SADE s Best - Pearls from the Smoothest of Operators
Carlos Frederico P.S. Gama
Defining SADE s music is much easier than expressing the majesty of her works. I experience creative hardships when trying to find the right words to express just how good gems like Smooth Operator and Paradise sound, thus imagine how many troubles I have trying to express in words the deepest feelings these masterpieces evoke...A hard task! But, arguably, the sweetest of tasks :)
I could start mentioning how great SADE (first name of Nigerian-born singer Sade Adu) music was in the 80 s, although her music being a far cry from the bread-and-butter plastic Pop of that decade. I could also mention the word DISTANCE to simplify things, expressing both the distinctiveness of SADE s works from her contemporaries and her voice, Arctic-iced, breathtakingly cool, surroundingly calm, seducingly poignant, sultry sophisticated. I could add, finally, some lines regarding the instrumental prowess of Stuart Mattewman (Guitar, Sax and composer of several songs present here), Paul Denman (bass) and Andrew Hale (keyboards and piano), which was pivotal for the whole SADE phenomena. Also noteworthy: the superb production of all SADE songs. Beyond all, shine the songs themselves.
BUT...NO!
All mentions wouldn t be enough. We have to deal, to cope with, to understand, to dive into, to be torn apart by, to be seduced by, FEELINGS here. Talking bout SADE and not focusing on feelings would be similar to reviewing Jimi Hendrix and not mentioning the word GUITAR.
This said, everyone minimally interested in great popular music should own a copy of this 1994’s Best of collection. Tracks here came from 4 different albums: Diamond Life, Promise, Stronger Than Pride, Love Deluxe. All masterpieces on their own - this collection is really the best of the best, although many great tracks are absent (there was simply no space left for anything more). Some of the greatest R&B tunes ever carved are here. Some of the most sophisticated ones as well, with a pleasant and strong Jazzy feel – add some bits of Caribbean Music, World Music as well as some subtle funky beats to have an original musical outcome. More? Maybe the better Romantic Dance tunes ever seen. And Sexy...how sexy this collection is! Jazz plus R&B plus Dance...ready for Romance! Nights have never been so seductive before or since...
The first three tracks came from SADE s debut, magnificent 1984’s Diamond Life (a harrowing soundtrack for Love in the Yuppie Era). Your Love Is King is pure seduction – an unforgettably gorgeous, sultry sax line sided by breezy, even sultrier vocals and state-of-the-art lyrics of pure, unconditional love surrender:
’Your love is king
Crown you in my heart
Your love is king
Never need to part
Your kisses ring
Round and round and round my head
Touching the very part of me
It s making my soul sing
Tearing the very heart of me
I m crying out for more’
I bet every man in 1984 (and still today) dream of hearing something similar from their beloved ones. Hang On To Your Love is on par with the former track - a pulsating rhythm giving away sophistication for all pores sided by even more pulsating, heartbeat-like vocals and lyrics carefully teaching the gentle art of keeping your love alive. But, better than anything before or since, we have this album’s smash single Smooth Operator, a track so seductive MARVIN GAYE (if he were alive) would die to carve a similar tune. A flame of sheer sensuality with tight-skirted rhythm sided by provocative, sensual vocals, perfectly fitting lyrics and carefully controlled choruses; this is THE anthem of mid 80 s, melancholic yet energetic. Yet much many songs could have been present here, especially percolating 6th track Cherry Pie.
From second SADE release, 1985’s great Promise (more restrained and musically richer than the first one - less beats, more Jazzy lines and more melodic vocals, yet with less bombastic choruses, her best record ever) we have four tracks. Jezebel is the dramatic, world-gone-wrong heartbreaking narrative, introspective tune, showing a SADE dimension most people easily forget. The Sweetest Taboo may be well the track that summarizes SADE music and imagery - innocent yet lustful lyrics, groovy rhythms picking up something from World Music (Sade Adu is from Nigeria, don t forget), melodic, cold, seductive vocals:
’If I tell you
If I tell you now
Will you keep on
Will you keep on loving me
If I tell you
If I tell you how I feel
Will you keep…bringing out the best in me
You give me, you give me the sweetest taboo
You give me, you re giving me the sweetest taboo
Too good for me’
But the awards here go to Is It A Crime, the best Jazz suite of her career, Big Band sounding and Jazz Diva vocals, is one of my favorites. SADE engages in a vocal roller coaster, ranging from the quiet near-desperation of the chorus (’Is it a crime/That I still want you?’) to the almost orgasmic bridge starting when she assures that her love is ‘wider than Victoria Lake/Taller than the Empire State . Thrilling! Must-have for passionates in trouble. Never As Good As The First Time manages to be both melancholic and seductive in peerless SADE s performance when Love and Regret collide. Great track, as usual! And still we have once again a masterful effort left out of the compilation, again the 6th track which is the supremely rhythmic moment of her career - Mr.Wrong, my favorite overall!
