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
Somebody Already Broke My Heart
Sade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I needed a savior
Someone to pull me through somehow
I've been torn apart so many times
I've been hurt so many times before
So I'm counting on you now
Somebody already broke my heart
Here I am
So don't leave me stranded
On the end of a line
Hanging on the edge of a lie
I've been torn apart so many times
I've been hurt so many times before
So be careful and be kind
Somebody already broke my heart
If someone has to lose, I don't want to play
Somebody already broke my heart
No, no, I can't go there again
You came along
When I needed a savior
Someone to pull me through somehow
I've been torn apart so many times
I've been hurt so many times before
So I'm counting on you now
Somebody already broke my heart
If someone has to lose
I don't want to play
Somebody already broke my heart (can't go there again)
No, no, I can't go there again
The lyrics of Sade's song Somebody Already Broke My Heart express the singer's vulnerability and reluctance to trust again after experiencing heartbreak. The song speaks of the search for a savior, someone to help heal the wounds of the past. The lines, "I've been torn apart so many times, I've been hurt so many times before, so I'm counting on you now," convey the singer's plea for support and assurance.
The repetition of the line "Somebody already broke my heart" throughout the song serves as a reminder of past trauma and caution to avoid further harm. The chorus, "If someone has to lose, I don't want to play," highlights the singer's fear of getting hurt again and her unwillingness to take risks in matters of the heart.
The verse, "Here I am, so don't leave me stranded on the end of a line, hanging on the edge of a lie," depicts the singer's plea for honesty and openness in relationships. The song's overall message is that although love can be a beautiful thing, the scars of past heartbreak can make it difficult to trust and fully engage in new relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
You came along
I was in a difficult situation and you arrived, offering to help.
When I needed a savior
I was looking for someone who could save me from my troubles.
Someone to pull me through somehow
I needed someone who could guide me through the difficult times and help me cope.
I've been torn apart so many times
I've experienced a lot of heartaches and difficulties in the past.
I've been hurt so many times before
I've been through a lot of emotional pain and trauma.
So I'm counting on you now
I'm relying on you to help me overcome my challenges and find peace.
Somebody already broke my heart
I've been hurt by someone in the past, and it's left me with emotional scars.
Here I am
I'm putting myself out there, vulnerable and open.
So don't leave me stranded
Please don't abandon me when I'm vulnerable and need you the most.
On the end of a line
Please don't make me feel like I'm just a helpless and small part of the bigger picture.
Hanging on the edge of a lie
I need you to be truthful and honest with me, because I'm already struggling to trust.
So be careful and be kind
Please treat me with compassion and empathy, because I'm already fragile and struggling.
If someone has to lose, I don't want to play
I don't want anyone to get hurt in this situation - I just need help healing and overcoming my pain.
No, no, I can't go there again
I've been through too much pain and trauma to be hurt like that again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Denman, Stuart Matthewman, Helen Adu, Andrew Hale
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Reyhane Akhondi
You came along when I needed a savior
Someone to pull me through somehow
I've been torn apart so many times
I've been hurt so many times before
So I'm counting on you now
Somebody already broke my heart
Somebody already broke my heart
Here I am
So don't leave me stranded
On the end of a line
Hanging on the edge of a lie
I've been torn apart so many times
I've been hurt so many times before
So be careful and be kind
Somebody already broke my heart
If someone has to lose, I don't want to play
Somebody already broke my heart
No, no I can't go there again
You came along when I needed a savior
Someone to pull me through somehow
I've been torn apart so many times
I've been hurt so many times before
So I'm counting on you now
Somebody already broke my heart
If someone has to lose, I don't want to play
Somebody already broke my heart (can't go there again)
No, no I can't go there again
Frankincensed
If you really appreciate Sade, you've GOT to appreciate her band. I LOVE the backbeat they provide, such a grove. Man!
Mystic Levi
this is what i was looking for,,,how are they,,,two backing singers.......
PamelaArlethia Alexander
2021 I’m still listening. The meaning of her songs more meaningful now than the past.
Genevieve Hansen
Legends💙🕊
stacey 11:11rh222
Every single one of them is like a fine tuned machine. With Sade and then the band she has behind her, together it’s magic
Kevin Worley
Man how AWESOME. Fine tuned. musicians
skater39000
Sade is like a sunset with the ocean view... So relaxing, so comfortable, it's just ... Peace 💙💙 Thank you Sade 🙏🏽
Arindam Sengupta
Absolutely!🙏🏻
Zahra S
Best way to describe her music!!
Nina Westlake
She's the epitome of elegance and grace. Props to her band 👌💯