Reviews (page 11 of 14)
Geinige swanky muziek
My girl! There is nothing about her or this album I don't love!
80s music for suburban moms with bad perms.
4/5
Very good
Bit sad that I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have liked to, but it's okay
What a great album! 5 stars.
Some classic 80s hits, not the whole album though
Feels as relevant as a lifetime romcom.
Not my typical kind of music, but Sade has a very unique/recognizable voice. It was relaxing and enjoying to listen to.
Smooth and easy listening to start of the week was much appreciated. Sade’s influence on future artists is very apparent and I’d even go so far as to say she opened the door for soulful British female singers that blew up in the 2000s. I enjoyed it, and there will be some tracks I’ll come back to.
How do you pronounce her name? Is it (Say-dee), or (Say-duh)? Is it just (Sad)? Easy to listen to and I knew a few songs.
Excellent for making Açorda soup too
One star each for the 80s Hits - Smooth Operator and Your Love is King. A nice background listen, but I'm not sure how important the album is as far as the evolution of music is concerned.
I don’t see myself listening to this again - sophisti-pop (first time hearing of this as a genre) is not really my thing. Both stars are for Smooth Operator
Софистик-поп - это когда вроде и шарм есть, и гармония какая-то, но трэки хуй друг от друга отличишь.
Listened to this many times one of my wife’s favorite albums uniquely beautiful and immediately accessible
A certain “je nais se quois” comes around when this album plays, cigarette smoke fills the room and you find yourself with your (drink of choice) in hand listening to… Sade’s “Diamond Life”.
very sufficient music. will provide ears with sufficiency
Incredibly well-produced - and the profuxtiin is fairly timeless, too, especially considering what decade we're in here. There's also more happening here musically/instrumental than I expected. Sonically, it's very much started its own genre, so it deserves to be on the list. And yet. It's very... Adult contemporary, content-sounding and sort of lacking in drive. And I know I'm being mean to Sade here, without wanting to.
Beautiful calm album. My boss introduced me to Sade 25 years ago and I remember thinking that it was ok for a lounge bar when it was quiet but no more than that. How wrong I was ! Cheers Stephanie you wackjob!
Faded into the background. When I did notice it was hard to tell songs apart. Lots of saxophones.
Love these vibes. I understand why this sound came to be caricaturized and I wouldn’t choose the synthetic keys on a regular basis, but there were bigger missteps in the early 80s than these silky sounds.
Some artist’s music just transcends the realm of normality. And they are capable of expressing otherworldliness simply through themselves. In many ways, I interpret Sade Adu’s music in that same way. Some people are just special. And there is no denying that. I don’t think it’s within anyone’s right to claim that people like Erykah Badu or Bob Marley, and especially their music, aren’t tapped in to some other level of the soul. Sade might have one of the most powerfully emotive and expressive voices ever. You could hook me up to an IV and pump straight liquid gold into my veins and it still probably wouldn’t warm my heart like she does. I’m just so infatuated with her voice and how incredible it sounds. One of the best vocalists to ever live, period. Her voice is not the only thing this album has going for it though. Her band is also great. And they elevate this album into becoming one of the best sophisticated pop albums ever. Its jazz influenced sound is done perfectly, and for an album released early on in the 80s, it actually sounds ahead of its time. This contains a lot of ideas that I feel became much more commonplace in modern contemporary R&B music. There are some fantastic moments of pure bliss on this album, where Sade and the rest of the band just lock in so perfectly with each other. I’m a little heartbroken that Love Deluxe is not on this list, or really any other album from her, because I would love the opportunity to talk about those as well. Rating: 8/10
Chill music that’s easy to listen to. An enjoyable experience.
“What an album, what a woman, what a music.”
First track in and I get exactly why Sade is praised the way she is worldwide. Hang on to your love is even better. Beautifully sensual and moody. Not grim moody but a good kind of mood, get you in a mood, be it dancing mood or erotic mood. I like the jazzy instrumental selection and her voice … wow her voice. It just works.
I’m so into her vocal timbre. It’s so smooth and scrumptious in which to listen!
love deluxe is far better but this is jazzy and gorgeous, smooth operator :)))))))
Not a huge fan of R&B. I just listened to snippets of this and I still feel this way.
Nice. Smooth. Beautiful music.
OK. This is just a cool album made by a cool group.
This is something that I expected to be right up my alley. I had only heard/loved Smooth Operator before, and thought 45 minutes from them would be an easy 5. It was everything I expected (the band slaps and her voice feels tailor made for this), but I am less excited than I expected I would be and a little bored by the end. Torn between 3.5 and 4 but going up for being jazzy.
Some good
A smooth operation…
loved, listened multiple times
Not exactly my thing, but does make me wanna give a relisten and maybe another of her albums
"А мы встаём из-за столика, и в зале играет Шаде Она поёт бесподобно, подобно томной пизде Она поёт бесподобно о том, что было, ушло А мы выходим свободно; о, да, мы выходим легко" Бле, тут гладкий оператор. Мне нравится. Бальзам на душу КОСТ ТУ КОСТ ЭЛЭЙ ТУ ЧИКАГО В целом, кроме этого бангера в альбоме ничего не было, но я поурчал, я кайфанул. Мне понравилось.
Chill and funky
Nice voice but one paced.
