Bring Me Home - Live 2011 [Blu-ray]

I've always enjoyed Sade's music, live (once), on CD, DVD and now Blu-Ray. Bring me home is the second best of the bunch right behind actually being at the concert. Well, wait, there's no traffic in or out at home, I can freely use the bathroom when I need to, food and drinks are free (sorta) and my system brings me pretty damn close to actually being there (in feeling anyway). So, I don't know, the blu-ray could actually tie for first, even with traffic and all there's nothing quite like being at the show. Anyway, Sade have turned up the wick just enough to make this particular concert even more fun than the last few. The backdrops, images and that extra little bit of energy in the songs really come across plus the show feels somewhat more intimate compared to either of the previous two tours. These songs refuse to age as obviously does Sade herself, they sound as good as ever and she seems to become more beautiful as time passes. Minor criticisms (and, who am I?) is that I wish the guys would really let loose on some of the songs, like they'd really let rip with a slashing solo on guitar, sax or the drums. I don't mean that rehearsed jam they usually do at the end of smooth operator (not in this show) but actual improvisational riffing and jamming. They obviously have the chops so let em go! Other than that this is a very enjoyable blu-ray concert, one that I don't believe you even have to be a Sade super fan to enjoy. Although I have a surround sound system I've only listened to the PCM stereo track and it sounds very good, I played it pretty loud and you could still hear each instrument doing it's individual thing while coming together as a whole. The video can look a little grainy at times, especially for a blu ray but there are a lot of background lighting effects and such that could be adding to that perception. I give the audio (PCM stereo) 4.5 stars outta 5 and the video 4 out of 5 due to that occasional graininess. I give the Blu-ray 5 stars overall because it's just plain fun music to listen and jam along to.

It was a warm summer evening July 9, 2011 (still daylight) in downtown Cleveland, Ohio with bumper to bumper traffic searching for a good parking spot. Just a few blocks away was a parking garage then the trek to the Quicken Loans arena. Going down the stairs to the awaiting floor seats just second section, center second row. The pounding of the bass drum signaling the start of John Legend's set beginning with Rolling In the Deep. Yes John Legend, not Adele. Must have been his favorite song at the time (as well as everybody else's!!). Excellent opening act. Now the moment we have been waiting for with Soldier of Love, the opening from Apocalypse Now!! First thing I thought of anyway! Then the diva rising from the floor with the rest of her band!!! What a build up!! From then on, one after the other; Your Love is King, Skin to the dramatic opening of Smooth Operator & that kick ass bass solo that I never get tired of (& neither does Sade by her reaction!!). The lighting, sets, alternate, rockier versions of her biggest hits (Paradise my personal fave!) giving us the fans so much bang for our buck. I give this 5 stars as an ultimate souvenir of such an incredible night of music & class. The night was an anniversary present to ourselves (21st BTW!!) & we couldn't ask for better. As far as the few criticisms go for this performance, it is definitely not the same as being there. I can clearly see the flaws in the DVD/Blue ray. But a must have document for any Sade fan that has been there or wasn't fortunate to see it in person. Her heart was definitely in this show! Thank you Sade Adu and your incredible band for such a mesmerizing, magical & unforgettable concert experience.

Wow, now this is what a concert is supposed to look and sound like!!! I gave "The Bring Me Home" concert DVD 5 Stars only because that's the highest rating allowed. This is truly a 10 Star performance by Sade!! She's a Goddess and her voice is angelic!! The band is beyond sensational. I did something I never did before with a new DVD, I watched it back to back. I've watched this concert at least ten times in the month and a half I've owned it. Sade and her band truly are the soldiers of love!! They put on a SHOW for every band to try to be great enough to emulate. Sade sets the standard of perfection, mind, heart, body and soul. Heaven most definitely is missing an Angel while Sade performs for us mere mortals. To have her in your living room is as good as sitting in the front row to see and listen to Her and the Band. The new songs she introduced as well as some of her all time favorites were off the charts!! Their sheer greatness on this DVD is immeasurable by any standard. I also need to mention the production itself. The producers deserve a ton of credit for their part in making this listening and viewing experience out of this world. Thank You Sade!! You sing in one of your songs "it's never as good as the first time" but you only get better each time I watch your concert(s), especially this show!! I am totally in love with you. It's stunning how beautiful you remain. Stunning how beautiful your songs remain too!! Whoever these people are that give it less than five stars need professional help!!

