Gonzo’s Gems: Sade “Soldier Of Love”
By Sam “Gonzo” Gonzales
I had fallen asleep on the living room couch while watching countless hours of “Live Aid“. “Live Aid” was the multi-venue concert which simultaneously aired in the United States and United Kingdom on July 13, 1985. The mega-concert had been billed as the “Global Jukebox”. I remember being awaken gently by the soulful sound of Sade singing “Is It A Crime”.
Her sultry, easy vocals were gorgeous! Fully awake now, I watched and listened to the rest of her performance. She was a stunning beauty whose looks and voice were both sophisticated and cool. I was deeply impressed to say the least and “Is It A Crime” became and remains my favorite Sade song to this very day.
Sade was born Helen Folsade Adu on January 16, 1959 in Ibadan, Nigeria. At the age of 18 she completed school and moved to London where she began studying at the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. It was while she was there that she joined and sang backing vocals for a funk band named Pride. Eventually, her solo performances attracted the attention of record companies and in 1983 she signed a solo deal with Epic Records.
“Diamond Life”, released in 1984, proved to be a very strong debut for Sade. For the first time, the world was hearing Sade’s distinctive voice over a band playing a Jazz/R&B hybrid sound with a pop feel. The album was packed with superb songs such as “Smooth Operator”, ”Your Love Is King” and “Why Can‘t We Live Together“. The album kicks off with “Smooth Operator”. The song opens with tom-toms, bass and sax layered in before we hear Sade sing about a smooth operator… a gigolo. Next is the beautiful love song, “Your Love Is King”. Sade sings, “Your love is king… Crown you with my heart… Your love is king… You’re the ruler of my heart…”. Great songs, but the Gem of the album is the beautiful “Why Can’t We Live Together”. With the instrumentation easing in a layered fashion, first tom-toms, then bass, keyboard and guitar, a smooth rhythm plays for a full 2 minutes before we hear Sade sing a lyrical plea for peace and unity. “Diamond Life” went on to sell 2 million copies.
Sade’s sophomore album, “Promise”, released on December 21, 1985, continued in the same vein as its predecessor with a set of equally strong Quasi-jazz songs, such as the big hit, “Sweetest Taboo” and the beautiful sounding “Never As Good As The First Time” and “Is It A Crime”. The first track, “Is It A Crime”, is the song that started my love for Sade’s music. I am immediately transported back to 1985 whenever I hear this beautiful song about unrequited love. It‘s soothing piano and seductive sax sounding just as exciting as when I first heard it on “Live Aid“. Next, “The Sweetest Taboo” opens and ends with the sound of falling rain and add to the feel of the song and the lyrics, “I’d do anything for you… I’d stand out in the rain… Anything you want me to do…” “Never As Good As The First Time” sounds tropical and fresh. Sade was on a roll and “Promise” eventually went triple platinum.
Now for a lost Gem, 1986’s “Killer Blow”, from the movie, “Absolute Beginners”. What a great song! I’m still amazed that it has not seen the light of day on any of Sade’s albums. “Killer Blow“ is probably the most jazziest sounding song in the Sade catalogue. In the movie, Sade and the band make a cameo appearance, playing “Killer Blow” in a jazzy, nightclub setting. The bass pumps, the ivories tinkle, the sax sounds out in key and appropriate places and Sade sings, “Never thought she’d have to go… Never thought she’d leave… It came like a killer blow…”
“Stronger Than Pride”, released on June 4, 1988, found Sade and the band switching its songwriting approach. The songs were simpler, using only 3 to 4 chords on a majority of the songs. It‘s stripped down and sparse approach left the album sounding a little bit edgier than her two previous outings. The hits here were “Love Is Stronger Than Pride” and “Paradise”, but the Gem was “Clean Heart”. “Clean Heart” is breezy, clean and crisp. Be aware though, the sound and feel of the song is in direct contrast to the dark lyrics and theme of a man enmeshed in a life of crime. “And then he straightened his belt… With a lover’s touch… And he said I’m gonna bring home… The things that are out of your clutch…” “Stronger Than Pride” became Sade’s third consecutive multi-platinum album.
Sade returned four years later with 1992‘s “Love Deluxe”. Less jazzy than her previous efforts, we find minimal sax and an insistent drum beat that sets the tone for the songs. “Love Deluxe” fared very well, immediately spawning the hit “No Ordinary Love”. The song is hauntingly beautiful as Sade yearns and sings, “I keep crying… I keep trying for you baby… There’s nothing like you and I baby… This is no ordinary love.” All the while an ominous sounding guitar lingers threateningly in the background. “Love Deluxe” also included the hit “Cherish The Day”. Tastefully restrained guitar accents are found throughout the song. And quite the impact some fella made to inspire the following lyrics: “You’re ruling the way that I move… You take my air… You show me how deep love can be…” Dazzling song! I’d like to shake that man’s hand. The Gem from this release is “Kiss Of Love”. It’s a beautiful love song that sounds meaningful. It has to be heard to be appreciated fully. “Love Deluxe” went on to sell over a million copies in the first months of it’s release. It remained on the Billboard Charts for 90 weeks and the single, “No Ordinary Love” earned the Grammy for Best R&B Duo or Group Performance.
“The Best Of Sade”, released on November 26, 1994, contained all of Sade’s hits and one previously unreleased song, the outstanding, “Please Send Me Someone To Love”. What a Gem! Originally written and recorded by Percy Mayfield in 1950, Sade covers this slow, blues ballad about world conflict and a personal plea for love. The lyric is sung as a prayer: “Heaven please send to all mankind… Understanding and peace of mind… And if it‘s not asking too much… Please send me someone to love…”
“Lover’s Rock”, released on November 14, 2000, picks up where “Love Deluxe” left off. This album continues in the urban mode with Sade‘s restrained and haunting vocals over smooth, magnificent tracks. On her first single, “By Your Side”, we find her singing about the redemptive powers of love. “When you’re lost and you’re all alone… And you can’t get back again… I will find you darling… And I will bring you home…” And the standout song, “All About Our Love” is a reggae-pop love song of the finest order. “Lovers Rock” earned Sade a Grammy Award and an American Music Award in 2002.
This year, eight years after her last studio album, Sade released her sixth album, “Soldier Of Love”. We find her pushing the envelope as the band uses sounds not familiar to most fans of the band. The album flows evenly from song to song. When asked about the long gaps of time between albums, Sade had this to say, “I only make records when I feel I have something to say. I’m not interested in releasing music just for the sake of selling something.” Over the years, Sade has been heavily criticized for not showing a wider range in voice and style. The truth is Sade’s understated elegance, melancholy approach and subtle restrained style distinguish her from other singers. Sade has created extraordinary music and an impressive body of work. The lyrics to “The Moon And The Sky” from her latest CD says it all. “You’ll always know the reason why the song you heard will stay in your mind. It ain’t gonna let you go. No, cos you were the moon and I the endless sky.” Sade is a soldier of love.
(DVD) “Lovers Live“
(CDs) “Promise“ and “Love Deluxe”
(Songs) Smooth Operator, Your Love Is King, Why Can’t We Live Together, Is It A Crime, The Sweetest Taboo, Never As Good As The First Time, Killer Blow, Love Is Stronger Than Pride, Paradise, Clean Heart, No Ordinary Love, Cherish The Day, Kiss Of Love, Please Send Me Someone To Love, By Your Side, All About Our Love, and The Moon And The Sky
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