouldn’t do that. The ink isn’t even dry on the divorce papers yet, is it? Plus Adams wouldn’t have needed to do the tribute album if he “got it in”. Give them a little time….

      • Rhiley says:

        There was a blind item from last year in which Swifty/Adams/and Mandy Moore were the top suspects. I know blind items are taken with a grain of truth but I tended to believe it especially after he released that awful album.

      • littlestar says:

        A big WTF to Ryan Adams doing a cover version of 1989. Like why is he sinking to that level? I am always impressed when artists can cover a song and completely transform it, but a whole album? I’ve heard one song off of it, and while it was good, it wasn’t incredible.

        Jenny Lewis has also been mentioned. I think she’s probably the one that came between Adams and Moore, and not Swift.

  35. GreenieWeenie says:

    I really just love the fact that talent prevails.
    Taylor is talented, in a way. She’s good at her job. But she’s not a talented singer. She’s a somewhat talented songwriter, and a genuinely talented businesswoman.
    Adele is a talented singer and that means more.
    YESSSSSSSSSSSS.

    • Helena says:

      truth! I love taylor because she knows how to achieve all that she wants to achieve. yes, talented businesswoman, talented lyricist, I’d say, not so talented songwriter, melody writer, a mediocre singer.

  36. Cricket says:

    I hope we can just compare and contrast the different styles, approaches to their craft than to just make it a women to women competition. These two artists are both successful and in similar markets. It’s very interesting to see how the two videos were released and to analyze the marketing used to promote.

    I’d also like to throw in that TS is 25 and Adele is 27 so they are contemporaries but their target audience is so different. Adele seems so much older in her lyrics, sound and overall product. To add to the comparison, Katy Perry is 31! While Adele was pretty much behind the scenes as her first song in several years was released, Katy was out promoting Hillary Clinton dressed as a pseudo super hero character. Will Katy ever age and change her look?

    • WinnieCoopersMom says:

      I dont think Katy, as an artist/entertainer, is capable of marketing to or reaching an audience of anything other than tweens/teens. Katy, doing a more serious, soulful album? Please.

  37. Karen says:

    I have hated on Taylor since her disasterous performance at the Grammys with Stevie Nicks. Not only were her vocals bad I thought she was going to push Stevie off the stage.

    There is no comparison between Adele and Taylor. Taylor is bubble gum music. Adele is the real thing. So happy she is back. There hasn’t been an artist of her caliber in years. Auto tune has been the worst thing for music. There is no nuance, depth or soul.

    • Scotchy says:

      You are aware that Adele is auto-tuned just like the rest of em..
      It’s the industry standard, no mainstream artist escapes the auto tune.
      You can hear it in this new single particularly when she starts to belt..

      • WinnieCoopersMom says:

        Hah! Sorry, but you’re factually wrong here. Adele is not auto-tuned. Please watch ‘Adele: Live at Royal Albert Hall’ and get back to me. Or go on YouTube and search for any live performance, even a cappella. No lip syching, no auto tune.

      • GreenieWeenie says:

        yeah, bonkers. People do perform live. It’s this thing. And you can hear auto-tune. That’s not the same as a voice deepening or flattening.

      • SpunkyMama says:

        One of the best albums I have is Adele doing a small concert in New York, It’s acoustic, just guitar and piano. No auto-tune and you can tell the woman has the pipes to back up the hype.

      • Karen says:

        I was thinking of concert at Royal Albert Hall and she was definitely singing live.

      • Scotchy says:

        @WinnieCooperMom,
        I was only talking about her recordings. I am not factually wrong as I work in sound engineering and mixing in the pop music world. Everyone is tuned. It’s the standard for recordings.
        Please note I was not referring to her live performances as I am sure she sings like an angel as any proper musical lord and saviour should.
        I am only making reference to studio recordings.

  38. Val says:

    I remember saying this a few months ago: Taylor, Jessie J, and the others better hurry up and drop their songs cause when Adele steps back into the game, it’s over! So ecstatic that it’s happened. Adele can SING, point blank. She is a powerhouse. She does not need to show abs, bum, Tatas. All she has to do is open her mouth and let her pure, natural and Not manufactured talent do the talking.

    EVERYONE ELSE: Grab a pen, and a note pad, find a chair and take notes. Cause Adele is about to take you to school!!!

  39. DONNA MARTIN says:

    Honestly though if Taylor made a face who cares, she’s allowed to be disappointed. Also they are allied to be competitive! There’s nothing wrong with that. When men do it people find it endearing when women do it it’s catty. Competition is great! Let them be great! But please Adele don’t allow yourself to be collected PLEASE!

