It seems almost as if Sade has taken to grace listeners with its smooth, signature sound about once a decade, and Soldier of Love is right on schedule, the group’s first studio album in exactly 9 years, 2 months and 26 days. Fans will understand the significance of mentioning the time passed as each album following 1988’s Stronger Than Pride has suffered a longer lapse of time than its predecessor.
If that truly is the case, it may be some time after 2020 before we hear from Sade again. But let’s not dwell on that unfortunate news; for the moment Sade and the guys are back!
Frontwoman and lead vocalist Helen Folasade Adu along with Stuart Matthewman on guitar and saxophone, Paul Spencer Denman on bass and Andrew Hale on keyboards have been together since 1982, and in a span of over 25 years, they’ve released six albums (including Soldier of Love) and sold over 50 million albums worldwide. Sade says, “I only make records when I feel I have something say. I’m not interested in releasing music just for the sake of selling something.”
The album opener, “The Moon and the Sky”, in standard Sade fashion, is a somber song of longing, setting the mood and introducing the theme of the album. But it’s the bass-driven title track that defines it and grabs your attention: “I’ve lost the use of my heart / But I’m still alive,” Sade states, as one can imagine a love gone awry. On the solemnly beautiful and metaphorically-enhanced “Morning Bird”, Sade recalls the memory of happier times.
The reggae-tinged “Babyfather” is a nice surprise based on the previous tracks’ heavy content. The song details a father’s love for his child, offering “your daddy’s love [comes] with a lifetime guarantee” and introduces her 13-year-old daughter, Ila, who sings backup on the track. But it isn’t long before we return to the dark, ethereal sound of the uplifting “Long Hard Road” and the country-blues track “Be That Easy”, which is perhaps the album’s lowest point.
Set over a funky trip-hop beat, “Bring Me Home” has Sade bemoaning, “I’ve cried the tears so build the fire / and light the flame, bring me home”. But there is hope, as evidenced by “In Another Time”, with its advice to the broken-hearted. The smooth, lightly funky “Skin” takes things a step further, offering closure and proclaiming, “I love you so / Sometimes love has to let go / So this time don’t think it’s a lie / I say goodbye”. The album closes with “The Safest Place”, which revisits the love as war theme of “Soldier of Love”, but does so much more lightly and soothingly, marking an appropriate end at just under 42 minutes.
Sade says the album is “a purging of all the things that have gone on,” adding “There’s quite a lot of my history in the album, one way or another. It’s not all about me, but there’s bits of me in there.” One can only imagine the love and loss she’s endured over the years to spark this material. According to an interview with the NY Times, she’s been taking care of someone who’s terminally ill that she would not identify.
Soldier of Love is one of those albums which requires multiple listens to truly understand it. Long-time fans will appreciate the group’s return, but it may be quite hard to fully captivate new ones. Soldier of Love is a welcoming project from a group known to vanish as soon as the media blitz surrounding their latest is complete. Let’s just hope it won’t take as long next time, although Sade admits, “I do want to get on the stage and sing the songs, but then I just want to disappear again.”
I love this album from start to finish…it was worth the wait!
GREAT album….Sade is and will always be the truth…
real music right here
Been a Sade fan since day one, really enjoyed all her music. The new CD is banging also.
i’m loving it already … so much…and will absorb it through multiple repeat listens…. i’m so glad their back and *so* very hopeful there will be a tour!!!
she IS the truth.
she definitely has a distinctive sound. That’s the beauty of Sade: she sounds like no other.
it did take me a few times to really get the gist of her album, but it’s definitely worth a listen, or 10
I LOVE SADE PERIOD.
Love Sade! Will definitely get the new c.d. to add to the collection.
ALL 7 COMMENTS:
POSITIVELY PERFECT …as Usual – Wink!
I can’t wait to get my copy! Gonna have to move Amy Winehouse to the #2 spot in the car..
Just purchased a copy and am listening to it now. I’m already sold! I love Ms. Adu and the band… I’ve been waiting a long time for this one and it did not disappoint.
My cousin bought it late last night….
Ummmm Im not overly impressed, I mean if you’re a die-hard Sade fan, you’ll LOVE it. If you could take her or leave her (like me), the album is jus alright. She has a unique voice, and she’s very beautiful…jus didnt love the album.
I liked that Take me Home song….I hate Solider of Love…LOL.
Imma give it another listen to on the way home from work while im stuck in traffic
I LOVE HER SHE IS AWESOME! AND I JUST GOT HER CD
“you’ll always know the reason why…we’ll never have the MOON AND THE SKY”…THIS ALBUM IS ON FIRE AND WHO IS OVER 25 THATS A TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT SADE FAN…..UR USELESS..SOLDIER OF LOVE IS BANANAS…
@ BIG VON…so if you’re NOT a fan of Sade, but enjoy some of her music, you’re useless…WTF??
i hope she has a song like “cherish the day” on this new one. that’s my favorite sade song along with “king of sorrow” and “nothing can come between us”.
LUV every track. my fave moon and the sky
I LOVE THIS CD. YES!
