Smooth Operator
Encyclopedia
"Smooth Operator" is a song by the English group Sade
, released as the fourth and final single
from their debut album Diamond Life
(1984). It was released (in both the US and the UK) as a 7" single
with "Spirit" as its B-side
, and as a 12" maxi single
with "Smooth Operator" and "Red Eye" on side A and "Spirit" on side B. In the US it was the follow-up to "Hang on to Your Love
".
This was Sade's first Top Ten hit in the US, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100
chart for two weeks in May 1985. The song spent 13 weeks in the Top 40, and also topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary
chart for two weeks. Although "Your Love Is King
" remains Sade's biggest hit in the UK to date, "Smooth Operator" is the band's breakthrough hit on the US charts, and their most successful single internationally.
Ray St. John
, who co-wrote "Smooth Operator" with Sade Adu
, was previously a member of Adu's former band Prodigy, although he was not a member of the band Sade. The pair co-wrote the song in 1982 while still members of Prodigy, yet did not get around to recording it because St. John left Prodigy shortly after Sade joined. St. John later went on to play guitar with the band Halo James
, which scored a UK Top Ten hit with "Could Have Told You So" in February 1990.
"Smooth Operator" is about a fashionable man who lives a jet-set lifestyle. He is popular with women and breaks many hearts. The lyrics "Coast to Coast/LA to Chicago/Western Male/Across the North and South to Key Largo
/Love for sale" imply that he uses women to sustain himself. It is also clear that he does not return the affections of these women, as Adu sings near the end, "his heart is cold."
This song is noted for Sade's spoken recitation in the song's introduction. Some radio edits have omitted the spoken Introduction, and proceeded with the opening sung line of the title of the album, "Diamond Life". Some radio edits have shortened the instrumental saxophone solo, as well as the first repeat of the lines that come after the Chorus portions.
for "Smooth Operator", directed by Julien Temple
, was nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards in 1985
, Best Female Video
and Best New Artist
. The full-length version runs around eight and a half minutes, and shows the entire story of the song (The video features a then-unknown pre-Max Headroom
Amanda Pays
portraying a hostess/moll.)
UK, US, Canadian, Dutch, and Japanese 12" maxi single
Sade (band)
Sade is a British smooth jazz band that formed in 1983, named for Nigerian lead singer Sade Adu. Their music features elements of R&B, soul, jazz, and soft rock....
, released as the fourth and final single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from their debut album Diamond Life
Diamond Life
-Personnel:*Sade Adu – vocals*Andrew Hale – keyboards*Stuart Matthewman – guitar, saxophone*Paul S. Denman – bass*Paul Cooke – drums*Terry Bailey – trumpet*Pete Brown – assistant engineer*Tom Coyne – remastering*Martin Ditcham – percussion...
(1984). It was released (in both the US and the UK) as a 7" single
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
with "Spirit" as its B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
, and as a 12" maxi single
12-inch single
The 12-inch single is a type of gramophone record that has wider groove spacing compared to other types of records. This allows for louder levels to be cut on the disc by the cutting engineer, which in turn gives a wider dynamic range, and thus better sound quality...
with "Smooth Operator" and "Red Eye" on side A and "Spirit" on side B. In the US it was the follow-up to "Hang on to Your Love
Hang on to Your Love
"Hang On to Your Love" is a song by the English group Sade from their debut album, Diamond Life . It was released in late 1984 as the album's first U.S. single.-Track listings and formats:German and Dutch 7" single*Side A:...
".
This was Sade's first Top Ten hit in the US, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart for two weeks in May 1985. The song spent 13 weeks in the Top 40, and also topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
chart for two weeks. Although "Your Love Is King
Your Love Is King
"Your Love Is King" a song by the English group Sade from their debut album, Diamond Life . It was released in 1984 as the album's lead single and in 1985 as the album's third and final US single...
" remains Sade's biggest hit in the UK to date, "Smooth Operator" is the band's breakthrough hit on the US charts, and their most successful single internationally.
