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| Walhello -> Knowledge Base -> CDs -> S -> Sade Promise |
| Sade - Promise Band: Sade Tracks: - Is It a Crime - Sweetest Tabool - War of the Hearts - You're Not the Man - Jezebel - Mr. Wrong - Punch Drink [Instrumental] - Never as Good as the First Time - Fear - Maureen - Maureen Sometimes Love Hurts! Promise is a jazzy blend of soul, R&B, and pop. I play this CD all the way through because I don't want to miss anything. But I do have have Five favorite songs: "Is It A Crime" (a desperate cry for understanding when experiencing unrequited love), "War of the Hearts" (a soft admission that romance is lost because of conflict), Mr. Wrong (a girlfriendly caution given in full voice about a man who is untrustworthy), Never As Good As the First Time (a rhyming, rhythmic celebration of love), and Fear (a sad, melancholy description of uncertainty which includes Spanish phrases. These songs reveal heartache, but they are not depressing. Rather, they show empathy to those who realize that Love hurts sometimes. The lead vocalist, Adu, is hard to classify and impossible to imitate. But lately, I've been depending on Les Nubiennes (they did a French cover of Sweetest Taboo, I prefer Sade's version) to tide me over until Sade releases another album. I hope that will be soon! I rated this CD Five stars, along with Diamond Life for Sade's dedication to original vocal style and musical excellence. A "Promise" Fulfilled. Listening to a Sade album is like wearing an Armani suit: it's stylish and impeccably tailored, but it won't look foolish in six months. In other words, the band's music is elegant yet able to survive passing trends and fads. Their second release, "Promise," may be the best. Fusing jazz and pop with a dash of r&b, "Promise" is the personal Journey of a broken Heart and a bruised soul. It bleeds with emotion, and it captivates the listener through its refined and understated grace. Sade Adu won't go down as a singer with tremendous range, but she sure uses the best of what she's got. We can both hear and feel Sade's longing in the excellent opener "Is it a Crime," in which Ms. Adu can't seem to shake the man who once loved her. She also runs the gamut of Emotions from affection ("The Sweetest Taboo") to longing ("Maureen") and pain ("War of the Hearts"). But the track that makes me stop EVERYTHING is the have-your-Kleenex-ready breakup number "You're Not the Man." With the assistance of Stuart Matthewman's pained saxophone, Sade wakes up and realizes that she no longer can connect with the man she loved for so long. I think this may be My Favorite Sade song ever. "Promise" is simply a work of class done to near-perfection. In fact, Sade is one of the reasons why I can't warm up to jazz pop upstarts like Norah Jones. The latter singer is an able, but unexceptional, singer whose material suffers from milquetoast production and too many contrivances. But Sade gives you the real deal, straight from the gut. "Promise" still has the juice after all these years and it comes highly recommended. It's one of the best records money can buy. Among the top pop albums of the 20th century Rather than have to choose and explain which of Sade's albums is her "masterpiece," I prefer to Call her entire oeuvre "genius." This album, however, has particular emotional resonance for me, and I suppose it will always be my favourite of her great works. The single "The Sweetest Taboo" was released right around the time I met my first love, and the song is a beautiful tribute to finding the one Love which makes every night feel "like New Year's eve" (In fact, I first heard the song on New Year's eve). I remember critics and other musical "experts" panning this album in the mid-'80s, saying it was one-note and bland. The lyrics are rich, raw, and intimate, and the music is accordingly light enough (it could almost be called "porous" at times) to not overpower the emotion of the words. Stuart Matthewman's searing saxophone breakthroughs in "Is it a Crime" and "Jezebel," for instance, only punctuate the jaggedness of the emotion expressed. "Maureen" is a lively, touching yet still fun tribute to a departed friend. "Tar Baby" is amazingly personal and a great showcase for a beautifully distinctive voice. The original vinyl album did not contain the instrumental "Punch Drunk" and the powerful "You're Not the Man," yet I cannot imagine "Promise" without these lovely pieces, particularly the latter. "You're Not the Man" is a brilliant Testament to the disappointments in love, a fitting companion to "The Sweetest Taboo," two sides of this great defining moment in life. In fact, I think this album will stand as the great defining moment of a great musical legacy. What an amazing talent! Buy Sade Promise at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.comJamster - the latest ringtones for your phone! |
