嚴格來說,「Sade」是一隊樂隊的名字,只是以他們的女主音Sade Adu來命名。其他成員包括Stuart Matthewman (結他、色士風)、Paul Denman (低音結他)、和Andrew Hale (鍵琴)。但可能因為Sade Adu往往是整隊樂隊的焦點所在,令大家忽略了其他成員的存在,因此大家都習慣了稱呼Sade Adu為「Sade」。
Sade的音樂被歸類為“Sophisti-pop”,即是帶有soul、jazz元素的流行音樂。在英國八十年代中期出現了很多玩這類型音樂的組合,形成一股潮流,如之前在這裡出現過的Simply Red、Basia和Curiosity Killed the Cat等等,而Sade更是當中的代表。這股熱潮在九十年代初期開始漸漸冷卻,但Sade依然保持着自己的風格、不曾妥協地繼續製作這類形的音樂,是少數能夠到現在仍然生存兼保持受歡迎程度的Sophisti-pop歌手。
他們的首張專輯”Diamond Life”在1984年7月在英國推出,最高登上英國大碟榜第二位,售出超過一百二十萬張,而全球總銷量達六百萬張,創下當年女歌手/樂隊主音的首張專輯的最高銷量紀錄,成績非常出衆。”Diamond Life”的第一、二張細碟”Your Love is King”和”When Am I Going to Make a Living”分別於84年2月和5月在英國推出,得到不俗的反應。而真正令Sade能夠跳出歐洲,在國際樂壇發光發亮的是他們的第三張single “Smooth Operator”。
He's laughing with another girl
And playing with another heart
Placing high stakes, making hearts ache
He's loved in seven languages
Diamond nights and ruby lights, high in the sky
Heaven help him, when he falls
Diamond life, lover boy
He move in space with minimum waste and maximum joy
City lights and business nights
When you require streetcar desire for higher heights
No place for beginners or sensitive hearts
When sentiment is left to chance
No place to be ending but somewhere to start
No need to ask
He's a smooth operator
Smooth operator, smooth operator
Smooth operator
Coast to coast, LA to Chicago, western male
Across the north and south, to Key Largo, love for sale
Face to face, each classic case
We shadow box and double cross
Yet need the chase
A license to love, insurance to hold
Melts all your memories and change into gold
His eyes are like angels but his heart is cold
No need to ask
He's a smooth operator
Smooth operator, smooth operator
Smooth operator
Coast to coast, LA to Chicago, western male
Across the north and south, to Key Largo, love for sale