Twooooth Operator
Here’s your eighties soft pop right here. THE example.
Bland, easy listening pop. Sounds a lot like The Most Wanted Music to me.
This is smooth af and I am HERE for it. Good lord, that piano tho.
Sade has a great and very distinctive voice. The sound and songs all seam very similar though. Clearly she has not had any even good relationships based on the sadness of the majority of her tunes.
Might as well add a sad version of Fly me to the moon since it’s so sad
Totally and utterly mid. Her voice is pretty good I guess but the songwriting is just the same sort of feeling over and over. Did absolutely nothing for me. Very boring, very bland, not nearly special enough that I NEEDED to listen to this before I died.
her voice is great, but felt the tracks blend in to each other. was ok as background music. lot of the songs hooks repeated too much for me. she does do a great job of blending voice with instruments. 3.5 stars
If I were a cheesy music critic being quoted for the album PR, I'd say something like "....a revelation" and I would fully mean it. Imagine starting your opening album with "Smooth Operator" and then going to "Your Love Is King" and then going to "Hang On To Your Love". INSANE!!
Remek djelo soft popa osamdesetih esencijalni cd album
Strong 4, Smooth Operator is an all time song, and the vibes are great.
4/5
Cool, sophisticated but not memorable except for "Smooth Operator." I enjoyed this album but nothing stuck with me. 3.2 stars rounded down.
Bad smooth jazz instrumentation. Bad lyrics. Bad vocals. This is a record that would be liked by a middle aged woman with the worst taste in music that you know.
Favourite song hang on to your love
Existe aqui um jeito sexy de se portar dentro do amor.
Vraiment un bon album intemporel. Très Midnight Shutdown sensuel.
Shes so cool, this album is great love you Sade
Overall a bit unmemorable. But "Sally" stood out. Old-school dramatic jazzy thing, very noir vibe.
Kind of boring but pleasant enough just the same. I didn't know Sade did Smooth Operator. That's about as much a bop as elevator music gets.
For me, this is one of those influential albums just blend into the era they were created in. Sounds like generic 80s to me. The only song I knew was Smooth Operator, and it is now stuck in my head.
Liked this far more than I thought I would. Easy smooth jazzy with Latin overtures. Hang On To Your Love was my favorite here. Nice album. Smooth Operator is almost a memeish song.
My dad loved Sade, so this gets one star right off the bat just for him. Fortunately, it’s a good album, too. This isn’t the most exciting, upbeat music, it then it wasn’t intended to be. It’s relaxing soulful jazz, of sorts, and she has a voice that’s smoother than butter on a baby’s butt, too. Not my go to, but pleasant and well made.
I had fun the whole way through. I can see the complaints of the songs blending together, but there are albums that do it worse. If you aren’t familiar with Sade’s work (or any artist of a different genre), then their songs will probably sound the same. However, I personally was pleasantly surprised with how diverse all the tracks are. It isn’t the most diverse project, but at only nine songs, she made a heavy hitter of a debut album with this one. The arrangements are nice and complement the vocals well. Writing and lyrics were also engaging. Honestly confused with all of the hate this album gets. 4/5
Music designed to get you laid if that's your thing. Or even if it's not. Unless you're one of those people who insist on having to point out that Sade is a band and not the lead singer. Or you pronounce it "SayD" instead of "Shar Day", even if you're trying to be what the common folk consider "funny".
Love smooth operator. Great song to open an album. moving into your love is king which is equally great. It goes down hill from there and becomes very biege and safe. Slcik sounds with very little edge. I can see why people like Sade but she is not for me. Favourite song: Smooth operator Least favourite: from track 3 onwards all songs are a bit meh. Album artwork: Strong cover
Favorite Tracks: Smooth Operator Cherry Pie
Its Sade
I'm pregnant. It's no wonder you get the influence of Marvin Gaye with songs that preach about love and wonder at the differences between race, creed and class. She is missed but I hope she's enjoying her retirement. 4/5
I didn't like her singles back then but I'm trying to go in open-minded. Smooth Operater isn't a good start. Too slick. Next song is better but it's like a chocolate tart. Too smooth and rich. When we get to Frankie's First Affair, which is the first unfamiliar song, I'm in the land of don't care. This is a collection of dreary songs that are making me sleepy while drinking coffee. Sade: All filler, no killer. Now I have to decide if the good musicianship gives it two stars. Nope. Those cookie-cutter songs are unforgivable.
Najbolje pjesme: 1. Smooth Operator 2. Cherry Pie 3. Hang On To Your Love
The lead singer has an enchanting, beautiful voice. On a few too many of the songs here, the hooks repeat themselves until the appeal is gone. The production is a bit dated to my ears as well. I didn't dislike my listen, but I wasn't moved by it. Highlights: Hang On to Your Love, Frankie's First Affair
I'm with Kev here on the 80s pop R&B vibe just not being what I'm into. Two songs in, I certainly can appreciate the quality of her voice and the backing vocals, but the instrumentals are drowning in cheese. Something about the over-produced silky bass mixed with saxophone and artificial keys just reminds me of growing up shopping with my mom at a department store (lol just re-read Kev's review; funny we are in the same spot mentally here). Instrumentals for Hang On to Your Love have an undeniable groove about them. This taps a similar energy to Beat It, but like more relaxed. Love the meaty bass here with the scratchy guitar licks. Sally is another standout to me. Describes Sally (if genius is to be trusted a personification for Salvation Army?) as someone who was there for a number of people fallen on hard times -- taking in people swallowed up by the streets in one way or another. This album isn't something I'll be back to anytime soon, but I'm actually glad to have listened to it. Sure, the instrumentals have plenty of cheese, but the production is clean and there were several points that actually pulled me in. This is a solid 3 for me.
