Like Adele? You'll Love Ella Henderon's "Ghost"

Are you tired of waiting for Adele to release new music? You're not alone. I know that true art takes time but JEEZ! 21 came out over three years ago now — that's like... longer than forever. Doesn't she know that even I'm sick of hearing Katy Perry's "Dark Horse" on the radio by now? Fortunately, an angel heard my anguished cries. On Tuesday, Ella Henderson released her fantastic debut single, "Ghost." And frankly, it almost has me saying, "Adele who?"

The 18-year-old Henderson took sixth place on The X Factor U.K. in 2012 and subsequently signed with Syco Music, Simon Cowell's record label. Since then, she's been hard at work on her forthcoming debut album, the aptly titled, Chapter One. I had never heard of Henderson until "Ghost," but with a powerful, sultry voice and a maturity well beyond her years, she seems like she's more than ready to make her mark on the pop music scene

Honestly, I'm not just comparing Henderson to Adele because they're both from England — that would be silly. "Ghost" genuinely does sound like it could be an Adele record...if Adele were a little sassier and a whole lot funkier. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that "Ghost" was co-written by the same guy who co-wrote Adele's "Rumour Has It," OneRepublic front man Ryan Tedder.

On "Ghost," Henderson sings about going to great lengths to shake the grip of a former love. On the song's superb chorus, Henderson sings:

I keep goin' to the river to pray

'Cause I need something that can wash out the pain

And at most, I'm sleepin' all these demons away

But your ghost

The ghost of you it keeps me awake

For having such dark lyrics, the song is surprisingly lively! Against all odds, "Ghost" is totally a feel-good, springtime jam. I can definitely see American radio stations eating this one up. This is the kind of music you can and should dance around to in your living room when no one else is around. Or maybe when other people are around, too. It's just that good.

Check out the music video for "Ghost" below. It was shot in New Orleans and it's super spooky, but I don't claim to have any idea what's going on in it. I think a scary man killed Henderson and her boyfriend was wrongfully accused of the murder, so he escapes prison to find the guy who really did it and bring him to justice. Or something like that. Anyway, there are lots of pretty colors, you'll like it.

Image: YouTube