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Sade’s long-awaited sixth studio album, Soldier of Love, was released earlier this year on February 5th. The disc, nearly 42 minutes of new music, marked the English group’s first batch of original material since 2000’s Lover’s Rock.

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.

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