Ray St. John
Ray St. John
Raymond St. John is a British songwriter, record producer, electric/acoustic guitarist and bassist. He is a former member of the soul band Pride, active from 1979 to 1983. Sade Adu was also a member of Pride in the early 1980s, and St. John is perhaps best known for co-writing her song "Smooth...
, who co-wrote "Smooth Operator" with Sade Adu
Sade Adu
Helen Folasade Adu OBE , is a British singer-songwriter, composer, and record producer. She first achieved success in the 1980s as the frontwoman and lead vocalist of the Brit and Grammy Award winning English group Sade.-Biography:Sade was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria...
, was previously a member of Adu's former band Prodigy, although he was not a member of the band Sade. The pair co-wrote the song in 1982 while still members of Prodigy, yet did not get around to recording it because St. John left Prodigy shortly after Sade joined. St. John later went on to play guitar with the band Halo James
Halo James
Halo James was a British pop group active from 1988 to 1991.-Biography:Named after the main character from the comic strip The Ballad of Halo Jones, the band was fronted by session musician/vocalist Christian James and included Ray St...
, which scored a UK Top Ten hit with "Could Have Told You So" in February 1990.
"Smooth Operator" is about a fashionable man who lives a jet-set lifestyle. He is popular with women and breaks many hearts. The lyrics "Coast to Coast/LA to Chicago/Western Male/Across the North and South to Key Largo
Key Largo
Key Largo is an island in the upper Florida Keys archipelago and, at long, the largest of the Keys. It is also the northernmost of the Florida Keys in Monroe County, and the northernmost of the Keys connected by U.S. Highway 1...
/Love for sale" imply that he uses women to sustain himself. It is also clear that he does not return the affections of these women, as Adu sings near the end, "his heart is cold."
This song is noted for Sade's spoken recitation in the song's introduction. Some radio edits have omitted the spoken Introduction, and proceeded with the opening sung line of the title of the album, "Diamond Life". Some radio edits have shortened the instrumental saxophone solo, as well as the first repeat of the lines that come after the Chorus portions.
Music video
The videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Smooth Operator", directed by Julien Temple
Julien Temple
Julien Temple is an English film, documentary and music video director. He began his career with short films featuring the Sex Pistols, and has continued with various off-beat projects, including The Great Rock And Roll Swindle, Absolute Beginners and a documentary film about Glastonbury.-Temple...
, was nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards in 1985
1985 MTV Video Music Awards
The 1985 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on September 13, 1985, honoring the best music videos from May 2, 1984, to May 1, 1985. The show was hosted by Eddie Murphy at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City....
, Best Female Video
MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video
The MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video is one of the original general awards that has been handed out every year since the first annual MTV Video Music Awards in 1984. In 2007, however, the award was briefly renamed Female Artist of the Year, and it awarded the artist's whole body of work...
and Best New Artist
MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist
The MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist is one of the four original general categories that have been given out since the first annual MTV Video Music Awards in 1984...
. The full-length version runs around eight and a half minutes, and shows the entire story of the song (The video features a then-unknown pre-Max Headroom
Max Headroom (TV series)
Max Headroom is a British-produced American science fiction television series by Chrysalis/Lakeside Productions that aired in the United States on ABC from March 1987 to May 1988. The series was based on the Channel 4 British TV pilot Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future...
Amanda Pays
Amanda Pays
-Personal life:Pays was born in London, England, the daughter of Joan , an actress, and Howard Reginald Pays, a talent agent and former actor. She is the niece of former child actress Mandy Miller, after whom she is named. Her first marriage, from 1984 to 1987, was to Peter Kohn, production manager...
portraying a hostess/moll.)
