Sadeness (Part I)

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"Sadeness (Part I)"
Single by Enigma
from the album MCMXC a.D.
Released November 1990
Format CD, cassette, 12"
Recorded 1990
Genre New-age, downtempo
Length 4:16
Label Charisma / Virgin / EMI
Writer(s) Curly M.C.
F. Gregorian
David Fairstein
Producer(s) Michael Cretu
Enigma singles chronology
"Sadeness (Part I)"
(1990)
"Mea Culpa (Part II)"
(1991)
File:Gregorian chant - Procedamus in pace - Cum angelis - Psalm 24 (23) (German-Polish accent).ogg
A Gregorian medieval antiphon Cum angelis with a fragment of the Psalm 24 (23) for Palm Sunday used in "Sadeness"

"Sadeness (Part I)" is a song by German musical project Enigma. The song was released in November 1990 as the first of four singles from the project's first album, MCMXC a.D., and upon its release, it became an international smash hit, reaching number one in 24 countries and the top ten in many others, including the United States, where it made number five on the pop chart and number one on the dance chart.

History

"Sadeness" was written by Michael Cretu (under the pseudonym Curly M.C.), Frank Peterson (under the pseudonym F. Gregorian), and David Fairstein. The lyrics are in Latin and French; the Latin text includes a quotation from Psalm 24:7-8. The Extended Trance Mix from the CD single contains some additional male French lyrics. The female French lyrics in both this version and the regular one are whispered by Cretu's then-wife, Sandra, who at the time of Enigma's formation had already had hit singles as a solo artist.

The Gregorian vocals were mostly taken from the 1976 album Paschale Mysterium by the German choir Capella Antiqua München with conductor Konrad Ruhland, specifically from their track "Procedamus in pace! (Antiphon)". The vocals were at first used without permission; a lawsuit followed in 1994 and was settled by compensation.

The song was named "Sadeness (Part I)" on its single release in Germany, and "Sadness Part I" on its single release in the United Kingdom and Japan. It is a sensual track with an insistent beat based around "questioning" the sexual desires of Marquis de Sade; hence the German release name of "Sadeness", as opposed to the English word of "Sadness" used in the UK release.

It was followed by a pseudo-sequel named "Mea Culpa (Part II)", which was a moderate commercial success compared with "Sadeness (Part I)".

The theme of 1991 Sega Mega Drive game Streets of Rage samples the drums of the song.

Track listings

  • 4-track CD single for the UK
  1. "Sadeness Part I" (Radio Edit) – 4:16
  2. "Sadeness Part I" (Extended Trance Mix) – 5:04
  3. "Sadeness Part I" (Meditation Mix) – 3:01
  4. "Sadeness Part I" (Violent US Remix) – 5:03
  • 5-track CD single for the U.S.
  1. "Sadeness Part I" (Violent US Remix) – 5:03
  2. "Sadeness Part I" (Meditation Mix) – 3:01
  3. "Sadeness Part I" (Extended Trance Mix) – 5:04
  4. "Sadeness Part I" (Radio Edit) – 4:17
  5. "Introit: Benedicta sit sancta Trinitas" – 3:04
  • 2-track promotional CD single for Japan
  1. "Sadeness Part I" (Ebi-Kuma Mix)
  2. "Sadeness Part I" (Meditation Mix)
  • 2-track 7-inch single for France
  1. "Sadeness Part I" (Radio Edit) – 4:17
  2. "Sadeness Part I" (Meditation Mix) – 2:57

Music video

The video, directed by Michel Guimbard,[1] shows a scholar, possibly a reference to Marquis de Sade, who falls asleep at a desk in his room while writing ... and has a fantastic, seductive, and enlightening dream. The scholar finds himself wandering among cathedral ruins. He comes up to Auguste Rodin's The Gates of Hell, which is probably the "Forbidden Door", according to the album concept. As the young man looks on, he sees a beautiful, succubus-like young woman (played by French model Cathy Tastet[2][3]) beyond it. She whispers the main lyrics to him in a seductive tone - "Sade, dis-moi"; "Sade, donne-moi" or translated - "Sade, tell me"; "Sade, give me." The man turns and tries to flee, but relents to his desires and is "sucked" back through the door. At this point, the young man wakes from the dream and looks around anxiously, but finds only a light from his window shining down on him. The video was featured in The Brothers Grunt pilot episode: The Ceremony. Cathy (Kati) Tastet (born January 1, 1973 in Toulouse, France) Is a French model. She was represented by Elite Model Management in Paris and Amsterdam, and started her career in the USA after her appearance in the music video for "Sadeness" by Enigma in 1991, in which she acted out the role of a succubus.

Charts

The single reached number one on the UK Singles Chart in January 1991, as well as in over 20 other countries around that period.[4] It remained at number one on the Eurochart for nine weeks. In the United States, it peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in April 1991. The record sold over 500,000 copies in the U.S. and was certified Gold there.[5] The single has sold more than 5 million copies worldwide.[6]

See also

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References

  1. http://www.newagemusic.guide/new-age-music/the-story-behind-sadeness-part-i-video/
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  3. Kati Tastet at the Internet Movie Database
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  7. "Australian-charts.com – Enigma – Sadeness Part I". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  8. "Austriancharts.at – Enigma – Sadeness Part I" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  9. "Ultratop.be – Enigma – Sadeness Part I" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  10. "Enigma: Sadeness Part I" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  11. "Lescharts.com – Enigma – Sadeness Part I" (in French). Les classement single.
  12. "Officialcharts.de – Enigma – Sadeness Part I". GfK Entertainment.
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  15. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Enigma search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
  16. "Charts.org.nz – Enigma – Sadeness Part I". Top 40 Singles.
  17. "Norwegiancharts.com – Enigma – Sadeness Part I". VG-lista.
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  19. "Swedishcharts.com – Enigma – Sadeness Part I". Singles Top 60.
  20. "Swisscharts.com – Enigma – Sadeness Part I". Swiss Singles Chart.
  21. UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com . Retrieved 14 April 2008.
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 Billboard Allmusic.com . Retrieved 10 September 2008.
  23. 1991 Australian Singles Chart aria.com . Retrieved 10 September 2008.
  24. 1991 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at . Retrieved 10 September 2008.
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  26. 1991 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch . Retrieved 10 September 2008.
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External links

Preceded by UK number one single
19 January 1991
(one week)
Succeeded by
"Innuendo"
by Queen