Reviews (page 8 of 13)
Real Classic Africa POP from the 80s brings back memories
not as good as love deluxe
frankie's first affair, cherry pie, when am I going to make a living and sally
Smooth, jazzy, soft, vibey... In short, baby making music.
Chille cocktailpop
aangenaam 3.5
smooth. vibey. not too many songs stuck out. Smooth Operator is evergreen but my fav has gotta be When Am I Going to Make a Living. strong 3
Frankie’s first affair lowkey underrated I know it’s the long version but Hang on To Your Love is too long Put your hands together for Sallyyyyyy
Sade really has a voice! There’s a reason this album sold so well. This whole album is a jazzy pop soulish vibe.
smooth operator
Hey it was ok
After smooth operator opening I found new tracksto my ears. I heard why she had staying power. Will remember to play next time I’m making out :)
Lowkey understated.
Well done but not my thing
Smooth Operator brought me back to my childhood and defines the '80s adult contemporary/smooth jazz sound for me. Chill out / good vibes music, a cousin of bossa Nova.
Jazzy, a bit boring
it`s good I guess but not my kind of music
Wine Bar Music - but Premier Cru Wine Bar music
Okay!
Chill 80s album
Perfectly fine, though I think her 1992 album Love Deluxe is really much better. I also liked 808 State more 😂. 3 stars is apparently a broad umbrella for me.
In theory I should like this, she sounds great and the music grooves but this has always kinda bored me
first track is obviously a hit, the rest was cool to listen through, not a TOP album at all but really loved it sonically. Coincidentally, just saw today that Sade ("shar-DAY") was just entered into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
I love her voiceeee, felt the lyrics a bit basic but still an enjoyable album
Easily recognized for the radio hits. This one got a lot of play in its day. I also read and remembered that it could double as an emergency zombie killer in a disarmed society. (Shaun Of The Dead).
gran disco, buenos temas. se disfruta escuchar
Favorite Track: Smooth Operator
it is indeed smooth and chill, the whole way through. it's one note but at least that note is good.
Good enough. ★★★
Nice and smooth
The thing about smooth jazz that I tend to forget is that it's usually made by incredible musicians. I don't often like the whole, but there's no denying the parts. I had low expectations. This exceeded them.
Probably foundational, not my cup of tea. Great vocals, interesting Brazilian beats, but a little ambient/lounge vibe just didn't hit for me.
3/5
I found this very pleasant to listen to and could have it playing just about anytime. I was already familiar with Smooth Operator, but that was about it. Anyway, although enjoyable, it didn’t excite me at all and is the perfect example of a 3 star album for me.
Funky. Soul. Not A single banger. But good music all around. 4.5/9 70.71%
This was about what I expected. Background music. Good background music, but still. Not for me.
Although its cool and her voice is really sexy, I lind of listen a lot like of wham. Same style and delivery. Not my thing but cool music
Guaranteed to have smooth operator stuck in my head for a week now.
2/3. This album sounds like luxury. The arrangements can be a little boring at times, but more often than not they’re actually very musically interesting. But the centerpiece is obviously her voice; so rich and sensual. Really enjoyed listening to this, even if much of the album feels similar track to track.
Not a go to album for me, but on first listen I just enjoyed the chilled vibe. Played it a few times through the afternoon in the sunshine. Not groundbreaking but enjoyable
2 song became my fav!!
I would have told you in the 1980s that I hated this music. But I was a child and this album is great.
Good instrumentals. Sade has nice smooth vocals, but they're a little too smooth and with her singing style remaining mostly the same throughout the album, I found myself getting tired of her voice on repeat listens. My favorite track was "Frankie's First Affair".
I can see why Sade is praised so much. They really knew how to use a saxophone in the 80's
Hey, that’s iconic! Mastered very well.
Beautiful voice. Music was just ok.
Smooth Operator is a great song. The rest of the album can’t quite match that level, but it’s very chill. Tons of sax.
I liked this more than I was expecting to. I bet this was a huge hit in 1984! It still sounds modern.
Favourite Song: Sally Rating: 3.5 Stars Relaxing, with several moving songs. She has an amazing voice, and the rest of the band is also very good. However, nothing particularly stood out to me. Beautiful, but forgettable.
Was pretty good way to start a raining, tired Monday morning. Solid 3.5
This is fine, background listen stuff. Frankie my favorite, I guess
Sade mag ich gern, vor allem "Love Deluxe". Das Album hier klingt noch sehr nach den 80ern.
