Teen Debuts Reggae Cover of Adele’s ‘Hello,’ Gets Over 100 Million Video Views

Getty Images | Joern Pollex

When British superstar singer Adele released “Hello” as the lead single from her album 25, it quickly hit number one on charts all over the world.

With “Hello” being one of the best-selling singles of all time, Adele won the 2017 Grammy award for “Best Song,” and the album won a Grammy as well. It’s a haunting song that conjures up regret and nostalgia for a past relationship and prominently features Adele’s incredible vocals.

While there’s certainly one Adele in the world, an unexpected cover of the song emerged a few years ago in 2016 and won many fans with its originality. Two things stood out about this viral cover: first, that it was rewritten in reggae style by Jamaican artist Conkarah, and second that it featured singer Rosie Delmah, then 14, whose voice definitely turned heads.

Conkarah (whose name is Nicholas Murray) and Rosie Delmah are both islanders, but he is from Kingston, Jamaica, in the Caribbean, and she hails from the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. While these two singers come from opposite sides of the world, their smooth and soulful vocals harmonize in an amazing way.

While it has its roots in Jamaican beats, this unique genre has spread all over the world, with a particular appeal for the islanders of the South Pacific. As Conkarah said in an interview with Reggaeville after performing in Guam, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, and the Solomon Islands, among others, “there is a huge appreciation for Reggae music there and it feels good spreading positive vibes with people who genuinely love it.”

When he came across the amazing voice of Rosie Delmah, it was a match made in heaven, and the two have been recording and touring ever since.

The video for their special version of “Hello” shows Conkarah and Rosie sitting by the beach with hammocks and thatched huts in the background. “Boom, this is Conkarah and I’m here with my little sister Rosie.” We see the pair playing soccer on the beach and hanging out with Rosie’s friends and family. It’s amazing to see how this teenager can channel the spirit and sound of Adele at such a young age.

The two take turns singing the verses of the song before their voices finally come together at the end, along with a beautiful overhead view of the gorgeous beaches and tropical landscape that Rosie calls home.

To date, the video has over 100 million views on YouTube and has drawn praise from celebrities such as Kris Jenner, who posted her appreciation on Facebook, per the New York Daily News. “LOVE this Adele cover!! These kids are crazy talented!”

After recording this cover, Conkarah and Rosie Delmah have gone on to do other big hits in reggae style, including Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect.” Since then, the fantastic duo have also toured around the South Pacific and Australia and are now taking on the United States.

The huge distance between their birthplaces hasn’t kept these two from winning the hearts of fans all over the world. After touring the United States for the first time together, it seems likely that they will have a lot more tours!