Sade Adu Quotes

Powerful Sade Adu for Daily Growth

About Sade Adu

Marianne Evelyn Hall-Reddy Sade, born Anne Isabella Yarbro on January 2nd, 1955, in Westminster, London, is a British-Nigerian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and author who is best known for her pioneering work with the band Sade. Born to English mother Anne Hayes and Nigerian father R Astaire Yarbo, Sade experienced a multicultural upbringing that would later influence her music. She attended Saint Martins College of Art, but dropped out in 1976 to pursue music with then-boyfriend, musician Bob Morgan. Their band, Pride, struggled for success until they were discovered by record producer Robin Freeman, who renamed them Sade after the lead singer. Their self-titled debut album was released in 1984 and was an instant hit. The album spawned four UK top 10 singles, including "Your Love Is King" and "Smooth Operator." Sade's music, characterized by its soulful vocals, jazz influences, and poignant lyrics, has since garnered her a global following. Her albums include "Promise" (1985), "Stronger Than Pride" (1988), "Love Deluxe" (1992), "Lovers Rock" (2000), "Soldier of Love" (2010), and "Sade Live By Design" (2011). In addition to her music, Sade has also penned two novels, "The Corners of the Globe" (1992) and "Feet of Clay" (1995), under the pseudonym Helen Folasade Adu. Both novels explore themes of love, identity, and cultural heritage. Sade's impact on music is undeniable, earning her multiple Grammy Awards, a Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, and a spot in the UK Music Hall of Fame. Her timeless music continues to resonate with audiences worldwide, solidifying her status as one of the most influential artists of our time.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The starting point of all achievements is desire."

This quote emphasizes the importance of having a strong desire or motivation as the foundation for achieving success in any endeavor. It suggests that no significant accomplishment can be realized without a genuine and persistent yearning to bring it into existence. The quote serves as a reminder that ambition, coupled with hard work and perseverance, is the driving force behind personal growth and attainment of goals.


"I have no country. I am the cosmopolite."

Sade Adu, in stating "I have no country. I am the cosmopolite," expresses her transcendent worldview and sense of belonging to the global community rather than any specific nation or culture. As a 'cosmopolite', she embraces the diversity and shared humanity across borders and nations, aligning herself with people who hold similar values and perspectives beyond geographical boundaries.


"The older you get, the more you are the way you are."

This quote by Sade Adu emphasizes that as we age, our personalities, characteristics, and individuality become more defined and unchanging. Essentially, it suggests that with time, we grow into ourselves – embracing our authentic selves without the need for external validation or conforming to societal norms. It's a reminder that self-discovery and acceptance are lifelong processes, and as we mature, we become increasingly comfortable in our own skin, showcasing our unique qualities without compromise.


"Loving someone means loving them all the time, not just when it's convenient."

This quote by Sade Adu emphasizes the essence of genuine love as an unwavering commitment and devotion towards another person, irrespective of circumstances or convenience. In other words, it suggests that true love is about loving someone selflessly and consistently, not just when they are easy to love or when one's own needs are being met. It's a call to embrace the challenges and complexities of love, recognizing that it's in these moments that our commitment and character truly shine.


"The greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not our circumstances." - from her novel, 'The Colonel of Napoleon'.

This quote emphasizes the idea that a significant portion of our life satisfaction and dissatisfaction stems less from external circumstances and more from our internal attitudes, perspectives, and emotional responses. It suggests that we have the power to shape our happiness, not only by how we react to our situations but also by adopting positive dispositions or mindsets. Despite shared circumstances, people may experience varying degrees of joy and sorrow based on their personal outlooks. Essentially, Sade Adu encourages us to prioritize our inner wellbeing and resilience as key factors in determining life's overall quality.


When you play arenas you can create whatever you want. At a theater the height of the stage and the limitations of the theater can make you feel more separate from the audience.

- Sade Adu

Play, Audience, Separate, Arenas

I'm not over the top; I'm not wacky. I'm fairly understated, and that reflects in the way I sing.