Loved smooth operator and frankies first affair but the rest fell flat
Couple bangers in here. Felt a little like a female version of George Michael’s. Really liked the groove a couple of the songs got into Fave songs: Smooth Operator and Hang on To Your Love Rating 3.5/5
Chill and sexy. I like the aux percussion and the organ and the electric piano. I wish there was just a tad more variety in tempo, key and time signature tho—some tracks were not especially memorable.
3.25 - I liked it pretty well. I definitely wouldn't throw the vinyl at a zombie, even if it belonged to Liz.
Smooooth operator! 3.5/5
Very soulful.
Aburrido, decepcionado
All the smooth jazz and soul you could want.
Beautiful voice.
5/10
Decent album with nice groove and vibe to it. From time to time it felt a little dull but overall it was a nice listening experience.
2.5 Stars Not bad, but not for me. Couple good tracks, but I'm not likely to come back to it. We love a good saxophone, though, so it gets an extra .5 for that
It’s not really my style of music, but I can appreciate that it’s a great album, and it brings back memories.
Very chill. Made for a good morning commute listen.
Good album. But she has better ones. Songs to long
음악을 가구처럼~
Enjoyed that much more than I expected to.
Great listen, laid-back impression, fantastic songs. I just can't rate the album higher because it's not my genre.
Props to the saxophone player
Smooth Operator is so good but it's clearly the standout
I'm not cool enough to really appreciate this.
3.25
Not bad
Just okay
Pretty good - not really my sort of thing but she has a great voice and the melodies are a relaxing listen.
3/5
This was a very new style for me but I enjoyed it. Pretty consistent all the way through with some strong sax parts. Hard to carry an album with a saxophone but this made it work.
Not my fave Sade
i feel like i'm getting seduced fav song: Smooth Operator
This is a vocalist so remarkably skilled and blessed with so great a voice she overcomes my dislike of the genre. She did record one song I truly loved, but it's not on this album.
Cool background music but I feel like the songs all sounded the same.
This was pretty average. Sade is a great singer and this isn’t bad by any means, but it does start to sound similar. The guitar funk tones are great. Liked Songs: "Smooth Operator" , "Your Love Is King" , "Hang On to Your Love" , "When Am I Going to Make A Living" , "Cherry Pie"
Good 3
Objectively good, but I just couldn’t get behind the lyrics. First two tracks are stellar.
This is basically what I expected it to be after seeing the cover. It’s good, but not up my alley 2/27/26
2.7 Like I'm having a really long elevator ride and the elevator decides to come on to me and it's just kind of awkward.
A really good album. A smooth operator on the ears.
It’s a smooth sound. Almost too smooth
Sade is alright in my books but I feel like you need to be in a particular mood to throw this on.
Typical album for the 80s via incorporating funk and jazz influences Best-Smooth operator Worst-Frankies first affair
Muito mais do mesmo. Algumas músicas muito boas. 3 estrelas está bom
okay
Nothing much to say about this album other than I wished I liked it more. The instrumentation is smooth and good, Sade Adu is a fantastic singer, and the songs are good. Just... not great. Or maybe they are great, but it's just not for me. I would never say that this album is bad, and there is a lot to love here, but it's nothing I find incredibly interesting. I had a fine time listening to the album, but it's not fantastic and the chances of me re-listening to this album are slim to none. Good, but not great. The highlight for this album is Hang On to Your Love, which is a great song that is so well done.
Not what I’d usually put on - middle of the road for me
I like Sade's voice but her vocal hooks tend to be repetitive and same-y. I like the chill vibe but at the same time I got kind of bored with it and was skipping ahead before I hit the half way point. I liked it more than I didn't like it. 2.5/5
Quite good
Pretty much put me to sleep.
SMOOTH OPERATORRRRRRR. what a chill album, really really good
Not my thing.
Smooth and easy. I do like the clarity of the instruments and the voice. It's a very pleasant experience, but I probably won't return to it.
some smooth shit right here oh yeah.
Groovy I liked everything going on here, but I could’ve used a little more variety. Some of the songs seemed too similar. 3-3.5
Perfect background music for getting a tooth drilled.
Nice album. Obviously Smooth Operator is an iconic song, but I really think I liked Cherry Pie the most, very good
Summer in the 80s—smooth jazz
Je connaissais uniquement le morceau 'Smooth operator' de Sade, en particulier sa superbe ligne de basse. Les autres morceaux, plutôt soul que jazz, sont sympas à écouter : basse, sax et clavier (accompagnement et chorus), et voix plutôt agréable. Mais parfois les morceaux sont inutilement longs, avec trop de chant et pas assez de chorus pour relever l'ensemble. Je l'écouterais probablement de nouveau, mais il ne rejoindra donc pas ma collection. =>3/5
Love makin’ music
Smoooootttthh operator
This album packed a lot more bass than I expected. It was pretty great. Smooth Operator will probably be stuck in my head for the rest of the day.
