Sade is back on top

What does it take to show the upstarts what a real diva can do? Not much as Sade recently found out. The ’80s pop soul group led by the gorgeous female lead also named Sade, last week zoomed to the top of the US charts with the release of its new CD Soldier of Love.

Take note that Sade has not had a new album in over 10 years. Lovers Rock was the last one in 2000. The sounds have certainly changed a lot since then. And I must say more so since Sade wowed the yuppie set with the phenomenal Smooth Operator in the album Diamond Life some 25 years ago.

That was also the time when the band copped the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. This was followed some years later by the Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group for No Ordinary Love. And since it has already been that long ago, the glamour icon Sade is now 50 years old.

The British Nigerian beauty still looks fantastic and can give any of the newer divas a big run for their money as far as looks and elegance are concerned. Sade has been living in semi exile in some island these past few years. Freed of the hassles and pressure to exceed past glories, she kept her looks and judging from the market reaction to Soldier Of Love also her ear for what type of music will sell.

Musicwise, Soldier Of Love is Sade’s most ambitious and surprising effort to date. The title track of the album marches to a military beat and incorporates elements of R&B, jazz, funk and soul. Is this Sade? Well, it is. It is Sade for this new decade. Different perhaps. But it cannot be denied, also very commercial. You can even hear gunfire in the music and while gimmicky, that certainly adds to the over-all appeal of the song.

The rest of the CD reverts back to the usual sound of Sade. Smooth and easy on the ears with hints of reggae here and there. Sade, the band, is in top form. Playing are original members Stuart Colin Matthewman on guitar and sax; Paul Spencer Denman on bass and Andrew Hale on keyboards. And Sade, the girl as lead singer has a voice that is strong and fluid and glides through every cut. She has not lost her touch. In fact, her vocals, ever hypnotic, are now firmer and show more depth.

Soldier of Love is a sleek production. Not one rough edge here. You will love The Moon And The Sky and Morning Bird, which are great single materials. Babyfather and In Another Time, have stand-out arrangements. And Be That Easy, Long Hard Road, Bring Me Home, Skin and The Safest Place all wow with Sade’s sophisticated approach.

A lot of divas out there must be quaking in their boots. Nobody saw this change coming. Move over Beyoncé Knowles, Alicia Keys, Fergie, Lady Gaga even you tik toking Ke$ha. Sade is back and she is on top once again.

The leading 20 titles in Billboard Magazine’s Top 200 Album Charts are: Soldier Of Love by Sade; Need You Now by Lady Antebellum; The E.N.D. by The Black Eyed Peas; The Fame by Lady Gaga; Rebirth by Lil Wayne; I Dreamed A Dream by Susan Boyle; The Element Of Freedom by Alicia Keys; Another Round by Jaheim; Haywire by Josh Turner; Fearless by Taylor Swift.

The Fame Monster by Lady Gaga; My World by Justin Bieber; Stronger With Each Tear by Mary J. Blige; Animal by Ke$ha; Crazy Love by Michael Bublé; Tonight by tobyMac; The Foundation by Zac Brown Band; Rated R by Rihanna; Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Sequel Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Play On by Carrie Underwood.

The Top 20 singles in the Hot 100 list are: Imma Be by The Black Eyed Peas; TiK ToK by Ke$ha; BedRock by Young Money featuring Lloyd; Bad Romance by Lady Gaga; Need You Now by Lady Antebellum; We Are The World 25: For Haiti by Artists for Haiti; Hey Soul Sister by Train; How Low by Ludacris; In My Head by Jason Derulo; Say Aah by Trey Songz featuring Fabolous.