Performing at the first of four sold-out concerts at the Genting Arena in Birmingham, Adele proved that not only can she belt out heart-rending romantic ballads, but she can also send out heart-mending messages.
Much of the Western world has not responded to the recent Lahore attacks, or indeed any attacks in Pakistan, in any way comparable to when a European city has been hit by terror. No major landmark has ever been lit to show solidarity with a nation that is not defined by the terrorists who have brutalized it, but the millions of resilient citizens who refuse to be cowed down by them, in spite of being the worst victims of terrorism anywhere in the world.
At Birmingham though, Adele showed how she stands apart, and won thousands of more fans, at least in Pakistan. The singer had earlier, at the O2 in London, paid tribute to the Brussels bombing victims. This time, she asked the audience to hold their torches aloft to show solidarity with the victims of the Lahore blast, which resulted in 70 deaths and hundreds of casualties.
It was a moment many residents of Birmingham, and fans of Adele will remember for a long time, just as they will cherish memories of her poignant renditions of Hometown Glory, Skyfall, and Hello.