Sitting atop a piano like no one was watching, a crossed-leg Adele gave a stunning rendition of her song “I Drink Wine” as she effortlessly hit every note to perfection and looked gorgeous in a golden dress to match an all-gold backdrop at Tuesday night’s Brit Awards at O2 Arena in London.
Her performance came as she racked up multiple awards including artist, album, and song of the year at the awards show.
Later in the night, she took home the award for album of the year for 30 as she dedicated the trophy to both her son Angelo and her ex-husband Simon Konecki. “This album was all of our journey, not just mine, and I’m very proud of myself for sticking to my guns and putting out an album that was so personal to me ‘cause not many people do that anymore,” she said while accepting the prize. “My son has been so kind and gracious and patient with me over the years.”
Adele also beat out the likes of Little Simz, Dave, Ed Sheeran and Sam Fender in the Artist of the Year category. This was the first year that the awards show featured gender-neutral categories. She used her acceptance speech to share advice for new artists: “Never lose sight of why you are who you are. The reason people are into you is because there’s something you have in you,” she said. “Don’t ever let go of that ever.”
In Adele’s recent cover story for Rolling Stone, she spoke about the lyrics of “I Drink Wine” and their special meaning. “I took everything so personally at that period of time in my life,” she said, “so the lyric ‘I hope I learn to get over myself’ is like [me saying], ‘Once I’ve done that, then maybe I can let you love me.’”
Adele’s performance comes a few weeks after she had to postpone her Las Vegas residency due to “delivery delays.” “Listen, I’m so sorry, but my show ain’t ready. We’ve tried absolutely everything that we can to put it together in time and for it to be good enough for you, but we’ve been absolutely destroyed by delivery delays and Covid,” she said.
10cc drummer Paul Burgess has announced that he is leaving the band because the demands of touring have become too much for him.
The 75-year-old musician, who also spent time performing with Jethro Tull, Camel, Magna Carta, and The Icicle Works, has chosen to walk away from the legendary rock group after more than five decades.
He shared: “After so many wonderful years with 10cc, I must admit that the rigours of touring are no longer manageable for me as I get older, and I feel it’s time to let go of the long hours in airports and endless travel on buses.
“I’m not planning to stop playing altogether. I will still perform but at a pace that feels right, working alongside old friends and a new group of fellow musicians called The Guilty Men.”
Frontman Graham Gouldman confessed that it will feel unusual to perform without his “longest-running musical associate.”
He explained: “When Paul and I first joined forces in 10cc, we never could have imagined that we’d still be at it after 30 years, let alone 52.
“Paul has been my longest musical partner and it will feel different to turn around and see another drummer, but I completely understand why he no longer wants to sit on a plane for 14 hours or wake up in a new hotel every day for weeks at a time.”
Ben Stone, who has previously played with Mike and The Mechanics and Bonnie Tyler, will be taking over on drums.
Paul, who had several runs with 10cc after joining in 1973, performed his final show with the I’m Not In Love band in Alexandria, Virginia this past September.
The group is set to continue their And Another Bloody Greatest Hits Tour in the UK next year.