  40. benchwarmer says:

    Beautiful song and engaging video. My only beef is with her eye makeup, it’s drag queenish. I hate the heavy eye shadow, eye liner, fake lashes, and severe eye brows. I do think she is a beautiful woman. I just want to give the majority of celebs a make-under, every Kardashian/Kylie Jenner anyone who wears the mask. I like the JCrew makeup approach, so much cleaner and more approachable, less ‘done’.

  41. benchwarmer says:

    I confess I’m not a romantic and into drama in relationships so the lyrics are lost on me but I get it, that it applies to a lot of people. I actually thought the very beginning when she says ‘hello…it’s me, I was wondering if after all these years you’d like to meet, to go over everything” that it was about her absence from her celebrity, sort of like how JayZ and Timberlake make the Holy Grail song about paparazi. That song would appeal to me as I’m just too dead inside to relate to relationship drama lol.

  42. WinnieCoopersMom says:

    The comments that Swift won’t have a career after ’25’ is released is a bit dramatic. Adele released ’21’ to unbelievable sales. Yet, Swifty made it huge with Red and 1989 after that. Each pop star has their time and place in the industry. If Swift doesnt do well with her next album, that will be bc it just isn’t as good or general interest in her will have waned, it will have nothing to do with Adele’s success.

  43. perplexed says:

    No.

  44. Lorie says:

    Taylor is not even remotely in the same league as Adele. Adele is a powerhouse with a phenomenal voice. Just listen to her live performances. Adele is also listened to by numerous generations. Taylor’s voice is mediocore at best. Her main audience is tweens and teens.
    Adele also oozes poise and class. Taylor is just a drama filled bratty pop star.

  45. Tia says:

    I do agree that one shouldn’t put women against eachother but then again this is Taylor notoriously competetive and prone to grudges. It’s a bit like saying oh don’t put Kanye up against male artist when everyone knows he feels competetive and jealous of everyone and everything that achieve success. i just think Taylor is that ambitious like Kanye she can’t relax unless she is seen as the undisputed number one. Adele probably doesn’t give a toss about any of this. She seems to pop up with a cd every few years and then literally disappear again. They are just so incredibly different in how they approach the music industry.

  46. Marcel says:

    I kind of like that Adele is back and pushing TSwift out of the spotlight for a minute, Taylor has been all in our face for a long time now.

  47. InvaderTak says:

    Eh, maybe. TS appears to be all about the records and awards.

  48. Frosty says:

    I love Adele and there’s no comparison with Taylor. Adele’s an adult, with a real life she makes a point to keep private. Taylor is a kidult, at best. Look at MEEEEE!
    P.S. Bless Adele for keeping her clothes on, her girls not hoisted up to her chin and not doing a pole dance, in general.

  49. meh says:

    One of them can sing, and one of them cannot, so I’m not sure why these two are even compared.

  50. RZ says:

    Some Adele-jealousy from TS would not be a surprise, but as a side bar: while Adele beats Taylor in the pipes department, and emotes beautifully, her writing is pretty basic and repetitive. Taylor is a songwriter first – much more compelling melodies and creative turns of phrase.
    – two cents from another songwriter.

    • perplexed says:

      I don’t think Taylor Swift is that great of a songwriter. Maybe she was good at churning out country tunes, but her pop lyrics strike me as rather terrible.

      That said, I think Taylor Swift probably has a realistic view of the industry on some level — that at any given moment a record can potentially be broken. Pop culture moves so fast these days, I think it would be incredibly weird if she thought any kind of record in terms of digital sales or views could remain intact. Therefore the idea of wondering if Taylor Swift is throwing daggers at Adele for breaking her record strikes me as bizarre, if only because these kinds or records are meant to be broken. I’m not saying she’s not capable of it, but we really have no proof that Taylor Swift is seething in her bedroom about this, as the record only just got broken and it’s too early for any blind items to have gone up yet, so speculating about it this early on and having some form of wishful thinking that Taylor Swift will show the green-eyed monster to us seems strange in this instance.

  51. CSense says:

    Adele is the real dead!!!! Though both Adele and Taylor are in their middle 20s (27 and 25 in that order), Adele is the more mature of the two. Taylor’s songs sound like teenagers crushes and always blamed the men for all her or other teenagers’ woes. Adele’s songs sound like real women’s loves and don’t all blamed the men for all her or other women’s woes.

    It simply show who is the very mature of the two women since Adele doesn’t care about doing PR for her songs she have no need to be running around promoting any of them for months.
    Taylor on the other hand spent months promoting her songs and go on the social media to riled up fans to buy them.

    That speak volumes who the real talent is.