preview

Smooth Operator Research Paper

Decent Essays

One “Smooth Operator” Sade is one smooth operator herself. She is the only female who could pull of red lipstick and hoop earrings without being called a few choice words. Sade (pronounced Shar-day) came on the scene in 1980 only to become legendary and timeless. Born in Ibadan, Nigeria on January 16, Helen Folasade Adu became a popular artist in the US seemingly overnight. Her mother, Anne Hayes, is British and her father, Bisi Adu is, of course, Nigerian. However, she was raised in London by her mother. Sade, in the beginning, tampered with fashion design, modeling and singing. Her talent and reputation as a musician/singer landed her jobs with local bands. It wasn't long before Sade signed with Epic Records and recorded “Diamond Life,” which was her first album. It won the British Phonographic Industry Award for British Album in 1985. It was a massive hit over in England, her native stomping grounds. “Diamond Life” features one of her best singles, Smooth Operator. It was not surprising that Sade would win a Grammy Award for Best New Artist the following year (1986). …show more content…

Those albums awarded Sade the #66 position on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock N Roll, and #34 on VH1's 100 Sexiest Artist. She has sold over 40 million albums, along with a total of six multi-platinum releases and several Grammy Awards. “Lover's Rock” was different from the rest of her albums and came some time after Love Deluxe. In fact, it was eight years in between the release of the albums. Nevertheless, new audiences and anxious Sade fans warmly welcomed her return. This is surely apparent in the live recordings of the tour, Lover's

Get Access