A very smooth listen. 3.5
Smooth. Always loved a bit of Sade. Tight band. Good groove and Sade’s smooth as silk voice. Time travel back to the 80s thanks to the sax, but stands up really well. Arrived fully formed and mined the same seam from here on, so the debut is the best for me. Solid 3
Nothing I didn't already expect going in. Sade is brilliant, but I already knew the vibe. Maybe I wast feeling it that day
Beautiful voice but nothing stuck out beyond the opening track.
3.5. Very smooth and engaging in the moment, I thought it was going to end up being 4 stars, but it hasn't really stuck with me into the next day. I'd listen to it again though, and definitely see what people like about it.
Chillige Background-Bumsmusik
Solido
6.5/10 - Not a genre or style that I have a lot of experience in. A fine album but not one I would revisit often.
It's easy listening and there are some great songs here, but it's not anything that blew me away. 7/10
Dated 80s jazz based soft rock. Smooth Operator still sounds good. The rest works as background music, but is boring if you are actually concentrating on it.
Hot take but kinda whatever
It’s definitely smooth.
Yea idk I dont really have any strong opinions on this one. It's not bad, its just not really my thing. I liked Smooth Operator tho, 6.5/10
in breve: bello ma monotono
This was a nice album. I had heard Smooth Operator. The longer this album went on the more I liked. It may be one that I come back to as I expect it is better on a relisten
Definitely didn't realise a few of these songs were Sade. Liked it - definitely smooth and funky, but still a product of the 80s which I'm yet to be converted to. Can see the vibe, but not totally feeling it.
Great vibe and voice
3.5
There is so much about this album I can admire. She's got an incredible voice. The musicianship of this album is impeccable. I can truly see how this can move people. But it only moves me so far. I don't totally know if I can 💯 pinpoint why. But my only two real critical notes are the keys (and somewhat the production as a whole) has a that mid 80s glossy sterile feel. Sometime the playing overcomes the production, but there is an overall lack of grit to the sound. The second is this album picks a lane right at the beginning of the album and stays in it for 45 min. Still, I have an admiration of this album. It be wasn't until this fouth track that I really started to get restless listening to this. And quite frankly the closer "Why Can't We Live Together" has a kind of dirty instrumental vibe for the first half, even if the lyrics from the second half came from the 60s hippy dippy playbook). It at least made me take note where the rest of the album blended into each other I've often been torn about where to place this in a ranking because I think I have total admiration to the style, but for some reason I have always felt disengaged from the actual product 7.4 ★★★½
Nice playing, but very much bachgroune music. 3.5 stars
Helt okej, kul med Smooth Operator, antar att detta är originalet men visste inte att de var en kvinna.
Starts off really strong - Smooth Operator and Your Love is King are certifiable bops, but the rest of the album feels underdeveloped.
She’s got a great, soulful voice. A groovin’ band behind her. I mildly enjoyed Smooth Operator, but the rest of the album is a surprising delight. It takes some real musicianship to keep it funky in such a laid back platform.
Если это и попса, то попса здорового человека. Не скажу, что понравилось, но для фоновой музыки пойдёт.
Ja ok kult ikkr hørt så mye på pop soul men veldig frisørsalong typ greier jeg likte det var funky rolig beroligende kunne sovnet til noe av dette veldig smooth musikk jes men sånn samtidig ikke noe veldig spesiellt liksom litt søvnig litt treigt ofc det er ikke noe galt med det bare ikke helt min greie men jes greit nok album 3/5
This is a really good background album. Good vibes all the way through. Instrumental is top notch.
In some ways Sade was a direct influence on Red hot chili peppers (horniness)
It's a classic, three back-to-back hits. But the album becomes background music for me in the second half. But still beautiful music.
Nice chill album for a smokey cigarette filled bar in the 80s. 5.5/10
Smooth Operator the BANGER that you are. Γενικά όλο το άλμπουμ σε αυτό το vibe συνεχίζει και είναι εξαιρετικό. Βγάζει γενικά έναν ερωτισμό και groovy vibes ιδανικά για dinner parties (τρομάρα μου)
Love the vocals, like the overall funk, great sax, some nice piano. Pretty decent album. Highlights: "Smooth Operator" - obvious classic for a reason. "Cherry Pie" - involuntary-head-bob song.