Popular culture
- "Smooth Operator" was the subject of a segment on Australian comedy variety show Micallef TonightMicallef TonightMicallef Tonight is a short-lived Aria Award–winning Australian variety show that aired on the Nine Network in 2003. It was hosted by comedian Shaun Micallef and also featured the talents of Francis Greenslade, Jason Geary, Livinia Nixon and Pete Smith....
in 2003. The lyric "Coast to coast / L.A.Los ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
" was lampooned by Shaun MicallefShaun MicallefShaun Patrick Micallef is an Australian actor, comedian and writer. After ten years of working in insurance law as a solicitor in Adelaide, Micallef moved to Melbourne to pursue a full-time comedy career in 1993...
for its geographical inaccuracy ("Good thing she's a smooth operator, not a tour operator"). - The song was used in the documentary about the rapstar Tupac Shakur in the movie Tupac: ResurrectionTupac: ResurrectionTupac: Resurrection is a 2003 documentary about the life and death of rapper Tupac Shakur. The film, directed by Lauren Lazin and released by Paramount Pictures, is narrated by Tupac Shakur himself. The film was in theaters from November 16, 2003 to December 21, 2003...
. - The song was parodied in an August 2009 issue of The Watermark, re-written as "Pool Operator" in order to humorously provide information about the 2009 Pool School class.
- "Smooth Operator" was lampooned by comedian Lenny HenryLenny HenryLenworth George "Lenny" Henry, is a British actor, writer, comedian and occasional television presenter.- Early life :...
as 'LatheLatheA lathe is a machine tool which rotates the workpiece on its axis to perform various operations such as cutting, sanding, knurling, drilling, or deformation with tools that are applied to the workpiece to create an object which has symmetry about an axis of rotation.Lathes are used in woodturning,...
Operator'. - The comedy show Mystery Science Theater 3000Mystery Science Theater 3000Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
referenced "Smooth Operator" while riffing on the short film Why Study Industrial Arts?, during an episode of the sixth season. In response to the phrase "Tool operators", Mike and the Bots begin singing "tool operator" to the tune of "Smooth Operator". - The song was also featured in the 2005 film Fun with Dick and JaneFun with Dick and Jane (2005 film)Fun with Dick and Jane is a 2005 remake of the 1977 American comedy film of the same name, directed by Dean Parisot and written by Judd Apatow and Nicholas Stoller. It stars Jim Carrey and Téa Leoni as Dick and Jane Harper, an upper-middle-class couple who resort to robbery after the company for...
. - The instrumentalInstrumentalAn instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
version is for the new James Bond perfume "Magical Moments".
Cover versions
- Filipino bossa novaBossa novaBossa nova is a style of Brazilian music. Bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s, initially consisting of young musicians and college students...
singer SittiSitti NavarroSitti Katrina Navarro , also known as Sitti, is a Filipino bossa nova singer. After releasing her first album, Café Bossa, in 2006, other bossa nova acts in the Philippines followed. Navarro is also featured in the segment "A.S.A.P. Sessionistas" of the variety show ASAP...
recorded a coverCover versionIn popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the song in 2007 for her second studio album My Bossa NovaMy Bossa NovaMy Bossa Nova is the second studio album of Philippine bossa nova singer Sitti. Unlike her previous studio album, Café Bossa, this album focused on more recent songs and had very few "traditional" bossa nova songs...
. - Helena Paparizou performed the song live at Mad Secret Concert 2005. The song was officially released at her album "Iparhei Logos"
- R&B singer Pru covered the song on her self titled album in 2000.
- Covered by Cuban percussionist Mongo SantamaríaMongo SantamaríaRamón "Mongo" Santamaría Rodríguez was an Afro-Cuban Latin jazz percussionist. He is most famous for being the composer of the jazz standard "Afro Blue," recorded by John Coltrane among others. In 1950 he moved to New York where he played with Perez Prado, Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, Fania All...
on his 1987 release Soy Yo (along with another '80s quiet stormQuiet stormQuiet storm is a late-night radio format, featuring soulful slow jams, pioneered in the mid-1970s by then-station-intern Melvin Lindsey at WHUR-FM, in Washington, D.C. Smokey Robinson's like-titled hit single, released in 1975 as the title track to his third solo album, lent its name to the format...
hit, Anita BakerAnita BakerAnita Baker is an American R&B/soul jazz singer-songwriter. To date, Baker has won eight Grammy Awards, and has four platinum albums and two gold albums to her credit....
