Tomorrow is Mother’s Day, so I wanted to pick a song for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday that pays homage to moms. So many women have played a part in my life’s journey, whether it was a grandmother, an aunt, a friend’s mom, or even a boss.
Naturally, the popular choice would be “A Song For Mama by Boyz II Men. But you know me better than that, so I had to take it back with The Spinners and the timeless classic, “Sadie.” At age twelve, I first heard the song in a cover version by an incarnated and disgraced R&B singer who shall remain nameless. My mom pointed out to me that The Spinners first recorded the song, and she hipped me to their album “New and Improved.”
The song was written and produced by Joseph B. Jefferson, Bruce Hawes, and Charles Simmons and featured the production talents of the legendary Thom Bell. Philippé Wynne sang lead on the song with a distinctive vocal that still resonates today.
“Sadie” is a heartfelt tribute to a beloved mother figure. The song reminisces on the beautiful qualities of Sadie, a devoted mother who sacrificed her needs to ensure her children received an education and learned the holy stories. Despite life’s challenges, Sadie remains strong and supports her family with boundless love. She teaches her children the value of love, happiness, and kindness through her simple songs and unwavering smile.
“Sadie” celebrates the power of love and the enduring memory of a mother who had a lasting impact on those who knew her. The chorus repeats that Sadie is loved and cherished, and no one can replace her in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. The lyrics reveal that the memories of Sadie continue to inspire a love that transcends money and material possessions, proving that the most valuable thing in life is the love and affection we share.
At forty-one years old, it’s a blessing to have my mother, grandmothers, mother-in-law, aunts, and others who still provide daily inspiration. So to all of you and every mother in the world, Michelle Obama said it best “There is no limit to what you, as women, can accomplish.
Final Grade: A
“Sadie” by The Spinners is available on all streaming platforms.
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I wanted to revisit 1987 and highlight the incomparable Stevie Wonder’s twenty-first album, Characters. Released on November 6, 1987, the album features Mr. Wonder navigating topics such as love, politics, and spirituality with the passion that fans have come to know and love.
Twenty years ago, in the spring of 2005, R&B was in a good place. Usher had released what is arguably his magnum opus a year prior, rumors were rampant that Oscar winner Jamie Foxx was going to sign with J. Records, Mario was still basking in the success of his hit “Let Me Love You,” and former B2K frontman Omarion (this week’s Slow Jam Saturday artist) had just dropped his solo debut, O.
Thirty years ago, in 1995, Bad Boy Records was a top-notch record label, but over a decade later, it had begun to lose its luster. While the “Bad Boys II” soundtrack and the debut album from Da Band did numbers, no real superstars were left on the label.