Make an Argument
Why Sade’s Soldier of Love is the best jazz song ever
By Eric Hughes
May 12, 2010
BoxOfficeProphets.com
To put some perspective on the absurd amount of time that has transpired between Lover’s Rock and Soldier of Love, recall that 2000’s bestselling album in the United States was *NSYNC’s No Strings Attached. That disc, from a “band” that doesn’t even exist anymore, is certified 11x Platinum, meaning it sold more than 11 million copies in
the U.S. alone.
Soldier of Love debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 – the industry’s standard sales chart – with first-week sales exceeding half a million copies. This marks the best sales week for any album since AC/DC’s Black Ice, which tallied 784,000 copies a year and a half ago. Soldier of Love’s first-week sales number, which should be considered extraordinary, led Sade to its first ever #1 album in the United States. Not bad for a group that released its debut album 26 years ago.
But enough about Soldier of Love the album. This week’s Make an Argument is really about “Soldier of Love” the song, the album’s debut single that deserves to be in the running for best jazz song ever. Here’s why:
It has lyrics – and good ones at that
It’s not every day that a single, categorized as jazz, is bundled with compelling vocals, but “Soldier of Love” is the exception. It’s a rare fusion of jazz-meets-lyrics, with “Soldier of Love” delivering a welcome result.
Of course, songs can take on any number of meanings depending on how critics deconstruct the material pumping into their ears. The story behind “Soldier of Love,” however, seems pretty straightforward.
The track wastes no time digging into what I suppose to be its thesis: That, after a devastating falling out with a loved one, Sade discovers the necessary inspiration within herself to power through. She states at the onset: “I’ve lost the use of my heart / But I’m still alive.” And later: “I’ve been torn up inside / I’ve been left behind / So I ride / I have the will to survive.”
The power behind the lyrics is in its relatability. Simply put, we’ve all experienced the sting of failure Sade highlights in the album’s title track. You know, the raw disappointment that springs from a relationship – be it friendly, sexual or something else – that has gone to shit. It’s part of what makes us human.
Still, what makes “Soldier of Love” extra special is that it doesn’t focus on the catastrophe, but inspires its listeners to prepare for the good; the time when the heartbreak is a thing of the past. Whereas pop songs tend to take on a sensibility that screams “pity me because I’m broken,” “Soldier of Love” offers a message of hope not unlike “This too shall pass,” the renowned four-word Persian proverb.
Remaining a source of truth for her audience, Sade maintains perspective by warning her listeners that moving forward isn’t easy. Better yet, it’s awareness of the self, and not dependence on other people, that will lead to peace. Sade relates the battle to a matter of life or death, claiming that she’s “Doing [her] best / To stay alive.”
Its beats are intense
For nearly six minutes, “Soldier of Love” is backed by an unrelenting, harsh drumbeat. On top of that, a jazzy marching drum plays, adding a physical element to the idea of a soldier – lifted from the song’s very title – engaging in a battle of love. And on top of that (!), a quirky guitar riff fills the remaining dead air, supplementing the “wild wild west” atmosphere we get from the lyrics.
In addition, “Soldier of Love” has the obvious benefit of being a product of Sade Adu, a Nigerian-British singer-songwriter whose years of musical experience have developed her into one of the business’s best vocalists and lyricists. She’s comparable to a singer like Bono, whose voice, like a fine wine, has merely improved with age. (Side note: My spirit soars every time I hear Sade’s “By Your Side,” a single off Lover’s Rock. Were someone to perform the song for me with added acoustic guitar, I’m almost certain my heart would melt).
In “Soldier of Love,” Sade is as great as ever. Her voice booms with clarity, punctuating the messages embedded in the lyrics. Even more, an array of voices accompanies Sade in the song’s refrain. The vocal help adds significant weight to the piece, haunting the listener long after the song has ended.
Its music video is simple, yet elegant
The music video to “Soldier of Love” is like a Salvador Dali painting come to life. Strange, unexplained backdrops – heavy storms, sandy beaches, serene water, crashing waves, ominous mountains – envelope choreographed dance numbers by men in casual uniform, Sade tossing around a giant lasso and Sade again riding horseback atop a gorgeous white stallion. She attacks and conquers a lowly male, dances suggestively with another and then stands erect while her eight pieces of man meat rhythmically dance for her. Symbolic, yes, but it largely plays on the lyrics’ themes of holding your ground when a kinship goes bust.
It bridges the gap between pop and contemporary jazz
Maybe what impresses me most about “Soldier of Love” is that it positions jazz more in the mainstream. And not in the purposeful genre-bending way that country music has done over the past decade. Instead, “Soldier of Love” is simply a perfect storm of everything discussed here – meaningful lyrics, nifty beats, Sade’s vocals, intriguing music video – constructed carefully together to become one kick-ass piece of jazz tune that listeners are bound to enjoy.
Not convinced? Take “Soldier of Love’s” chart performance. The song debuted at #58 (a Sade record) on the Billboard Hot 100 – again, an industry standard for tracking the popularity of released singles. In time, “Soldier of Love” would max out at #52, Sade’s highest-peaking single since 1992’s “No Ordinary Love.”
On other charts, the results are even sweeter. “Soldier of Love” debuted at #11 on the Urban Hot AC Chart, good enough for highest debut by any artist in the ‘00s. On the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, “Soldier of Love” peaked at #6, another Sade record.
Even better, “Soldier of Love” hit #1 in U.S. Adult R&B and, unsurprisingly, the Smooth Jazz Top 20 – effectively becoming the first vocal jazz song to be top dog.
Perhaps “Soldier of Love’s” biggest conquest, however, was in being handpicked by ABC’s promo team for the final season of Lost. The network’s fourth trailer for the series’ final season was essentially clips from seasons one through five set to “Soldier of Love.” There’s arguably no grander stage this television season than sharing an association in some way to Lost’s final season.