"Paradise" is a song by English band

Sade Sade may refer to: People * Marquis de Sade (1740–1814), French aristocrat, writer, and libertine * Sade (singer) (born 1959, Helen Folasade Adu), British Nigerian musician and lead singer of the eponymous band * Sade Baderinwa (born 1969), WAB ...

from their third studio album, ''

Stronger Than Pride ''Stronger Than Pride'' is the third studio album by English band Sade, released by Epic Records in the United Kingdom on 3 May 1988 and in the United States on 10 May 1988. In September 2018, ''Pitchfork'' placed the album at number 37 on its ...

'' (1988). It was released in May 1988 as the album's second single. It is Sade's most successful track on the US ''Billboard''

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...

chart, peaking at number one for one week. The single also reached number 16 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number 21 on the ''Billboard''

Dance Club Songs Dance Club Songs is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. It is a national look over of club disc jockeys to determine the most popular songs being played in nightclubs across the country. It was launched as t ...

chart. "Paradise" is often considered one of the band's

signature song A signature (; from la, signare, "to sign") is a Handwriting, handwritten (and often Stylization, stylized) depiction of someone's name, nickname, or even a simple "X" or other mark that a person writes on documents as a proof of identity and ...

s, alongside "

Smooth Operator "Smooth Operator" is a song by English band Sade from their debut studio album, ''Diamond Life'' (1984). It was released as the album's third single in the United Kingdom as a 7-inch single with "Spirit" as its B-side, and as a 12-inch maxi ...

" (1984), "

The Sweetest Taboo "The Sweetest Taboo" is a song by English band Sade from their second studio album, '' Promise'' (1985). It was released on 12 October 1985 as the album's lead single. While the song peaked at number 31 on the UK Singles Chart, it fared consid ...

" (1985), and "

No Ordinary Love "No Ordinary Love" is a song by English band Sade, released in September 1992 as the lead single and opening track from their fourth studio album, ''Love Deluxe'' (1992). The song is written by lead singer Sade Adu and Stuart Matthewman, and wa ...

" (1992).

Composition

"Paradise" is written in the key of

F minor F minor is a minor scale based on F, consisting of the pitches F, G, A, B, C, D, and E. Its key signature consists of four flats. Its relative major is A-flat major and its parallel major is F major. Its enharmonic equivalent, E-sharp mi ...

common time The time signature (also known as meter signature, metre signature, or measure signature) is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats (pulses) are contained in each measure (bar), and which note value ...

with a

tempo In musical terminology, tempo (Italian, 'time'; plural ''tempos'', or ''tempi'' from the Italian plural) is the speed or pace of a given piece. In classical music, tempo is typically indicated with an instruction at the start of a piece (often ...

of 102 beats per minute. Adu's vocals span from F₃ to A♭₄.

Music Video

Released in June 1988 and directed by Alex McDowell, the video features Sade joining in a celebration in a Mexican village and dancing with a young girl.

Reception

The song was described as "swaggering" and "sinewy" by Lloyd Bradley of

BBC Music BBC Music is responsible for the music played across the BBC. The current director of music is Bob Shennan, who is also the controller of BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 6 Music, and the BBC Asian Network. Officially it is a part of the BBC's Radio o ...

. Pan-European magazine ''

Music & Media ''Music & Media'' was a pan-European magazine for radio, music and entertainment. It was published for the first time in 1984 as ''Eurotipsheet'', but in 1986 it changed name to ''Music & Media''. It was originally based in Amsterdam, but later ...

'' viewed it as a "brooding, percussion-orientated, summery track. Highly swinging through its persistent, up-tempo, although at the same time somehow restrained, groove." Frank Guan of

Vulture A vulture is a bird of prey that scavenges on carrion. There are 23 extant species of vulture (including Condors). Old World vultures include 16 living species native to Europe, Africa, and Asia; New World vultures are restricted to North and ...

commented, "Any song titled 'Paradise' had better sound like it, and her version doesn't disappoint – in fact, no song better expresses the phase of love where disappointment is impossible."

Track listings

*7-inch single :A. "Paradise" (remix) – 3:35 :B. "Paradise" (instrumental) – 4:00 *12-inch single :A. "Paradise" (extended remix) – 5:33 :B1. "Paradise" (extended instrumental) – 4:01 :B2. "Paradise" (extra beats) – 2:11 *UK and European CD single #"Paradise" (extended version) – 5:30 #"

Hang On to Your Love "Hang On to Your Love" is a song by English band Sade from their debut studio album, ''Diamond Life'' (1984). It was released in November 1984 as the album's first North American single and fourth single overall. Reception Frank Guan of Vultur ...

" (US remix) – 5:13 #"Keep Hangin' On" (live) – 2:59 #"Paradise" (instrumental) – 4:02 *US mini CD single #"Paradise" (remix) – 3:35 #"Super Bien Total" – 4:03 *Japanese mini CD single #"Paradise" (remix) – 3:39 #"Paradise" (instrumental) – 4:03

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

{{Authority control 1988 singles 1988 songs Epic Records singles Sade (band) songs Song recordings produced by Mike Pela Songs written by Sade (singer) Songs written by Stuart Matthewman