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Rating: Sade Adu is a fortunate woman: beautiful and born with the gift of a golden voice, but not only that, what has truly made a difference for her is above all her uncommon elegance, and also an intelligence above the average; intelligence in keeping a historic group of skilled and trusted musicians by her side, in not giving in to the allure of the more careless mainstream and fads, in always placing quality over quantity. Such foresight has surely borne fruit, and it shows: even though the commercial peak of the quiet storm wave has long passed, the name Sade still evokes great respect and admiration today, and her identifying with a single, very precise and codified style has allowed her to become a true icon, much more than just a mere prominent exponent. One year was the gap between the first and second albums, three between the second and third, four between the third and fourth, eight between the fourth and fifth, a long wait crowned by a jewel in the production of the Anglo-Nigerian artist: "Lovers Rock".
"Lovers Rock" is the album I prefer the most: more cohesive and structured than its predecessors, it flows more smoothly and has a more defined personality; the sound is warm and rich with Latin and reggae influences, yet the sober, often unplugged arrangement makes it very intimate and confidential, a flourish of arpeggios and bittersweet atmospheres that doesn’t make you miss the evening gown allure of some of her classics like "Smooth Operator" or "Paradise." "Flow", "King Of Sorrow", and "Somebody Already Broke My Heart" are the most representative episodes of this new stylistic course and form a continuum, almost merging into a single song becoming the beating heart of "Lovers Rock," a slow whirlpool with a bitter but intense aftertaste, twilight summer atmospheres. This reflective mood also perfectly suits themes very different from the sentimental ones, as in the cases of "Slave Song" and "Immigrant", the former, in particular, is definitely one of the highest points in Sade's career in terms of songwriting: absolute simplicity, just rhythm and voice for a prayer, a poem, a song of redemption, courage, and hope in the darkest hour, "I pray to the almighty, let me not to him do as he has unto me, teach my beloved children who had been enslaved to reach for the light continually". Commitment and reflection but also a velvety, sweet, and consolatory touch, manifested in the kindness and sensitivity of the short acoustic lullaby "The Sweetest Gift", in a splendid reggae ballad, bright and rich in human and emotional warmth like "By Your Side", and in the closure "It's Only Love That Gets You Through", a goosebump-inducing vocal performance, delicate and touching, of a spiritual supported by a perfect organ-piano combination.
"Lovers Rock" is an emotionally intense album but in some instances allows for more relaxed atmospheres, with pleasant "strategic" pauses that add momentum, balance, and further nuances to the whole, such as the languid and vaporous "All About Our Love", the stealthy and soulful pace of "Every Word" and, of course, "Lovers Rock", a tribute to the music sub-genre of the same name, a fusion of reggae and North American black music, clear and light, sober and elegant like the entire album that bears its title. A beautiful and perhaps, unfortunately, somewhat underrated album that shows Sade in a different light: mature, reflective, more intimate, a bit less of a diva, with the addition of the "usual" qualities already widely demonstrated. In terms of style, sophistication, and good taste, "Lovers Rock" has nothing to envy "Diamond Life" or "Stronger Than Pride" and its peculiar simplicity in arrangements further highlights an unmistakable voice, all more than enough reasons to encourage listening, not to mention the ability to create a strong emotional and empathetic bond from the first listen, something that might be true for me and not for others but constitutes one more reason to warmly recommend it.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 By Your Side (04:38)
You think I'd leave your side baby?
You know me better than that
You Think I'd leave you down when you're down on your knees?
I wouldn't do that.
I'll tell you you're right when you're wrong...
Oh Oh oh-oh-oh-oh
And if only you could see into me...
Oh when you're cold I'll be there to hold you tight to me
When you're on the outside baby and you can't get in
I will show you, you're so much better than you know
When you're lost, and you're alone and can't get back again
I will find you darling, and I'll bring you home
And if u want to cry I am here to dry your eyes,
and in no time you'll be fine.....
You think I'd leave your side baby?
You know me better than that.
Think I'd leave you down when you're down on your knees?
I wouldn't do that
I'll tell you you're right when you want
Oh, oh
If only you could see into me....
Oh when you're cold I'll be there to hold you tight to me, baby.
Ohh when you're alone I'll be there by your side baby, by your side baby.
Oh when your cold I'll be there to hold you tight to me, to me baby.
Ohh when you're alone I'll be there by your side baby.
