Customer Reviews

The Best of Sade

5 star:		(89)
4 star:		(1)
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I didn't need to buy this CD because I already have all four of Sade's releases, but a friend left this laying around the house, so I gave it a listen. This is a greatest hits compilation that lives up to its billing. Usually, on this type of collection, the listener gets maybe 4 or 5 truly great hits and some filler. Such is not the case here because all 16 tracks are fabulous. The only songs that are missing are "Maureen" and "I Couldn't Love You More," but I suppose there had to be some cut-off point.

Sade is one of my all time favorite artists because she is just so smooth and mellow. Her songs may be a little tortured, but that delivery is always flawless. And the inclusion of some of her uptempo cuts should silence critics who claim that she is monotonous. My top picks are "Is it a Crime" "Jezebel" "No Ordinary Love" and "The Sweetest Taboo."

sade is truly amazing. possessing the captivating beauty of iman and naomi, more recluse than the artist formerly known as prince and exhibiting musical skills that unite roberta flack and astrud gilberto, sade is a legend in her own time, though we know nothing about her. the mystery that shrouds sade is reflected in the sixteen tracks selected as her best. present are her more popular songs like "smooth operator", "the sweetest taboo" and "no ordinary love", but it would seem that it is not lost on sade that some of her "best" work never saw the light of day, so to speak. true fans of the diva are privy to the sheer beauty of "jezebel", a third-person narrative about inner strength and beauty of a very uncommon streetwalker. similarly, "is it a crime", a jazz-infused song about the longing of a love that is over, but not yet dead, has attained cult status among sade's loyal supporters. the beauty of sade, the group, goes well beyond their front-woman's silky, soaring vocals and the band's undeniable skill. rather, like the spanish group mecano, what keeps fans waiting anxiously for the next release from the less-than-prolific sade is the lyrical depth of the material. ironically, the same thing that has prevented sade from achieving the cursory pop icon status of such stars as madonna and whitney is the same thing that has ensured that her records will always sell rapidly and consistently to fans who yearn for music that dips deep beneath the surface. if you can't be bothered to buy each of sade's albums...well, shame on you...buy this album. if you own all of sade's album...as well you should...buy this one anyway for easy-access to her best work (thus far).

MAN!! When I first started listening to Sade a while back, some friends warned me not to listen to her in the wrong mood, as her songs such as "Jezebel", "Is It A Crime", "No Ordinary Love", and "Pearls" will have you sitting in a dark room with a loaded gun(jokingly). I was somewhat skeptical at first, thinking this songstress would be crooning about the horrors of love. WAS I EVER WRONG!!! Well, they were wrong more, but that's another story. One of my top 5 songs of all time will allways be "Sweetest Taboo". This CD captures all of her famous sound with her trademark voice (personally, this collection would be complete if it had "Keep Looking" from her "Love Is Stronger Than Pride" CD and "I Couldn't Love You More" from her "Love Deluxe" CD, but that's like wanting to take back a Mercedes-Benz because it had a scratch on the bumper). She may not have the vocal range of a Teena Marie, but I still consider her to be one of the best female artists the 80's and 90's have ever seen. Combine her vocal talents with the pure talent of her musical accompanyment, and this becomes a must have. Get this CD if you're looking for a lot of replay value.

It seems that half the people either know Sade and enjoy her work or have never heard of her. 'the best of sade' gives a good balance to her work with songs that reflect her style of music. Whether with your loved one, or enjoying a great dinner, kicking back on the couch with your favourite beverage and you'll feel transported to nirvana. Perhaps only performing once every seven or eight years doesn't help make her a household name ... if you get a chance to see her live don't miss out. I've seen her perform three times - the last was row 2 with my girlfriend then (now my wife) was worth every penny. Thank you Sade! Just remember 'every day is Sade'

I rolled around on my floor like a Bohemian Sex Godess dancing and being lulled by the voice of this marvel (and often unappreciated beauty) we know as Sade. I love her. I adore her. I am completely bias because I want to BE her. So don't ask me if you're looking for an objective opinion. I loved it.

When I decided to purchase the CD, I had a mild interest in Sade after hearing her classic hits like Smooth Operator and No Ordinary Love. I knew nothing of her, with the exception of a few of her songs. My motivation for buying this album consisted of the facts that it was cheap and she was strongly recommended to me by a friend. Thus, I figured I might as well buy the album, because if it was bad I wouldn't have wasted much money on it at all.

After listening to the entire album, I have become an unmitigated Sade lover. Helen Folasade Adu, better known as Sade Adu, easily became my favorite singer after this album. Her undeniably sultriness and the sensuality that emanates from her songs give her a unique singing presence. Let's not forget her incredible voice that breathes life into the aforementioned qualities. I like almost every song on this album and I was never a Sade fan. The album has its strong points like the smooth opening song "Your Love is King"; the bounciness and appeal of "Smooth Operator"; the seriousness of "Jezebel" and "Pearls"; the beauty of "Kiss of Life"; the sensual nature of "No Ordinary Love"; the playfulness yet longing of "The Sweetest Taboo"; and the heartfelt emotion of songs like "Is It A Crime", "Love Is Stronger than Pride", and the undeniable hit "Cherish the Day".

I bought this album looking for a few songs, only to have most of them resonate with me. Some of the less popular songs may even resonate with you and or enamor you more so then her most popular songs. My personal favorites besides those that most already love are "Love is Stronger than Pride", which I liked after first hearing it and still do now, and "Is it a Crime", which grew on me. Sade's soulful, graceful elegance is definitely discernable through out the album.

If it isn't conspicuous by now, I definitely recommend this CD.

Some critics in the past have said that SADE is an overhyped/overrated singer! This CD proves otherwise in my opinion! This is a great collection of her music. The quality of this CD is great and more then enjoyable to listen to. If your looking for a compilation of her stuff, this is one you would want to add to your collection.

This CD takes the best songs out of all four of Sade's albums. This was, believe it or not, my introduction to Sade, not one of her "regular" CDs. Is it me, or are there a few remixes on this CD ? "Cherish the Day" sounds a little different (not just the end) and others. Also, be warned, some parts of the songs are cut out, like the spoken word opening of "Smooth Operator" and the middle section of "Hang On To Your Love." But all in all, this is a fine collection of all of Sade's hits. I love "Sweetest Taboo" best of all, and "Smooth Operator" is so very, very sexy. There are a few I love that aren't on here, though that is fine. This is, all in all, a good compilation or starter CD on Sade, taking you through the years.

This album is beyond good, I can't come up with a word to describe how good it is. But I can tell you this: Sade's CD is permanently affixed to my discman -- it never leaves it. Maybe that can give a brief visual of how good it is to me.

While in grad school in Kingston, in the early 1990s, I listened to this album repeatedly. I found the album to still have all its charm...no bad notes anywhere. I moved away from this album, all those years ago, in search of new music, settling into my Collective Soul, Tori Amos, and Sarah McLachlan groove of the later 1990s. So, now the album is back in my rotation, and it's as welcome as before. Particular standout tracks: "Your Love is King", "Smooth Operator", "The Sweetest Taboo", "Never as Good as the First Time", and "No Ordinary Love".