Review of Sade Live

Introduction

Nigerian by birth, Helen Folasade Adu was brought up in North London. Taking Sade as her preferred name, she formed a band of the same name in the early Eighties. Although marketed as part of the “Jazz Revival” of the mid-Eighties, Sade really plays refined, slinky pop, with an emphasis on smoky ballads.

While I am a fan of Sade, I would be first to admit that she hasn’t the strongest voice (being better at evoking a mood than any real emotional expression) but her material usually plays to her strengths and, at its best, is smooth and sensual.

Last year, Sade returned after a 8 year absence with Lover’s Rock – a vaguely disappointing album. Although released at much the same time, this live DVD dates back to 1994 and is a decent resume of her career up to that point.

Video

The concert is presented in basic 4:3. The picture is a bit soft but overall not too bad.

The concert was fairly imaginatively lit, making good use of darkness and primary colours. However, what probably worked very well at the theatre doesn’t work quite so well at home. The image is very dark and it is sometimes difficult to figure out who is where. Not bad but could be better.

Most of the screen time is given to Sade herself and that’s how it should be. For most of the concert she looks fabulous in a slinky two-piece however, towards the end she changes into an ill-advised waistcoat. Actually fashion gaffes are a feature of this disc. All the band members look like Seventies pimps, dressed in shirts open to the navel, and massive chains. Was this really filmed in the mid-Nineties? Are they being ironic, or something?

Audio

The disc is presented in both DD 5.1 and PCM Stereo. The PCM version is fine but a bit dull in comparison to the DD 5.1 version. This is excellent, crisp and clear with good bass, as is required by the songs. Use of the rears is a bit basic but this is not a significant complaint. Overall an enjoyable mix.

Features

Other than a basic discography, none. An interview and some videos would have been nice. Of course, the videos are out of the question since a DVD containing all Sade’s videos was released at the same time as this.

Conclusion

The performance, by both Sade and the band is excellent. Although Sade doesn’t appear fully at ease in a live setting, her voice is in fine form and she puts everything into the concert. All the hits are present, taking us from “Your Love is King” through to “No Ordinary Love”. I have always preferred the more rhythmic, syncopated numbers like “Keep Looking” and “Paradise” to her trademark ballads and these are given a suitably punchy treatment. The ballads are cool and elegant, as is Sade herself.

Some extras would have been useful but for a fan, this is a must buy.