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Sade shot to fame in the 1980s (Image: Press Association)
From the voice behind “Smooth Operator” to a serene life in the Somerset countryside, soul icon Sade Adu has traded her global fame, garnered in the 1980s, for a peaceful existence in rural England.
Once the soulful voice behind the hit “Smooth Operator,” Sade Adu has swapped the spotlight of the 1980s for the tranquil lifestyle of Somerset’s countryside in England.
Sade, who was born Helen Folasade Adu in Nigeria, made her move to Colchester at the age of four to reside with her grandparents, spending her formative years in the Essex area.
Her life took a dramatic turn when she and her band captured global attention with their debut single, “Your Love is King.” The smooth soul track soared to number six on the charts in 1984, making them instant sensations.
Their first album, Diamond Life, achieved remarkable success, selling an impressive 10 million copies and maintaining its relevance even after four decades.
The acclaim didn’t stop there; Sade earned the admiration of critics as well, winning four Grammy Awards. Among these was the Best New Artist award in 1986, following the release of their second album, according to the Daily Record.
Sade performs at Belgrade Arena on October 30, 2011 (Image: rdjan Stevanovic/WireImage)
Around the same time, the singer briefly dabbled in acting, making her first appearance in Absolute Beginners, a film set in 1950s London.
Over the next two decades, Sade truly dominated the world, with blockbuster hits such as “Smooth Operator”, “The Sweetest Taboo” and “No Ordinary Love” permeating airwaves globally.
Those iconic tunes continue to enchant listeners to this day, having accumulated over a billion streams on Spotify alone.
Sade has a very different life now (Image: Mirrorpix)
However, with the group’s records appearing sporadically, occasionally with decades between releases, the star gained a reputation as somewhat of a recluse, regularly disappearing from the public sphere for prolonged stretches.
It appears Sade has adopted an even more withdrawn lifestyle, having acquired a farm in the West Country where she lived throughout the pandemic with her partner Ian Watts and her mother “Granny Annie”.
In a 2020 interview with British Vogue, the singer said: “Like everyone, we’re on a ship of unknown destination but that’s life … no mutiny yet.
“There’s always so much to do: there are songs I so want to write, and I’ve rediscovered the joy cooking brings.”
Despite her rural sanctuary away from the spotlight, the artist remains musically active, recently releasing the single “Young Lion” in 2024, alongside “Flower of the Universe” for Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time, featuring Reese Witherspoon and Oprah Winfrey.
Her position as a national treasure was cemented in 2002 when she was awarded an OBE on the Queen’s New Year Honours List, followed 15 years later by the considerably more distinguished CBE for her services to music.