Decent album, nothing crazy but decent
Lovely
3.5
Listening Notes Band sounds great and Sade's voice is the main attraction here Some good jams on here but not a ton going on at the same time? Really solid debut Standout Tracks "Smooth Operator", "Hang On to Your Love", "When Am I Going to Make a Living" First time? Yes Will it go into your rotation? Probably not
Leuke achtergrond muziek maar te eentoning om de echt naar te luisteren luisteren. 3/5
Sade has a beautiful voice. Nothing too crazy here though.
Very chill vibe, love smooth operator of course. The rest of the album wasn’t bad at all and was easy to listen to. Did not enjoy the last 3 songs nearly as much as the rest.
Gostosinho e sensual Porém não me pegou muito
Nice
what a VOICEEEEE. I want to play this at a schmooozy dinner party where everyone is dressed up and drinking wine. favourite songs - smooth operator (obvs), cherry pie
It’s really good but not my vibe. Didn’t wanna keep listening
Smooth
I liked it more than I thought I would going into listening to it. Lots of sax.
Chill 80s music, a couple of known songs, I listen to this album while doing my monthly recap and it was a good vibe for the tasks. It had some song that I wanted to skip, but it was entertaining
My rating 3.3
If you’ve heard one Sade album, you’ve heard them all. She’s like Bjork. Never straying from her typical sound. This is mid in any category she’s supposed to be in. I will say, I like how hard the drums hit. Great production move. Choice cut: Smooth Operator
I completely understand why this is on the list cause it’s very good but it doesn’t immediately speak to me. BUT Sally is an incredible song and I keep randomly singing sallyyyyyyyy around the house.
I love Sade! Just not what I thought it’d be
Instrumentals are unique and calming. Harmonies are nice. Not my type of music. Sally was my favorite song.
15/20 Album difficile a juger A la fois, il est très agréable a écouter, plusieurs musique qui restent dans la tête (dont Smooth Operator évidemment) et un goût de reviens y (j'ai probablement écouter l'album au moins 4 à 5 fois en deux jours). A la fois, je l'ai trouvé un peu plan. Je n'ai pas réussi a accrocher pleinement a l'album, ni a distinguer les musiques entre elles. Musicalement, il manque quelques chose. Ça reste une belle découverte.
I enjoyed this album. A chill and soulful listen. This is an 80s sound that feels ahead of its time. I did feel like a lot of the songs felt samey, but they all sound great, so I wasn’t too fussed. Would give 3.5 if I could.
By the time I got to 'Frankie's First Affair' I couldn't believe there was another sax solo. Some undeniable classics here, all round great album but the opening four tracks just need some variation for me. 3.5
Smooth, but forgettable
The bass in pretty much every song was amazing. Pretty decent album, overall.
Smoooooooooth operatooooooor This is chill
not bad
She has a great lounge bar voice. Unfortunately only a few songs stand out. Overall a bit forgetable.
Somehow this just barely threads the needs to achieve classic status--instead of floundering into an 80s sore-thumb of synth vibes.
Never much enjoyed Sade, but everyone else’s admiration surely indicates a blind spot on my part.
𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 is smooth, elegant and effortlessly stylish, with Sade’s voice gliding over polished arrangements of soft jazz, soul and pop. The atmosphere is warm and refined, but also very controlled — the kind of sophistication that can drift into sameness when the mood doesn’t shift much. The songwriting is pleasant rather than gripping, and the album relies more on texture and vibe than on standout moments. It’s classy and easy to enjoy, but its calm surface sometimes works against deeper impact.
Rock jazz, synth pop Smooth operator Hang on to your love Cherry pie
Easy listening..better than I expected.
SMOOOOTH OPERAAATAAAAAAAAAH Nicely recorded, not my normal style of music but I can appreciate it.
Sade is one of those many artists of which I am happy to listen to if a single is played on the radio but don’t really want to explore further. This is a nice blend of pop/soul but it didn’t really enthuse me.
A great voice and about the smoothest sound you can imagine. Pretty soon, all the songs start sounding pretty much exactly alike, though.
Kinda liked this one. Smooth Operator is a banger
Perfectly smooth
Nice.
Sade is a vibe. Smooth Operator to kick off the album? Mmm yes lets goooo. Off to a good start, let's see how the rest goes. I've learned to have a bit more respect for some 80s tunes lately, so I'm becoming more of a fan. Some of it is pretty mid. I still just find a lot of 80s music to be pretty meh, but it wasn't painful to have on in the background while I worked. Didn't kill me. I find it surprising Your Love is King has substantially more plays than Smooth Operator or any other song on the the album on Spotify... It's a pretty damn mid song, especially compared to Smooth Operator. I find there are very few gems that come out of 80s music. The way people made music can be so easily so cheesy, but when done right it can be reallllly good and timeless and just unlike any other era of music (Look at Michael Jackson) but unfortunately so much of 80s tunes just aren't great.
