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Home / Entertainment

Review: Adele live at Mt Smart Stadium - an experience like no other

Joanna Hunkin
By Joanna Hunkin
NZ Herald·
23 Mar, 2017 08:22 PM3 mins to read

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Adele got off to a tremendous start in the first of her three New Zealand shows.

There was never any question it was going to be good. But no words or teaser video can really prepare you for just how great Adele is live. Or how funny.

That voice. That cackle.

Despite Auckland Transport's dire predictions of traffic chaos, getting to Mt Smart Stadium was a straight forward affair, with the sellout crowd relaxed and genial as they surrounded the giant circular screen, adorned with Adele's flickering, closed eyelids.

At 7.52pm they opened, as that unmistakable voice filled the stadium, with the dramatic opening refrain of Hello.

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View this post on Instagram

HELLO ADELE! 🔥❤️🔥

A post shared by Spy.co.nz (@seenbyspy) on Mar 22, 2017 at 11:54pm PDT

Waving to the crowd with both hands and encouraging everyone to singalong, Adele set the tone for what was to come. Her songs may be borne from heartbreak and sorrow but performed live, they take on new life, full of sass and humour.

Which is what sets Adele apart from the rest of her peers. Yes, that voice is incredible. Flawless, in fact. But it's her wicked sense of humour that really makes you love her.

As she said herself, "How many of you came along to have a laugh with me?" eliciting huge cheers from the crowd.

View this post on Instagram

T-shirt canon! #adele

A post shared by Spy.co.nz (@seenbyspy) on Mar 23, 2017 at 1:14am PDT

By her own admission, Adele is a chatty Kathy. "I chat a lot. When I'm nervous, I chat," she told the crowd early on. But while she joked it would get annoying, the crowd loved every rambling word.

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She talked about her pregnancy (it made her voice deeper than normal, which makes singing Skyfall a struggle now) and her Kiwi make-up artist Michael Ashton (it was his birthday so we had to sing him Happy Birthday).

She told stories and got distracted by flying insects and bugs ("There's a giant beetle on the stage. There's two of them. They're going to start mating and take over!")

View this post on Instagram

The moment Adele fell to the ground when a beetle crawled into her shoe... 😂

A post shared by Spy.co.nz (@seenbyspy) on Mar 23, 2017 at 1:02am PDT

Amongst the laughter - which was hearty and frequent - there were serious moments.

She dedicated Make You Feel My Love to the victims of the London terror attack, telling the crowd she just wanted to be at home with her family.

Discover more

Entertainment

As it happened: Adele says 'Hello' to NZ

23 Mar 08:51 AM
Entertainment

Adele has crowd sing to NZ makeup artist

23 Mar 05:34 PM
Entertainment

Adele's touching tribute to London

23 Mar 07:00 PM
Entertainment

Is this Adele in a box?

23 Mar 09:27 PM

By the time she ended the night with Someone Like You, she'd covered the full spectrum of emotions. But whether she is making you laugh or cry, it's an experience like no other.

Charming, funny and good for your soul, Adele is simply inimitable.

* Were you at the show? Send us your photos, videos and reviews by using '#adelenz'

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