Sade was formed in 1982, when members of Latin soul band Pride — Sade Adu, (real name Helen Folasade Adu - born 16 January 1959 in Ibadan, Nigeria) Stuart Matthewman and Paul Spencer Denman — together with Paul Cook formed a splinter group and began to write their own material. Sade made their debut in December 1982 at Ronnie Scott's Club in London, England, in support of Pride. Later, in 1983, Andrew Hale joined Sade. In 1984 Paul Cook left the band.
Sade Adu, the band's singer, is the daughter of a Nigerian father and an English mother. After her mother returned to England, Sade grew up on the North End of London. Developing a good singing voice in her teens, Sade worked part-time jobs in and outside of the music business. She listened to Ray Charles, Nina Simone, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, and Billie Holliday. Sade studied fashion design at St. Martin’s School of Art in London while also doing some modeling on the side.
Around 1980, Adu started singing harmony with a Latin funk group called Arriva. One of the more popular numbers that the group would perform was a Sade original co-written with bandmember Ray St. John, “Smooth Operator,” that would later become Sade’s first stateside hit. The following year Adu joined the eight-piece funk band Pride as a background singer. The band included future Sade band members guitarist/saxophonist Stuart Matthewman (a key player in ’90s urban soul singer Maxwell’s success) and bassist Paul Denman. The concept of the group was that there could shoot-offs. In essence, a few members within the main group Pride formed mini-groups that would be the opening act. Pride did a lot of shows around London, stirring up record company interest. Initially, the labels wanted to only sign Adu, while the group members wanted a deal for the whole band. After a year, the other band members told Adu, Matthewman, and Denman to go ahead and sign a deal. Adding keyboardist Andrew Hale, the group signed to the U.K. division of Epic Records.
In May 1983, Sade performed at Danceteria Club in New York, NY, United States. It was the first US Sade show. They received more attention from the media and record companies and separated finally. On 18 October 1983 Sade Adu signed with Epic Records. The rest of the band signed in 1984. All Sade albums were released through this label.
Their debut album, Diamond Life (with overall production by Robin Millar), went Top Ten in the U.K. in late 1984. January 1985 saw the album released on CBS’ Portrait label and by spring it went platinum off the strength of the Top Ten singles “Smooth Operator” and “Hang on to Your Love.” The second album, Promise (November 1985), featured “Never As Good As the First Time” and arguably her signature song, “The Sweetest Taboo,” which stayed on the U.S. pop charts for six months. Sade was so popular that some radio stations reinstated the ’70s practice of playing album tracks, adding “Is It a Crime” and “Tar Baby” to their play lists. In 1986, Sade won a Grammy for Best New Artist.
Sade’s third album was 1988’s Stronger Than Pride and featured their first number one soul single “Paradise,” “Nothing Can Come Between Us,” and “Keep Looking.” A new Sade album didn’t appear for four years. 1992’s Love Deluxe continued the unbroken streak of multi-platinum Sade albums, spinning off the hits “No Ordinary Love,” “Feel No Pain,” and “Pearls.” While the album’s producer Mike Pela, Matthewman, Denman, and Hale have gone on to other projects, the new millennium did spark a new scene for Sade. She issued Lovers Rock in fall 2000 and incoporated more mainstream elements than ever before. Debut single “By Your Side” was also a hit among radio and adult-contemporary listerners. The following summer, Sade embarked on their first tour in more than a decade, selling out countless dates across America. In early 2002, Sade celebrated their success of the tour by releasing their first ever live album and DVD, Lovers Live.
Sade made a great contribution to development of modern music. They dismantled many of the old music business ways and quite promptly became a fully functioning autonomous unit with a firm grip on every aspect of the recording process.
Sade is first and foremost a live act. Sade Adu said in one of her interviews: "When we play I know that the people love the music. I can feel it." Throughout their history, Sade have always attracted a diverse, multi-racial audience who are drawn by the band's open-minded approach to music. "And that's the best thing we've achieved."
Soldier of Love, Sade's first official studio album since the multi-platinum release of Lovers Rock in 2000, was released on 8th February, 2010.
Discography:
Studioalbums:
1984 - Diamond Life
1985 - Promise
1988 - Stronger Than Pride
1992 - Love Deluxe
2000 - Lovers Rock
2010 - Soldier of Love
Livealbums:
2002 - Lovers Live
2012 - Bring Me Home - Live 2011
Compilations:
1994 - The Best Of Sade
2011 - The Ultimate Collection
By Your Side
Sade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know me better than that
Think I'd leave you down when you're down on your knees?