Smooth & classic; soaked in vintage ‘80s style & tones.
Like it
Listened to it while falling asleep
Timeless classic, foundational for soul and r&b. Smooth Operator is such a strong opening. Gets a bit redundant towards the end.
didn’t totally listen but love smooth operator, and i’ll defo listen to more of Sade’s stuff, i like her voice.
fine
Smooth but unforgettable.
3.4
Quite mellow for my taste, but great vocals and sax.
Slow and sexy
Sade is living right. Make an album, go on tour, make a bunch of money, chill out for a decade or so, come back with another album, make more money, go back to your cottage in England and live a happy life, rinse, repeat. The fact that people always show out for the new albums and tours in enviable numbers means she's doing something right. I'm not the best person to judge what she's doing right as whatever this kind of music is (Wikipedia lists the genres as "smooth soul," "sophisti-pop," "quiet storm" and "smooth jazz," and I can only say the last one is wrong, because this isn't any kind of jazz) really isn't my bailiwick, although I certainly don't mind having it on. It's pleasant and polished, and the music production side of me approves. Even though the album is forty years old, it doesn't feel like it needs a remaster. It's not very exciting (to me), but if I were in the mood to just listen to something to chill out, you could do far worse.
Not really my bag, but appreciate it's beautifully made.
Too easy for my listening
It's probably a bit "smooth" for my liking, good background music.
A few real gems here surrounded by 80s waiting room (yes I was there)
Day 122 My penis has a Pavlovian response to this album, probably shouldn’t have listened whilst I was out shopping. Anyone have the number for a good lawyer? Highlights Smooth Operator Cherry Pie
Nuthin' but sax and sex on this LP, baby. Sade can hang. 80s as hell, but this time it works for me. Maybe I can rock with pop when you stir some R&B in there too.
Love some of Sade’s songs and others not my cup of tea.
Smooth operator may be overplayed, but it's a strong track. The rest of the album is fine. Standard 80s love anthems/R&B. The jazz influence elevates it, but the grade stays a 3.
80s soul debut. Sophisti-pop, very unique voice and characteristic style. Smooth and sexy. Bonking music. Genre is kind of boring to me.
It's a bit cheesy but there's some solid groove in there and even if something feels slightly passé about it, there's loads for the listener here, worth a shot certainly but don't know if I'll ever get back to it (except for Hang On to Your Love maybe).
Better than I expected!
Is it for me? No. Can I appreciate what it is? Yeah, I guess.
No sound is more redolent of peak 1980s for me than the sound of Sade singing Smooth Operator. Everything about it, The sound, the theme, the attitude, it bleeds that celebration of excess for which the decade is partly known. The other big singles, Your Love Is King and Hang On To Your Love both have quite an old school soul feel. The rest of the album shows a decent versatility in songwriting and there’s a great sonic consistency, credit in part to the production, which is certainly glossy but then that suits the songs and the mood, the late night smoky bar vibe. I’ve a fondness for the last two tracks, I Will Be Your Friend and the unexpected anti war themed Why Can’t We Live Together, for the unexpected thematic departure from the rest of the album, though I’m not quite sure they are quite competent enough as songwriter to sustain deeper themes. A confident debut, which turns out on re listening to be more than a period piece - just.
Great
I love how pure and passionate Sade is. I feel like this album is one that bears repeat listening because it would definitely grow on me. Favorite songs: I Will Be Your Friend, Why Can’t We Live Together, Smooth Operator.
Standouts: Frankie's First Affair? Sally Pre thoughts oh god... (negative). I'm really trying to go into this with an open mind The first few songs are repetitive. Sade's voice is quite nice but didn't really do much different throughout the course of the album. I didn't hate listening to it but I found the whole experience a bit boring. Was considering a 2 at the start but I might be nice and give it a 3
The sound didn't age that much and the jazzy vibes are easy to listent to. Groundbreaking? Don't think so.
This album is pure 80s, but somehow one of the rare ones that actually aged well. The occasional synth pads still stick out, but the rest is so warm and organic that it never feels cold or overprocessed. And that voice… instantly recognizable, one of those singers you can identify before the first line even settles. I’m not a huge fan of where her later discography drifted, slowly turning into something a bit too bland for me, but this record is just nice. I don’t listen to it all the time, yet every time I do, it lands just right. And honestly, it’s one I know I’ll keep coming back to. And I was in love with her when I was a child.