's "Sweet LoveSweet Love"Sweet Love" is the title of a popular song from 1986 by R&B singer Anita Baker. It was the second single from her critically acclaimed album, Rapture, Baker's second studio album.-Chart performance:...
"). Also featured on his 2000 release Mucho Mambo Mongo. - Danish vocal group Basix recorded the song for their The Grass album.
- It was also covered in a death metalDeath metalDeath metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
version by Ten Masked MenTen Masked MenTen Masked Men is a British death metal cover band who specialize in covering pop songs. The band was formed in 1996 when Mark and Dave Hutson did a cover of Oasis' "Wonderwall" to annoy a friend. The song was much the same as the original, except it was played with distorted guitars and death...
on their 1999 The Ten Masked Men Strike BackThe Ten Masked Men Strike Back EPThe Ten Masked Men Strike Back is the second album by British death metal cover band Ten Masked Men, released in 1999. The title is a reference to Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.-Track listing:# "Papa Don't Preach" - 3:02...
EP. - Señor Coconut y Su ConjuntoUwe SchmidtUwe Schmidt , is a German composer, musician and producer of electronic music. He is often regarded as the father of electrolatino, electrogospel and acitón music.- Career :...
covered the song on their 2003 Fiesta SongsFiesta SongsFiesta Songs is a 2003 album by Señor Coconut Y Su Conjunto . It is an album of covers done in a Latin American style.Like the previous album, this is a tribute album...
album. - Swedish crooner James Gicho released a cover version in 2005, produced by Håkan Lidbo.
- Paloma FaithPaloma FaithPaloma Faith is a British singer-songwriter and actress. In 2009, she released her debut single "Stone Cold Sober", then her debut album, Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?, which was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry. Her debut album stayed within the top 40 album...
performed a cover of the song as part of the "Great British Songbook" segment of Simon Mayo's Radio 2 programme on 18 January 2009, where she claimed to suspect she knew who the song was about. - Trumpeter Greg Adams provided an instrumental version of the song off his 1995 Hidden Agenda album.
- The duo Asaro and Wolcott, composed of vocalist Catherine AsaroCatherine AsaroCatherine Asaro is an American science fiction and fantasy author. She is best known for her books about the Ruby Dynasty, called the Saga of the Skolian Empire.- Biography :...
and jazzJazzJazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician Donald WolcottDonald Wolcott- Biography :Donald Wolcott began training as a pianist at age five. He initially studied classical piano, but became more interested in jazz by the time he reached middle school. In high school, he was the pianist for the jazz ensemble, a position he held until graduation...
, covered the song in 2010 on their EP Goodbye noteDonald Wolcott- Biography :Donald Wolcott began training as a pianist at age five. He initially studied classical piano, but became more interested in jazz by the time he reached middle school. In high school, he was the pianist for the jazz ensemble, a position he held until graduation...
. - The Venezuelan acappella Band Sie7e Palos recorded this song for their most recent album "Rumba Romance", which will be released on 2011.
Track listings and formats
UK, US, Dutch, and Australian 7" single- Side A:
- "Smooth Operator" – 4:15
- Side B:
- "Spirit" – 5:28
UK, US, Canadian, Dutch, and Japanese 12" maxi single
- Side A:
- "Smooth Operator" – 5:25
- "Red Eye" – 3:18
- Side B:
- "Spirit" – 5:28
Charts
| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Singles Chart Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... |
12 |
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
19 |
| German Singles Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
11 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
17 |
| Swiss Singles Chart Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
14 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
19 |
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
| French Singles Chart Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
9 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
5 |
| US Billboard Hot Black Singles Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
5 |
| US Billboard Adult Contemporary Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
1 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
11 |