I knew Smooth Operator. Common theme of knowing like one song. I'm not familiar with Sade. Sounds like an 80s drama fill soundtrack with some jazz vibe. 3 stars for me
Enjoyable listen that had me going in and out of paying attention while working. A nice jazzy number is always welcome in my headphones. Definitely caught some 4 star moments in here, but ultimately I was tuned out for too much of it to really warrant a 4. Definitely a high 3 though.
Pretty solid jazz-pop that was really cool at times but at other times a bit boring. Smooth Operator is obviously a jam, but I have to give it a knock because Carlos Sainz Jr chose it as his theme song and fuck that guy. I'd say the highs outweigh the lows and this turned out to be a pretty high 3
Holy 80's! This isn't bad in any way but it is absolutely not for me. For some reason it reminded me of the mall when I was a kid. I'm glad Frankie had the affair.
Smooth Operator
I almost like Smooth Operator, Hang on to Your Love, Cherry Pie (instrumental parts, especially intro), Why Can’t We Live Together (especially intro)
2.75
Easy listening blend of soft jazz and pop. Fantastic album, and have enjoyed this band for years. Always a smooth listening experience. 4 / 5
smooooth operatoor - het aber au no es paar anderi gueti songs!
Album's not even done and it's just not for me. I'd heard Sade was well-regarded critically, and had really hoped for more - repeated listens aren't going to change my opinion of some milquetoast soft rock.
The loveliest taboo. 3 stars.
There’s nothing like this in my collection so I guess I’ve learned about something new. But there’s also a good reason I have none of this in my collection. I can’t stand it.
The vibes are immaculate. 4/5
I was familiar with a bunch of the songs on here from a greatest hits CD but never listened to the album in full. A pleasant journey and a nice smooth voice.
If you're in the mood for some relaxing, sensual music, you can't go wrong with this album. Sade's voice is perfect for this blend of R&B, pop, and world music. True, production is rooted in the 80s, but very tastefully so, and the instrumentation is perfect. So is the performance of each individual band member. Iconic opener Smooth Operator sets the tone for the rest of the album. While the album could have done with a little more variation or trimming the running time down by just a couple of minutes, this remains a true 80s classic for anyone who is really willing to listen. 4.5/5
I have very vivid memories from when I was a kid of smashing my head against a wall waiting for my mom to finish up shopping in the Lord and Taylor in the mall a few towns away. I am convinced this is the album they were playing in the store. I associate this type of music with that stale department store smell and the cinnamon from an Aunt Annie's pretzel. That's all to say that as oddly nostalgic as this album feels, it's so safe. I can't speak to whether or not this was 'revolutionary' when it came out, but nowadays it sounds pretty unremarkable. Pretty standard commercial music coming out for the decade.
While I really enjoy Sade's voice and smooth operator is a banger, the rest of the album didn't wow me. Definitely great for more relaxed listening.
#172. Spotify says there are 13 million people listening to this character every month. 13 million. Monthly. What the fuck? Who is purposefully listening to this shit? 2/5: not great Song added to playlist: Smooth Operator I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
this is so snazzy i love it. makes me wanna go to a jazz club at night in a cute outfit. update: i think sally is the best song on this album omg update 2: OH MY GOD I WILL BE YOUR FRIEND IS SO HEAVENLY
Not for me
Absolutamente perfeito
I'm proud to say I've been making fun of this cheesy crap since the day it came out.
Nice
Sultry jazz/R&B
Like taking a warm, candle-lit bath in porridge.
I liked 'Smooth Operator'. Not my favorite type of music to listen to. Wouldn't listen again. 2/5
Nice
Smooth jazz. Sade has had a number of reasonably big singles but I've never listened to one of her albums. She has a breathy, lower-register voice that fits this style of music very well but I find the genre generally kind of boring. It's over-polished and a bit lounge-y (if that's a word) and more suited for LITE-FM or background music at a spa than the type of jazz I like. Yes, the songs have complex beats and quality sax playing but there's not the kind of creativity around chord structures and phrasing you find from top[ jazz artists. Smooth Operator is the best tune of a very bland bunch.
A little groovy here and there. Not my genre so doubt I'll give it another go. Good for a one time listen from me. Will I listen to again: 0.1%
Sade should team up with Slade from Teen Titans
Svo smúþ að silki er eins og sandpappír við hliðina á því! Elska þetta!
I’ve known the name Sade since I was at least 12 or younger. I have no idea if I’ve ever actually heard her music. I also had no idea she’d been making music for 15 years by the time I’d even heard her name... Smooth Operator is definitely familiar somehow. The rest of this, not so much. For smooth R&B, this isn’t the worst. I don’t mind this as background music, maybe at a kitschy cafe that’s stuck in the 90s with all the collected knick knacks and shit on the wall. I am not entirely convinced that I needed to hear this before I die, other than to provide some variety. There’s certainly something to be said for that in the context of a list that feels heavily skewed toward otherwise forgotten and ignored britpop bands. I’m definitely not as upset by it as I have been previous albums on this list. TL;DR: Not something I’d pick, but I wouldn’t have heard this otherwise, so it gets some points for not being a predictable pick while not being terrible.
