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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The best-supported match for this headline is Dawn Richard—who performs as D∆WN—reworking Adele’s “Hello.” Richard’s version is not a like-for-like attempt to out-sing the original: it recasts the song as a different kind of record. Whether that makes it better depends on what you want from “Hello.”
Which Adele cover is this?
It is Dawn Richard’s cover of “Hello,” released on November 20, 2015. Pitchfork identified Swagg R’Celious as its producer and reported that Richard prefers to reshape songs rather than reproduce them. The headline does not name the singer, so Dawn Richard is the strongest match supported by contemporary coverage, not a certainty about where the headline first appeared. Pitchfork’s report includes Richard’s explanation of the approach.
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| 1 |
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25 | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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25 | $14.59 | Buy on Amazon |
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Adele Cd Collection - 30 / 25 | $24.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Adele - 25 Exclusive with +3 extra songs (Audio CD) | $33.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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21 | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
How Richard changes the song
Richard told Pitchfork: “I’m always skeptical about doing covers. If I do them, I usually take them and morph them into my own.” She described “Hello” in the same terms: “Recreating ‘Hello’ was no different because I had the urge to cover it in my own way. I just couldn’t resist a record that was so well written.” Those comments establish her intention, not a verdict on which recording is superior.
Stereogum characterized the cover as a chilly R&B reworking, with an understated hook and bassline. That description points to the central contrast: Richard’s interpretation shifts the song’s mood and arrangement rather than trying to recreate Adele’s recording. Stereogum’s coverage offers that critical description.
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#1 Best Overall
What “better” means in this comparison
Adele’s “Hello” was the first single from 25, released in October 2015; the album was scheduled to arrive on November 20, 2015, according to Vogue. The original reached No. 1 on the Official Singles Chart, with November 5, 2015 listed as its first chart date. That chart result belongs to Adele’s recording, not Richard’s cover. Official Charts’ record documents the original’s position.
On the evidence available, the fairest case for Richard’s version is about reinterpretation: if you prefer a cooler R&B setting and a less familiar presentation, her approach may make the song more compelling. If what you value is Adele’s original performance and the release that became a chart-topper, the cover’s transformation may be beside the point. Neither preference can be settled by a chart peak or by Richard’s stated intent.
Rank #2
- ADELE
- R&P INTERNATIONAL
- INTERNATIONAL
- MUSIC
Verdict: a strong alternate reading, not a provable upgrade
Richard’s “Hello” has a plausible claim to being better for listeners who want a distinct, moodier reimagining rather than a replica. Calling it universally better would overstate what the evidence establishes: the comparison is one of taste, and the available critical description concerns the arrangement rather than a definitive ranking of the singers. The most useful way to judge the claim is to compare both recordings and decide which interpretation better serves the song for you.
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Rank #4
Rank #3
- Adele Records
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