SETLIST, REVIEW: Sade Soldier Of Love concert tour kickoff in Nice, France, show reveals “Ultimate Collection” of songs!

Sade concert in Nice, France, opens Soldier of Love tour

(All concert photos taken by Sophie Muller or Gabriel Coutu Dumont.)

There’s a certain few artists that can do no wrong in the eyes of Starcasm editors – such as Shania Twain (seen here in all her glowing beauty at the 2011 Juno Awards in Toronto) and Bob Dylan (seen here in all his scruffy glory at a concert in Australia).

And in case you didn’t know it, there’s another that belongs on that list: the one and only Sade Adu and her eponymous band of crack musicians. Sade gets major airplay here in the office!

And to be perfectly honest, given a choice between attending the Royal Wedding between Wills and Kate, or the kickoff date of Sade’s Soldier of Love tour in Nice, France, the Starcasm crew would have no problems taking our seats in the front row at the feet of our musical queen of the quiet storm, Sade!

Sade concert photos in Nice, Soldier of Love tour opener

But since we weren’t able to be at either, we have to be content with the images and reports coming our way from Sade and her fans. And they have not let us down!

The tour opened tonight at Palais Nikaia in Nice, Friday the 29th April 2011. Sade posted on her Facebook page some striking images from the show. If you’ve seen her before or not, you know she puts on an exciting show full of class, glamour, and lush, gorgeous music.
Sade concert photos in Nice, Soldier of Love tour opener

Speaking of the music, here is what the band performed in Nice:

1. Soldier of Love
2. Your Love is King
3. Skin
4. Kiss of Life
5. Love is Found
6. In Another Time
7. Smooth Operator
8. Jezebel
9. Bring Me Home
10. Is It a Crime
11. Still in Love With You
12. All About Our Love
13. Paradise
14. Nothing Can Come Between Us
15. Morning Bird
16. King of Sorrow
17. Sweetest Taboo
18. The Moon and the Sky
19. Pearls
20. No Ordinary Love
21. By Your Side
22. Cherish the Day

Here’s a couple reviews from fans who attended, posted at Sade’s official site forum (not corrected for spelling or grammar):

Sade and the boys outdid themselves! What a fantastic, gorgeous, show, Sade never sang better or looked more relaxed doing it! Sophie Muller made a fun and slick production and by the way no disappointment with the tour program it is fat and fabulous !!!

impressive show tonight in Nice !
I’m not some kind of “super fan” or “mega fan” of Sade like some people on this forum, just a simple fan I would , full of nostalgy about her old songs.
Always incredible voice, she is extremely sensual… especially in her white tight dress and released hair … wow.
And I did not expect such a high quality in the light effects, movies were broadcasted behind the scene and on a see-through curtain on the front.
The production was really spectacular in general.
A purely emotional concert with a perfect balance between old nostalgic songs and recent, more rythmic titles.
One of the best concerts I have ever seen.

The start of her tour is keyed to the May 3rd release of SADE: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION, a 2-disc set featuring 29 of the band’s best songs, including 4 brand new ones (which Amazon has at this link for only $9.99! That’s a deal, folks!)

Sade: The Ultimate Collection album cover

From The Ultimate Collection, here is “The Moon and the Sky”, the opening track from Solider of Love, now featured in this exquisite remix with none other than Jay-Z:

I cannot wait for Sade to come to the United States this summer. See you there!!!

Until then, here are is one more intriguing setpiece from the Nice tour opener:

Sade concert opener for Solider of Love tour in Nice, France