GRAMMY WATCH: SADE

Sade's 2010 album Soldier Of Love didn't seem to get too much attention from the media this year. but Sade's fans don't really need the media to sell them on records.  It was their first album in a decade, and the fans were ready for some new music.  But it did hit #1 on the charts, and it was one of the top ten selling albums of the year.

I'm glad that Sade got two Grammy nominations: "Soldier Of Love" is up for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals and "Babyfather" is up for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals (Sade is a band, it doesn't just refer to the singer, Sade Adu, but also guitarist Stuart Colin Matthewman, bassist Paul Spencer Denman and keyboardist Andrew Hale).

I actually thought that the album might have gotten a ton of nominations, but I believe that that didn't happen because it came out so early in the year, and also that it didn't much media hype.  That may change next year when Sade hits the road with John Legend opening.

SADE IS #1

Ten years after their last album, Sade's latest, Soldier Of Love, debuted at #1 on the charts this week, selling over 500,000 copies.  In one week! The lesson here, I think, is: you don't have to pander. You don't have to put out albums until you are ready to. You don't have to be a part of a trend or a scene. You don't have to "tell all" in "exclusive" interviews. You don't even (necessarily) have to "engage" your fans on "multiple platforms." You just have to be great, and don't betray the trust of your fans.  And yes, I referred to Sade as "they," not "she." The band is fronted by Sade - aka Helen Folasade Adu - but also three other musicians, Stuart Matthewman, Paul Spencer Denman and Andrew Hale.  Helen Folasade doesn't do many interviews, but you can read one here.