I wouldn't do that
I'll tell you you're right when you aren't, ah, ah, oh
And if only you could see into me
Oh, when you're cold
When you're on the outside, baby, and you can't get in
I will show you you're so much better than you know
When you're lost and you're alone
And you can't get back again
I will find you, darling, and I'll bring you home
And if you want to cry
I am here to dry your eyes, ooh
And in no time, you'll be fine
You think I'd leave your side, baby?
You know me better than that
Think I'd leave you down when you're down on your knees?
I wouldn't do that
I'll tell you you're right when you aren't, ah, ah, oh
And if only you could see into me
Oh, when you're cold
I'll be there, hold you tight to me (to me, yeah)
Oh, when you're low
I'll be there by your side, baby (by your side, baby)
And, oh, when you're cold
I'll be there, hold you tight to me (to me, yeah)
Oh, when you're low
I'll be there by your side, baby
Sade's song "By Your Side" is a beautiful and heartfelt song about being there for someone you love no matter what. The song starts off with Sade asking if her significant other believes that she would ever leave them, to which she reassures them that she wouldn't. Sade makes it clear that she will never abandon her loved one even if they are at their lowest point, stating "Think I'd leave you down when you're down on your knees? I wouldn't do that."
The chorus of the song emphasizes the message of the song, that she will be there for her loved one through thick and thin. Sade sings "Oh, when you're cold, I'll be there, hold you tight to me. When you're on the outside, baby, and you can't get in, I will show you you're so much better than you know. When you're lost and you're alone, and you can't get back again, I will find you, darling, and I'll bring you home."
Ultimately, "By Your Side" is a song about unconditional love and support. Sade wants her loved one to know that they can always count on her, and that she will always be there to help pick them up when they're down.
Line by Line Meaning
You think I'd leave your side, baby?
Do you really believe that I would abandon you, my love?
You know me better than that
You know me well enough to know that I would never leave you behind.
Think I'd leave you down when you're down on your knees?
Do you think that I would abandon you during your most vulnerable moments?
I wouldn't do that
I would never do such a thing to you.
I'll tell you you're right when you aren't, ah, ah, oh
I'll validate and support you even when you're wrong, just to show my unwavering support.
And if only you could see into me
If only you could understand how deeply I care for you.
Oh, when you're cold
When you're feeling lonely and lost.
I'll be there, hold you tight to me
I'll comfort you and keep you close.
When you're on the outside, baby, and you can't get in
When you're feeling isolated from the world and unable to connect with those around you.
I will show you you're so much better than you know
I'll remind you of your worth and your strength, and help you recognize your inner beauty.
When you're lost and you're alone
When you're feeling like you have no sense of direction.
And you can't get back again
When you feel like you've lost yourself and don't know how to return to who you used to be.
I will find you, darling, and I'll bring you home
I'll help you rediscover yourself and bring you back to a place of comfort and safety.
And if you want to cry
If you feel like you need to let your emotions out.
I am here to dry your eyes, ooh
I'll be there to offer a shoulder to cry on and support you through your tears.
And in no time, you'll be fine
I promise that you'll recover and be stronger than ever in no time.
Oh, when you're low
When you're feeling down and defeated.
I'll be there by your side, baby (by your side, baby)
I'll always be there to offer my love and support, standing by your side through thick and thin.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Denman, Stuart Matthewman, Helen Adu, Andrew Hale
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@proverbalizer
Damn, I didn't know that, but musicians always write their BEST songs for their seeds.
I feel like Beyonce's "bigger" is just one example (and the whole Black is King project)
And Simi "Duduke" is musical perfection
Nas "I can" featuring his daughter...
I could go on and on
@oladapoabiodun246
If you’re listening to this in 2024 then you have my respect. Leave a like
@osaevbuoma6269
Same bro ...it's a masterpiece
@gamingwithnisaa6464
Respect to you too brother!
@user-cf1vv6xv3y
In Juli 2020 too..? Much love!
@adesolaogundimu
Will always be listening to this
@oladapoabiodun246
osa evbuoma a masterpiece bro
@gaberodriguez3510
My family told me my mother sang this song for me at a family reunion when I was in prison. She was the only one who traveled to go see me. I got out and not even a year later she was killed in a hit and run. This song will forever hold a special place in my heart for my momma.She was only 49 years old when she passed.
@jamesogunsanya6428
Sorry for your loss, bro.
Happy holidays.
@bethanywhite8364
Wow, I’m so sorry. What a very special song. Sorry for your loss. ♥️
@shanemuasau312
Rest in love she watchin ov you 🙏🏾