You say Hello and I say Goodbye
First of all, I want to go on record and state that I love Adele and think she's an incredible talent. I just happen to have some issues with her current smash hit song "HELLO". Please forgive me as I break it down and explain why I think it's not so much a torch song but closer to a stalker anthem of sorts.... but not the creepy "Every Breath You Take" type of stalker song but a more sadistic passive aggressive kind that many of us have experienced with psycho exes.
Keep in mind that there's a bit of a prehistory and backstory to "Hello" that might explain some of the reasons why this song kind of bugs me. For example, it's sort of a sequel to the smash hits Adele had from her previous album "21". They included:
* Rolling in the Deep
* Someone Like You
* Set Fire To The Rain
Each of these songs were heartbreaking love songs about a failed relationship so naturally Hello sounds like a perfect followup.
Let's take a stroll through the song, shall we?
Hello, it's me
I was wondering if after all these years you'd like to meet
To go over everything
OK, so far, so good. Sounds like an ex-girlfriend wants to catchup with an old flame. I guess there's nothing wrong with that, right?
They say that time's supposed to heal ya
But I ain't done much healing
Red flag alert. Smells like someone hasn't found closure yet despite a great deal of time having passed (mentioned earlier with "after all these years"). This cannot be good.
Sounds like he dumped her and she still wants to know what happened. Maybe he can be a gent and give her some closure.
Hello, can you hear me
I'm in California dreaming about who we used to be
When we were younger and free
I've forgotten how it felt before the world fell at our feet
There's such a difference between us
And a million miles
Oh boy... more red flags here.
The Hello, can you hear me line sounds like he's not responding for some reason.
She reveals that they not only broke up long ago but moved far apart physically too. She made it clear that she misses whatever they had, that's for sure.
However, it also sounds like she's missing that period of her life too. Who doesn't long for our days of youth? Unfortunately for this bloke, their relationship is forever linked to her youth. Maybe the distance will prevent any awkward in person encounters when he's with his new wife perhaps in a restaurant. But I digress. Back to the song.
Hello from the other side
I must have called a thousand times
To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done
But when I call you never seem to be home
OK, here is the most important passage in this song that first grabbed my attention like a vinyl record skipping badly.
She called the dude a thousand times? Really?
I know it's a song and songwriters are allowed to take artistic liberties with exaggerations for rhyming and impact but come on now. She didn't say one hundred or even dozens of times which would still be troubling but 1000 times is serious stalker territory.
Also, she seems to be calling his home landline. Who still has a landline? Must be an older guy. OK, we can overlook this part but not the fact that no one is unreachable 1000 times unless they don't want to talk to you!!! She is in severe denial, folks. He doesn't want to relive your glory days. Get over it. Yes, she apologizes for whatever she did but his lack of response means it was something really terrible. Maybe she cheated on him with his brother or best friend? Who knows. Let's see what else we can uncover here.
Hello from the outside
At least I can say that I've tried
To tell you I'm sorry for breaking your heart
But it don't matter it clearly doesn't tear you apart anymore
I want to know what she means by "from the outside"
What in the world could it mean? The mind races with different interpretations.
The first one that comes to mind is whether she simply means she's been shutout from his inner circle, cast away from his world, so she feels as if she's outside looking in like a stalker peering into a window?
The other meaning could be that she was locked up somewhere such as a mental institution but now she's free and on the outside again? OK, I know this one is a bit of a stretch. Let's go with the less mental interpretation.
She now pours on the passive aggressive venom as she states that she attempted to apologize for hurting him and then zings him by saying it's obvious that she means nothing to him anymore. Haven't we all been subjected to this pathetic tactic during a breakup where your ex tried to get you to coddle them and compliment them even though they did some really shitty things to you.
Hello, how are you
It's so typical of me to talk about myself I'm sorry
I hope that you're well
Did you ever make it out of that town where nothing ever happened
Well, at least she knows she's being a narcissistic beyotch so kudos for that much.
We can now see that one of their relationship's biggest problems was how self-centered she was. Everything must have revolved around her and since we know she's Adele, one of the premier Diva's in the world, well, that's not much of a surprise, is it?
