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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think Adel needs to learn to read a room?

205 replies

Rinoachicken · 03/07/2022 10:25

So she cancelled her Vegas thing 24hrs before. Tickets that would have cost thousands were not refunded. It was too late for many to cancel hotels, flights. They lost that money, and that annual leave time.

She never gave a clear explanation except ‘it wasn’t ready. Then total radio silence on when (if ever) it would actually happen.

Then she comes over and does an exclusive show for rich celebrities. The plebs can watch on TV though. Still now word when people who had Vegas tickets would be able to either use those tickets or get refunds.

Then at the weekend she did a gig at Hyde Park, that was simple, not flashy, and it was observed by commentators that this sort of stripped back simple staging would have been more than acceptable to anyone stuck out in Vegas so the tickets they couldn’t use - it’s clearly possible for her to perform that way, she’s seems to generally perform simply. That people wanted to hear her sing, and would not have cared it it was just her on a stage with a piano and a couple of backing singers (like it was in Hyde Park in fact). So really just poses more questions.

And now she has gone on the record to say how much she had to ‘grieve’ for the Vegas show, how hard she found it, and that it is 100% happening this year.

This year. When there’s been no reason recoups indication of this. So people that are still thousands of pounds out of pocket from January, and have no annual leave left to book another trip to Vegas, let alone afford that with such short notice. Looks like they are the ones that will be ‘grieving’.

I used to really love her music - now when she comes on the radio I can’t help but think ‘oh shut up you whiney twat, you have NO idea’.

OP posts:
Justcallmebebes · 03/07/2022 11:51

I've never got the hype tbh. Ok voice but dire, depressing music. Overrated

Neverendingdust · 03/07/2022 11:52

I like some of her songs and in some interviews she can come across as likeable BUT I feel she needs to decide who she is. You can’t have mega million dollar homes, insist on absolute perfection for shows, be intensely private the majority of the time and mingle with the glitterati yet still play the ‘down to Earth, Adele from Tottenham, apples and pears, me ol’ mucker’ card whenever on stage.

Her ‘authenticity’ has become an act and in my opinion it’s disingenuous to keep playing up to it as much as she does. Kudos to her PR and management because she’s been able to keep hold of the majority of her original fan base who immediately identified with her angst ridden debut. To me the down to Earth act is a calculated move but I see straight through it and it stops me from admiring her because simply put, I don’t know who she is.

CPL593H · 03/07/2022 11:52

I don't understand the gushing and making much of her. The Las Vegas thing was bad, totally diva and she's seemingly made no attempt to put it right, it all seems to be about "poor her".

I can't see there being the same outpouring of love and respect that Kate Bush recently had for Adele in 40 years time.

Meraas · 03/07/2022 11:53

She needs better PR, her explanation was a bit crap.

I stand by that decision. I don’t think any other artist would have done what I did, and I think that is why it was such a massive, massive story.

“It was like, ‘I don’t care’ and things like that. You can’t buy me. You can’t buy me for nothing. I’m not going to just do a show because I have to or because people are going to be let down or because we are going to lose loads of money. I’m like, ‘The show is not good enough’.

whynotwhatknot · 03/07/2022 11:53

I do like her but feel like she has lost herself to the hollywood scene a bit

didnt understand the las vegas cancellaiton that late and now why hasnt it been resolved

Dancingwithhyenas · 03/07/2022 11:54

I think we probably don’t know all the circumstances and some she may not be at liberty to share publicly.

safetyfreak · 03/07/2022 11:56

The fame and money has gone to her head which is a shame, as the appeal for Adele was that she was 'one of us' but not anymore...

How she treated her fans will effect her legacy as well.

JiminyGlick · 03/07/2022 11:57

I just don’t get why anyone likes her.

I have to change to station in the car if her music comes on.

The whole self-pity crap when it was she who let everyone down is just disingenuous.

Hurstlandshome · 03/07/2022 11:57

Used to love her but she's definitely gone La La on us. Shame.

User34352515 · 03/07/2022 12:00

I was surprised to read this absolutely a*se kissing piece by the Guardian when the last public image of Adele was the total cancellation of the Vegas shows with zero compensation for fans.

www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jul/02/adele-review-a-truly-singular-blend-of-talent-and-tottenham-charm

waterrat · 03/07/2022 12:01

I have never forgotten her saying she feels murderous when she sees her tax bill - she said 'why should I pay it when state schools are shit'

Love - paying taxes keeps this country policed, protected, educated, children supported (well - it would if the tories weren't cutting it all) - it's a privilege to pay taxes - and without them you wouldn't be safe to record music - have a look at a war torn tax free country like somalia if you want a comparison

pictish · 03/07/2022 12:04

Who knows what was going on with her life/health/family/etc at the time she cancelled?

Rosehugger · 03/07/2022 12:04

She's an immensely successful artist who doesn't need to do anything.

JustDanceAddict · 03/07/2022 12:06

I’m no Adele fan but live gigs are nothing like listening on Spotify ffs. Have you ever seen any live music?

