Adele has released a new music video for her song Oh My God, the second single from her latest album, 30.
The entire video is in black-and-white and just under four minutes. But rather than seeing a sulking Adele, 33, we’re given a video in which the British singer undergoes a stylish journey as she is shown in a trio of outfits that reflect her current mood. Even the track itself is more of an upbeat, R&B-infused sound over the soulful vocals and sad ballads she's known for.
In the video, the first look features Adele in a Harris Reed transparent blouse covered with polka dots. She pairs it with a black corset top and an empire waist skirt. Next, we’re given a new custom look from a Louis Vuitton, which has the singer sporting a Nicolas Ghesquiere-designed brocade gown and white caplet as she sings in front of a neon halo.
Finally, she’s shown in a haute couture piece from Vivienne Westwood. Adele wears a red satin gown with a matching silk tulle bolero. She offered a preview of the look on Instagram ahead of the music video’s unveiling.
A study conducted by Love the Sales, which tracks insights into global shopping trends and celebrity fashion influences, says there was a high demand for brocade print clothing in the hours following the release of the music video, with searches up 316 per cent. There was also an increased demand for black leather gloves (170 per cent), polka dot tops (100 per cent), black corset tops (78 per cent) and pearl drop earrings (77 per cent).
The music video has been viewed more than eight million times since its release on Wednesday. Fans have also taken to social media to react to it. Here's a look at some of the best reactions:
A user called her "stunning" in the video:
Another said they were absolutely "mesmerised" and that it was "so fun to watch":
One user praised her music and lyrics, calling Adele a "musical legend":
Someone else said that a frame from the music video reminded them of artwork, and that it should be framed in Mexico City's Palacio de Bellas Artes, a cultural centre:
Upon the video's release, Adele thanked her crew involved on social media, "I got to work with Sam Brown again for Oh My God who directed the Rolling in the Deep video! So to collaborate together again a decade later was nostalgic to say the least."
"We filmed this one on the day Easy On Me dropped, there were a million things going on all at once. But the attention to detail from the crew was borderline hilarious – thank you so much for your patience and pulling it all together it was a lot of fun," she wrote.
She said, "Big thank you to Harris Reed, Louis Vuitton and The Queens Haus – Vivienne Westwood for the most stunning clothes for me to sing my 'I'm a hot mess' song in!"
It's up to you to go green
Nils El Accad, chief executive and owner of Organic Foods and Café, says going green is about “lifestyle and attitude” rather than a “money change”; people need to plan ahead to fill water bottles in advance and take their own bags to the supermarket, he says.
“People always want someone else to do the work; it doesn’t work like that,” he adds. “The first step: you have to consciously make that decision and change.”
When he gets a takeaway, says Mr El Accad, he takes his own glass jars instead of accepting disposable aluminium containers, paper napkins and plastic tubs, cutlery and bags from restaurants.
He also plants his own crops and herbs at home and at the Sheikh Zayed store, from basil and rosemary to beans, squashes and papayas. “If you’re going to water anything, better it be tomatoes and cucumbers, something edible, than grass,” he says.
“All this throwaway plastic - cups, bottles, forks - has to go first,” says Mr El Accad, who has banned all disposable straws, whether plastic or even paper, from the café chain.
One of the latest changes he has implemented at his stores is to offer refills of liquid laundry detergent, to save plastic. The two brands Organic Foods stocks, Organic Larder and Sonnett, are both “triple-certified - you could eat the product”.
The Organic Larder detergent will soon be delivered in 200-litre metal oil drums before being decanted into 20-litre containers in-store.
Customers can refill their bottles at least 30 times before they start to degrade, he says. Organic Larder costs Dh35.75 for one litre and Dh62 for 2.75 litres and refills will cost 15 to 20 per cent less, Mr El Accad says.
But while there are savings to be had, going green tends to come with upfront costs and extra work and planning. Are we ready to refill bottles rather than throw them away? “You have to change,” says Mr El Accad. “I can only make it available.”
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
