Adele’s shade game is a subtle one

Oh, Adele. You’re the best. The “Hello” singer opens up to Time magazine about the business practices of some of her contemporaries, though she insists she’s not throwing shade — though she totally is. “I feel like some artists — and this isn’t shading any artist, just me trying to come up with my own explanation — the bigger they get, the more horrible they get, and the more unlikable,” she says. “And I don’t care if you make an amazing album — if I don’t like you, I ain’t getting your record. I don’t want you being played in my house if I think you’re a bastard.”

Then she reiterates the whole “this is not shade” stance — only convincing me further that is, in fact, some expertly deployed shade — to criticize certain artists’ practices of over-hyping an album à la Justin Bieber or Taylor Swift. “I’m not throwing shade at anybody,” Adele says, “but when you have a six-month build up, don’t expect me to be there the day your album comes out, because I’m bored. It doesn’t matter how amazing it is. You put seven songs out. I’ve heard the album. I’ve heard everything you want to say about it. I’ve heard it all over radio. Don’t expect me to not lose interest before it’s even happened.” Tell us how you really feel.

Follow Ned Ehrbar on Twitter: @nedrick