1988’s Stronger Than Pride was a transitional album for SADE. She was increasingly favoring Pop-oriented tunes, with a prominent dancing flavor. The transition towards Pop would be complete on the next record, Love Deluxe (I state here that, although only latter-day SADE releases were Pop-oriented, her songs have ALWAYS been accessible and this gave birth to SADE s mammoth sales on the 80 s). Sonically, a quasi-revolution in what subtle Jazzy timbres were replaced by gripping Dance rhythms and polished beats. Fortunately, the seductive atmosphere of their songs was kept intact and we can highly enjoy the ‘modern’ SADE in the three tracks selected from this third album. Love Is Stronger Than Pride picks up where Never Good As The First Time left (nice idea to put them in a row on this collection), only with groovier and bolder beats (although nothing quite like this song s many future REMIXES). The crowning achievement of the album is classic tune Paradise, where everything gels and SADE scores a masterful job in Dance and Romance - seductive, propulsive, moving. Words of pure smoothness to address Love fulfilled in a straightforward fashion, interwoven with the flawless rhythm:
’I d wash the sand off the shore
Give you the world if it was mine
Blow you right to my door
Feels fine
Feels like
You re mine
Feels right
So fine
I m yours
You re mine
Like paradise’
Her best dance tune ever, MADONNA never had ANYTHING comparable to THIS! And, last but not least, a Jazzy treatment of Dance and Romance - Nothing Can Come Between Us, more introspective and less propulsive, but as effective as the previous track. A pure delight for fans. Fans, like me, noticed that (coincidently) the 6th track, and one of the best of the pack, was once again absent (is there any magic quality associated with number 6?) which is Keep Looking - the track from the third album I listen to the most, nowadays!
1992’s Love Deluxe contributes the major number of tracks to this collection - 5 out of its 9 tracks are present here (does SADE really believe this is her best album ever?). This time SADE would complete transition towards Pop, touching heavily on American R&B, not leaving behind dancing flavor (and adding some Philly-sound guitars on the background). A peculiar combination, given that SADE s cold seductiveness would have to be translated into strictly Pop terms, a hard task. SADE succeeds brilliantly, with impressive production values, scoring a crowning achievement in No Ordinary Love. This dramatic-yet-sophisticated track is the one that most resembles her early days and arguably contains SADE s ultimate vocal performance. I can see the air that surrounds me halting and freezing when she starts singing the line ’I KEEP TRYING...’
I gave you all the love I got
I gave you more than I could give
I gave you love
I gave you all that I have inside
And you took my love
You took my love
Didn t I tell you
What I believe
Did somebody say that
A love like that won t last
Didn t I give you
All that I ve got to give baby
You took my love
I keep crying
I keep trying for you
There s nothing like you and I baby
This is no ordinary love
No ordinary love
This is no ordinary love
No ordinary love
Also noteworthy is the arrangement, astonishing, making beats sound like a string quartet and trending the competitors out of the water. Vintage SADE, to say the least! Like A Tatoo and Kiss Of Life hint on where SADE would go further on her career after this collection (on 1999’s album Lovers Rock) - delicate beats, strong acoustic guitar, uplifting lyrics, a love-for-life feeling instead of lust and seduction. Finally the 6th track is present! A great one in Cherish The Day, driving melancholy once again. It and R&B smash single Pearls are the Poppiest SADE ever been, resembling a restrained WHITNEY HOUSTON or a classier MARIAH CAREY (I personally miss instrumental track Mermaid after them). But her undeniably vocal tone is still present, as well as great arrangements and accessible beats, although less seductive than before.
Finally, we have a bonus track for this collection (something to make SADE s fanatics buy the album), her contribution to PHILADELPHIA’s (Tom Hanks, remember?) soundtrack, a cover of a CURTIS MAYFIELD (that is to say The World s Best Songwritter of the late 60 s and early 70 s) track called Please Send Me Someone To Love which is pretty cool man! A great R&B tune, with lyrics of the most personal. SADE succeeds in making the track sound like one of her own. She never failed to deliver the goods!
R&B plus Jazz plus Dance = Romance! Great feelings turned into equally great music. Turn your feelings on - be prepared for an unforgettable music journey. Great music, as large as your (and SADE s) feelings - the best way of translating sensuality into music!
What the more can I say? This collection perfectly summarizes SADE s carreer, her ups and (minor) ups, even with the absent greats. An ideal choice for many activities, from Relaxing to Romancing, including reflective moments when you are touched by melancholy. A great addition to any collection. If you are not feelingless, of course!