Warm jazz R&B poppy. Easy Saturday morning listening. Jasmine says melancholy airport background music.
A bit smooth for me but otherwise good
Could really do without the sax but I love the sound of this record. Super warm. Heard Sade being played a fair bit recently due to a co-worker that’s a big fan and I understand why her records are considered classics. They really set the template for modern smooth soul. I used to find that cheesy but think I would now say I’m a fan.
3.5
Lounge tracks for 80s shaggers
Sade does sensual jazz and r&b better than anyone.
File under: Music to undress to
smooth operator- 6 your love is king- 6 hang on to your love- 5 or 6 frankies first affair- 5 when am i going to make a living- 5 or 6 cherry pie- 7 sally- 5 i will be your friend- 5 why cant we live together- 5 or 6
Very 80s soft pop album with a jazzy twist. Decent overall, but Carlos Sainz is better at singing Smooth Operator
Perfect music for a Friday night cocktail party if people have those anymore. It’s a bit too sedating for me but nice.
Unique at the time, she didn't sound like anyone else and that still ring true today. Definitely an album that stands up well and has had good longevity. The listen counts are off the charts, which speaks to popularity and staying power. You can hear "Smooth Operator" (758M listens), "Your Love Is King" (272M) or "Hang On To Your Love" (120M) any day of week on popular radio. The vibe across the album is steady, without a lot of change in beat or pace. You can't argue with the numbers - her greatest hits album is one of the most impressive I've seen and I'm 300+ albums in to the Top 1001. The weakest track has 25M listens, not many artists can say that. Top 1001? Not sure. She definitely created a sound of her own, the popularity is there, the longevity is there, the sax is there, the hits are there, so yeah. I'd give it 3+ stars.
I remember in the 90s when Sade was big in the US, everyone was just wondering how to pronounce her name. I did not expect all the funky, amazing bass lines that is prevalent throughout the album. I'm more impressed by the silky smooth, funky, jazzy music throughout then the songwriting but the lyrics are pretty good. I liked Cherry Pie & Hang on to Your Love especially. Some of the songs start out with the same with sax. I wasn't that impressed with Smooth Operator but I think it may be a cover. This is incredibly close to 4 but I'm going with a 3.8 This is my 100th album, which somehow landed on my sister's birthday.
Smooth Operator oli ainoa tuttu biisi. Aikas easy listening ja sunnuntai aamun musiikkia. Rentoa ja rauhallista.
Highlights: When Am I Going To Make A Living, Smooth Operator, Cherry Pie. In a nutshell: sleek, sophisticated jazz I think we have Sade to thank/blame for 90s and millennial neo-soul. Two of the four singles- Smooth Operator and Hang Onto Your Love- are key examples. Also, I'd be miffed at Ed if he threw my copy of Diamond Life at zombies. Good call for chucking the Batman soundtrack though. Overall: 5/10
Cool, sexy, beautifully sung and competently played. I will say that this much sax is not my usual thing. I'll give this a middling rating because it falls into that tragic category of things done very well that I just don't care much about, just like elite handball or tennis or top quality fermented yak milk. 3/5
I thought smooth operator would be the best track, but I was surprised at how weak it was compared to the other tracks.
It’s smooth, it’s slick, it’s technically proficient, it’s just not for me. Would make great background music for a dinner party or focus work session but it’s just too MOR for my general listening tastes.
Volvería a escucharlo? Sí. me gustó en la primera escucha: - Smooth operator - Frankies first affair - Sally - Cherry Pie No me gustaron: - I will be your friend - Why can't we live together
Perfekt für nebenbei, quite chill
Sensual
Smooth operator
I think everyone knows ‘Smooth operator’, the stand out song of her career but there’s plenty more of the same jazz infused soul here. Definitely a niche sort of sound. A favourite I imagine of coffee houses, late nights / early mornings
3/5
This album was a touch of a letdown for me. I've always thought Sade has a gorgeous voice, and was excited when this popped up as my selection for the day. As I listened, I found that there wasn't an overwhelming amount to these songs especially early in the album. Smooth Operator is a great song, no doubt, just a tremendous way to kick off the album. As the record progressed, though, a lot of these songs lacked a certain something for me. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, as I listened to Your Love Is King, Hang On to Your Love, and Frankie's First Affair, all of which I found pretty boring. But then When Am I Going to Make a Living and Cherry Pie came on, both of which were great tracks with a ton of interesting elements, especially the former of these which I really enjoyed lyrically. These two were the highlight of the album for me, even beyond Smooth Operator. Unfortunately, the album closed with three more songs I couldn't care less about. All rolled up, a couple of really great tracks, sandwiched around a variety of duds. Makes this a 3 for me.
