Sade (singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sade
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Sade performing in 2011
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| Born |
Helen Folasade Adu
16 January 1959 Ibadan, British Nigeria
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| Alma mater | Saint Martin's School of Art |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1982–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Carlos Pliego
(m. 1989; div. 1995)Ian Watts
(m. 2007) |
| Children | 1 |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Essex, England |
| Genres |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels | |
Helen Folasade Adu (born January 16, 1959), known as Sade Adu or just Sade, is a famous Nigerian-British singer. She is the lead singer of her band, also called Sade. She is one of the most successful British female artists ever. Many modern musicians look up to her work.
Sade was born in Ibadan, British Nigeria. She moved to England when she was four years old. She studied fashion design in London and even did some modeling. In the early 1980s, she joined a band called Pride.
She became very popular as a performer and soon formed her own band, Sade. They signed a record deal in 1983. A year later, her band released their first album, Diamond Life. It became one of the best-selling albums of its time. It was also the best-selling first album by a British female singer.
In 1985, Sade performed at the Live Aid charity concert. The band released more successful albums like Stronger Than Pride (1988) and Love Deluxe (1992). After her child was born in 1996, the band took a break.
They got back together in 1999 and released Lovers Rock in 2000. This album had a different sound than their earlier jazz-inspired music. In 2010, they released their sixth album, Soldier of Love, and went on a big world tour.
Since 2011, the band has released two new songs. "Flower of the Universe" was for the Disney movie A Wrinkle in Time. "The Big Unknown" was for the film Widows.
Contents
Sade Adu's Early Life
Helen Folasade Adu was born on January 16, 1959, in Ibadan, Nigeria. Her middle name, Folasade, means "crowned with wealth" in the Yoruba language. Her father was a Nigerian economics lecturer, and her mother was an English nurse. They met in London and moved to Nigeria.
When Sade was four, her parents separated. Her mother took Sade and her older brother, Banji, back to England. They lived with their grandparents in Essex. At age 11, Sade moved to Holland-on-Sea, Essex, with her mother and brother.
After finishing school at Clacton County High School and Colchester Institute, Sade moved to London. She was 18 years old and studied fashion design at Saint Martin's School of Art.
Sade Adu's Music Career
How Sade's Music Career Began (1980–1984)
After studying fashion design and doing some modeling, Sade started singing backup for a British band called Pride. During this time, she began writing songs with Pride's guitarist, Stuart Matthewman. They started performing their own songs at Pride's concerts.
Sade's solo performances of the song "Smooth Operator" caught the attention of record companies. In 1983, Sade, Stuart Matthewman, and other band members (Andrew Hale and Paul Denman) left Pride. They formed the band Sade.
Sade became very popular quickly. When she performed her first show in London, over 1,000 people couldn't get in because it was so crowded. In May 1983, Sade performed her first show in the US. Sade Adu signed with Epic Records in October 1983, and the rest of the band signed in 1984.
The Success of Diamond Life
After signing their record deal, the band started recording their first album, Diamond Life. It took six weeks to record in London. The album was released on July 16, 1984. It reached number two in the UK Album Chart and sold over 1.2 million copies in the UK.
Diamond Life also won the Brit Award for Best British Album in 1985. The album was a big hit worldwide, reaching number one in several countries. It sold over four million copies in the US. Overall, Diamond Life sold over six million copies globally. It became one of the best-selling first albums of the 1980s. It was also the best-selling debut album ever by a British female singer.
The first song from the album, "Your Love Is King", was released in February 1984. It was popular in Europe, reaching number six in the UK. The third song, "Smooth Operator", released in September 1984, became the most successful song from the album in the US. It reached number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Continued Success and First Break (1985–2000)
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In late 1985, the band released their second album, Promise. This album reached number one in both the UK and the US. It was the band's first album to hit number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album eventually sold four million copies in the US.
Promise included popular songs like "Never as Good as the First Time" and "The Sweetest Taboo". "The Sweetest Taboo" stayed on the US Hot 100 chart for six months. In 1986, the band won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
In 1986, Sade acted in the film Absolute Beginners. She played a character named Athene Duncannon and sang on the movie's soundtrack.
Sade's third album, Stronger Than Pride, came out on May 3, 1988. Like her previous albums, it was very successful. It sold well and included four popular songs. The song "Paradise" reached number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Love Deluxe was the band's fourth album, released on October 26, 1992. It reached number three on the US Billboard 200 and sold 3.4 million copies in the United States. The album was also successful in other countries, reaching number one in France.
In November 1994, the group released their first collection of greatest hits, The Best of Sade. This album was also a top ten hit in both the UK and the US. It included songs from Sade's earlier albums and a cover of "Please Send Me Someone to Love".
Lovers Rock and Second Break (2000–2010)
After an eight-year break, the band released their fifth album, Lovers Rock, on November 13, 2000. Critics gave it good reviews. The album reached number three on the US Billboard 200 and sold 3.9 million copies in the United States by 2010.
In 2002, Lovers Rock won Sade the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album. The main song from the album, "By Your Side", was nominated for a Grammy Award. This song has been called one of the greatest love songs ever by VH1.
To promote the album, Sade and the band went on their Lovers Rock Tour in 2001. It was their first tour since 1994. The tour was very popular, with many shows selling out. It became one of the biggest tours in North America, earning over $26 million.