Super smooth. I liked the similar songs that Spotify found as well.
I liked it and am a but surprised about that! But the funk influences combined with the smooth instrumentation were really great!
I really like the style of music, a good relaxing album. I liked Smooth Operator, Your Love is King and I Will Be Your Friend.
I like this artist more than I thought I would.
Bit too soft but still nearly perfect album
This had me listening to sex music all morning long. No sex though
Sorry aber BANGER AFTER BANGER liebs . Fühl mi so powerful wenni das lose like Hell yeah i feel like a WOMAN macht da sinn?
Es tönt alles easy guet, aber au sehr ähnlich und für mich irgendwie z langwilig
Aah i ha da album no nie dureglost, freu mi. Smooth operator natürli en riiiese bop. Eifach latin mit drum machine und jazz rhodes, meega sicki kombi. I ha gad glese s lied goht um en waffehändler??? Mega sick Hang on to your love seeehr geil. De lang instrumental breakdown isch echt geil. Ja sehr guets album, gfallt mer. Cha mer vorstelle, dasis chli langwiilig fänd wennis nöd aktiv lose wür.
fucking smooth operator… 4 stern schomal für das. nachher alli songs nice aber keine meh wo so richtig usesticht. has gern glost, han e gueti ziit gha
smooth operatoruuultra smooth. percussion und so. melodie umtra nice. bgvs. prechorus in chorus ine haaammer. your love is king schöööö. lieb en guete 12/8. sax solo top tier. Hang on to your love sehr geile bass uuh haallou giratte. uuuuh de breakdown instrumental klavier teil uuuuh yes. huuere geil. gnüsses gad mega alles isch so smooth (operator). frankie's first affair findi nöd ganz glich nice wie die letste aber immerno sehr noice. when am i going to make a living? frogi mi au. aber song huere cool. cherry pie huere geils intro mmmh au sehr geile song sally isch chli meh laid back aber immerno seehr cool geili chords s schlagzüg und s klavier sind suuper scjön. ha jetz nöd z viel uf de text glost aber tönt nochere trurige gschicht. i will be your friend vibey groovy nice. why cant we live together. weiss au nöd sade du lebsch halt in gloucestershire und ich z züri, plus weissi nöd ob üsi vorstellige vonere wg die gliche sind, chunsch langsam richtig pensionsalter.
huere geils cover bass und keys recht dominant bis jz, sehr cute und SMOOTH hie und daa chli klavier und sax (oder??? ich bin so schlecht idem) ergänzet sich sehr schön bin im bett und loses eifach mit zuene auge und es isch soo beruhigendi musig "sweet as cherry pie" ja es git krässeri vergliich aber u do u ich weiss es isch nöd für das denkt aber momentan findi chli es het z wenig drive? so es isch alles schön und ruhig aber I guess ich los nachane chli schreimusig und denn isch wieder guet
Sade’s voice is incredible and so is the band. I appreciated the songs I knew more when listening in the context of the whole album.
This album has not aged well.
Enjoyed listening to this. Smooth sound, good to mellow to.
Yep I’m gonna put this on for sexy time at some pont
Feels like if you told ChatGPT to make a jazz album with Nico’s vocals. This album confuses me. Sometimes I really enjoy the unique vocals, then sometimes I find them abrasive. This can change even mid song. Instrumentals are solid though.
Good I guess? Kind of a blur
Great album, cohesive and sweet, Sade is a star with a unique voice. Best Song: When am I going to make a living Worst Song: N/A
It's like expecting cherry pie and ending up with red velvet. Like hoping for Friday night, but it's only Wednesday.
This album felt like elevator music, which made me wonder if elevator music in the 2060s will be Beyoncé, Cardi B, SZA, etc. I never wanted to turn this off, but probably won’t listen again.
This is pretty good stuff, 3 big Top 40 hits followed by a bunch of pretty nice tracks. Gets a bit repetitive overall. I remember she was in heavy rotation on MTV, perhaps due to her being African and MTV was trying to get more black music videos on, and she fit the bill but was pretty safe music.
A fun thought experiment here is, what would this album sound like if it came out today and someone was like, “hey maybe cool it with the sax?”
Smooth Sade. SADE. 5/5
Me ha gustado... lo justo
It's OK. She's obviously very talented and has a great, smooth voice. But the songs sound quite dated to me. I'm actually a little disappointed, to be honest, because I've always known Sade to put out masterpieces - but apparently they haven't aged well to my ear.
The smoothest. I could listen to Sade every single day. This album is just about perfect.
How the heck did I not know that Sade was the artist behind Smooth Operator?! Also that Smooth Operator is now a 40 year old song (!) as is this album. What a wild time when I hit play on Diamond Life. I was also shocked to note that on Spotify Smooth Operator was not the most listened to song on the album! At the end of the day, who can resist the smooth sounds of Sade with her stellar debut, whilst it wouldn't be on my regular rotation, it is lovely to hear every now and then. Best: Smooth Operator Worst: Cherry Pie
Instant 5 stars for this one. I own it. I've listened to it many times, and I will again now because its just good the whole way through.
