Although we're used to hearing about the Obama feelgood factor, Adele is one of the very few people in the world to have experienced the "Palin bounce". Having appeared in front of 17 million viewers on the same edition of US comedy show Saturday Night Live as vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, a quality performance by the young Londoner ensured she experienced a massive surge in sales. In truth, it's a turn of events that has seen the singer finally acquire the kind of success that was being widely predicted for her around this time last year. Back then, a quest for the new Amy Winehouse had pundits beating a path to her door, a rush which her subsequent achievements - an unbelievably graceless turn at the Brits, for example - generally failed to justify. Undoubtedly, Duffy's won this year's battles. Adele may yet have the stamina for a long campaign, however.
• Roundhouse, NW1, Sat 20
