The Sweetest Taboo

"The Sweetest Taboo" is a song by English band Sade from their second studio album, Promise (1985). It was released on 30 September 1985 as the album's lead single. 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 the band's second consecutive number-one single on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, following "Smooth Operator".

"The Sweetest Taboo"
Single by Sade
from the album Promise
B-side	"You're Not the Man"
Released	30 September 1985
Length	4:37
Label	Epic
Composer(s)	Sade Adu Martin Ditcham
Lyricist(s)	Sade Adu
Producer(s)	Robin Millar
Sade singles chronology
"Hang On to Your Love" (1984) "The Sweetest Taboo" (1985) "Is It a Crime?" (1985)
Music video
"The Sweetest Taboo" on YouTube

Reception

Tanya Rena Jefferson of AXS stated, "The group allows the song to shine with its mellow and uptempo flavor. Sade sings proudly and boldly about how she is given love which brings out the best in her. The quiet storm vibe allows one to stand and groove dance to the soulful peaceful sound of the song."[1]

Track listings

• 7-inch single (UK and Portugal)

A. "The Sweetest Taboo" – 4:25

B. "You're Not the Man" – 5:20

• 7-inch single (US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and select European countries)

A. "The Sweetest Taboo" – 4:24

B. "You're Not the Man" – 5:09

• 12-inch single (UK, Australia and Japan)

A. "The Sweetest Taboo" (extended version) – 5:30

B. "You're Not the Man" – 5:20

• 12-inch single (select European countries)

A. "The Sweetest Taboo" (extended version) – 5:27

B. "You're Not the Man" – 5:09

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1985–1986) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[2] 65 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[3] 24 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4] 10 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[5] 12 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[6] 1 Europe (European Top 100 Singles)[7] 12 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[8] 9 France (SNEP)[9] 30 Ireland (IRMA)[10] 11 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[11] 14 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] 12 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 11 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[14] 14 UK Singles (OCC)[15] 31 US Billboard Hot 100[16] 5 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[17] 1 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[18] 3 US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[19] 8 US Cash Box Top 100 Black Contemporary Singles[20] 1 West Germany (Official German Charts)[21] 28

Year-end charts Chart (1986) Position US Billboard Hot 100[22] 55 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[23] 16 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[24] 22 US Cash Box Top 100[25] 68

See also

• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1986 (U.S.)

References

1. Jefferson, Tanya Rena. "Sade's 10 best songs". AXS. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
2. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 263. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
3. "Austriancharts.at – Sade – The Sweetest Taboo" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
4. "Ultratop.be – Sade – The Sweetest Taboo" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
5. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0640." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
6. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9373." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
7. "European Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2 no. 44. 4 November 1985. p. 12. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
8. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
9. "Lescharts.com – Sade – The Sweetest Taboo" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
10. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sweetest Taboo". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
11. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Sade" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
12. "Dutchcharts.nl – Sade – The Sweetest Taboo" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
13. "Charts.nz – Sade – The Sweetest Taboo". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
14. "Swisscharts.com – Sade – The Sweetest Taboo". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
15. "Sade: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
16. "Sade Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
17. "Sade Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
18. "Sade Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
19. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending March 8, 1986". Cash Box. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
20. "The Cash Box Top 100 Black Contemporary – Week ending February 8, 1986". Cash Box. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
21. "Offiziellecharts.de – Sade – The Sweetest Taboo". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
22. "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
23. "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
24. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
25. "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1986 – Top 100 Pop Singles". Cash Box. 27 December 1986. Retrieved 3 October 2019.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics