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| Walhello -> Knowledge Base -> CDs -> S -> Sade Stronger Than Pride |
| Sade - Stronger Than Pride Band: Sade Tracks: - Love Is Stronger Than Pride - Paradise - Nothing Can Come Between Us - Haunt Me - Turn My Back On You - Keep Looking - Clean Heart - Give It Up - I Never Thought I'd See The Day - Siempre Hay Esperanza Love Is.... The opening title track is easily her best ballad. Listen to it in a room all alone on a rainy, quiet afternoon. The gentle, soothing, African-flavored percussion and muted guitar backing will have you floating on a cloud. When she intones "I still really, really Love you, Love is stronger than pride", you will be instantly enveloped in her womanly warmth. The upfront bass and drums of "Paradise" will draw you in even deeper and the rest of "Stronger..." is just as inviting. Several tracks from this album have become light FM jazz staples, and with good reason. Sade (the entire band, not just the lead vocalist) create upscale, classy, relaxing yet urbane and imaginitive music that sounds perfect in any enviroment. "....Pride" is a welcome addition to any collection, and will both relax and uplift you with every listen. This wonderful album hasn't aged a day since 1988 and is highly reccommened. Very Underrated I don't understand why Stronger Than Pride is not considered one of Sade's best albums ever. Stronger is the record which converted me into a Sade fan. Prior to hearing Stronger, I liked "Your Love is King" and that was about it. "Hang on to Your Love" and "Smooth Operator" have always been unimpressive to me. Stronger has some of the best lyrics and melodies ever heard on record. Sade's best song ever has to be "Clean Heart". Granted, some of the songs which have more dance oriented leanings don't showcase what The Band or the lady are Truly capable of accomplishing on record, but they are not horrible tracks. I loved this cd so much, I was prompted to purchase "Promise" which came out 3 years prior to Stronger's release. "Promise" is a great album as well, but I don't think anything on it matches the lyrical content or melodic feeling of "Clean Heart", "Haunt Me" or "Love Is Stronger Than Pride". Sade continues to evolve and show the world that they are Truly in a class by themselves. If you haven't seen their Live show, you are missing out. STRONGER THAN MOST Sade's third album,1988's "Stronger Than Pride",came off the heels of a three year hiatus for the beautifully 'exotic' singer and her band.This album was intially bashed by the rock press(see a harsh Rolling Stone review for yourself) as being "lifeless" and "redundant".Most of that negativity stemmed from the fact that "Stronger Than Pride" was much more loose and less supper club sounding than the bands' previous masterpieces,"Diamond Life" and "Promise".Sade had just married a Spainard(photographer Carlos Scola) while recording this album which explains the Strong proto-salsa feel of "STP".The arragenments are much more loose.Yet sill holds the elegance and restraint of Sade's past work. The polyrhythmics of "Parade" have an upbeat,easy going feel...known with salsa.The atmospheric "Love Is Stronger Than Pride" still sends shivers up this Sade aficando's spine.The moody "Haunt Me" also has a Spanish flavor with it's muted feel and Sade's aching vocals in that trademark husky,ghostly voice.<BR>The pure "Clean Heart" ranks with Diamond Life's "Frankie's First Affair" and Promise's "Tar Baby" as Sade's honest songcraft.Except "Clean Heart" is without all the garrish production of those two aforementioned classics."Give It Up" with it's catchy refrain also wins.As do the lazy stroll of "Nothing Can Tear Us Apart"(which the same Rolling Stone critic called 'lifeless') which features the vocals from the overlooked Leroy Osbourne on background.And the bass line still holds up. Most intresting though as far as new direction on "Stronger Than Pride" is Sade's strident attempt at funk.No our herione hasn't turned in James Brown on us.But "Turn My Back On You" and "Keep Looking" do show an obvious nod to American funk in their mellow,jazzy tones.Both songs are heavy on the hook and low on Actual passages but they still work."Keep Looking" is an inspiring ode to uplifting ones self.Although Sade would leave funk alone on the next two studio albums,it would be intresting to see what the Queen of Cool and her worthy princes would do today with some funk in the mix. "Stronger" which concludes with the funky and Latin-jazz tinged intrumental "Siempre Hay Esperanza" holds up as one of Sade's best albums.This is defintely NOT an album for Sade beginners but for a beautiful album with much purity and chance-taking,"Stronger Than Pride" is the one. Buy Sade Stronger Than Pride at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.comJamster - the latest ringtones for your phone! |
