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
Keep Looking
Sade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You do it all the wrong way
Some will tell you that you're wrong
That you don't know the way
They enjoy cheapness
Don't show your weakness
Don't let them bother you, no
Don't show your weakness
Oh no, no
It's no use sitting down
Don't walk 'round with a frown
Oh no, keep looking
It's no use sitting around
With your head in your hands
Oh no keep looking
Oh, la-la-la
Say let my life alone
La, la-la-la-la
Ooh-ooh, da-da
Some will tell you that you're wrong
You do it all the wrong way
Some will tell you that you're wrong
That you don't know the way
They enjoy cheapness
Don't show your weakness
Don't let them bother you, no
They enjoy cheapness
Don't show your weakness
Oh no, no
It's no use sitting down
Don't walk 'round with a frown
Oh no, keep looking
It's no use sitting around
With your head in your hands
Oh no, keep looking
Oh, oh
Keep looking
Oh, oh
Keep looking
Don't lay awake at night
Thinking about your worries
Thinking about your problems
Don't lay awake at night
Thinking about your worries
Keep looking
Don't lay awake at night
Thinking about your problems
Thinking about your troubles
Don't lay awake at night
Thinking about your problems
Keep looking
Keep looking
If you never let it show
They're never gonna know, oh (oh)
Keep looking
If you never let it show
They're never gonna know, oh (oh)
Keep looking
Oh no, keep looking
Keep looking
Keep looking
The lyrics of Sade's song "Keep Looking" are a message of hope to those who feel discouraged and surrounded by negativity. The song encourages listeners to stay positive and not let the opinions of others bring them down. The chorus repeats the phrase "keep looking," urging the listener to keep searching for the good in life and not get bogged down by their worries and problems.
In the verses, Sade sings about how some people will try to bring you down by telling you that you're doing things the wrong way or that you don't know what you're doing. She advises not to let them get to you and not to show your weakness. Instead, she encourages the listener to keep moving forward and not let their problems consume them.
The line "they enjoy cheapness" may be a reference to those who take pleasure in gossiping, belittling others, or engaging in other negative behaviors. Sade is reminding the listener to rise above that and not let their own moral standards be compromised by those around them.
Overall, "Keep Looking" is a message of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. It encourages the listener to stay strong and not give up on their goals and dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Some will tell you that you're wrong
There will always be people who criticize you
You do it all the wrong way
They will say you are doing things incorrectly
That you don't know the way
And that you don't have the knowledge or ability to succeed
They enjoy cheapness
These people take pleasure in being negative and critical
Don't show your weakness
Do not give them the satisfaction of knowing their criticism affects you
Don't let them bother you, no
Ignore their negativity and keep moving forward
It's no use sitting down
You won't achieve anything by being passive
Don't walk 'round with a frown
Do not let negative thoughts or experiences get you down
Oh no, keep looking
Instead, maintain a positive outlook and keep searching for solutions
With your head in your hands
Do not give up or feel defeated
Oh, la-la-la
A filler line with no specific meaning
Say let my life alone
A command to others to leave the singer alone to live their life
La, la-la-la-la
A filler line with no specific meaning
Ooh-ooh, da-da
A nonsensical phrase with no specific meaning
Don't lay awake at night
Do not obsess or worry excessively
Thinking about your worries
Focusing on the negative things in your life will not help you
Thinking about your problems
Do not ruminate on your issues
Thinking about your troubles
Do not waste time and energy on your troubles
Keep looking
Instead, stay optimistic and continue searching for solutions
If you never let it show
If you do not show your vulnerability
They're never gonna know, oh (oh)
Critics will not know their opinions affect you
Oh no, keep looking
Stay resilient and keep forging ahead
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Andrew Hale, Helen Adu
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jonatancom8
Some will tell you that you're wrong
You do it all the wrong way
Some will tell you that you're wrong
That you don't know the way
They enjoy cheapness
Don't show your weakness
Don't let them bother you, no
They enjoy cheapness
Don't show your weakness
Oh no, no
It's no use sitting down
Don't walk 'round with a frown
Oh no, keep looking
It's no use sitting around
With your head in your hands
Oh no keep looking
Oh, la-la-la
Say let my life alone
La, la-la-la-la
Ooh-ooh, da-da
Some will tell you that you're wrong
You do it all the wrong way
Some will tell you that you're wrong
That you don't know the way
They enjoy cheapness
Don't show your weakness
Don't let them bother you, no
They enjoy cheapness
Don't show your weakness
Oh no, no
It's no use sitting down
Don't walk 'round with a frown
Oh no, keep looking
It's no use sitting around
With your head in your hands
Oh no, keep looking
Oh, oh
Keep looking
Oh, oh
Keep looking
Don't lay awake at night
Thinking about your worries
Thinking about your problems
Don't lay awake at night
Thinking about your worries
Keep looking
Don't lay awake at night
Thinking about your problems
Thinking about your troubles
Don't lay awake at night
Thinking about your problems
Keep looking
Keep looking
If you never let it show
They're never gonna know, oh (oh)
Keep looking
If you never let it show
They're never gonna know, oh (oh)
Keep looking
Oh no, keep looking
Keep looking
Keep looking
@rh3428
God used this song to help me get out of a bad head, thought I met the right woman but it wasn't meant to be. At least He taught me how to look out for the right one. God bless you for believing in Him🕊️
Start 2022 on a positive note.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick.
Our first love, the waking breath of life conceived with no ordinary love.
The waters of eternal life are accessable through the reinvigorating truth, may it be written on our hearts and worn around our necks like a tablet.
See first the Kingdom of Heaven through the good news of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and you will find what you are looking for.
May you all find the partner who completes you, In Jesus' mighty name. Amen
❤️🔥🕊️❤️
@ryanjg5136
Her voice healed me from anxiety as a boy in the 90s. Had some tough times. Her voice is truly one of a kind.
@IronMan-tk8uc
1990s + Sade = absolute greatness!
@sebasdebordeaux8347
Yes I know what you mean, and think we are a few thousands (or millions).. Her voice IS a healer and a cure for almost anything.. !
@marshaneadams9087
Me too! God bless!
@kimimyles9095
Yassss Ik it she is sooo pure...
@kimimyles9095
@@sebasdebordeaux8347 They don't give her accolades.... And they should....treat her like Mary J Blige...
@dalejones768
This song is about staying strong whenever you feel or felt like you've lost all hope 💪🙏💯💯💯
@garysmith8073
To God BeThe Glory
@TalkinBoutTarps
Legendary
@danavixen6274
This is one of the BEST songs to turn to when you're down! ❤