Easy to listen to although this being the first album after a break up was interesting. Enjoyed it.
This album is wonderful, but it’s the least of Sade’s studio albums.
I love this album. Opening with that saxophone on “Smooth Operator” is amazing and sets a great tone for the rest of the album. Sade is a beautiful singer whose soft voice perfectly complements the laid back jazz/rnb/pop music played by her smooth backing band. Top tier and polished 80s soul. 3.5
It's good for easy listening
Do we even make “baby making music” anymore? Second half is way better than the first. A little generic but also jazzy and jam like in that 80s steely Dan way which I can appreciate.
A mood.
not bad
Not bad--just not my cup of tea.
Not my sound and a bit samey, but I liked the music.
Un peu plate, avec quelques fulgurances.
Cool Bar Jazz. Cool. But Bar Jazz.
Perfectly fine.
smooth operator pretty good
Smooth, and there isn’t enough saxophone in modern music.
The only Sade song I’m familiar with is “Smooth Operator,” which I’m happy to see is on this album. I expect the rest of the songs on this album to have a sound similar to “Smooth Operator,” which I’m sure will be fine. If Sade Adu’s vocals on the rest of the album are as good as her vocals on “Smooth Operator,” I’m sure this album will be tolerable. Diamond Life was fine. I enjoyed that this album had a really cohesive sound throughout, and I thought it was expertly produced and arranged. The instrumentals were all really good, and Sade’s vocals were excellent. However, I wasn’t really captivated by much of the songwriting, and while the sound was nice, it’s not what I want to listen to for over forty minutes. A lot of the songs on Diamond Life went on a little too long for me, and the sound grew stale during several songs. This album is definitely a one-and-done for me, but I can understand the appeal it might have with other people. Some notes about individual songs: “Smooth Operator” is a really great bop, and I like how it achieves that while having a relaxed and chill vibe. Musically, it’s incredibly smooth, and the vocals are excellent. I liked the subtle way that some of the musical elements were added in, making it worth it to pay close attention to everything you can hear. The bass on “Hang On Your Love” was really outstanding. The jazzy keyboards that came in during the middle of the song were excellent as well. I liked the brighter sound on “When Am I Going to Make a Living.” I loved the lyrics and the songwriting too, and the guitar playing had just the right amount of funk to it. The keyboards on “Cherry Pie” were good, and I really liked the spurned attitude of the vocals. Diamond Life was a nice album to listen to, but it didn’t tick a lot of boxes for me.
Smooth operator is a banger, but I just wasn’t in the mood for the rest of it, which is more on me than Sade.
It’s not for me
Smooth operator: I didn't like the vocals at first but it kinda fits in some way it sounds like fly me to the moon duller somehow 7.5 I liked the saxophone btw Your love is king: I loved the organ sound and overall vibe of the song but chorus feels soo stupid 7 Hang on to your love : She sometimes sounds like klaus meine from scorpions and I love it and the song has a great groove, my favorite so far 8 and I loved the kalimba Frankie's first Affair : She's still sounding like klaus meine and I love it but song is overall kinda mid but it ok for a ballad soo 7.5 When I'm a going to make a living: has a great message I like the vocals and shaky shakys 7.5 Cherry Pie: I liked the groovy guitar and and holy shit song sounds great probably the best song so far it kinda sounds like scorpions but it's jazzy 8.5 Sally:A ballad again but it's one of the decent ones and sax work on this album is topnoch 8 I will be your friend till the end of time : her whisper like high pitched notes are great 8 Why can't we live forever: it sounds so familiar and she really sounds like klaus meine chill ending song 7
sehr kuuli musig, aber jedes lied tönt gliich..
I mean, it's fine. Way too one-note, but it's a pleasant note. Influence 3. Quality 3. Hits 3. Don't love it; don't hate it. 3
Maximum smoothness and vibe. Tough not to feel cool while listening.
Delight sounds and soul beyond comprehension. Some timeless classics mixed with some snazzy breakdowns. There’s almost always an appropriate time to play this album.
Yassssss
Smooth operator Smoooooth operaaaator
Snyggt och välproducerat. Samtidigt blir det lite enformigt. Tror Sade hade mått bra av att smyga in någon upptempolåt här och där.
Det är Sades röst som är behållningen här. Tycker överlag att det är för smooth. Svag trea.
