Sade - Back in the Saddle with SOLDIER OF LOVE

Soldier of Love Sade

Well it’s a new decade, and that means it’s time for a new album to drop from Sade.  In a recent monologue on her talk show, Wanda Sykes pointed out that “They shouldn’t even use the phrase ‘drops’ about a Sade album coming out.  They should say ‘it floats sweetly down from Heaven to bless us one and all.’”  

The group, Sade

I love Sade – the sultry vocalist (full name: Helen Folusade Adu, OBE – whose middle name is Nigerian for “honor confers your crown”) and the English jazz/soul quartet of the same name (who perform under the name Sweetback when performing in the absence of Ms. Adu).  There’s even a radio format that was framed around the music of Sade and like-sounding artists called “Quiet Storm” (how perfect is that?).

Sade Soldier of Love

I’m so anxious to get my hands on Sade’s newest album, Soldier of Love that I can’t stand it!  I’m just aching to press-up into it and soak all of my worries away – maybe light some Teck & Tonka candles, slip into a hot bath scented with oils, and sip on a mellow Merlot.

Sade

Anyhoo, the video for the “Soldier of Love” single (see below) is just breathtaking – Sade in a metallic sequined bell-bottomed jumpsuit first twirling a lasso on a bleak plateau, then riding a bucking white stallion in a lightning storm on a beach in front of crashing waves.   It would be so over the top with anyone else; but with Sade, it’s very “Hmmm…  So that’s what she was doing last Thursday.”

Sade Adu

In 2000, when Lovers Rock was released, I couldn’t get over “King of Sorrow” (nobody ever accused Sade of being overly peppy), and clamored to get seats at her concert at MGM Grand Garden Arena.  Needless to say – it was fantastic.  Meanwhile, why such long gaps, Sade?  I’m familiar with the concept of keeping them wanting more, but this is bordering upon torture.

 It’s like Sykes said, “She emerges just long enough to make an album, then she returns to her home planet – Planet Beautiful.” 

Well, I for one am glad she’s decided to make a return visit.  Maybe this time, she’ll hang around for a while.