Adele 'Live' is full of high notes, jokes
<b>Adele, "Live at the Royal Albert Hall" (Columbia Records)</b>
You won't hear Adele's humorous side on her masterful albums, but you'll surely get a glimpse of it at one of her live shows.
In addition to beautifully belting emotional tunes like "Someone Like You" and "Set Fire to the Rain," Adele's new DVD also showcases the singer telling jokes, pleasing the crowd like a grade-A comedian.
In her signature black ensemble, she debuts her blonde hairdo, saying: "I was hoping to be treated a little differently, but so far not yet."
And then someone screams.
"Oh. Thank you very much. Hello. Call me?" she says, laughing with the audience.
"Live at the Royal Albert Hall," the British singer's live DVD and CD, was taped on Sept. 22. Adele, who recently had throat surgery, had a respiratory infection at the time. Though her voice sounds strained during some tracks, she's still epic throughout the 17-song set. She's best - and funniest - during "Take It All," the first song she recorded for her best-selling album "21," when her relationship was in trouble.
"He left me a couple weeks after I played him this song," she said, laughing.
There's also her top-notch performance of "Make You Feel My Love," which she dedicates to Amy Winehouse, and the heartbreaking, teary live rendition of "Someone Like You," which captures the listener's heart, thanks to the story behind the song.
"I know I play the victim on the album, but that poor boy," she says of her ex. "I'm not bitter anymore. I'm proud of him."
The DVD also offers some behind-the-scenes moments on the day of the live performance, showing Adele making tea with rollers in her hair.
"If I throw up before a show, it's a brilliant show," she says.
I normally wouldn't encourage vomiting. But I have an excuse to do so here.
<b>Check this out:</b> Acts who have covered Adele's "Rolling In the Deep" range from John Legend to Linkin Park to the cast of "Glee." None hold a candle to the crowd singing along to the jam at the Royal Albert Hall.