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
Jezebel
Sade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She probably had less than every one of us
But when she knew how to walk, she knew
How to bring the house down
Can't blame her for her beauty
She wins with her hands down
Jezebel, what a belle
How did you get that?
"Do you really want to know," she said
It would seem she's on her way
It's more, more than just a dream
She put on her stockings and shoes
Had nothing to lose, she said it was worth it
Reach for the top
And the sun is gonna shine
"Every winter was a war", she said
"I want to get what's mine"
Jezebel, Jezebel
Won't try to deny where she came from
You can see it in her pride
And the raven in her eyes
Try show her a better way
She'll say, "you don't know what you've been missing"
By the time she blinks, you know she won't be listening
"Reach for the top," she said
"And the sun is gonna shine"
"Every winter was a war," she said
"I want to get what's mine"
The lyrics of Sade’s song ‘Jezebel’ tell the story of a woman who has overcome adversity to become a force to be reckoned with. The song begins by setting the scene, implying that Jezebel hasn’t had an easy life. She “probably had less than every one of us” and wasn’t born into privilege. However, despite this, she has a certain confidence and presence that sets her apart from others. The line “when she knew how to walk, she knew how to bring the house down” suggests that Jezebel was always destined for greatness.
The chorus of the song talks directly to Jezebel, who is described as a “belle” and a “princess” despite her humble background. She is asked how she managed to make such a success of herself, to which she replies “It’s more, more than just a dream”. From this, we get the sense that Jezebel is a determined character who has worked hard to get where she is. She isn’t afraid to take risks, as evidenced by the line “she put on her stockings and shoes, had nothing to lose, she said it was worth it”.
The song ends on a positive note, as Jezebel encourages us all to “reach for the top”. She is proof that, with hard work and determination, anything is possible. The line “every winter was a war” suggests that she has fought hard to get where she is, but it has all been worth it in order to “get what’s mine”. In conclusion, Sade’s ‘Jezebel’ is an inspirational song about a woman who has overcome adversity to achieve great things.
Line by Line Meaning
Jezebel wasn't born with a silver spoon in her mouth
Jezebel didn't come from a wealthy background like some of us.
She probably had less than every one of us
Jezebel may have had less material possessions than the rest of us.
But when she knew how to walk, she knew
How to bring the house down
Even as a child, Jezebel knew how to captivate and impress others.
Can't blame her for her beauty
She wins with her hands down
Jezebel's beauty is one of the reasons she is successful without much effort.
Jezebel, what a belle
Looks like a princess in her new dress
How did you get that?
"Do you really want to know," she said
Jezebel is attractive and dresses like royalty. When asked how she achieved it, she offers a cryptic response.
It would seem she's on her way
It's more, more than just a dream
Jezebel is well on her way to achieving her goals and aspirations.
She put on her stockings and shoes
Had nothing to lose, she said it was worth it
Jezebel took a risk, but believed it was worth it because she had nothing to lose.
Reach for the top
And the sun is gonna shine
"Every winter was a war", she said
"I want to get what's mine"
Jezebel strives to succeed despite the challenges she has faced. She wants to earn what she deserves.
Jezebel, Jezebel
Won't try to deny where she came from
You can see it in her pride
And the raven in her eyes
Jezebel is proud of where she came from, and it shows in her demeanor and appearance.
Try show her a better way
She'll say, "you don't know what you've been missing"
By the time she blinks, you know she won't be listening
Jezebel is set in her ways and doesn't want to hear anyone else's opinion if they don't align with hers.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stuart Matthewman, Helen Adu
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nisrin6665
Jezebel wasn't born with a silver spoon in her mouth
She probably had less than every one of us
But when she knew how to walk she knew
How to bring the house down
Can't blame her for her beauty
She wins with her hands down
Jezebel, what a belle
Looks like a princess in her new dress
How did you get that?
Do you really want to know she said
It would seem she's on her way
It's more, more than just a dream
She put on her stockings and shoes
Had nothing to lose, she said it was worth it
Reach for the top
And the sun is gonna shine
Every winter was a war she said
I want to get what's mine
Jezebel, Jezebel
Won't try to deny where she came from
You can see it in her pride
And the raven in her eyes
Try show her a better way
She'll say you don't know what you've been missing
And by the time she blinks you know she won't be listening
Reach for the top she said
And the sun is gonna shine
Every winter was a war she said
I want to get what's mine
@isaacisrael34
[Verse]
Jezebel, wasn't born
With a silver spoon in her mouth
She prob'ly had
Less than every one of us
But when she knew how to walk, she knew
How to bring the house down
Can't blame her for her beauty
She wins with her hands down
[Verse]
Jezebel, what a belle
Looks like a princess in her new dress
"How did you get that?"
"Do you really want to know?" she said
It would seem she's on her way
It's more, more than just a dream
She put on her stockings and shoes
Had nothing to lose
She said it was worth it
00:00/06:07
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[Chorus]
Reach for the top
And the sun is gonna shine
Every winter was a war, she said
I want to get what's mine
[Verse]
Jezebel, Jezebel
Won't try to deny where she came from
You can see it in her pride
And the raven in her eyes
Try show her a better way
She'll say, "You don't know
What you've been missing"
And by the time she blinks, you know
She won't be list'ning
[Chorus]
Reach for the top, she said
And the sun is gonna shine
Every winter was a war, she said
I want to get what's mine
@spykenij
She's my go to when I'm panicked, anxious, or really sick. She's healing. This woman is timeless. She seems like a saint too. Her voice is pure silk. I've never heard a song of hers that I didn't immediately fall in love with. Every song is a masterpiece.
@jussarazanatto7053
Good
@DerrickMoncrief-nt6ms
fosho GoD ❤
@exienikki3142
Exactly. This is mi song
@Brybizzle999
Jezebel is a woman with ruthless ambition fueled by poverty. She wasn't born with a silver spoon in her mouth and struggled to survive for most of her life. "Every winter was a war she said, I've come to get what's mine" implies that life was always hard but now she's become a woman who knows how to get what she wants with her manipulative beauty. She's a deep and real character and I love how Sade made her own version of the archetype. We do what we need to do to. Not to just survive, but live. We are products of out environments
@alsalas1193
Fuckingawsomr. Smooooooth!
@TheSusansweeney
Well said
@mariaemiliaxavier375
Beautiful
@maedrosbott5274
I feel a deep sympathy and sadness for this Jezebel; like 'Brenda's Got a Baby'
@hypintesti
Jezebel was a phonecian princess