Director of Adele music video defends use of flip-phone

The director of the music video for Adele's new single "Hello" has defended the use of old school flip phones rather than modern smartphones.

Since its release on Friday, the video has had over 26 millions views and has sparked plenty of debate on social media.

While many fans took the opportunity to heap praise on the nostalgic video, which was directed by Xavier Dolan, and filmed in black and white. Others wondered why an iPhone or other counterpart didn't feature.

jame/s

@edgejames

Why is Adele still using a flip phone? No wonder it's taken her 4 years to call

08:50 - 23 Oct 2015

Anjali.

@Anjalaaay

Half the reasons why Adele's music video was so sad was because it's 2015 & this chick is still using a flip phone https://t.co/6xsIgms1Lp

10:26 - 24 Oct 2015

Twitter accounts have even been set up in honour of the vintage throwback:

Adele's Flip Phone

@AdeleFlipPhone

My body literally vibrates every time I hear Adele sing #Hello.

22:33 - 23 Oct 2015

The Wire actor Tristan Wilds uses a flip-phone in the video. Credit: Youtube/Vevo

In an interview with the LA Times, the 26-year-old said the reaction "drives him crazy".

I could see the GIFs on Twitter. I'm like, 'guys, get over it. It doesn't matter.' But the real explanation is that I never like filming modern phones or cars. They're so implanted in our lives that when you see them in movies you're reminded you're in reality

– XAVIER DOLAN, SPEAKING TO THE LA TIMES

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He went on: "If I put an iPhone or a modern car in a movie it feels like I'm making a commercial."

The video features lots of flashbacks and Nolan said its symbolises the theme that Adele is "stranded in nature".

"It's an element of the past. It's much more important than the flip-flop, and trying to identify whether it's Samsung or an AE9 or whatever", he added.

Watch the video for Hello