REVIEW: Sade In One Word … Amazing - Noise11.com
Sade - Photo By Ros O'Gorman

Sade - Photo By Ros O'Gorman

REVIEW: Sade In One Word … Amazing

by Paul Cashmere on December 3, 2011

in Live,News

I must admit I didn’t know what I was in for before going along to see Sade at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne last night (December 2, 2011).

Sade - Photo By Ros O'Gorman

Sade - Photo By Ros O'Gorman

Sade the person has kept a low profile over her career, she rarely tours (first time in 10 years), she rarely records (six album in 27 years) but this show was one of the best shows I have ever seen (and I’ve seen a lot). But Sade musically is a band, not a person.

Australia took to Sade at the start with the debut album ‘Diamond Life’. The nucleus of that original band is still intact with Stuart Matthewman on guitar and sax, Andrew Hale on keyboards and Paul S. Denman on bass. They have played on every album and they are her co-writers and have been for her entire career. So this show was very much about a band, not a solo performer.

Because this band has been together since the early 80s, they perform as one. Musically this really was an incredible night.

But Sade gave more. The sets for this show were right up there with some of the most visually impressive shows to ever tour the world. Sade uses light, distance, colour and sound to create a different atmosphere for each of the songs. Often the band would perform behind a sheer curtain creating a 3D picturesque effect. Every detail was taken to create the right pictorial for this show. For ‘Smooth Operator’, her first hit, the imagery reflected 50s gangster America. Later we would see a backdrop of winter forests or beaches.

The setlist delved heavily into Sade’s most recent studio album ‘Soldier Of Love’ and was sprinkled with greatest hits spanning the career. Songs the Australia audience would know that didn’t make the set included ‘Hang On To Your Love’, ‘Never As Good As The First Time’, ‘Love Is Stronger Than Pride’ (this was on the setlist but cut from the show) and ‘Nothing Can Come Between Us’.

If you can get to this concert then get to this concert. It is a first class music experience.

The setlist for Melbourne, December 2, 2011:

Soldier Of Love (from Soldier of Love, 2010)
Your Love Is King (from Diamond Life, 1984)
Skin (from Soldier of Love, 2010)
Kiss Of Life (from Love Deluxe, 1992)
Love Is Found (from The Ultimate Collection, 2011)
In Another Time (from Soldier of Love, 2010)
Smooth Operator (from Diamond Life, 1984)
Jezebel (from Promise, 1985)
Bring Me Home (from Soldier of Love, 2010)
Is It A Crime (from Promise, 1985)
All About Our Love (from Lovers Rock, 2002)
Paradise (from Stronger Than Pride, 1988)
Morning Bird (from Soldier of Love, 2010)
King Of Sorrow (from Lovers Rock, 2002)
The Sweetest Taboo (from Promise, 1985)
The Moon And The Sky (from Soldier of Love, 2010)
Pearls (from Love Deluxe, 1992)
No Ordinary Love (from Love Deluxe, 1992)
By Your Side (from Lovers Rock, 2002)

Cherish The Day (from Love Deluxe, 1992)

Sade’s remaining Australian dates are:
December 3, Adelaide, Entertainment Centre
December 6, Perth, The Esplanade (A Day On The Green)
December 9 and 10, Sydney, Entertainment Centre
December 12, Brisbane, Entertainment Centre

Related Posts

The Hard Ons
The Hard-Ons Announce Three Final Shows for 2023

The Hard-Ons will perform their three final shows for 2023 in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney.

2 hours ago
Bob Geldof at SXSW photo by Ros O'Gorman
Bob Geldof Wants To Turn Live Aid Into A Musical

Bob Geldof is to bring the story of how he organised Live Aid to the London stage next year.

18 hours ago
Madness
Madness Have Their First Album In Seven Years On The Way

Madness are heading for lucky 13 with their thirteenth album “Theatre Of the Absurd Presents C’Est La Vie”.

19 hours ago
Alice Cooper - Photo By Ros O'Gorman
Alice Cooper Will Tour Into His 90s

Alice Cooper will still be rocking the stage in his 90s - if he's in "good enough shape".

24 hours ago
Aerosmith Australia 2013 photo by Ros O'Gorman
Aerosmith Postponed All Remaining 2023 Dates

Aerosmith have postponed all of their 2023 tour dates as Steven Tyler has suffered a fractured larynx.

1 day ago
Bruce Springsteen photo by Ros O'Gorman
Bruce Springsteen Releases New Song ‘Addicted To Romance’

Bruce Springsteen's 'Addicted To Romance' is an "instant classic".

1 day ago
Stevie Nicks Barbie doll
Stevie Nicks Is About To Become A Barbie Doll

Mattel will be releasing a limited edition Stevie Nicks Barbie doll.

1 day ago