Sade takes stage after 10 days with The Ultimate Collection .

Helen Folasade Adu was natural in Ibadan, Nigeria. Her mother was Nigerian, a university teacher of economics; her mother Anne was an English nurse. The pair met in London while he was studying at the LSE and affected to Nigeria shortly after getting married. When their daughter was born, nobody locally was fain to visit her by her English name, and a truncated translation of Folasade stuck.

The Old Girl at Bar: A Very Class Act

then, now and forever:

Born:
Helen Folasade Adu
1959 Nigeria - raised in London

Simply known as Sade

I have been a fan since 1984 - the start time I heard Smooth Operator. I didn't acknowledge what that call was nearly at the clock but I was truly mesmerized by her smooth, slightly raspyvoice, jazzy sound and her beautiful red lips.



She wasn't Madonna or Cyndi Lauper - she was sleek, exotic, fashionable and seductive. I wanted to be her. Plus she had black hair and features - something attainable for a 9 yr. old girl at the time that was exploited to seeing blond haired singers and actresses most of the time.

I would wish to part my top 5 favorite Sade videos. This is also how I learned around the director Sophie Mullens. Ms. Mullens directed most of Sade's videos and I feel them stylish- like I'm watching a fashion editorial come to life.

This was a really hard choice because I know them all. In fact, 15 yrs ago I owned a compendium of her videos on VHS - yes, I am OLD. I would bring this video while I cleaned the house, was in a bad mood or I only wanted to see some of my favorite videos, this would do the trick.

Watching these videos/hearing these songs also cures my "Slip OF THE MONDAYS!"

Again, this was but a hard choice because I know pretty much every video she'sever done- I merely wanted to have a procession of her looks. She is classical in every sensation of the word.

When Am I Going to Have a Living:



Sweetest Taboo:

Nothing Can Do Between Us:

King of Sorrow:

(this strain is so depressing and beautiful at the same time)

Babyfather:

(only Sade can make Jello making look so appealing)

Two other mentionable shout-outs:

The strain that made me a fan - Smooth Operator, Live '93

and the call that ever makes me conceive of my boo:

I'm always on the threshold of weeping when I see this song.

That's what I know about Sade - she's so personal. When she sings you feellike she's singing just to you - she finds exactly what you feel and vice versa. That is also how she performs. I have been lucky enough to see her perform live twice in 1993 and 2001 - she doesn't do very much. Shoot, she's only recorded 6 albums in her 27 yr. career. When she performs it is such an intimate experience - it could be at an ampitheater but she makes it look like a small jazz club in an alley in the most metropolitan city.

I will ever know and admire her, despite herDUI wrap sheets. She'll always be in my heart, look my pain anddescribe exactly the way I feel about my husband when I justdon't know what to say.

She's also one of theSexiest women in the world! She's the top of my "girl-crush" list followed by Christy Turlington and then Penelope Cruz.

Yes there was a sentence I rocked a glossy back ponytail (to read off my big forehead), gold hoops and bold red lips. It is one of my favorite looks - personally.

#65279;
(Personally one of the best backing bands - they helped create her sound)#65279;

Seriously, I would know to feel like this now at 36. Well hopefully, I'll be half way there when I'm 51.

I am planning to see her experience in Oakland, CA this August w/John Legend. It should be an amazing show - I probably should stop obsessing over new lipsticks for a few months so I can get the Baller seats in the front!