By Your Side (Sade song)

"By Your Side" is a song by English band Sade from their fifth studio album, Lovers Rock (2000). Written by Sade, and produced by Sade and Mike Pela, it was released as the album's lead single in the United Kingdom on 13 October 2000, and in the United States on 12 January 2001. The track was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards in 2001.[1] The music video for this single was directed by Sophie Muller. In 2002,[2] the song was listed as the 48th greatest love song of all time by VH1.[3]

"By Your Side"
Single by Sade
from the album Lovers Rock
Released13 October 2000 (2000-10-13)
Recorded13–17 December 1999
Genre
Length4:34
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Sade
Sade singles chronology
"Cherish the Day"
(1993)		 "By Your Side"
(2000)		 "King of Sorrow"
(2001)
Music video
"By Your Side" on YouTube

Critical reception

The single received favourable reviews from music critics. Justin Chadwick from Albumism stated that it "stands as one of the most endearing anthems of unconditional love to emerge in the 21st century thus far".[4] AllMusic editor Ed Hogan said that "never before has the singer infused more mainstream rock elements (prominent strummed guitars) into her music as evidenced by the first single, "By Your Side"."[5] Tanya Rena Jefferson of AXS considers it to be the group's best, commenting, "'By Your Side' is a heartfelt, beautiful song that allows Sade to express how one will not leave and will always be by one's side through thick and thin. This flavorful, mellow, powerful filled song is warm and allows the listener to understand the importance and sincerity of the lyrics."[6] The Daily Vault's Mark Millan wrote that the song is "one of their finest ever moments." He also noted it as a "beautifully soulful track thanks to Adu’s heartfelt vocal performance that greatly enhances the song."[7] Craig Seymour from Entertainment Weekly commented that "since 1984, Sade has made a career out of crooning smoky romantic odes; her first single in eight years, 'By Your Side,' is no different. Over a sharply produced, folksy groove, the Brit chanteuse crafts a guitar-driven declaration of resolute affection. As comforting as the love it describes."[8] Frank Guan of Vulture commented, "How does it feel to know there's someone who will never abandon you? A plain but thoroughly gripping hook anchors her pledge to be there in the worst of times."[9]

Music video
Sade in the video for "By Your Side". Wearing an Indian-inspired outfit, she walks through a forest.

The music video for the song was shot in Los Angeles[10] and was directed by British director Sophie Muller, who revealed that it is a metaphor for Sade Adu's life. In the video, she is depicted as a mystical figure walking through a forest and into the city. As the singer walks through different scenes, she gathers items such as a rose and a burned wood stick, and puts them in a small sack. At the end of the video, she walks into the city and is seen in the median of the road offering/selling the rose like a flower seller. This strange journey represents her life but "made into a beautiful, mysterious dream."[11]

The idea for the video came when Sade and Muller were driving to the studio and saw people standing in the middle of the road selling flowers. At that sight, Muller thought "it was so sad to be constantly rejected by these cars" and thought, "Well, it's not such a bad job to be looking at beautiful flowers all day."[11] This gave rise to the video's concept of someone who has been away, and is now standing offering a flower to someone. At the time, eight years had passed since the group last released an album. The flower Sade offers to passersby at the end of the video symbolizes the band's latest album, Lovers Rock, that she is offering to the world.

Regarding her role as a director, Sophie Muller said that "she (Sade) had not done anything in eight years—there had not even been a photograph taken of her. I think I was being protective the day we did it; I did not want to push her to do something incredibly difficult, but wanted to ease her back in."[11]

The video contains very extreme and vivid colors, which were inspired by Chinese and Indian films as well as Japanese masters. Specifically, the pale green light was influenced by Indian over-saturated imagery.[11] This is because the director wanted each bit to be different and "wanted to make it like reality, but more beautiful".[11] For example, the forest was meant to be like a forest, but a bit more peaceful than a real one would be.[11]

Not many special effects were used in the making of the video. Everything was built to look the way it does. The only visual effect is the huge field where she is seen walking. For it, a little field was built and painted all around her. And there was a little green screen, when she walks towards the city.[11]

Track listings

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[34] Silver 200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

The 1975 version
"By Your Side"
Single by the 1975
Released21 February 2017
Genre
Length4:55
LabelDirty Hit
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Matty Healy
The 1975 singles chronology
"Loving Someone"
(2017)		 "By Your Side"
(2017)		 "Milk"
(2017)

English rock band The 1975 released a cover version of "By Your Side" on 21 February 2017 as a charity single raising funds for War Child, a charity that provides aid to children in war-torn countries.[38]