CoffeeWithNiles · 03/07/2022 12:06

FuchsAndMöhr · 03/07/2022 11:27

🤣🤣🤣

I mean, she’s a lot of things but tone deaf isn’t one of them! What a strange insult!

There is more than one definition of tone deaf.

Rosehugger · 03/07/2022 12:07

She probably is a total diva. Why are people so concerned about what she's like as a person? She doesn't have to be the perfect woman, she doesn't have to be or do anything ever again if she doesn't want to.

theworldhas · 03/07/2022 12:08

I think the music industry gave up trying to help enable real generational talent to hit the mainstream a couple of decades ago.

The result is acts like Adele, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, and Taylor Swift are now The Biggest Acts on the Planet. Of course they are all fine enough musicians, and between them them they definitely have a dozen great songs (unfortunately fewer than indivudal greats of bygone eras by a factor of five or ten). But still, they’re totally fine. And they’re all also extremely safe, bland, and inoffensive and sell by the truck load. And they churn out stuff your little sister and your mum and your gran and your great gran can all tap along too with YouTube hits in the billions.

Squareflair · 03/07/2022 12:10

She has absolutely definitely had fame and success go to her head, her 'one of you' routines is nauseating she should at least own it. I have seen a few live shows in Vegas though and they are always big spectacles I think the expectations are different. Whilst many fans would be content with a stripped back performance which actually suits her performances better it doesn't mean the venue and promoter would be. It does shine a light on how shite the protection for buyers is though, she is a human and if she didn't feel she could go ahead and do them then they should have a better contingency than screw people over; but not sure what would be workable really.

User2145738790 · 03/07/2022 12:13

Meraas · 03/07/2022 11:53

She needs better PR, her explanation was a bit crap.

I stand by that decision. I don’t think any other artist would have done what I did, and I think that is why it was such a massive, massive story.

“It was like, ‘I don’t care’ and things like that. You can’t buy me. You can’t buy me for nothing. I’m not going to just do a show because I have to or because people are going to be let down or because we are going to lose loads of money. I’m like, ‘The show is not good enough’.

In Mumsnet terms, she needs to give her head a wobble.
Imagine spouting this shite to your fans.

theworldhas · 03/07/2022 12:13

Easy On Me is just a screechy, whiny assault on my ears. It makes my brain hurt.

lol, slightly harsh. It’s incredibly bland though. Where have all the great songwriters gone? Nowadays all the so called Biggest Acts in the world are lucky if they can get three songs that people will stick give a shit about three decades down the line.

Squareflair · 03/07/2022 12:14

theworldhas · 03/07/2022 12:08

I think the music industry gave up trying to help enable real generational talent to hit the mainstream a couple of decades ago.

The result is acts like Adele, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, and Taylor Swift are now The Biggest Acts on the Planet. Of course they are all fine enough musicians, and between them them they definitely have a dozen great songs (unfortunately fewer than indivudal greats of bygone eras by a factor of five or ten). But still, they’re totally fine. And they’re all also extremely safe, bland, and inoffensive and sell by the truck load. And they churn out stuff your little sister and your mum and your gran and your great gran can all tap along too with YouTube hits in the billions.

That's the point of mainstream music though- to have a broad appeal and be suitable for different mediums and audiences. Bands that might not be played excessively on the radio still can earn a very tidy living from their music, and reach a broad fan base. I suspect there wouldn't be too many who would be overly fussed on doing pointless interviews or whatever. Streaming has actually been more detrimental for artists in the middle- people don't feel compelled to actually buy their music but also don't have a desire to see them live.

CoffeeWithNiles · 03/07/2022 12:15

theworldhas · 03/07/2022 12:08

I think the music industry gave up trying to help enable real generational talent to hit the mainstream a couple of decades ago.

The result is acts like Adele, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, and Taylor Swift are now The Biggest Acts on the Planet. Of course they are all fine enough musicians, and between them them they definitely have a dozen great songs (unfortunately fewer than indivudal greats of bygone eras by a factor of five or ten). But still, they’re totally fine. And they’re all also extremely safe, bland, and inoffensive and sell by the truck load. And they churn out stuff your little sister and your mum and your gran and your great gran can all tap along too with YouTube hits in the billions.

I agree - it all went to shit in the mid-90s. I remember leaving university and wondering what the hell had happened to music.

ReneBumsWombats · 03/07/2022 12:15

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Rosehugger · 03/07/2022 12:16

Jesus, stop investing your life in what she is, or isn't like as a person. Enjoy her music or don't. Whatever.

Sundays365 · 03/07/2022 12:16

I like Adele. Not a fan of her music, but she has always come across as lovely.

She moved to Hollywood, lost weight a shit load of weight and got a very rich, ‘cool’ boyfriend. She’s done well, I’m really happy for her, and of course she’s changed and lost her ‘just a normal girl with a big voice’ appeal. She’s not the chubby kid from Tottenham anymore, she’s an incredibly wealthy, accomplished & successful woman.

The Las Vegas cancellation was unfortunate for the fans and not very professional, I agree, but the outrage and hysterics in the media over it are overkill. Shows get cancelled all the time. Shit happens.