What can the success & record breakage of "Hello" be attributed to? Is it honestly because this song is that much of an absolute masterpiece or would ANYTHING that Adele released been just as successful?

hype + a good song

A combination of both. My mother literally learned how to use iTunes just for her

hype

It was hype. Coming off of 21, Adele could have released anything and it would have slayed, but it also kind of helps that Hello is a good song. Not a masterpiece but it's good.

!

Hype + quality + it being exactly what people expected/wanted to hear.
It is by no means a masterpiece.

80% Hype-20% good song

both--it's a great song, but it wouldn't be nearly as huge if it weren't adele

Hype, obviously.

BOTH

If it were just hype, it would've fallen as quickly as it rose, it would be #1 for 3 days TOPS.

It's a combination of hype and quality.

both

It benefited more from hype.

Both. It's a great song.

Hype? She announce and released within like a week lol. Everyone was just curious so they listened and liked.

Amazing song

Why does everything have to be black or white here?

The song is selling based off hype for sure, after the huge success 21 was she was bound to sell A LOT, but if you put the song in comparison to SLY and RITD it falls short and is much more bland and inauthentic.

Time will tell whether the song is only selling because of her name or it will be a genuine hit.