Footage of Sade graced the screen at various points, whether frolicking through a field of daisies or wielding a lasso while wearing a sparkly, black skintight suit. The latter image added a sense of mystery to "The Moon and the Sky," yet Sade's straightforward delivery and determined expression proved equally enchanting. The quietly affecting "Pearls," which narrates the story of a poor Somalian woman, featured her standing in front of a projected setting sun. When she belted out the line "Hallelujah," her voice resounded with anger and devastation.
After the one-two punch of "No Ordinary Love" and "By Your Side," she exited the stage as the audience cheered. Her encore, "Cherish the Day," involved impressive effects. A sheer white curtain draped across the stage, Sade and her band standing behind it. As a city skyline was displayed on the screen, Sade rose up on a platform, eventually appearing as though she were standing on top of the buildings. This image served as an appropriate metaphor, as her elegant presence proved larger than life throughout the concert. Since 1984, Sade has emerged as a singular talent with few imitators, and this riveting concert made a convincing argument for her longevity.
A singular talent requires a unique opening act, and John Legend proved equal to the task. Beginning with a gospel-tinged rendition of "Rolling in the Deep," he immediately segued into "Hard Times" from 2010's Wake Up! He worked hard to connect with the audience, but it was his ballads that clearly showcased his powerful voice, thus commanding attention. "This Time" highlighted how he can evoke emotion with his vocals, such as on he lines "This time I want it all, this time I want it all/Showing you all the cards, giving you all my heart." Not surprisingly, he garnered the biggest reaction with the hits: "Save Room," "Green Light," and the monster single "Ordinary People." The latter track best demonstrates his talent for channeling 60s and 70s sounds, infusing them with a modern twist.
Article comments
1 - anonymous
sade is my idol
2 - anonymous
sade is my all time fav band. I want to sing along with them on stage all night long in front of a big audience. Sade is unique, i listen to their songs every morning till midnight.
3 - tom stanley
when will anyone realize that the concert was not at allstate arena?
4 - Kit O'Toole
Tom, thanks for pointing out the error. It's been fixed.