Sadeness (Part I)

"Sadeness (Part I)"
Single by Enigma
from the album MCMXC a.D.
Released November 1990
Format
Recorded 1990
Genre
Length 4:16
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Michael Cretu
Enigma singles chronology
"Sadeness (Part I)"
(1990)		 "Mea Culpa (Part II)"
(1991)
Music video
"Sadeness (Part I)" on YouTube
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 their debut album MCMXC a.D. (1990). It became an international hit, reaching number one in 24 countries. In the United States, the song peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on its dance chart. A sequel to the song, "Sadeness (Part II)" featuring Anggun, was released on Enigma's eighth studio album, The Fall of a Rebel Angel (2016).[1]

History

"Sadeness" was written by Michael Cretu (under the pseudonym Curly M.C.), Frank Peterson (under the pseudonym F. Gregorian), and Fabrice Cuitad (under the pseudonym 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 1991 opening theme for the video game Streets of Rage, released on Sega Megadrive, shares an identical drum beat to "Sadeness (Part I)", which is believed to be a major influence on the music heard in the game.

The song was featured in the first episode of the second season of Chappelle's Show .

Critical reception

The Gavin Report wrote about the song: "Listeners may not have a clue what it's about, but the mood created by this totally unique production will keep 'em glued and wanting more. Not only have the Germans demolished the Berlin Wall, they had the good sense to make this a number one "sod - as in (Marquis De Sade) ness."[2]

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.[3] 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 US and was certified Gold there.[4] The single has sold more than 5 million copies worldwide.[5]

Music video

The video, directed by Michel Guimbard,[6] shows a man wandering among cathedral ruins. He comes up to Auguste Rodin's The Gates of Hell; and as the man looks on, he sees a woman (played by French model Cathy Tastet[7][8]) beyond it, who whispers the main lyrics from the song to him.

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 US
  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) – 4:40
  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

See also

References

  1. ↑ Getz, Dana (8 August 2016). "Enigma announce first album in 8 years". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  2. ↑ Sholin, Dave (February 1, 1991). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 1841. p. 56. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  3. ↑ "crocodile-music.de". crocodile-music.de. September 19, 2008. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
  4. ↑ "American single certifications – Enigma – Sadeness Part I". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 29, 2012. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  5. ↑ Weinert, Ellie (March 4, 1995). "Billboard Vol. 107, No. 9 – Casebook: Enigma". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media: 58. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  6. ↑ http://www.newagemusic.guide/new-age-music/the-story-behind-sadeness-part-i-video/
  7. ↑ "Who's that girl?? Behind The Scenes of "ENIGMA - Sadeness Part I." video". enigmamusic.com. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  8. ↑ Kati Tastet at the Internet Movie Database
  9. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Enigma – Sadeness Part I". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  10. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Enigma – Sadeness Part I" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  11. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Enigma – Sadeness Part I" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  12. ↑ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Top 10 Denmark" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Enigma: Sadeness Part I" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  15. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Enigma – Sadeness Part I" (in French). Les classement single.
  16. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Enigma – Sadeness Part I". GfK Entertainment Charts.
  17. ↑ "Top 10 Greece" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Irish Singles Chart – Search for song". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Hit Parade Italia - Indice per Interprete: E". Hit Parade Italia. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Enigma" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  21. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Enigma – Sadeness Part I" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  22. ↑ "Charts.nz – Enigma – Sadeness Part I". Top 40 Singles.
  23. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Enigma – Sadeness Part I". VG-lista.
  24. ↑ "Top 10 Portugal" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  25. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  26. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Enigma – Sadeness Part I". Singles Top 100.
  27. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Enigma – Sadeness Part I". Swiss Singles Chart.
  28. ↑ UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com . Retrieved April 14, 2008.
  29. 1 2 3 Billboard Allmusic.com . Retrieved September 10, 2008.
  30. ↑ 1991 Australian Singles Chart aria.com . Retrieved 10 September 2008.
  31. ↑ 1991 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at . Retrieved 10 September 2008.
  32. ↑ "RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1991". RPM. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  33. ↑ "Single top 100 over 1991" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  34. ↑ "End of Year Charts 1991". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  35. ↑ 1991 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch . Retrieved 10 September 2008.
  36. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 - 1991". Archived from the original on 2009-07-07. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  37. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  38. ↑ "Austrian single certifications – Enigma – Sadeness" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved June 29, 2012. Enter Enigma in the field Interpret. Enter Sadeness in the field Titel. Select single in the field Format. Click Suchen. 
  39. ↑ "French single certifications – Enigma – Sadeness" (in French). InfoDisc. Select ENIGMA and click OK. 
  40. ↑ "Les Singles en Or :" (in French). Infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  41. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Enigma; 'Sadeness Part One')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  42. ↑ "Dutch single certifications – Enigma – Sadeness" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved June 29, 2012. Enter Sadeness in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  43. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  44. ↑ "British single certifications – Enigma – Sadness Part I". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 29, 2012. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Sadness Part I in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  45. ↑ "American single certifications – Enigma – Sadeness Part I". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 29, 2012. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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