Adele celebrates ‘happy happy Pride’ during her last BST performance

entertainment
Adele Celebrates ‘Happy Happy Pride’ During Her Last Bst Performance
Adele, © PA Wire/PA Images
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By Ellie Iorizzo, PA Senior Entertainment Reporter

Adele wrapped herself in a rainbow coloured flag during her last headline performance at the British Summer Time (BST) festival in a nod to the London Pride celebrations.

The 34-year-old global megastar showed solidarity waving the flag from side-to-side during penultimate song When We Were Young at London’s Hyde Park – giving it away at the end of her emotional performance.

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Taking to the stage donning a black off-the-shoulder sparkly dress with her hair down and wavy, she chatted to the audience in her typical down-to-earth performing style.

After opening the highly-anticipated show with Hello, I Drink Wine and I’ll Be Waiting, the singer told the audience: “Happy Pride. I wore my hair out today to try and be a bit draggy.”

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A poignant moment came after performing Water Under The Bridge, when she spoke to fans Jack and Dean – who had made their way to the front of the crowd.

Adele said: “So Jack and Dean down there, do you remember earlier on when you were coming in someone came and said ‘Can we have your flag in return for some drink tokens?’

“Well I wanted that flag for later for what I’m doing and they said you burst into tears because you got moved to the front so I thought I’d give you front row seats.”

The pop icon delivered a dazzling performance on Saturday treating the audience to an array of hit songs for the final of her two sold-out headline sets.

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The concert comes after the capital had spent a day celebrating the 50th anniversary of the UK’s first Pride parade with Adele fans sporting rainbow coloured face paint, glitter and jewels.

During a show of almost two hours, Adele showcased a repertoire of tunes including James Bond soundtrack Skyfall, Easy On Me and Someone Like You to a packed crowd of adoring fans who were passionately singing along.

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Another memorable moment came when the pop star made a little girl sitting on her father’s shoulders burst into tears after she was given a t-shirt that Adele had shot into the crowd, which also included a note and money.

Adele also told the audience that she had been “nervous” to sing track Hold On during her first BST show as the lyrics made her feel “so vulnerable and so weak”.

She said: “There was a girl down there that I saw with a sign that said I’m the reason she’s alive and that ain’t true baby girl, you’re the reason you’re alive, I’m so glad that you found comfort in my music.

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Pride in London parade 2022
People take part in the Pride in London parade (James Manning/PA)

“I truly believe that music is such a healing thing and I’m so grateful that anyone wants to hear my music and also that I get to take my time and wait for something real to write about, so you really touched me down there.

“Anyone that is feeling low just hold on, it always gets better.”

Adele commanded the stage throughout the evening from ballads to electrifying pop tracks which she bellowed out of the venue.

She closed the highly-anticipated performance with Love Is A Game accompanied with a firework display as she told the audience: “It has been an absolute pleasure being here this weekend.

“A home crowd is my first actual set of shows even though this supposed to be somewhere else, I couldn’t think of anything better.

Graham Norton Show – London
Adele during the filming for the Graham Norton Show (Matt Crossick/PA)

“There is nowhere like London in the summer my God. I really hope that you have a wonderful summer, thank you for being gracious and patient with me, I really appreciate it.

“I love coming home I can’t wait to come back proper, I’m getting a bit emotional. Happy happy Pride.”

On Friday, the singer songwriter became emotional as the audience chanted back the opening lyrics to her 2015 hit Hello during her first public UK concert in five years.

She told the crowd “what’s happening to me” as she asked them to help carry the tune until she continued the ballad in her typically powerful fashion.

After playing her opening songs, the Tottenham-born singer said: “Hello, I’m so happy to be here.

The Brit Awards 2022 – Arrivals – London
Adele attending the Brit Awards 2022 (Ian West/PA)

“Guys, I’m back at home, also where I know. The amount of times I have been up there drunk off of my face, singing along to other artists at these shows.”

She added that she was “thrilled” to be back on stage but that she found it “strange to be in front of a crowd again”, which included her son and one of her best friends.

The back-to-back UK festival performances mark Adele’s first headline set since playing the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury in 2016.

Her only other UK performances in the last few years were at the 2022 Brit Awards and during her An Audience With Adele special concert at the London Palladium which was held behind closed doors to launch her latest album 30.

She was due to begin her Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace Hotel on January 21st however she made a last-minute decision to postpone the series of shows due to coronavirus-related delays.

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