The 27-year-old singer achieved 27.7 million streams in the first 24 hours after the video was released, breaking the record of 20.1 million views which Taylor, 25, held for 'Bad Blood'.

Asked about the meaning of the new song's lyrics, the British star said: ''It's not about anything specific. I have a little curiosity about my past now that I'm a grown up. We're not kids anymore and stuff like that. It's kind of a hello to all my old friends, all the relationships I've had, all my old teachers, my little me when I was seven or eight, and also a bit of a hello to all my fans because I've been gone for so long.''

Adele's return to music comes after a four-year hiatus and she admitted she still hates performing live.

She explained: ''I do really love performing but I can't get over my nerves, I don't really enjoy it until I'm off stage.''

The crippling anxiety she experiences on stage sometimes means she forgets the words to her songs.

Asked if she ever makes up the lyrics she said: ''Yeah or I just pass the microphone to the audience and say, 'Oh you sing it.' Or I'll stop and ask if I can start again. And I have to ask my guitarist what's my lyric.''