Sade – Smooth Operator

“Smooth Operator” has been released as single on August 28, 1984.

“Smooth Operator” is a song by English band Sade from their debut studio album Diamond Life (1984). It was released as the third single from Diamond Life in the United Kingdom as a 7-inch single with “Spirit” as its B-side, and as a 12-inch maxi single with “Smooth Operator” and “Red Eye” on side A and “Spirit” on side B. The song is also more or less the album’s title track as the title comes from the first sung line in the song following a spoken introduction.

“Smooth Operator” was the breakout hit in America for Sade, who were based in England. Their debut album, Diamond Life, was first issued in 1984 in the UK, where “Smooth Operator” was the third charting single. In the US, the album was released in 1985, with “Hang On To Your Love” as the first single. It went nowhere, but the next single, “Smooth Operator,” rose to #5 and earned the group a reputation as an exotic soulful act with a captivating front woman.

Julien Temple directed the video, which finds Sade singing in a nightclub as a shady deal goes down. Most viewers saw the 4:15 version, but an extended version was also made. Running 8:30, that one has dialogue, a chase scene, and a man falling to his death.

Embed

Copy and paste this HTML code into your webpage to embed.

04:13

Lyrics
[Intro]
He’s laughing with another girl
And playing with another heart
Placing high stakes, making hearts ache
He’s loved in seven languages
Jewel box life, diamond nights
And ruby lights high in the sky
Heaven help him when he falls

[Verse 1]
Diamond life lover boy
He moves in space with minimum waste and maximum joy
City lights and business nights
When you require streetcar desire for higher heights

[Pre-Chorus]
No place for beginners or sensitive hearts
Sentiment is left to chance
No place to be ending but somewhere to start

[Chorus]
No need to ask
He’s a smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
[Post-Chorus]
Coast-to-coast, L.A. to Chicago: Western male
Across the North and South, to Key Largo: love for sale

[Verse 2]
Face-to-face, each classic case
We shadow box and double-cross
Yet need the chase

[Pre-Chorus]
A license to love, insurance to hold
Melts all your memories and change into gold
His eyes are like angels’; his heart is cold

[Chorus]
No need to ask
He’s a smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator

[Post-Chorus]
Coast-to-coast, L.A. to Chicago: Western male
Across the North and South, to Key Largo: love for sale

[Outro]
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator
Smooth operator

Visits: 0