I wanted to take these with me in my discman, though not possible, so I went out to find their 'best of' CD, so I could get a feel for all of Sade's music. They were the albums 'Diamond Life' and 'Promise', the first two albums released. I began my Sade adventure when I was really bored one day and I began to pull out my Dad's old records, to find two. Not to mention the most beautiful vocals by Sade herself, and the excellent music itself by the musicians of Sade. That to me in itself is quite sad, because I have never heard such raw emotion and beautiful simplicity emerge from music. People my age, 17, tend to look at me unusually when I tell them that I love Sade, that is because they have no idea who I'm talking about. This is an amazing album and it deserves a spot in everyone's collection. There are also some powerful ballads here like Jezebel and the haunting Pearls which often push me back into my chair as to melt into the melody. Her musical styling is also very interesting for it consists of smooth jazz (thanks in part to saxaphones and trumpets) with neo-soul (The Sweetest Taboo, No Ordinary Love) and urban beats (Never As Good As The First Time, Cherish The Day) that often sound like the perfect soundtrack for an island party (aka, Smooth Operator, Paradise). Her voice is low-key (I'm not gonna lie) but it's deeply sensuous and soultry with a smoky richness that is absolutely stunning.
And while many might say that Sade has a voice that is thin and weak I would really like to differ. It's kind of like R&B except that it's more meaningful and mature. I was never one to listen to anything associated with R&B either until Sade opened my doors into the world of neo-soul which just threw me for a loop. I was never a big fan of Sade until her newest release LOVERS ROCK came out, took me ashore and then blew me away. The nicest surprise here is "Please Send Me Someone to Love," with Sade proving that although her range may be limited vocally, she doesn't suffer the same fate artistically. Best of Sade goes right up to her hit "Pearls," which, remixed, became a dance floor hit. Sade sounded best when she stuck to the lower register, and there is nothing thin about her dynamic handling of her torch song "Is It a Crime." "The Sweetest Taboo" was one of her last great moments before years of mediocrity, chronicled here by the lifeless "Stronger Than Pride" and the limp "Nothing Can Come Between Us." "No Ordinary Love" was a return to form with the smoky richness back in her vocals and the urban/island feel of her first release. Taking the more sensuous elements of island beats, smooth jazz, and R&B, Sade scored major hits with the continental feel of "Smooth Operator" and the sultry stylization of "Your Love Is King." Her voice was often criticized for being thin, yet she made it work to her advantage with songs like the haunting "Jezebel," on which her delivery added the vulnerability necessary to the song. With her exotic beauty and steamy voice, Sade couldn't help but be a star.