Luthiery Laboratories

Doing Things Wrong

July 18, 2022

I Was Wrong About Sade

July 18, 2022

I always thought of Sade as a very stylish singer, but not necessarily a great one; kind of weak, actually. A model who could sing a bit. I was wrong. Watch these concert videos.

In this one, she cuts loose a little at the end, you can hear what she could do if she wanted to. And she is note-perfect in concert, you might think she is lip-synching the album, but she is not.
Do any of today's pop stars compare? I couldn't tell you, I stopped listening to the radio decades ago. This performance is mesmerizing - no backup dancers, no costumes, no pyrotechnics, no giant props, just a little lighting and fog, a really tight band, style, class, and natural talent. She makes it look effortless.

The thing is, Sade always sounds a little off. But consistent. Maybe she does it deliberately, certainly no one else sounds like Sade. She gets a little raspy down low, but she displays more range here than I've heard on her studio recordings. And not to forget the band, they are tight.

This is what got me started. She is consistently a little flat (in pitch.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE3-BpOM5RY
way back in 1984
The studio version, just to show how well they nailed in the shows above.
Another studio track ... that extravagant two-note bass line is hypnotic,
almost like Tomorrow Never Knows. Just close your eyes ...
(Don't get technical on me - octaves don't count.)

Sade is a lot more than just a great looking record cover, although, of course, she's that too. Not a model who could sing - Sade is a singer who could model.

I wonder if anyone calls her Helen?

Music, 07/18/22

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Fretboard Radius Jig

image
Front view of main frame, showing friction arm & setup supports inside.
The odd shape of the base was already that way, I just used it as-is.

The Radius Jig is capable of cutting constant radii from 6 to 16 inches, both concave and convex, as well as convex conical radii. That means it can cut sanding blocks, clamping cauls, and 'compound radius' fingerboards. Sanding blocks can be cut up to a finished length of 14", while fingerboards can be cut up to 28", enough for even an extra-long scale bass.

More: Fretboard Radius Jig ...

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