Sade’s Most Timeless Songs on Her 67th Birthday!

This may be hard to believe, but Helen Folasade Adu—known to the world as Sade —turned 67 on Friday (Jan. 16)! The Nigerian-born bombshell, who was raised in London, has spent decades commanding attention with a sultry voice, signature red lipstick and a long, slicked-back braid. The image is as timeless as her sound.

Transcending genres, Sade’s soulful music captures a full emotional journey: loving with your whole heart, experiencing agonizing heartbreak, and the clarity of truly seeing yourself and the world. Whether you’ve been waiting nearly 16 years for a new album or you’re trying to fully understand why your aunties and uncles still revere this goddess, we’ve curated a Sade playlist worthy of endless rotation.

“Smooth Operator” (1984)

“Smooth Operator” was a breakout hit from “Diamond Life,” Sade’s debut album. Telling the story of a jet-setting, cold-hearted playboy, Sade, and her band with the same name, delivers a warning draped in the allure of a saxophone.

“Never As Good as The First Time” (1986)

Sade riding horseback through Spain is an unparalleled magic that still mesmerizes 40 years later. This playful groove exposes the bittersweet truth that chasing that first rush of love is intoxicating but fleeting.

“By Your Side” (1992)

You know the kind of love that sticks by you no matter what? The kind that doesn’t flinch, even when life gets messy? That’s what Sade delivers in “By Your Side.”

“Nothing Can Come Between Us” (1988)

In a display of unwavering devotion, “Nothing Can Come Between Us” insists that love will survive any storm.

“Your Love is King” (1984)

Sade makes love feel royal in “Your Love Is King,” with smooth vocals and restraint that transform a confession into an anthem of devotion.

“Hang On To Your Love” (1994)

Sade’s soft confidence warns you not to let love slip away, even when things get tough. In “Hang On to Your Love,” she guides you gently back to what matters.

“Jezebel” (1993)

“Jezebel” tells the story of a beautiful woman who uses her beauty as both a shield and a weapon. Sade’s vocals glide at the edge of a haunting sax solo, leaving us with a lesson on poverty and power.

“Is It A Crime” (1985)

Sade put it all on the table, telling this man her love stretched beyond Africa’s 150-mile-wide Victoria Lake and rose higher than New York’s Empire State building. The declaration came from the “Promise” album, released in late 1985. “Is It a Crime” climbed the charts in 1986.

“Baby Father” (2010)

This balad hits differently. The reggae-driven song on her 2010 “Soldier of Love” album honors a love story and parenthood.

“King of Sorrow” (2001)

When life hits its low points and the weight of the world feels unbearable, Sade’s “King of Sorrows” voices the struggle and the necessity to carry on.

“No Ordinary Love” (1992)

This Grammy-winning hit from the “Love Deluxe” album is about giving all of yourself to someone who doesn’t reciprocate, while somehow maintaining a willingness to love them.

“The Moon and the Sky” (2010)

“The Moon and the Sky” tapped into Sade’s signature tone and depth, reflecting on missed opportunity and refusal to give up on love.

“Like a Tattoo” (1992)

“Like a Tattoo” surprisingly is not a love song. Reportedly, it was inspired by a war veteran whose traumatic story left a mark on Sade, just like a tattoo.

“Bullet Proof Soul” (1992)

In “Bullet Proof Soul,” Sade shares the vulnerability of a love that is met with weaponized manipulation, but must be protected in the end.

“Cherish the Day” (1993)

“Cherish the Day” is a reminder to move with intention and faithfulness. With a steady groove, it’s a reminder to choose devotion.

“Pearls” (1993)

This soul-stirring song explores the world of Somalian woman facing extreme poverty, fighting to survive. If the way Sade belts out “Hallelujah” doesn’t move you, you might need a pulse check.

“Paradise” (1988)

“Paradise” is like finding a love that makes nothing else matter. It feels like relief, safety and place where you are free to breathe.

“Maureen” (1985)

In this tribute to a friend who died young, Sade taps into a nostalgic celebration of friends who were “thick as thieves.” “Maureen” gives you a front seat to the part of grief that remembers joy.

“Love is Stronger Than Pride” (1988)

“Love Is Stronger Than Pride” is an admission of trying to let go, but being pulled back in. The song shows that pride will lose a battle when the heart is still beating for someone who’s still in it.