The Sweetest Taboo
| "The Sweetest Taboo" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "You're Not the Man" |
"The Sweetest Taboo" is a song by English band Sade from their second studio album Promise (1985). "The Sweetest Taboo" was released as the lead single from Promise in late-1985. The song was written by lead singer Sade Adu and Martin Ditchman. Robin Millar serves as the song's producer.
"The Sweetest Taboo" received positive reviews from music critics, and became Sade's second Top Ten hit in the United States. It is considered the group's signature song.
Chart performance
While the song peaked at number 31 on the UK Singles Chart, it fared considerably better in the United States, where it reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1986, remaining in the top 40 for 13 weeks. It also became Sade's second consecutive number-one hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, following "Smooth Operator".
Samples and covers
"The Sweetest Taboo" is mentioned in the lyrics of Prince's 2005 charity single "S.S.T.", as well as in Mos Def's 1999 song "Ms. Fat Booty".
The French duo Les Nubians recorded a song called "Tabou" on their 1998 album Princesses Nubiennes, credited as a French adaptation of "The Sweetest Taboo", although the lyrics are significantly different. British artists Glamma Kid and Shola Ama sampled the song in 1999 in a somewhat more upbeat version with both a ragga and R&B feel to it. It was released as a single only.
Track listings and formats
- UK 7-inch single
- Side A: "The Sweetest Taboo" – 4:24
- Side B: "You're Not the Man" – 5:20
- UK 12-inch single
- Side A: "The Sweetest Taboo" – 5:27
- Side B: "You're Not the Man" – 5:20
- U.S., Dutch, and New Zealand 7-inch single
- Side A: "The Sweetest Taboo" – 4:24
- Side B: "You're Not the Man" – 5:10
- Dutch 12-inch single
- Side A: "The Sweetest Taboo" – 5:27
- Side B: "You're Not the Man" – 5:10
- U.S. 12-inch promo single
- Side A: "The Sweetest Taboo" (Extended Version) – 5:27
- Side B: "The Sweetest Taboo" (Radio Version) – 4:24
Charts
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[1] | 65 |
| Austrian Singles Chart[2] | 24 |
| Dutch Top 40[3] | 14 |
| French Singles Chart[2] | 30 |
| German Singles Chart[4] | 28 |
| Irish Singles Chart[5] | 11 |
| Swiss Singles Chart[2] | 14 |
| UK Singles Chart[6] | 31 |
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[7] | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles[7] | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary[7] | 1 |
See also
References
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 263. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and June 19, 1988.
- ^ a b c "Sade – The Sweetest Taboo – swisscharts.com". SwissCharts.com. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 45 – 1985". Top 40 (in Dutch). Retrieved 11 January 2009.
- ^ "Musicline.de – Sade – The Sweetest Taboo". Musicline.de (in German). Retrieved 11 January 2009.
- ^ "The Irish Charts". IRMA. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
- ^ "Chart Stats – Sade – The Sweetest Taboo". Chart Stats. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
- ^ a b c "Promise > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 January 2009.