- Sade Adu

Top, Over, Fairly, Understated

When I was young, people were almost identified solely by the kind of music they liked. People fell into categories of who liked what.

- Sade Adu

Kind, Young, Almost, Identified

People are so used to having their lives filmed, they're not even conscious of having cameras around. I still have that sort of suspicion when a camera comes out. I view it as a thing to fear.

- Sade Adu

Still, Having, Lives, Camera

All the cliches of glamorous sophistication have little appeal to me. Do I want to live the British version of 'Dynasty?' No thanks!

- Sade Adu

Want, Sophistication, Appeal, Cliches

Most of my lyrics are little stories about my experiences or those of my friends.

- Sade Adu

Most, Stories, About, Lyrics

I always said that if I could just find a guy who could chop wood and had a nice smile, it wouldn't bother me if he was a thug or an aristocrat, as long as he was a good guy. And I've ended up with an educated thug.

- Sade Adu

Good, Guy, Had, Wood

I don't get easily bored. I'm not that kind of person.

- Sade Adu

Kind, Person, Get, Bored

I don't like looking outrageous.

- Sade Adu

Looking, Like, Outrageous

I think you only really feel like an outsider if you've been an insider.

- Sade Adu

Think, Been, I Think, Outsider

I've got absolutely no real perception, properly, of time.

- Sade Adu

Real, Properly, Absolutely, Perception

There isn't a class structure in Nigeria; there's a tribal structure and prestige as far as money is concerned.

- Sade Adu

Money, Concerned, Nigeria, Structure

I'm uneasy with fame so I do my best to avoid places that will bring me more attention.

- Sade Adu

Will, More, Bring, Uneasy

I'm not shy or reclusive. I just spend my time with people rather than journalists.

- Sade Adu

People, Shy, Rather, Reclusive

Radio interviews are really snappy and I'm just bad at that. I just close down.

- Sade Adu

Bad, Close, Just, Snappy

I am fairly classless because it is very difficult to class someone who comes from a mixed marriage.

- Sade Adu

Difficult, Very, Fairly, Class

From being at art college, I've always hated people that have the gall to think that they're being incredibly different when they're doing something in a very acceptable way, something safe that they've seen someone else doing.

- Sade Adu

College, Very, Acceptable, Hated

My musical career was an accident.

- Sade Adu

Career, Musical, Accident

I've never associated myself with other singers, certainly not female singers.

- Sade Adu

Never, Singers, Certainly, Female

When you tour, you regain the music and the connection with the audience.

- Sade Adu

Music, Audience, Regain, Connection

I just aspire to pick people up. That's my ambition.

- Sade Adu

Ambition, Pick, Up, Aspire

My daughter and stepson are really broad-minded.

- Sade Adu

Really, Daughter

I always see myself as much more of a musician than a celebrity.

- Sade Adu

Celebrity, See, Always, Musician

People generally let me be me. People are aware that I'm not someone particularly begging for attention. They hold back a bit with me.

- Sade Adu

Back, Begging, Particularly, Generally

I'm not anti-fashion, but I've always had a bit of a punk attitude. That's important, I think. I do my own thing.

- Sade Adu

Think, Always, I Think, Punk

London was a really multi-racial city ... It's incredible how comfortable people are with race there.

- Sade Adu

London, Race, How, Comfortable

I can't see myself just endlessly singing the same songs over and over again.

- Sade Adu

See, Over, Same, Endlessly

Whatever I'm doing, I'm in that moment and I'm doing it. The rest of the world's lost. If I'm cooking some food or making soup, I want it to be lovely. If not, what's the point of doing it?

- Sade Adu

Rest, Lovely, Some, Point

I am a reluctant celebrity, in some ways.

- Sade Adu

Celebrity, Some, Ways, Reluctant

When I go into the studio, I completely detach. I let my emotions come out.

- Sade Adu

Emotions, Go, Studio, Detach

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