It's very pleasant and chilled. Smooth songs, sung very nicely. I wouldn't usually go along with this level of sensual 80's sax, but you know what? It's working. 3.5 rounded down.
Terrible.
I’ve heard 42% of children born in 1985 were conceived to this album. Facts aside i really enjoyed this album. Yes, it’s as smooth as silk, and the production is a bit dated in places but ‘your love is king’ sounds timeless and Sade’s voice distinctively beautiful.
Smooth Operator alone nets this a four. No voice quite like hers. I wish more female artists sang in a lower register these days. It adds so much levity to her longer songs, drawing the listener in.
I was surprised but I’ll be playlisting these
I loved this album. Beautiful and soulful with some great grooves. Big fan.
Unexpectedly good. It makes you wonder if you’ve already hear it somewhere else. I won’t put it more than three-stars because those qualifications are reserved only for albums that I would listen by my own and that I would REMEMBER to play. I doubt this would ever happen with this…
Sexy and engaging
Argh, this makes me wish I could go back to 1983. Smooth? Sure, it's as smooth as a whisky-drunk-hangover-post-coffee-morning-after-a-triple-shot-of-metamicil-sit-down, but nowhere near as satisfying. Shar-tay on.
Very much the silk sheets of 80s music
smooooooth operator
Excellent album!
Utter shite. This album kicks off with the very forgettable "Smooth Operator" and gets progressively worse throughout. Shit songwriting. It's that simple. Long, poorly-crafted songs. Everything on this record - from Sade's goofy vocals, to the dull persuasion, and the soppy saxophone bollocks - is fucking terrible. This is one of those embarrassing 80s albums. 👎👎
2/5 not memorable
uninteresting soft rock
Another super-classic album from the 80s: smoothness made to perfection. I might have listened to it too much in the past, but it is still great (and I am not a fan of the genre - if not well done this type of music becomes pretty boring).
I expected to enjoy this more than I did. Smooth sounding with decent melodies, but ultimately a little too boring for my taste.
Smooth operators indeed, but in a good way. Very relaxed music.
So smooth an sultry real sexy time jams, timeless vibes A+
Just find it boring and repetitive
What a voice. To quote Tom Waits says, "She's so good she'd make a dead man cum."
Boring
HELL yes
Really beautiful album. Sade has a unique R&B voice that works really well with the 80s sound.
Bah, normal. Agradable. Electro-R&Balternative R&Belectronica.
Smooth and chill.
Smooth, jazzy, repetitive
Nice and smooth. Despite is not my main music style I really liked listening.
"When you came my way You brightened every day" great album and great memories, timeless songs
Such a voice. She was one of my first celebrity crushes.
4.0
Smooth Operator bangs, naturally.
Beautiful classic album! Should be in every collection.
Well produced but no thank you.
Glat operatør 3 Nicer than expected 4
Bit boring to be honest, smooth operator is a classic, and the sound isn't terrible.
It's okay, but I want to be done with the easy listening stuff.
Always thought Sade would be neo soul Erykah Badu-esque but this had an older soul sound to it. Good voice and made me want to listen to more
No. 97/1001 Smooth Operator 5/5 Your Love Is King 5/5 Hang On to Your Love 4/5 Frankie's First Affair 4/5 When Am I Going To Make A Living 4/5 Cherry Pie 3/5 Sally 3/5 I Will Be Your Friend 3/5 Why Can't We Live Together 3/5 Average: 3,78 Really smooth album, loved her voice. Just lacked some musical diversity and some songs were a bit too long.
Sade is cool
Love her voice, the smooth bass and jazzy saxophone are great. I've hear Smooth Operator countless times, but never with the spoken word intro, they must cut it out for a radio edit. I also liked "I will be your friend " off this album. It was pretty good, definitely different from what was being played on the radio at the time. Best track Smooth Operator
Nope. Can’t do it.
B- Smooth Operator 4 Your Love Is King 3 Hang On To Your Love 3 Frankie's First Affair 3 When Am I Going To Make A Living 3 Cherry Pie 3 Sally 4 I Will Be Your Friend 3 Why Can't We Live Together 3 To quote Tom Hardy in the timeless film This Means War, "Sade is not exclusive, my friend."
The music here was alright, not bad. Biggest problem here is that the production is way to clean for my personal taste.
Diamond Life took me right back to the 80s Quiet Storm era, which those lush r&b vocals. Reminded me of Anita Baker, Seal, Chaka "the wrath of" Khan, etc. It was music 20something John thought showed a more adult taste. (20 year old John might have been a bit of a poser.) Good stuff, not sure it makes it into the rotation.
It’s unfair to be judgy about this album because Sade has a gorgeous voice and the musical choices completely work. Dinner by candle light? Put it on, open the wine, and let everything breathe. This album will deliver the right notes. Except.. just like the line in Your Love is King, “I’m crying out for more” here. I kept wanting stretch in this album. I wanted her to climb tougher hills instead of blending in with the admittedly lush sax notes. As I said, it’s not fair of me to judge, but I wanted it to take bigger steps.
5.5/10
Top quality album.
I was so happy to see this album pop up this morning. I love Sade, and this is the album that put them on the map. Love the vibes. Great way to start off a Friday.