Nice vibe, good vibes
Sexy
I thought it was just okay the first time listening to it, but began to dig the vibe more on the second listen. Favorite tracks: Smooth Operator
I thought Sally was about a sex worker until I looked it up.
Ok
big 3
oh my days the first song sounds sooo gooood. the rnb funk productionnn. holy shit Sade's vocals are magicalll. I really like the trumpet solos in smooth operator the first track. second track was good, nun crazy. third one has a crazy good intro, & its mad groovy so far. with a very good message. I wish they made more songs like these. def going in playlist, really digging the production, almost reminding me of dawn fm by Weeknd. 4th track: again the jazzy rnb production is amazing, plus Sade's voice is so perfect. the track itself is good but idk if its super good.
Knows how to sing
Dear God, this is so relaxing... Back in the day, her looks were all that mattered to me, but somehow the music survived the test of time. I'd give it 3,5 stars, if this were possible.
Super smooth & enjoyable, but peaks with the opener and gets repetitive really quickly. Good for the background, boring for intensive listening.
Wel oke
Very melodic, nice and slow, if there was a 3.5 this would be it but I’m leaning just at 3, smooth operator and your love is king both the ones that truly stand out.
Smooth and jazzy.
Smooth and sexy from start to finish, but it felt like there was really only one tempo. The bass lines are great, as well as the sax. Clear standouts to me are When Am I Going to Make a Living and Cherry Pie.
Silky and chill.
Fairly repetitive and none of the songs really stood out. Nice voice and calm beats. Didn’t realize this was R&Bs origins. 5/10
Cover 5.5 Love Sade (FYI, they're a band named after the lead singer). But this isn't my favorite of their albums. It's a good listen though. Jazzy, samba, r&b, beautiful voice.
Smooth
One of the better 80s pop albums. I can see why people love it. "Diamond Life" is still a bit bland, though. "Why Can't We Live Together" is my favourite of the 9 songs on it. Better yet, none of the tunes on this album have appeared in adverts. 3 stars for "Diamond Life".
Mid 80s. Dominated the light rock radio, and I get why. Smooth, chill, jazzy pop. Is it something I would have picked out to listen or would pick out to on a regular basis? No probably not. But there's are some jams. Bassist straight going off on tracks like Hang On to Your Love.
This was fine. Not my style and not much to catch me.
Only a few songs that I really enjoyed from it. The rest is pleasant but doesn’t incite much of anything. 5/10
I am both disappointed and impressed? Sade may be an one-trick pony, but it's a good trick (+ variants) to keep the whole album enjoyable.
Smooth operator, your love is king. Fabulous songs. Sade has such a beautiful voice
Smooth Operator is a neat song and I liked the sax solos, the rest kinda sounds like 80s elevator music
Not my "Jam" but it's clean and well orchestrated
With such a smooth voice and saxophone solos. How could you not enjoy it? A great album to relax with.
Jazzy. Easy listening. Would recommend. 7/10
Cool. I did not know this was a band. Kinda the Rihanna of her day it seems like. I did not know about "quiet storm" music. Genre is ridiculous. Anyway not my style but it is smooth and competent as shit.
OK
5/10
Smooth indeed. Easy listening but does not hold my attention enough for a lasting impression. As always torn between giving reviews for good workmanship vs personal preference. Favorite track: Smooth Operator
Music to listen to as the cocaine wears off. Michael McDonald and Christopher Cross look out, there's a new monarch of Yacht Rock Island and her name is Sade. Smoove and cool.
An absolutely titanic pop album! Haters will still point out that it's pop and lacks a bit in the low end, but there's still an art to make music that you can tap your foot to that nobody's going to exactly hate. 3.5*
I enjoyed Diamond Life. I don't think that i have gotten too much R&B with a female singer as of late so this is actually a pretty enjoyable return to it. The musicianship here was very well done with many of the tracks on show being rather groovy and still having that relaxing feel to them. I also did like Sade's voice as she could have that pretty alluring sense in her voice. The album also never felt like it was dragging on but still had enough time to stretch out it's legs and let the melodies sink in. I guess if i did have a problem with it, it would be that some of the songs here are a little forgettable and do blend into the background but other than that, i quite enjoyed this album. Best Song: Hang On To Your Love Worst Song: I Will Be Your Friend
J'étais pas convaincu au début mais franchement ça s'écoute c'est chill
Mellow
Lover boyyyyyyyy
There is nothing I hate more than a sleezy saxophone. That being said, the harmonies in this album are incredible and add so much depth.
I got laid just putting this album on. It's sexy 80's r&b and there's a reason "Smooth Operator" is known by everyone. TIL: it's pronouned "shaw-day"