Superstar singer Adele had the ability to make music out of heartache BEFORE she ever found true love, friends reveal.
As a 15-year-old at performing arts school, she would slip away to a piano room or be found in a corridor writing numbers that would pave the way to fame and a fortune now put at £130million.
Even then, Adele – loved by pals for her trademark cackle and laugh – was singing about heartbreak.
And she blew classmates away with early performances of Hometown Glory and Daydreamer.
Those songs were on her first album 19. Daydreamer, about an ideal fella, set the tone for many future hits. Not least her latest heart-tugging album 30 – which won her three awards at the BRITs on Tuesday.
School pals always knew she would make it big – but reveal she set out to be a teacher, not a singer.
One says of the teenage Adele: “She performed Hometown Glory and Daydreamer as part of a music assignment and my jaw was on the floor. It was like, wow, you have written that – and you’re only 15.
“Even back then they were love songs about heartache, though she didn’t have any boyfriends at all.
“If we weren’t in class Adele would be in one of two places – the smoking area, having fags, or with her guitar in the corridor and writing songs.
“She was very confident, very funny, the life and soul of any situation, an all-round talented person and one of the most popular on the course. It was plain to see she had something special.”
Fascinating unseen photos from the time are seen on the right – with Adele goofing around with pals as a 16-year-old, gazing into the camera and living it up at her 18th birthday party.
That was a knees-up for 100 at the Dogstar pub in Brixton, South London, where guests were greeted by a 10ft black and white photo of Adele on the wall.
Her journey from the BRIT School in Croydon, South London, to the BRIT Awards – and the small matter of fulfilling a £1million-a-night Las Vegas residency – has been an emotional one for Adele, 33.
30 is dubbed her “divorce album”, charting her split with husband Simon Konecki. At the BRITs, Adele performed the break-up ballad I Drink Wine – then dedicated the best album award to Simon and their son Angelo, nine – saying the record is “really about them”.
But in keeping with her tempestuous love life, new boyfriend Rich Paul wasn’t at her side for her triumph as rumours about relationship pressures grow.
Adele – who also won best artist and best song for Easy On Me – sported a diamond on her ring finger, sparking rumours of engagement to US sports agent Rich, 40.
But one insider says the attention on them may be taking its toll, revealing: “They are totally committed to each other but Rich isn’t a red-carpet type of guy and wants to keep it that way.
“Some are saying he has been craving a break from the drama that surrounds Adele. First her Las Vegas residency was cancelled and then there were reports that their romance was on the rocks.”
But when she appeared on TV’s Graham Norton show on Friday, Adele revealed that she wants to have a baby with Rich next year.
She also promised that all her cancelled Las Vegas shows will “100% be on” later this year. She had tearfully called off the shows on social media only 24 hours before the first one – outraging fans who had spent thousands on travel and accommodation.
Adele said the show was not ready, citing delivery and Covid delays. But fans have questioned whether her anxiety over performing – which she has spoken about – played a role.
Meanwhile, her school pal reveals that Adele was not set on stardom when they were studying together.
He says: “We weren’t all there to become famous – we were there because we loved music. Adele loved music and singing but wanted to be a teacher – and I don’t even think a teacher of music and singing. But then it all fell into place for her as an artist.
“A friend made her a MySpace account and uploaded demos and it all went from there. I remember the next week she got a £25,000 advance in her bank account. It was mad.”
During an Audience With Adele in November, the star spoke of her admiration for a Ms McDonald, a “cool and engaging teacher” – not realising she was there in the ITV studio.
It brought the house down when the pair were reunited on stage.
At school, Adele was described as “quite academic but always laughing”.
Her pal goes on: “Once, in sociology, a boy next to her fell asleep and started snoring. The class went quiet then Adele let off the massive cackle she is known for and woke him up. She was very popular and the centre of attention in a good way.”
Her beaming smile was evident once more at her 18th birthday bash.
The friend recalls: “It was very self-indulgent but quite amazing.
“It was a big old party, lots of dancing and drinking.
“She sang some of her songs. I feel honoured to have been among the first to hear her early stuff.”