It's a bland, and forgetful soul pop/soft pop record.
impressed...
Smooth soul and it doesn't get any smoother than this, especially "Smooth Operator" and "Your Love Is King".
Sade and her band have a sound that I find both exciting and comforting. Great use of chords and melody throughout. Worth watching some of the old love sets of you like this.
3/5
Jesus, I thought I was going to be stuck on that elevator forever. I was about to pick out a pee corner.
I grew up listening to this album because my mother loved Sade. Not my cup of tea but there are a few songs that I enjoy.
this is good. it is. if you put it on i would mot complain but it’s not vibe could i write poetry to this? n
It's some fine 80's Smooth-Jazz-Pop. Unfortunately, I had to hear this album, in its entirety, every damn day, for about six years. The hostess at a job I was at LOVED this album and felt the need to keep it going as house music at all times. I never ever want to hear it again, thank you very much.
Not my thing. Fine background music, but nothing that makes me want to revisit it.
ugh, it’s nice. there is a reason they called this easy listening. what a smooth lady.
Not bad, I like her sound a lot. Not many standout tunes, but I'd like to hear more
Nice but repetitive in melody
Rating: 10/10
Not bad, not my thing. Huge record at the time. A little TOO smooth. Inoffensive pop from the eighties, I sort of can't get through it all the way. Just okay.
It's easy to listen to this album, it doesn't fit neatly into a genre or decade. Smooth vocals and instrumentals that just melt into the background. I don't think I've intentionally listened to a Sade song before, but it also feels like I've heard every song on the album a hundred times and am not tired of it.
Some groovy 80's music. Really like Smooth Operator and Sally. Could use a few more upbeat tracks.
Ok, not much grabbed me.
Effortless chillout jazz to the hauntingly beautiful smooth voice of Sade. I was barely a teeneager when this came.out and i thought this was a good album then, and it has stood the test of time.
Sounds like 80's porn music. Not bad. Favourite songs: Smooth Operator, Hang On To Your Love, Cherry Pie Least favourite songs: Frankie's First Affair, Sally 3/5
One of my old favorites, reminds me of my younger youth. Still love the style of music and her smooth voice.
Amazing! I remember this being a huge hit, now it sounds like a classic. Even the songs I hadn't heard before. Especially the songs I hadn't heard before.
4 stars. Great album and I love Sade. It’s not 5 stars because I love her other albums better.
Beautiful voice, but quite boring. Nothing stood out to me.
boring
In the span of just 6 days, I've had albums by Mariah Carey, Madonna, and now Sade. My Spotify algorithm is going to think I'm a middle-aged mother going through a divorce. It's pretty good. Very smooth, as the name of the first song implies, but I'm very rarely in the mood for this kind of music and today was no different.
3.5/10
I liked this better than I expected. R&B isn't really my thing.
I remember liking the smooth operator song back in the day, and remember the video well, but listening to the whole album it really sounds the same after a bit. Extra point cuz she's cool
Pretty fun and groovy. It is a little outdated, but for the most part it still holds up
p518. 1984. 2 stars. Bland background faux jazz/soul for 80s cocktail bars. Shiny production can't compensate for the mostly average songs, or the complete lack of emotion or passion in any of them. Most of the time Sade sounds like she is either bored or on Prozac. Hard to imagine that this was the soundtrack to a thousand Yuppie seductions.
Schade Sade : )
Nostalgia trip
This is obviously a high quality album, just not one for me. I wasn’t really aware of Sade before and didn’t know any of the songs, bar Smooth Operator which I mostly know of because of the meme of the formula one driver singing it. It’s an excellently produced album, which is all the more impressive when learning that the recording and production was a pretty DIY affair. Sade’s voice is great, too. It’s just really not my genre of music; I found it hard to focus on it properly without letting it drift into background music. Beyond Smooth Operator, I could imagine having a silly wee boogie with pals to Cherry Pie at a party. Sally was my least favourite song, appropriately dirge-like for a composition about the Salvation Army. It gets a 3/5 for the production and quality but it’s a 2/5 for my personal enjoyment.
For 80s adult contemporary MOR, it was better than I thought it would, but I also wasn’t expecting much. There was one track that I did get stuck in my head though so that has to be worth something.
Very very good
A favorite! All Sade is good. Already have several songs in a playlist. So glad to revisit this classic. Sounds like it was remastered at some point.
Sade
Really good!
Typisch sade, entweder 0 oder 10
GOAT
Good. Definitely a relic of the time.
Excellent voice but a bit meh
Everything I hate about 80s neo soul. Like drowning in vat of magnolia paint.
Someone sped up some vaourwave! On first listen I found the album to be bland. I have listened to it 3 times now to try to get a better understanding. I have managed to find some interest and have warmed to it somewhat. 2.5+/5
I am familiar with Sade's music, but I never listened to her albums all the way through. It all sounds the same. Not great.
I don’t like this genre (quiet storm?) and Sade in general.
I thought this was pleasant but the band really carried Sade here. Her voice is smooth and all but I wouldn't say it blows me away. It almost sounds like that when she pushes her range, it kind of... falls flat and makes me want more? Anyway, Smooth Operator the biggest hit of her career, all other tracks are fine. 6/10.
Nice jazzy pop music
First song is iconic. Rest doesn't go anything for me
Bah, normal. Agradable. Electro-R&Balternative R&Belectronica.
