Hello vs. Hotline Bling

Todd plays "Hello" on the piano...

ADELE - HELLO

Holds it...

AND

...and plays "Hotline Bling"

DRAKE - HOTLINE BLING A pop song(s) review

Todd: I think I've said this before, but music is not here to satisfy your most positive emotions or your most noble impulses.


 * Clip of Dionne and Friends - "That's What Friends Are For"

Todd (VO): I mean, nothing wrong with that, I like positive messages. You know, "heal the world, make it a better place," fine, whatever. But that's not all there is. Sometimes...

Todd: ...you need songs that say...


 * Clip of Ice-T - "Cop Killer"

Todd (VO): ...every terrible thought you've ever had. "I don't like this song 'cause it sends a bad message."

Todd: Damn right, it does. That's why I like it. I mean, you're not wrong.


 * Clip of "Rumor Has It"
 * Adele: ...write this as a bit of a "fuck you," and...

Todd (VO): Which brings us to today's episode, where we'll be looking at two of the biggest hits right now from two of the biggest, most defining superstars of the 2010s: [pictures of...] Drake and Adele.


 * Clip of "Worst Behavior"
 * Drake: I'm on my worst behavior

Todd (VO): Now, you wouldn't think the two have that much in common. One's a white chick, one's a black guy; [Clips of "Hometown Glory"...] one's a retro jazz-soul singer from England, [..."The Motto" ft. Lil Wayne and Tyga...] one's a preening male hip-hop superstar from Canada, which still sounds wrong; [..."Chasing Pavements"...] Adele hasn't anything in four years and considered leaving music entirely, Drake drops another mix tape every three months or so; [..."Set Fire to the Rain" live at the Royal Albert Hall...] Adele is classy and well-respected, [...and "Started from the Bottom"] Drake constantly seems like he's about to become a complete joke forever.

Todd: But despite all that, they have one major thing in common.


 * Clips of "Rolling in the Deep" and "Marvin's Room"

Todd (VO): They have both made some great music out of depicting themselves in the worst light possible.

Todd: And by what appears to be coincidence...


 * Videos for "Hello" and "Hotline Bling"

Todd (VO): ...both have huge hits right now based around the same thing: bugging their exes, who they are both clearly not even close to getting over. So yeah, I'm doing this as another joint episode, because of those parallels. But also for another reason.

Todd: I have this theory that both of these songs are about each other.


 * Drake: Used to call me on my cell phone


 * Adele: I must have call a thousand times

Todd (VO): I believe that Adele and Drake dated, broke up, and then wrote songs about each other. They've kept that relationship on the down-low obviously, but it must have happened. Listen to this.


 * Adele: There's such a difference between us


 * Drake: ...you, you, you
 * You and me we just don't get along


 * Adele: I've been California dreaming


 * Drake: Running out of pages in your passport


 * Adele: ...I'm sorry for breaking your heart


 * Drake: You made me feel like I did you wrong

Todd: See? It just makes too much sense!


 * Adele: Did you ever make it out of that town where nothing happened

Todd (VO): I mean, think about it. Where's Drake from? Canada, right? That's full of towns where nothing ever happens.

Todd: Er...no, wait, he's from Toronto, isn't he? [Clip of Rob Ford, the infamous ex-mayor of Toronto] I guess some stuff does happen there.

Todd (VO): And I'll admit, maybe I'm wrong about this, but if I am, then...

Todd: ...we should all do our best to try and make this happen.

Todd (VO): Drake and Adele should date, then break up.

Todd: We'd get some amazing music out of that.


 * Drake: Since I left the city, you, you, you

Todd (VO): Let's compare these songs. To put it mildly, Adele and Drake approach the subject completely differently, starting right with the title.

Transcript in progress