~ The Lovezone with Geena Lee ~ Episode 14: Celebrating Sade

Sade is my favourite female soul singer, hands down.  Her raspy yet smooth vocals and poignant lyrics have a way of gripping your heart with moving melting melodies that mix into any mood.  Although today is her 51st birthday, Sade barely looks a day over 30; yet another mystery that adds to her enigmatic persona.

With her husky haunting voice and mysterious persona, Sade is a living legend and musical icon. Her melodic style and delivery has influenced the sound of many neo-soul artists, from Maxwell to India Arie. In an age of egotistical and explicit exhibitionism, Sade’s subtlety and demure demeanour provides an endearing and classy contrast. The daughter of an English mother and Nigerian father, Sade possesses a comfort in weaving between elements of jazz, funk, reggae, bossa nova and even hip hop; creating a sound that is distinct and timeless.

Sade’s individualism is not just apparent in her vocal technique and trademark ponytail, but in the fact that she’s a songwriter. Her lyrics are genuine; filled with earnest emotion and frank vulnerability. Unlike many female singers in the music industry, Sade doesn’t strain to be in the spotlight or in the latest styles. She is notoriously reclusive and makes her private life a priority. But despite distancing herself from the machine of popularity (that often chews up and spits out many a celebrity), Sade is still accessible – through her music. With each album you get an accounting of her life, love, and longing.

The only complaint Sade fans could present would be the extremely long hiatuses between albums. It’s like an astrological event whenever a new one is released. In her 25 year career, Sade has only put out 6 studio albums, with her latest Soldier Of Love the longest awaited yet, emerging 10 years after 2000’s Lovers Rock. One would wonder why there are such long stretches between her creations, but as Sade explains, “You can only grow as an artist as long as you allow yourself the time to grow as a person”. This is what brings such depth to Sade’s songs; they are like diary entries of emotional discoveries, all chronicling her life’s journey. Listening to her albums is like having a long conversation with an old friend you haven’t seen in years but still hold dear to your heart. Becoming reacquainted is a joy and by the end it’s like they’d never left.

Sade has insisted that she is not a brand, and therefore will only make records when she feels she has something to say, not just for the sake of selling a product. This level of artistic integrity, especially at her level of stardom, is very rare. And it’s this authenticity which defines Sade’s music; it couldn’t be any other way, or it wouldn’t be Sade.

With her first studio album in 10 years to be released on Febuary 9th, the excitement is palpable amongst fans. Sade devotees are a patient bunch, because we know that whatever she decides to bless us with is always worth the wait.  Just seeing the video for her new single “Soldier of Love” has got me wired up in anticipation.  So to bide the time till that day, I’ve been listening to all of Sade’s albums, from 1984′s Diamond Life to 2000′s Lovers Rock.  In celebration, thought I’d share some of my favourite Sade songs with you.  Happy birthday Sade, and welcome back!

Love,
Geena

Celebrating Sade
(to download mix, click here)

The Sweetest Taboo
Paradise
Nothing Can Come Between Us
Never As Good As The First Time
Hang On To Your Love
Kiss Of Life
Smooth Operator
Your Love Is King
Cherish The Day
I Couldn’t Love You More
By Your Side
All About Our Love
Lovers Rock
Flow
No Ordinary Love
Bulletproof Soul
Every Word
Somebody Already Broke My Heart
Love Is Stronger Than Pride
King Of Sorrow
Is It A Crime (live)

——————–
Geena Lee
Lovesoul Studio
Toronto, Canada