Best Song: Hang On to Your Love. Really dug the groovy vocal rhythm. Worst Song: Cherry Pie. I like actual cherry pie as much as I like any of the myriad songs that reference it, which is to say not much at all. Sing about pumpkin pie if you want my interest. Overall: Liked it a lot more than I thought that I would. Soulful, poppy. Easy-listening that works well for cooking or lounging.
Tu peux le laisser en boucle sans enlever une seconde, très très smooth... Je comprends totalement Elrich Bachmann: "Just maintain eye contact, light some scented candles and throw in some Sade. The early stuff, though, before her arrangements got too baroque."
"See the people fussing and thieving, while the sharks are wheeling and dealing" It's the 'smooth operator' album, but it offers more than just a single hit. This is the type of female vocalist jazz that I can enjoy (looking at you, Ella Fitzgerald). I put this album on, and as soon as I knew it, it was over, not due to the run-time, but because it flows really nicely in the background T1- "Smooth Operator" is a really really nice track with an addictive chorus (playlist track). Tracks 2 and 3 "Your love is king" and "Hang onto your love" were also notably good tracks, but not close to the caliber of Smooth Operator. The rest of the album wasn't memorable, and didn't add (or take away) much. Another album with what seems to be a 1 hit wonder with other decent songs around it. 3/5
Wat een start! Best wel nice!
So 80's............so Sade. So smooth..........so Sade. She was like the early Nora Jones and used as the inflight entertainment for a million longhaul trips along with a choice of chicken or fish with a roll in a plastic bag. I love this stuff and WEIRD fact I knew someone who went to art college with her. So overall she's beautiful, artistic and talented.
smooth operator
Pretty typical smooth jazz to me. Nothing too stand out, but not much to criticize. Not my style. Favorite track: Smooth Operator
Ok.
So smooth and sultry, some lovely bubbling bass and silky vocals. Not my usual cup of tea but a nice way to spend 44 minutes.
Next 5 Songs played by my Spotify playlist: Al Green - Let's Stay Together Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine Amy Winehouse - Love is a Losing Game Lenny Kravitz - It Ain't Over 'til it's Over Marvin Gaye - Keep on Dancin' Part 1
Smooth Operator Your Love Is King Cherry Pie Why Can't We Live Together
😎
ОХУЕННО БИЛЯ
Legendary classics
Groooooovy!
Very pleasant
A top album from the supreme year of great 80s music, 1984. Still beautiful to listen to.
Smooth af
A jazzy, smooth RnB classic!
Enjoyable 80s smooth jazz-pop that bears repeated listening.
Haven’t listened since it came out, but it was good at the time.
One hit wonder.
Nothing particularly great about this album. "Smooth Operator" has become relevant again because of social media, but this album as a whole isn't very interesting. 2/5 Won't listen again
Nee, dat is echt te smooth allemaal
Er zijn vast toepassingen te verzinnen op deze smerige neukmuziek, maar voor mij kwam het net op het verkeerde moment.
Elevator music
Als relaxing achtergrondmuziekje tijdens het werk was dit best prettig.
Nee, dit heeft me nooit kunnen behagen. Bovendien denk ik steeds dat ik naar George Michael zit te luisteren.
It's very much an album that defined that period of time, and I enjoyed listening to it having not done so for decades.
This album is a time capsule. It's like opening up a time capsule of early-to-mid-80's R&B/soul. You have the soft keyboards, the easy tempo and the excessive use of the saxophone. It makes me want to hop in the car with my parents and listen as they turn on the easy listening station as I play my Gameboy. This isn't a bad album at all. It's good for the 1980's and has a specific sound that was not really heard prior to this album.
A good album at what it's trying to do.
Smooth operator has a great chorus but the rest is pretty meh background music. Second listen I liked it a bit more but still only a 3/5
Wonderful, great for a rainy Monday morning or a dimly lit bar
Smooth operator is surprisingly one of the weaker songs on this album! Great flow and really funky. Frankie's first affair and Cherry Pie were some highlights
Great, sultry voice. The melodies are nice but the backing smooth jazz sound cheapens everything.
-Didn’t write a BL- AL: Sade is very good at what she does. I however find that she’s a bit of a one trick pony - atleast within the scope of this album. While it was by no means bad the album ended up dragging for me by the time the last 3 or so tracks occured. Smooth Operator is still a classic though FT: “Smooth Operator”, “Frankie’s First Affair” 3/5
Fun album, a little samey for my liking but I generally enjoyed the vibe
This sort of super smooth pop-soul is definitely of a certain era, and not that much my thing, but it has a certain charm.
It makes for pretty smooth listening
uh. Not really my thing? Easy to listen to.
Has that mid 80s production groove that screams summertime in France. Pretty easy listening.
I have to say that listening to this while in a feverish daze was probably not entirely fair. Beyond the first two well known songs, it all just washed over me. The last song seemed to have lyrics written by ChatGPT
I agree with Owen in that the last song is a bit awful lyrically, but regardless the album created a nice atmosphere and Sade has a nice voice
Had not listened to this ftb before. The substance is lacking, but the vibes and musicality of it makes up for that!
Soul.
Ganska soft och skön.
Just very groovy and a great debut album. The bass slaps.
