The 6 Most Underrated Songs by Sade

As Sade unveils the ‘This Far’ vinyl collection, the editors of ZORA give their take on the band’s songs that don’t get talked about enough

Christina M. Tapper
ZORA

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Sade performing onstage in Nice, France in 2011.
Sade performing in Nice, France. Photo: VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images

It’s been 36 years since Sade and her eponymous band emerged with a debut album that set the stage for an unparalleled sound and body of work. In the process, Helen Folasade Adu, the über-private Nigerian-born British singer with a voice of husk and honey, became a global mononymous icon. Now, fans can revel in Sade’s soft soul-and-jazz-soaked oeuvre with remastered versions of the band’s studio albums. Available tomorrow, This Far is a six-album vinyl collection boasting a title that may allude to new music in the future. (We’re hopeful.)

In the meantime, the editors of ZORA decided to revisit each album to share the Sade songs that don’t get talked about enough. Here’s our list of the most underrated Sade songs — one for every album.

Diamond Life, 1984

‘When Am I Going to Make a Living

Four decades later, “Smooth Operator,” Diamond Life’s most successful single, still gets the people going (even in the NBA bubble — just ask LeBron James). But the timeless reality and optimism found in “When Am I Going to Make a…

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Christina M. Tapper
ZORA
Writer for

Rule breaker, champion of women and education, and recovering sports journalist.