Adelaide

Johnny Orlando's song 'Adelaide' delves into the emotional turmoil of unrequited love and the lingering feelings that persist even when the object of affection is with someone else. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a young man grappling with his emotions as he watches Adelaide, the girl he loves, with another person. The recurring theme of biting one's tongue and holding one's breath symbolizes the suppression of true feelings and the pain of seeing someone you care about with someone else.

The song's chorus, where Orlando repeatedly questions Adelaide's true feelings, highlights the internal conflict and hope that she might still have feelings for him. Lines like 'Don’t pretend you’re happy like you wanna stay' and 'When your arms are around him do you wish it’s me' suggest that he believes Adelaide is not genuinely happy with her current partner and might be using him to get a reaction from Orlando. This notion of being 'led on' adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, as it suggests a mutual, albeit unspoken, understanding of their unresolved feelings.

Orlando's use of metaphors such as 'walking on broken glass' and 'ruin my life' underscores the emotional pain and self-destructive tendencies that often accompany unrequited love. The song captures the essence of youthful longing and the difficulty of moving on from someone who remains a significant part of one's emotional landscape. The repetition of Adelaide's name throughout the song serves as a haunting reminder of the protagonist's obsession and the inescapable nature of his feelings.