She wishes him well, but in a dick move way by insulting where he lives and taking a jab at his ambitions or lot in life.
It's no secret that the both of us
Are running out of time
This is interesting. Since we know Adele is still very young in her 20s, we shouldn't take what this lines states literally. She doesn't mean they are getting old and running out of time in life. I think she means that their window of opportunity to be together is closing fast for some reason. Perhaps she knows that he's about to get married to someone else? Maybe she's in a serious relationship and about to take the plunge and she wanted to see her old flame to see if the embers could be re-ignited?
So hello from the other side
I must have called a thousand times
To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done
But when I call you never seem to be home
Hello from the outside
At least I can say that I've tried
To tell you I'm sorry for breaking your heart
But it don't matter it clearly doesn't tear you apart anymore
Rehashing what has been said already.... make it 1001 times now.
[x4:]
(Highs highs highs highs
Lows lows lows lows)
Anymore
We get it... the relationship had its highs and it's lows.
Yada Yada Yada
Hello from the other side
I must have called a thousand times
To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done
But when I call you never seem to be home
Hello from the outside
At least I can say that I've tried
To tell you I'm sorry for breaking your heart
But it don't matter it clearly doesn't tear you apart anymore
One mo' time...
She wants to catchup and apologize
She realizes he is avoiding her and it really bothers her to realize that this guy has been able to move on but she clearly has not been able to find closure for some reason.
She feels guilt and remorse for whatever sin she committed and tries to find solace in the fact that she tried to make it up to him but he wants nothing to do with her.
In summary, I don't even think she really wants to reunite with this person.
It sounds like someone who truly misses what she had which was someone who idolized and loved her like no one else has....and she desperately wants to recapture that glorious feeling...and relive her days of youth...but now realizes that he is gone for good.
Adele has set incredible records with her new album (25) so hey what do I know?
This is a number one record. It has resonated with a lot of people.
I think Adele's next album in probably 5 years called 30 or The Big 3 Oh! will be all abut joy and happiness after finding her closure and moving on and falling in love and getting married and perhaps even having a baby. Then, he record sales will plummet because people don't want to hear that crap. They enjoy the pain and misery so they can feel better about their lives.
View this video on YouTube
Official music video
Official lyrics for "HELLO"
"Hello"
Hello, it's me
I was wondering if after all these years you'd like to meet
To go over everything
They say that time's supposed to heal ya
But I ain't done much healing
Hello, can you hear me
I'm in California dreaming about who we used to be
When we were younger and free
I've forgotten how it felt before the world fell at our feet
There's such a difference between us
And a million miles
Hello from the other side
I must have called a thousand times
To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done
But when I call you never seem to be home
Hello from the outside
At least I can say that I've tried
To tell you I'm sorry for breaking your heart
But it don't matter it clearly doesn't tear you apart anymore
Hello, how are you
It's so typical of me to talk about myself I'm sorry
I hope that you're well
Did you ever make it out of that town where nothing ever happened
It's no secret that the both of us
Are running out of time
So hello from the other side
I must have called a thousand times
To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done
But when I call you never seem to be home
Hello from the outside
At least I can say that I've tried
To tell you I'm sorry for breaking your heart
But it don't matter it clearly doesn't tear you apart anymore
[x4:]
(Highs highs highs highs
Lows lows lows lows)
Anymore
Hello from the other side
I must have called a thousand times
To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done
But when I call you never seem to be home
Hello from the outside
At least I can say that I've tried
To tell you I'm sorry for breaking your heart
But it don't matter it clearly doesn't tear you apart anymore
View this video on YouTube
Someone Like You.... as the prequel to HELLO....important to note, if this song and Hello are indeed about the same person then this song makes it clear that her old love did move on and got married. Hence the cold shoulder and ignoring of 1000 phone calls.
View this video on YouTube
Rolling in the Deep... another prequel to Hello and Someone Like You....The most important and memorable line is "We could've had it all"....
View this video on YouTube
Set Fire To The Rain .... a part of the trilogy prequels sort of like the Star Wars series. Don't ask me which one is like A New Hope....