Sade's 1985 Hit 'The Sweetest Taboo' Remains a Timeless Classic 41 Years Later

In 1985, Sadereleased a song that would forever cement the band as a powerhouse in the quiet storm category. The musicians, often mistaken for solely the lead singer and namesake, Sade Adu, have produced several fusion hits in jazz-pop, R&B, and soul—and 41 years later, "The Sweetest Taboo"is still instantly recognizable.

The timeless track was written by Adu and touring drumme r Martin Ditcham, and released as the lead single from Sade's second studio album, Promise . It begins with the subtle sound of falling rain, and as soon as you hear the lyrics, " There's a quiet storm… ," you know exactly whose voice is coming through your speakers: The soothing, soulful, legendary Adu.

Telling the story of sharing a deep connection with a partner so good it feels forbidden, both physically and emotionally, the lyrics also express fear over becoming too vulnerable. " If I tell you, if I tell you now / Will you keep on, will you keep on loving me? " the singer asks, before later admitting, " You give me the sweetest taboo / That's why I'm in love with you (With you) ."

While not as well received in the U.K., the song took off in the U.S., reaching No. 5 on the  Billboard  Hot 100  in March 1986 and remaining in the Top 40 for 13 weeks. It also became the band's second consecutive No. 1 single on the  Billboard  Adult Contemporary chart, following 1984's "Smooth Operator," which introduced Adu to the world.

Four decades later, "The Sweetest Taboo" is still a timeless classic. At the time of writing, the fusion song had over 130 million views on YouTube and nearly 246 million Spotify streams .

The band has sold over 75 million records worldwide, with their 1984 debut album, Diamond Life , selling over seven million copies alone. The project featured massive hits like "Smooth Operator" and "Your Love Is King." Additionally, Sade won the Grammy Award for Best New Artistin 1986.

In 2026, Sade was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame .

Despite massive success, the reclusive, rarely-seen songstress prefers to live life away from the spotlight. According to Hello magazine, she reportedly lives in a cottage near Stroud in south-west England. Though she doesn't speak to the media much, what she has offered over the years provides everything fans need to know about her true nature.

"I'm not someone who needs a lot of money. You could break into this house and leave after half an hour without finding anything worth stealing," she told The Times in 2011.

Adu later opened up to  British Vogue in 2020, sharing another deep sentiment about daily life with her family: "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."

Next, 1978 No. 1 Hit by Legendary '70s Band Was Just Ranked the 'Best September Song' Ever by 'Billboard'

This story was originally published by Parade on Sep 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.