Stronger Than Pride [Remastered] - Sade

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'Love Is Stronger Than Pride' is the title track from the album and was an obvious single. Soft and lush it is a song based on rhythm and feel as opposed to sweeping instrumentation.Like most Sade songs she speaks of love and often of its demise.She sings 'I won't pretend that I intend to stop living.I won't pretend I'm good at forgiving but I can't hate you although I have tried'.

'Paradise' is a much more upbeat number ...
...you're mine.Feels right,so fine.I'm yours,you're mine like paradise'.A song that feels like a tropical beach with a cold malibu in your hand and a sun burning your back with a bit of love thrown in as well.

'Nothing Can Come Between Us' is a fast bouncy track driven by bass and sparse keyboard. Another positive song as the title would suggest. Her voice sounds more rugged than usual on this song and the change works well.

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In 1988 Sade released her third studio album 'Stronger Than Pride' following the highly successful debut 'Diamond Life' and the less commercial 'Promise'. Always sultry and sensual this album is another cool and classy offering of jazz/pop. All the tracks are self penned with the band and 'Stronger Than Pride' has a strong exotic feel to it and definitely conjures up images of a long hot summer.However the album loses strength towards the end and runs out of steam.

'Love Is Stronger Than Pride' is the title track from the album and was an obvious single. Soft and lush it is a song based on rhythm and feel as opposed to sweeping instrumentation.Like most Sade songs she speaks of love and often of its demise.She sings 'I won't pretend that I intend to stop living.I won't pretend I'm good at forgiving but I can't hate you although I have tried'.

'Paradise' is a much more upbeat number with rumbling bass and also positive lyrics 'feels like you're mine.Feels right,so fine.I'm yours,you're mine like paradise'.A song that feels like a tropical beach with a cold malibu in your hand and a sun burning your back with a bit of love thrown in as well.

'Nothing Can Come Between Us' is a fast bouncy track driven by bass and sparse keyboard. Another positive song as the title would suggest. Her voice sounds more rugged than usual on this song and the change works well.

'Haunt Me' is nearly 6 minutes long and differs from much of Sade's output in that it is acoustic based interlaced with piano. It has a Spanish feel to it and is a sleepy siesta type track. I see a setting sun and gentle waves washing around my feet.Strong lyrically as well ,she says 'haunt me in my dreams if you please.Your breath is with me now and always like a breeze'

Turn My Back On you ' is six minutes long. It is funky and rhytmic driven by a repetitive bass line. Her vocals are very different on here. It reminds me of Donna Summer and has a funky Saturday Night Fever ambience to it.

'Keep Looking' is a slightly disappointing track.There is little rhythm and even less melody and is somewhat bland and a lazy effort.

'Clean Heart' is the complete opposite as it is my favourite song on the album. A wonderful melody and the song just gently rocks you from side to side. Her voice is sultry and smokey and the sax just makes this one hell of an exotic uplifting sexy song.

'Give It Up' is a song constructed around rhythm generated by percussion. It will never be remembered as her best as like 'Keep Looking' it lacks melody but it does work in a basic sense.

'I Never Thought I'd See The Day' is another slow track but it has a melody line you can hook on to. Its a sad song about lost love 'you put a shadow on a love,took a shelter of a lie,took the shelter out of my life'. Its main weakness is there is no change in tempo and it just passes you by.

'Siempre Hay Esperanza' is the obligatory instrumental that Sade usually provides on her albums. It is a relaxing number, a strong bass line and good sax. It would be great background music but thats not why I buy music. I want music in my face that makes me think.

This is an album that starts off strongly but seems to lose its direction half way through and it ends with a whimper like a Christmas cracker that falls apart in your hand with no bang. I have to say after a great start it leaves me disappointed by the end. Never prolific as a songwriter you wonder how much time she needed to finish this album properly as the last three tracks are substandard. I would recommend this only if you are an ardent Sade fan as she has done much better albums than this.
 

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