Cat Cohen's Songwriters' Community Website Temporary Archive

Hello by Adele

Share

“Hello” is a well-crafted and produced emotional recording that shows Adele is back stronger in voice and more expressive than ever.

Concept
A deeply moving song of regret about having moved on from a relationship that has outlived its purpose.

Lyric
Adele delivers the self-confessional lyric in a matter-of-fact style as if she were talking to a friend. 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've 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

Groove
This ballad has more atmosphere than groove in the verse while the percussion builds subtly but strongly in the chorus, especially at the end which features 16ths overlaid over a powerful 8th note rock ballad groove.

Melody
The gloomy verse and soaring chorus melodies are greatly contrasted giving the song a wide dramatic range.

Harmony
Four simple minor diatonic chords repeated over and over. I bIII bVII bVI throughout, except pre-chorus variation i bVII i bVI i bVII bVI

Structure
Verse Verse Pre-chorus Chorus Verse Verse Pre-chorus Chorus Vocal break Chorus AABC AABC break C

Signature
Short four-chord piano figure.

Production
At once simple and powerful, Kurstin’s production takes Adele’s breakthrough sound of “Someone Like You” and evolves it into an equally if not more polished and powerful recording.

Performance
Adele conveys soulful gloom and regret as well as anyone in the record business today. Here, she gives us a millennial version of the classic torch song.

Predicted Longevity
“Hello” is a such a well-written and delivered song, it should have long-lasting appeal to drama queens of all ages for years and years to come. 5 stars on the “Cat Scale” from 1 to 5.