After the tour, the band released their first live album, Lovers Live, in February 2002. It reached number ten on the US Billboard 200.
Following Lovers Rock, Sade took another ten-year break. During this time, she focused on raising her child and moved to the Caribbean. In 2002, she received an Order of the British Empire (OBE) award at Buckingham Palace for her contributions to music.
Soldier of Love and Third Break (2010–2017)
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The band's sixth album, Soldier of Love, was released on February 8, 2010. It was their first album with new songs in ten years. The album was very successful and received positive reviews. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 in the United States.
Soldier of Love was the band's first album to debut at number one. It also had the best first-week sales for a group since 2008. The band set a record for the longest time between number-one albums, with 24 years between Promise (1985) and Soldier of Love.
The first song from the album, "Soldier of Love", was released in January 2010. At the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2011, this song won Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
In April 2011, the band began their Sade Live tour. This tour promoted their new album and their greatest hits album, The Ultimate Collection. It was the band's first tour in almost ten years. The tour earned over $50 million from 59 shows. A live album and DVD from the tour, Bring Me Home - Live 2011, was released in May 2012.
Sade's Return to Music (2018–Present)
In March 2018, Sade and her band released the song "Flower of the Universe". It was for the soundtrack of the Disney film A Wrinkle in Time. The movie's director, Ava DuVernay, said she never thought Sade would agree to contribute, but she asked anyway.
Later that year, Sade released "The Big Unknown" for the movie Widows. The film's director, Steve McQueen, said Sade agreed to write the song because the original TV series of Widows meant a lot to her.
In 2022, the band visited Miraval Studios in France. This was the first time they had been there since recording some of their earlier albums. There are rumors that a new album, following Soldier of Love, is being made.
Sade Adu's Legacy and Influence
Sade's voice is often described as unique. The New Yorker called it a "grainy contralto full of air" that sounds a little sad but not in pain. The BBC described her voice as "husky and restrained" and compared it to singer Billie Holiday.
The BBC also said her songwriting was "soulful and jazzy yet poppy, funky yet easy listening." This mix of styles made her popular with fans of many different music types. Sade has been called a "pop star."
With her band, Sade has created very successful music. Their "easy" sound often backs up songs that explore the deeper parts of love, like commitment and friendship. Her success is also linked to her unique beauty and mysterious personality. In 2023, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Sade at number 51 on their list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
Many singers and hip hop artists have said Sade's work influenced them. Rapper Rakim grew up listening to her music and was inspired by her voice. He even mentioned her song "Smooth Operator" in his own song "Microphone Fiend".
Talib Kweli said he learned about being precise from watching Sade perform. Rapper Missy Elliott said Sade's performance of "Smooth Operator" is one of her favorites. Hip hop groups like Souls of Mischief and Tanya Morgan also grew up listening to her music.
Other rappers like Malice and Pusha have also recognized Sade. When Soldier of Love came out, rapper Kanye West wrote that it was much better than everything else. Rapper Rick Ross said he loves all of Sade's songs because there has "never been a bad Sade track."
American singer Beyoncé called Sade's music a "true friend" and an inspiration. The late singer Aaliyah admired Sade because "she stays true to her style no matter what." American R&B singer Brandy has said Sade is one of her main vocal influences. Even heavy metal singers Greg Puciato and Chino Moreno have named her as an inspiration.
Sade Adu's Personal Life
In the 1980s, Sade lived in Tottenham with her boyfriend at the time, Robert Elms. In 1989, she married Spanish film director Carlos Pliego, but they divorced in 1995.
Sade moved to the Caribbean for a short time in the late 1990s. She lived with Jamaican music producer Bob Morgan. On July 21, 1996, she gave birth to her child, Izaak Theo Adu. Izaak later sang on Sade's song "Babyfather" in 2010.
Sade and Bob Morgan separated. Since 2007, she has been in a relationship with Ian Watts, a former Royal Marine. She also has a stepson through this relationship.
In September 2019, Izaak Theo Adu shared a message online, thanking his mother for her support. In late 2024, Sade and the Red Hot Organization's TRANSA project released a song called "Young Lion," which is dedicated to her son.
In 2005, Sade moved to the British countryside. She bought an old cottage to fix up. Sade rarely gives interviews.
Sade Adu's Honours and Awards
Sade was given the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2002 for her services to music. She said the award was "a great gesture to me and all black women in England." She was later promoted to Commander of the same Order (CBE) in 2017, also for her music.
In 1986, she became the first artist born in Nigeria to win a Grammy Award. She was named Best New Artist. In 2023, Sade was asked to be part of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Sade was also nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024.
Sade Adu's Music Albums
Studio Albums
- Diamond Life (1984)
- Promise (1985)
- Stronger Than Pride (1988)
- Love Deluxe (1992)
- Lovers Rock (2000)
- Soldier of Love (2010)
Sade Adu's Concert Tours
- 1984: Diamond Life Tour
- 1986: Promise Tour
- 1988: Stronger Than Pride Tour
- 1993: Love Deluxe World Tour
- 2001: Lovers Rock Tour
- 2011: Sade Live
Images for kids
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Sade performing in 2011
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Sade performing in 1985
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Sade onstage in Germany, 2011
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Sade performing in 2011
See also
In Spanish: Sade Adu para niños
