Adele has delivered many unforgettable live performances, but one of the most unique is her rendition of “Hello” with Jimmy Fallon and The Roots on The Tonight Show, using kids’ instruments. The scene was reminiscent of a fun classroom jam session, with Adele leading while Fallon and The Roots added a playful, childlike energy to the quirky arrangement.
“Hello” is a seven-times Platinum hit for Adele, so you’ve probably heard it many times before, but never like this. The sparse studio arrangement allowed The Roots to infuse a fresh, retro groove into the live version, despite using toy instruments. With nine musicians, including Fallon, they created a fun and groovy sound that was both charming and impressive.
The video became a huge hit, racking up 60 million views on The Tonight Show’s YouTube channel. Fans loved the whimsical performance, leaving comments like “Adele probably has one of the most powerful voices ever in the music industry! Huge respect for her” and “The kazoos almost made me die laughing. The look that passed between Jimmy and Adele didn’t help. Comic gold inside a solid performance.”
Adele released “Hello” on October 23, 2015, as the lead single from her third album, 25. She co-wrote the nostalgic ballad with producer Greg Kurstin, and it quickly became a critical and commercial success. “Hello” topped charts worldwide and was certified five times Platinum in the UK and seven times Platinum in the US, making it the most successful single from 25 and one of her biggest hits ever. With 1.5 billion streams on Spotify, it remains a fan favorite and continues to be one of her most beloved songs.