Is an Adele backlash in the air? Outside the first of two sold-out shows at Shepherds Bush Empire, touts were trying to offload tickets for £1. Moreover, the brightest star of British pop at the turn of 2008 has since been eclipsed by Duffy, whose million sales of her debut is double that of Adele’s 19, while the current single Cold Shoulder has come nowhere close to matching the success of the chart-topping Chasing Pavements.

Yet the South Londoner remains a remarkable talent for her age – Adele had turned 20 the previous day. And it was her youth that proved the dominant factor in a performance that lacked musical muscle, but fizzed with fun.

Perched on high platforms along the back of the Empire stage, a four-piece band opened with a rocky intro, before a barefooted Adele skipped on like a shy little girl. Her name sparkled overhead in bright lights, and her diamanté eyelashes gave a tiny tinge of glamour to a typically dour outfit of baggy black smock top and matching leggings. The opener, Right as Rain, revealed Adele’s best assets – powerful vocals and a rich range. It also highlighted what would be missing from most of the gig – genuine soul.

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As a string quartet took their seats, Adele slipped back into little girl mode. “This is weird. I’m so scared,” she gushed, before running in bizarre baby steps towards something thrown on stage. It was an ear plug. She offered it to photographers, squealed hello to her family on the balcony and began a giddy conversation with a fan, all in a few, breathless seconds. If the Carry On franchise is ever revived, it need look no farther for its new leading lady.

As every new song started Adele would snap back to business, recalling Alison Moyet on the swoony Melt My Heart, playing bass on a striking solo Best for Last, covering the Coral’s chirpy Dreaming of You and murdering Bob Dylan’s Make You Feel My Love. The shimmering standout Cold Shoulder, though, had the makings of a Bond theme, and Hometown Glory was a rare number sung with real emotion.

The string-drenched closer Chasing Pavements was greeted like the classic it could become, but little of 19 is likely to join it. Still, the rollercoaster ride of recent months could well become the basis of a follow-up with more feeling.

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