I love “the moon and the sky” “Soldier of love” ,”Skin” and “The safest place” … Least Fav is “Be That Easy”…The Moon and the Sky is my favorite track on the entire album… I only wish she had more tracks like this… I am a Sade fan… So I love she is back anyhow.. My fav song from her of all time is “Cherish the Day”…
When I said I wish she had more tracks like “the Moon and the Sky” y…I meant on the album as a whole.. I kinda hope she comes back sooner than another 10 years this album left me still wanting more… Just wanted to clarify alil more.. Love ya Sade
I love Sade, always have, always will. I grew up listening to her smooth sounds and I can’t wait to get off work and listen to her Soldier of Love album from start to finish.
“I only make records when I feel I have something say. I’m not interested in releasing music just for the sake of selling something.”
if only this last generation of artists could get this… picking up the cd before the end of the week.
To the last poster, I truly agree with that statement. This generation should follow suit, but in reality, Sade is an artist. She isn’t just a performer or singer, but an artist. She let’s the music speak for itself, and is truly a emotional and extremely private woman. Her true talent is a reflection of herself. She is truly a beautiful womanartist. All her songs are beautiful and pure. I truly believe Soldier of Love is the most artistic and simple video to date. It has a 300 movie feel to it it’s dark and the images are phenomenal. It’s sexy, but not sexual. She is truly the Queen of Neo soul. To compare Sade to these young celebs would be like comparing MJ to these new artists you can’t do it.
@D-Nice..
You’ll be sorely disappointed then. This album is much slower. I have to say, from the snippets I listened to… I didn’t particularly care for many if any of the songs. And this is from a fan. Perhaps then her past work is so legendary and her absence so long that it doesn’t particularly measure to the standards I’ve set them to.
Love Sade! I love when she said she release music when she has something to say! and not just putting out Bull Sh*t! like some folks….will not name….But y’all know who need to sit the hell down….HAHAHAHA
Not to be rude, but i cant listen to her music because her voice irritates me.
Bought it today. Love it though Be That Easy is easily my least favorite.
I love Sade and this album is fire. I do wish there were more songs and more songs like “Skin” and “The Moon and The Sky” I love it.
Unless you are truly musically inclined and appreciate real music you will understand this. The new generation would not understand this………..
They’re coming up on 106 & Park right now!!!
@L.A. Lady I saw them and loved the performance but why in the hell didn’t Rocsi and Terrance interview her? Sometimes I wonder about them. I love Sade! She is a true artist and visionary. They don’t make artists of her stock anymore.
If she only releases albums when she has something to say, then she didn’t have a whole lot to say this go’round, and this is coming from a fan as well. Maybe it is because she has gotten older, had a daughter and stuff, “in a better place” yadda yadda, but whatever. Let me start with the positives, as I have heard all of the tracks 2 weeks in advance. Each song is very soothing, just like typical Sade material. MOON AND THE SKY, BABYFATHER, IN ANOTHER TIME, all sound like potential singles. And her voice hasn’t changed unlike many artists who have taken a leave of absence. It is a good album, but not perfect. Though we all love her typical mellow sound, with the exception of BABYFATHER- it would have been nice to see her dwell a little bit with different sounds, not too much, but just to keep yourself updated. The album only boasts 10 tracks, I for one get a bit irritated when artists do this (especially artists who have been in hibernation), keep your devoted fans waiting only to feel like there could have been a a little more. Unless each one of the songs is an absolute hit, in which many cases they are not, there should be at least 12. The quality of music isn’t like it was 20 years ago. These aren’t LP days anymore, a cd holds 700mg, use at least half of it. I appreciate her addressing the fact that she rather makes music that has a message, but a true artist also doesn’t get lazy and disappear just because they have made a couple milli and leave your devoted fans wondering where did she go. I know some may not agree with me, and that is fine, I am just that passionate about music, so that is why I am so opinionated.
Thanks J Dakar
I agree with you Ben…
haha she looks like a navi from avatar on the top pic, however shes beautiful and i like the pic.
love this new cd….sade is unique….for those of you who feel it has taken too long for this release probably don’t realize that some folks have personal lives too, it takes a lot of time to write music, record, etc. We live in an instant world, but not everything can comply, such as good music.
as far as the avatar comments, the look is very african….did you ever stop and wonder where avatar creators got the idea? probably not.
Two words – Great album
“Babyfather” is a really nice poetic cut!
37 comments? Come on now if she was featuring beyonce on the album the comments would be loaded with opinions of this album! Anyway Welcome back Sade!
Great review as always. I am previewing the album now.
At first, I hated the songs I heard. I wanted something “updated,” yet true to the Sade style. I was and still am a little disappointed after listening to the cd. It has grown on me somehow. I don’t hate it as much as I thought I did. I hope that she releases “Skin,” and “The Moon and the Sky,” as singles. They are nice. I am still a big Sade fan, I hope that on the next project, she gives us something better than this.
CAN’T WAIT TO PURCHSE THIS CD TODAY!! I LOVE YOU SADE!!
AHH SHUD UP BEN!!!!
You mean albums of NEW material. Don’t forget about “The Best Of Sade” and “Lovers Live.” “Soldier Of Love” is a very nice disc. While there are some songs that are “typical” Sade, they also tried some “new directions” on others. That’s cool, too. As musicians, I’m sure they get tired of playing the “same old stuff” all the time. I appreciate that they stay basically true to themselves, and never add Rappers, strange collaborations or duets, or make a “Pop” single or album just to sell more copies. I’ll always wait patiently to hear new music from artist like Sade, Maxwell, and Anita Baker.