Wow did not expect to like this album so much! Love the jazz elements and what a voice!
Sort of disappointed because I knew and liked Smooth Operator but the rest of it felt like background music; I spent most the time focusing on the bass which is interesting because it wasn’t exactly mind blowing. Album overall wasn’t too bad.
Not something I would think to listen to but I enjoyed it
Decent album, but Smooth Operator is the only song that really shines
A classic album. Very nostalgic and she has a lovely voice. I only wish I could have listened to it again. Originally I was thinking 4* but truly maybe it’s a high 3*
More nice background music. A bit samey throughout.
Lots of 1-star reviews for ‘Diamond Life' which I don’t understand. Are we listening to the same album? ‘Diamond Life’ oozes class, elegance, and sensuality. This is fire. Always has been.
awe, my wife's favorite artist. I liked it, maybe 3 stars.
Greatness. This hits a certain spot that nothing else does. Probably half of the effect is sentimental nostalgia, but still. Only half.
Stylish, elegant, restrained and sounding immaculate, the only two criticisms I have is that Diamond Life is not the most immediate album, and at times it rings a little hollow. Still, tracks like 'Sally', 'Frankie's First Affair' and 'Smooth Operator' simply ooze class and quality. Sade Adu's cool, smokey vocals are so, so good that it could elevate the most humdrum material. As an aside, she's possibly the most beautiful woman alive.
This was 1984?? That doesn’t seem right. And yet… yeah, I guess it does. While I could’ve sworn “Smooth Operator” was more of a 1988 or 1989 thing, much of this album feels more connected to sounds of the ‘70s than what I think of when I think of “‘80s music.” For example, if you say “Cherry Pie + ‘80s music,” I’m going to reply with “Warrant” every single time even though that technically came out in 1990. Just how my mind works. I’m not good with dates, guys. But speaking of, there are some songs on here like “Cherry Pie” that don’t much move the needle for me, but on the whole I liked the album more than I expected. And I think I may even like “Frankie’s First Affair” more than “Smooth Operator,” which has never been a song I’ve loved, per se. But there’s no denying it’s got a vine and an ability to stick in your head for (almost) four decades. And that’s gotta count for something. Good on ya, Sade.
I like Sade's voice and this album was smooth as. Smooth Operator is a classic. Fave tracks When Am I Going to Make a Living, and the 80's vibes on Why Can't We Live Together.
A weird amount of vitriol spewed at this album in the reviews! It's not quite my thing, but I appreciate the smooooveness and Sade has a lovely voice, so it's a perfectly pleasant background listen. No complaints! Fave track - "Smooth Operator" was the one I was familiar with going in - "Sally" I quite liked, too!
her first album smooth operator is here but the rest is forgettable
4/5. A grooving and smooth album. This is very close to 5 but some songs I skip sometimes. Such good instrumentation and lyrical passages. A beautiful, low crooning voice guides this album, so unique and honestly, sexy. Hard to not like the vibe of this album.
Boring bland background elevator music.
Just some monotonous tunes for people who appreciate 80s cheesy music exclusively made for sex time. Not my cup of tea, actually I really disliked it, I would have given it zero if only it was possible.
This is INSANELY 80s I fucking hate that but I guess a bunch of people would love it.
Going from Throbbing Gristle to Sade, ha ha. I love this app, lol... "Smooth Operator" is an iconic track. So eighties. Feels like I'm in a taxi in New York or Chicago at night, going down an avenue lined with skyscrapers lighted like so many christmas trees. The cab driver is listening to news about Ronald Reagan on the radio, and then this hit single turns up. I'm looking through the window, and I watch all the people going in and out of buildings and subway entrances. It's beautiful... All trips down memory lane aside, let's just be honest for one second, though. What Sade performed was the worst kind of elevator music, was it not? And yes, this even includes "Smooth Operator", which I *like*. As fine as that single is, after so many clones of it in the tracklisting, I feel like it is just impossible for Sade's music to be taken seriously. Because *Diamond Life* did not age well, to say the least. All the sounds are conventional (apart from a discreet synth in "I Will Be Your Friend"), the melodies, chords and harmonies are rather unremarkable, and the rhythm section ticks all the boxes of what a band playing in a hotel lobby is supposed to do. Having a competent band and a beautiful voice is not enough: you need some sort of creative spark somewhere. And this LP doesn't have it. I also want to strangle that sax player, by the way. If I ever hear another one of those bland cheesy solos, I'm gonna go positively insane, lol. *Cherry Pie*'s groove was quite OK--one of the rare tracks that was so--and I couldn't help noticing that no saxophone was involved in it. So when said saxophone reappeared in the very first seconds of the next track, I burst out laughing. Listening to this album is like playing hide and seek with that lethal saxophone, hoping it never catches you again in your scariest nightmares. *Diamond Life* will now join that Throbbing Gristle album in my list of one-star albums, very ironically. Mark my words, such a low grading is only done for the purposes of this list of so-called "essential" albums. It equals a 6/10 grade for more general purposes: 5 for the competent songwriting, the skilled performance, and the professional production values, to which I would add 1 point for the inspiration and memorable results that are mandatory for an "essential" record. Maybe without that damn saxophone I would have added two points instead of one. Sadly, we'll never know... Next, please. Number of albums left to review: 491 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 240 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 115 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 151 (including this one)