I remember hearing Smooth Operator as a kid and initially being somewhat intrigued because it was different to everything else I was listening to. I remember hearing her mention "Key Largo," in the lyrics, and thinking, "Wow, that must be a very glamourous place." But my intrigue soon gave way to dislike, and eventually disgust. I remember turning on VH-1 in the early days, and seeing the video for Sweetest Taboo, and thinking, "Ick!" The boring bejeweled suede coat and jeans, the mom-dancing, the horseback riding, the omnipresent tight-as-fuck pulled back ponytail. I thought their music was for old people, and just epitomized "elevator music." There was just nothing "cool" about it.
Later in my teens, I remember Love Deluxe came out, and No Ordinary Love was big. I thought, "OK this song is a vibe, but she's still boring as fuck, and who would want to listen to a whole album of that?" Then I remember calling this gay chat line (The Buddy System?), and the hold music while you were waiting to connect to a "hot single" was "Kiss Of Life." After hearing it repeatedly, I thought it was kind of nice, and I became more receptive to the music of Sade. Maybe it was just music you needed to be in the right mood for.
When By Your Side came out, I was very touched by it, and it's still one of my favorite songs. So I then went back and starting listening to the older music that I had previously discarded, and started to appreciate it. I mean, "Love Is Stronger Than Pride?" Just beautiful. I guess I just needed to get old to appreciate the old people music.
Over the years, they've forged a unique little niche in the music world, which they never strayed very far from, and I kind of love that about them. They drop maybe an album a decade, and aren't trying to reinvent the wheel when they do. They make their kind of music for the people that like it, and if you don't like it, fuck off.
