Retro Spins: Sade - Stronger Than Pride

 

My listening sessions through Sade's 80's discography have been a bit mind numbing, a little boring, and overall underwhelming. Granted, I never really expected anything mind blowing. I knew what I was getting into, and I knew what I wanted from it; essentially the three hits I knew, Sweetest Taboo, Smooth Operator, and Your Love Is King, and that's relatively what I got.

Initially, I bought her first two albums, 1984's Diamond Life, and 1985's Pride were intentionally bought for those aforementioned tunes. However, as things go, when I began preparing for this series of Retro Spins, I felt I'd go ahead and pick up her final entry for the decade, 1988's Stronger Than Pride. Just me checking boxes like I so often do (and regret).

Upon its release, Sade definitely kept their successful momentum going. Stronger Than Pride would become their third platinum record to date, and like its predecessors, fire up the Billboard 200 to the top ten, peaking at number seven. It was equally successful across the globe, peaking in the top ten on multiple charts, and smashing platinum sales in multiple territories.

I don't know, maybe it's just me. Sade just doesn't do it for me. As noted above, I find the music boring. There's just nothing here that leaves me saying, "Wow, that's amazing," nor, "I need to hear that again."

Okay, let me think of something positive to say. Instrumentation wise, the band has the smooth jazz sound locked down. They know what they're doing, and Sade knows how to use her vocals to compliment it. If I was into this style of music, I could definitely see the appeal.

The band went on to release 1992's Love Deluxe and would win a Grammy in 1994 for their song, No Ordinary Love, featured in the 1993 film Indecent Proposal. However, by 1994 the singer was looking for a quieter life. One where she could rest and raise her child. Sade Adu, seemingly disappeared overnight. Bassist Paul S. Denman, keyboardist Andrew Hale, and guitar and sax man, Stuart Matthewman, would go on to create Sweetback in 1996.

The four would reunite in 2000 for a performance at the MOBO Awards, and release the studio album, Lovers Rock. As fate would have it, the band essentially picked up right where they left off, producing another platinum record that smashed the charts across the globe. Ten years later, they'd do it again with 2010's Soldier Of Love.

When it's all said and done, while it's not for me, there's an audience out there for Sade, and they love what she does. Kudos to the band for their massive success across multiple decades. All the more respect for being able to take such a long hiatus and do it multiple times like it was just another day for them.

As for me, I'm headed back to Tom Petty, a statement which will make more sense to you tomorrow.

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