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 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