02 Flow (04:38)
Ooh baby mm
When you hold me
Oh Oh
When you hold me the sound
Is it possible I could feel this
good I could really love you
the way I do
Is it possible I would feel this
good I could really love you
the way I do
See me (within the light)
Flowing (take me to you)
Like the river to the sea
You come down (im in the light)
You cover (pull me to you)
And the waves rush over me
I feel a love light rush over me
I feel the love turn to me
And then your love just
creeps over me
Over me
See me (within the light)
Flowing (take me to you)
Like the river to the sea
You come down (im in the light)
You cover (pull me to you)
And the waves rush over me
Ooh baby mm
When you hold me
Oh oh
When you hold me
And I wont let you go
I wont let you go
And I wont let you go
I wont let you go
Take up your love
Take up your love
Take up your love
And come to me
This love's not a liar
To cold its a fire
Im on the run
And its a comfort to me
Take up your love
Take up your love
Take up your love
And come to me
This loves not a liar
To cold its a fire
Im on the run
And its a comfort to me
And I wont let you go
I wont let you go
And I wont let you go
I wont let you go
04 Somebody Already Broke My Heart (05:04)
You came along when I needed a savior
Someone to pull me through somehow
I've been torn apart so many times
I've been hurt so many times before
So I'm counting on you now
Somebody already broke my heart
Somebody already broke my heart
Here I am
So don't leave me stranded
On the end of a line
Hanging on the edge of a lie
I've been torn apart so many times
I've been hurt so many times before
So be careful and be kind
Somebody already broke my heart
If someone has to lose, I don't want to play
Somebody already broke my heart
No, no I can't go there again
You came along when I needed a savior
Someone to pull me through somehow
I've been torn apart so many times
I've been hurt so many times before
So I'm counting on you now
Somebody already broke my heart
If someone has to lose, I don't want to play
Somebody already broke my heart
No, no I can't go there again
/ lg
06 Slave Song (04:17)
i see them gathered see
them on the shore
i turned to look once more
and he who knows me not takes me to the belly
of darkness
the tears run swift and hard and when they fall
even the comfort of a stone would be a gain
there was a time
when i thought
i would have to give up
but i'm thankful that i'm
strong as i am and i'll try to do
the best i can
tears will run swift and tears will come that fall like rain
i pray that it's swift though tears will fall as cold as pain
i pray to the almighty
let me not to him do
as he has unto me
teach my beloved children
who have been enslaved
to reach for the light continually
so many times i prayed
so many times i've prayed
for you
prayed for you
the tears run swift and hard and cold as pain
even the comfort of a stone would be a gain
had i not the strength and wisdom of a warrior
i would have to give up
but i'm thankful that i'm
strong as i am
and i'll try to do the best i can
tears will run swift and tears will come that fall like rain
i pray that it's swift though tears will fall as cold as pain
i pray to the almighty
let us not do as he has unto us
teach my beloved children
i've been a slave
but reach for the
light continually
wisdom is the flame
wisdom is the brave warrior who will carry us into the sun
i pray that it's swift though tears will come that fall like rain
so many times so many times
08 Every Word (04:08)
i saw a picture
how could you be so careless
how could you have done that
to us
and i write this letter
i send it all back to you
and every word you said
in there every word
oh oh
how could you have done that to us
you treated me like a stranger
and all the time i was loving you
all your slick moves they were once innocent moves
i wanted to look up to you
i really trusted you
and every word you said
in there every word
oh oh
how could you have done that to us
i was loving you like a child
all the time you were smiling the same smile
i was loving you like a child
i really trusted you
every word you said
every word you said
love is what the word was
every word you said
every word you said
all the time you were smiling
love is what the word was
every word you said
every word that you said
i was loving you like a child yeah
and all the time you were smiling the same smile
i was loving you like a child
i really trusted you
every word you said
every word that you said
i send it back to you yeah
every word you said
every word that you said
i send it all back to you yeah
every word you said
every word you said
i send it all back to you
back to you
09 Immigrant (03:51)
coming from where he did
he was turned away from
every door like joseph
to even the toughest among us
that would be too much
he didn't know what it was
to be black
'til they gave him his change but didn't want to touch
his hand
to even the toughest among us
that would be too much
isn't it just enough
how hard it is to live
isn't it hard enough
just to make it through a day
the secret of their fear
and their suspicion
standing there looking
like an angel
in his brown shoes
his short suit
his white shirt
and his cuffs a little frayed
coming from where he did
he was such a dignified child
to even the toughest among us
that would be too much
isn't it just enough
how hard it is to live
isn't it hard enough
just to make it through a day
coming from where he did
he was turned away from
every door like joseph
to even the toughest among us
that would be too much
he didn't know what it
was to be black
'til they gave him his change but didn't want to touch
his hand
to even the toughest among us
that would be too much
10 Lovers Rock (04:18)
i am in the wilderness
you are in the music in the man's car next to me
somewhere in my sadness
i know i won't fall apart
completely
when i need to be rescued
and i need a place to swim
i have a rock to cling to
in the storm
when no-one can hear
me calling
i have you i can sing to
and in all this
and in all my life
you are the lovers rock
the rock that i cling to
you're the one
the one i swim to in a storm
like a lovers rock
i am in the wilderness
you are in the music in the man's car next to me
somewhere in my sadness
i know i won't fall apart
completely
and in all this
and in all my life
you are the lovers rock
the rock that i cling to
you're the one
the one i swim to in a storm
like a lovers rock
you are the lovers rock
the rock that i cling to
you're the one
the one i swim to in a storm
like a lovers rock
when i need to be rescued
you're there
when i need a place to swim to
in the storm
i think of you
and in all my life
and in all my life
you are the lovers rock
the rock that i cling to
you're the one
the one i swim to in a storm
like a lovers rock
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