"This song for me... if you listen to Kanye, if you listen to Bono... that song 'By Your Side' has so much of that identity", frontman Matty Healy said. "When I was listening to it, I was listening to it with this real sense of modernity thinking wow, this is still really forward thinking. When we were going to go a gig for War Child... the idea of doing it for charity meant the sentiment of the song took on a whole different meaning, and it felt perfect. It's such a beautiful song."[39]

Charts
Chart (2017) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[40] 50
UK Download (OCC)[41] 51
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[42] 32

Other versions

The song was covered by Beachwood Sparks on their album Once We Were Trees (2001). The video, directed by Chad Misner, was selected for the 2002 South by Southwest Film Festival.[43] The song appeared on the soundtrack to the film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010).

William "Billy" McCarthy (formerly of Pela and Augustines) covered the song for his 2017 debut solo album, Shelter.[44]

Canadian singer Justin Nozuka included a cover on his 2015 EP Chestnut Spoke to Maple.

Mat Kearney covered the song on his 2018 album, Crazytalk.[45]

Ben Taylor (musician) covered this song on a 2013 episode of The Bachelor (with Sean Lowe right after he had sent his date home)[46][47]

Noah Gundersen performed a stripped-down acoustic version for "The Cardinal Sessions," which was released on YouTube March 18, 2018. The cover is notable for its use of ambient echo, and Gundersen's use of falsetto.[48]

References
  1. "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance - The 44th Annual Grammy Awards (2001)". Grammy Awards. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  2. ""The Greatest" 100 Greatest Love Songs (TV Episode 2002)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  3. Tompkins, Dave. "VH1 – 100 Greatest Love Songs (Music Database :: Dave Tompkins)". University of British Columbia. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  4. Chadwick, Justin (11 November 2020). "Sade's 'Lovers Rock' Turns 20: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  5. "Sade - Lovers Rock". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  6. Jefferson, Tanya Rena. "Sade's 10 best songs". AXS. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  7. "Sade - Lovers Rock". The Daily Vault. 30 March 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  8. Seymour, Craig. "Music Single Review: By Your Side". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  9. Guan, Frank (26 October 2017). "All 73 Sade Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best". Vulture. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  10. "SADE VIDEOGRAPHY AND HELP". sadeusa.com. 18 January 2010. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  11. "Music Video Director Sophie Muller". MVWire.com. 11 February 2002. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  12. "Ultratop.be – Sade – By Your Side" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  13. "Ultratop.be – Sade – By Your Side" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  14. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17 no. 48. 25 November 2000. p. 15. ISSN 0006-2510 – via World Radio History.
  15. "Offiziellecharts.de – Sade – By Your Side". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  16. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Sade". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  17. "Italiancharts.com – Sade – By Your Side". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  18. "Dutchcharts.nl – Sade – By Your Side" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  19. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18 no. 2/3. 13 January 2001. p. 13. ISSN 0006-2510 – via World Radio History.
  20. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  21. "Spanishcharts.com – Sade – By Your Side" Canciones Top 50.
  22. "Swedishcharts.com – Sade – By Your Side". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  23. "Swisscharts.com – Sade – By Your Side". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  24. "Sade: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  25. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  26. "Sade Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  27. "Sade Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  28. "Sade Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  29. "Sade Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  30. "Sade Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  31. "Sade Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  32. "The Year in Music 2001 – Hot Dance Club-Play Singles". Billboard. Vol. 113 no. 52. 29 December 2001. p. YE-48. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
  33. "The Year in Music 2001 – Hot Dance Maxi-Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 113 no. 52. 29 December 2001. p. YE-49. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
  34. "British single certifications – Sade – By Your Side". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  35. Pollard, Andrew (8 March 2017). "Single Review: The 1975 – By Your Side". Redbrick. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  36. "The 1975 hacen una versión electropop de Sade en su nueva canción "By Your Side"". mor.bo. Spanish. 21 February 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  37. DeVille, Chris (21 February 2017). "The 1975 – "By Your Side" (Sade Cover)". Stereogum. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  38. "Hear the 1975's Atmospheric Cover of Sade's 'By Your Side'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  39. Copsey, Rob (22 February 2017). "The 1975 are releasing a cover of Sade's By Your Side for charity". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  40. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  41. "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  42. "The 1975 Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  43. http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/020328-sxswfilm/
  44. https://music.apple.com/lu/album/shelter/1293779188
  45. https://music.apple.com/us/album/crazytalk/1355196284
  46. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a6KNcw8MAs
  47. The Bachelor (season 17)
  48. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkWv8TZPRuo
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