Sade: Classic or Dud?

There's no straight-up "classic or dud" thread because everyone thinks she's classic.

Not everyone, apparently. From AMG's review of Promise:

was once again the personification of cool, laid-back singing, seldom extending or embellishing lyrics, registering emotion, or projecting her voice. This demeanor made her more desirable in the minds of many fans and was perhaps the ultimate misapplication of the notion of sophistication.

From AMG's review of Stronger Than Pride:

After two LPs with little or no energy, Sade demonstrated some intensity and fire on her third release. . . . Not that she was suddenly singing in a soulful or bluesy manner; rather, Sade's dry and introspective tone now had a little more edge, and the lyrics were ironic as well as reflective.

AMG was also lukewarm on Diamond Life. To be fair, all three of these reviews were written by the same reviewer (Ron Wynn). Still, I'm surprised, since I've always thought that AMG seemed pretty generous to artists (maybe that's a complete misperception).

FWIW -- not much, I know -- I like Sade, but I don't think she's as great as most others here apparently do. De gustibus non est disputandum, I guess.

I know I'm gonna sound like some random googler, but, Sade? I love her. I mean, I really, really love her.

(Um, classic obv.)

That is a really rare contrarian POV for AMG.

PS: Most classic for me of all her classic moments: "Every day is Christmas / And every night is New Year's Eve."

live album is good

'By Your Side' is very soothing

Bimble, don't be so literal! I started this one in 2001:

Sade: Hologram or Dud?

If anyone's interested in what a Sade/Massive Attack Collabo might have sounded like, this is probably the closest thing to it -

Sade - "Love Is Stronger Than Pride (Mad Professor Mix)"

http://www.sendspace.com/file/sks22h

There's also a shitty Neptunes remix of 'By your side' floating around

It's on the single. I don't like it mainly because it changes the chord progression, rendering Sade's singing faintly ridiculous for anyone who loves the original..

theres a vinyl 2x lp of a bunch of remixes of sade out there that includes that mad prof. mix. I saw it the other day at a record store

It's OK. Don't spend a fortune on it, tho

heres one from what.cd

sade - best of (the remixes)

01-sade-love_is_stronger_than_pride__mad_professor_mix
02-sade-give_it_up__kenny_larkin_rmx
03-sade-kiss_of_live__deep_mix
04-sade-feel_no_pain__nellie_hooper_mix
05-sade-turn_my_back_on_you__heffs_mix
06-sade-sweetest_taboo__extended_version
07-sade-i_never_thought_id_see_the_day__danny_tenaglias_musk_men_mix
08-sade-by_your_side__ben_watt_mix
09-sade-somebody_already_broke_my_heart__excursions_mix

oh man im listening to that neptunes by your side and yes it is awful - talk abt completely missing the mark uhg

I guess I should have said "Everyone thinks she's classic except for one AMG reviewer who doesn't post here anyway and is more on-the-fence than negative, anyway."

I remember that Kenny Larkin remix of 'Give it Up' as being pretty good?

You're in luck: http://turbocity.blogspot.com/2007/09/best-of-remixessade.html

As much as I love Sade I don't understand how a live album could be worth having. I've been to one of her shows (at Madison Square Garden) and it was mindblowing, but aside from a conga flourish or two, the music itself seemed exactly the same as on record..

OTM. Live DVDs on the other hand...

the live DVDs are very nice. smoke some herb, watch it with your lady. the bomb.

god, 'no ordinary love' is so fucking beautiful.

YOUR LOVE IS KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING

was she really a junkie?

!!! surely not !!!

no, i was reading some brit music magazine years ago and they more than hinted at her being into that shit

but maybe the british music press does that with any given random artist as easily as the rest of us sneeze when presented with a cotton swab tickling our nose hairs

nice

I know, right?

...

God you really hate it when people do that, don't you, I know, right?

Sade is too excellent to go on.

Also she is way too beautiful to believe.

ABBOTT BE SPEAKING THE TRUTH YO

I know I've made an ass out of myself here before, but Sade is the most attractive woman to have ever made music, ever. Why isn't she my wife? She's the creme de la creme.

bought this guy yesterday at flea market:

http://www.discogs.com/Sade-Couldnt-Love-You-More/release/105842

http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/11/24/PH2009112403079.jpg

FEB 8th. Stoked.

dope cover imo

wooooahhhhhhhhh

I guess this deserves its own thread, huh?

Sade - Soldier of Love

HOLY SHIT

LOVE SADE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvcNtoHwd6Y

this is one of the best sade things ever

that whole live dvd, jeez

hmm i dunno titchy, that youtube sounds pretty cheap

actually best live cut is of 'smooth operator' -- crazy-ass coda

RT @ToureX: People are like afraid to say Sade's album is blah bc she's such an icon and so beloved. But it is.
9:57 AM Feb 19th from TweetDeck

I haven't heard the new one but I thought I'd post this just to show that some folks don't like the new one (or at least one person!)

i think it's just that one guy.

btw the best (and perhaps only good) sade remix is Tattoo (House Mix) (i think that's what it's actually called on the 12" vinyl, though on youtube it's "deep house vocal mix))

nah tb perfecttly honest, I still haven't been won over by this album. Haven't given up on it though

xp multiple ppl on this thread have expressed similar sentiments

i think ppl were expecting a more uptempo jamming joint & instead its pretty ballad-heavy.

I expected better programmed drum machines.

I think the consensus is that Soldier of Love was a bit underwhelming?

No way.

Alfred otm

i guess i'll pay whatever i have to when she tours

absolutely the best arena show i've ever seen, definitely do so.

haha I just knew Alfred would be into it

not for me

"Soldier of Love" (the song) ruled live. As did Sade on that last tour.

haha I just knew Alfred would be into it

not for me

― corrs unplugged

Ha. Does anyone else think Diamond Life their weakest? Apart from the singles and Timmy Thomas cover it's hard to remember how the tracks go when I look at the listing.

I think Lovers Rock and Love Deluxe tower over the rest

diamond life is so amazing it feels wrong to call it the weakest anything but it is my least favorite sade record yes

absolutely the best arena show i've ever seen, definitely do so.

I saw the Love Deluxe tour. Life-changing.

I'm sure I've detailed it upthread somewhere but I saw her live at MSG and was up in the cheap seats with my friends, having just bought hot dogs and beer, when out of nowhere somebody in a hi-vis vest started handing out free floor tickets. We were agog. Eventually we were led down to the floor, where folding metal chairs had been set up in rows, and waiters wearing waistcoats were swanning around with trays of plastic champagne flutes with strawberries floating in them. Every time we stood up to dance we got yelled at by the people behind us. Well excuuuuuuuse me! Afterwards somebody was telling me that she's famous for leaving the building before the last notes of the encore have even finished playing. GOAT

Afterwards somebody was telling me that she's famous for leaving the building before the last notes of the encore have even finished playing

oh man what a power move, absolute queen.

it's a huge ask for me to go to anything, i hate crowds and i live in the fucking wilderness and everything is sign-over-your-car-title expensive now etc, but if she ever makes a stop in l.a. and i still have a grand on my credit card i would at least make an attempt to get tickets and airfare.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaD3SgPuccE

no reason, this simply rules.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51ptJw8uWE0

"love is stronger than pride (mad professor remix)" (1992)

Yes it does.

oh def

what's the category above 'classic'

i always considered that like the blueprint, or the prototype... or maybe like the "pocket translator" level. like, right then: welcome to day one. this is where you sort out the standard definition. have a great time.

xp iconic

happy 65th