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
Smooth Operator
Sade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And playing with another heart
Placing high stakes, making hearts ache
He's loved in seven languages
Diamond nights and ruby lights
High in the sky
Heaven help him when he falls
He move in space with minimum waste and maximum joy
City lights and business nights
When you require streetcar desire for higher heights
No place for beginners or sensitive hearts
When sentiment is left to chance
No place to be ending but somewhere to start
No need to ask, he's a smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
Coast to coast, L.A. to Chicago
Western male
Across the North and South, to Key Largo
Love for sale
Face-to-face, each classic case
We shadow box and double cross
Yet need the chase
A license to love, insurance to hold
Melts all your memories and change into gold
His eyes are like angels but his heart is cold
No need to ask, he's a smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
Coast to coast, L.A. to Chicago
Western male
Across the North and South, to Key Largo
Love for sale
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
The lyrics of Sade's song Smooth Operator describe a man who is a master of seduction and charm, moving through the world effortlessly and with maximum joy. He is a smooth operator, moving from coast to coast, selling his love as a commodity. The song makes clear that he is not for the faint of heart or those easily moved by sentiment, as he is a shadow boxer and double crosser who relishes the chase.
The lyrics of Smooth Operator portray this character as a seasoned traveler who is able to effortlessly move through different cities and social situations. He sells his love as a product, and the song suggests that his heart may be cold despite the charming exterior presented to the world. Sade's voice provides a smooth and sultry counterpoint to the lyrics, luring the listener into the world of the smooth operator. Though he may be a master of his game, the lyrics also hint at a loneliness at the heart of his lifestyle, as he is always on the move and never truly able to settle down.
Line by Line Meaning
Diamond life, lover boy
Living a life of luxury, this man is popular among women.
He move in space with minimum waste and maximum joy
He moves with efficiency and enjoyment.
City lights and business nights
He thrives in urban and work environments.
When you require streetcar desire for higher heights
To achieve more in life, passion and drive are necessary.
No place for beginners or sensitive hearts
This lifestyle is not for the faint of heart.
When sentiment is left to chance
When emotions are not controlled or managed.
No place to be ending but somewhere to start
Life is not about finality, but rather continuance and new beginnings.
No need to ask, he's a smooth operator
No further inquiry is necessary, this man is skilled and clever.
Coast to coast, LA to Chicago, western male
He travels across the United States, from Los Angeles to Chicago, as a confident man.
Across the north and south, to Key Largo, love for sale
He travels across the country, selling love and affection to all those who pay for it.
Face to face, each classic case
In person meetings, each one a textbook example.
We shadow box and double cross
Playing mind games and deceiving one another.
Yet need the chase
Despite it all, the thrill of the chase is essential.
A license to love, insurance to hold
Having permission to love, and security in keeping it.
Melts all your memories and change into gold
He can make old memories feel new and valuable.
His eyes are like angels but his heart is cold
He may appear kind and loving, but he is actually insensitive and unemotional.
Smooth operator, smooth operator
This man is exceedingly skilled, clever, and charming at what he does.
Smooth operator, smooth operator
He is so good, it bears repeating.
Smooth operator, smooth operator
He is smooth, calm, and collected in every situation.
Smooth operator, smooth operator
This is the defining characteristic of his personality and lifestyle.
Smooth operator
The chorus repeats one final time, driving home the idea that this man is incredibly skilled at his craft.
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Helen Adu, Ray St. John
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@PaulAnthonyCooke1
Hi Guys I was the original drummer on the song back in 1983. Great to hear the original version before the producers and record company started chopping it about. This is how we played it live in the original band with the jazz outro that was called Snakebite and credited to my other band PSP. We just added that song to the end of SO to liven it up live and people used to love it. Keep the faith.
@youtub4925
Did you play to a click?
@eve7522
It's so much better than the new version, I love this! ❤
@Ganksy_
Hi
@thefox5301
Lying ugly ass boy🤣
@rakshanaaaa
i love u sm
@gemcitynoirbnw
Such a sultry, smooth jazz voice, love Sade!
@samwylde6312
COAST TO COAST LA TO CHICAGO BABYYY
@BStarBayu
I love this vibeesssss
@marccharboneau4463
Simply a beautiful classic track from a beautiful lady.