This concert on Blu Ray is simply stunning. The picture quality and sound are truly amazing. Having seen her in Portland last summer and been in the second row, I can honestly say that this is in some ways even better than being there. OK when you are there you are seeing her live, and it is very thrilling, especially when she comes across the stage and looks right at you and your wife and smiles, but there are people around you talking, and you are so close that you can't see the forest through the trees, and you can't appreciate some of the lighting/visual effects, or see very well at all when the semitransparent curtain on to which they project images comes down. On this disc, everything is ultra clear, and you get a full sense of the stage. This is a brilliantly done production without many distracting crowd shots or choppy editing. Sade is stunning, just stunning, as is the lighting/effects, and I would just like to say thank you Sade for being so beautiful in every way and for giving us your music and this fantastic show. At the concert I found myself inadvertently yelling out "Thank you Sade!", but that is how I really feel, just so grateful.

If you like Sade and her sound you should add this Blu-ray to your video collection. A very enjoyable concert with many of her hits. Comfort food music on par with Seal's "Seal in Paris" concert. Visuals and sounds were clear to our eyes and ears. She has a talented band, we enjoyed the stage visuals, and there are some bonus materials that include some behind the scenes footage of the tour that we found entertaining and interesting. We got to hear some newer material we were unfamiliar with (e.g., Soldier of Love) that we really liked. This Blu-ray is a nice complement to her "Life Promise Pride Love" DVD which does have some overlap in terms of the songs presented, but that DVD had the MTV-type videos, whereas the Bring Me Home Live 2011 is actual concert footage. We own both of these and think they go well together.

Sade's new blu-ray concert video is exceptionally crystal-clear, great to watch and highly recommended. Sade performs with style, grace, and elegance as always. Her voice is even more beautiful and clear than ever -- and the band is tight; a great ensemble. Stuart's sax playing, esp. on Jezebel, is legendary...way to go! There's many new tracks in addition to familiar favorites like Paradise, No Ordinary Love and Smooth Operator; for example the new "Love is Found" song is upbeat, fun to watch. Thanks Sade for continuing to shine, to the band for musical brilliance, and to everyone for making this possible (clear audio and excellent visuals/dp/production/staging). As a longtime fan since the 80s, it's great to see Sade continue to perform magnificently. Very professional and well-produced. To the music, Ken 7/2012 Update: Two months later, this is my most-played recent concert DVD... I'd watched Sade's earlier dvds dozens of times over the years; I've been watching this at least 1-2x/week since I got it, lots of replay value. Really enjoying the high-impact production touches; like lightning flashes on No Ordinary Love, the staging on Smooth Operator a la film noire look, upbeat visual background scenery on Kiss of Life, circles/visuals in video background on Paradise. Perfect way to highlight Sade's most-beautiful vocal stylings. Sade's band redefines "tight", with smooth backup singers, and brilliant ensemble musicianship this one's a real treat to watch over and over again. Thanks Sade for shining some light into these times. As always you sparkle with clear, thoughtful vocals, wit, professionalism, talent and stylish worldclass musicianship. You 'bring it'; we all appreciate it. Like a fine wine, you and the rest of the band just get better with time. Thank you! A+++ This one's a winner. 9/2013 update: all this time later, I like this bluray dvd better than any other concert one I have, imho it's the best released in recent years. I watch it over and over again, Sade and her band bring beautiful music better than anyone else. Tight, hip, fun, immensely musical; thanks so much to all of you for producing this treasure. Best. Concert DVD. Ever. This is very watchable/listenable, over and over again; I watch favorite tracks from this more than any other, in my considerable library. Sade's the best. Smooth, stylish, tight, and wonderfully brilliant. Thanks a million, for adding so much. Classy musicianship reinvented and kept more vibrant and alive than ever. You're my favorite singer, and favorite band, of them all. Unlike others, I never get tired of listening to Sade. I still watch 'Love Is Found', 'Paradise', 'Your Love is King' and others every week, very enjoyable. 12/2014: the professional sound, impact and visuals continue to make this my favorite concert dvd ever. In watching it so often one thing I like a lot is the variety of songs, from upbeat 'Paradise'/'Love is Found' to quiet, wistful 'Jezebel'. Astonishing range and versatility from the entire band, and world's best singing from Sade. Thanks!

Saw the show in Seattle. Breathtaking! Man! Sade does it with so much style, grace, confidence and intimacy! Superb staging, lighting, sound and showmanship. The show, from start to finish is not only a feast for the eyes, it's a sexy, sultry, seductive, orgasmic assault on the ears. Sade Abu, long the perfectionist and singing only when she has something to sing about, after a 10 year hiatus, shows us all why her LP "Soldier Of Love" (Debut at #1 in the U.S. and stayed on the charts for 14 weeks) produced a sound and feel that made every one want to see Sade and Co. in concert after a 10 year hiatus from the stage as well! With sold out shows on the original legs of the tour and the success of the LP, Sade extended the tour to Australia adding dates, with a final show for this tour in Abu Dhabi making this the band's first WORLD TOUR and rounding success!! They performed in front of over a half a million fans, many of the dates sold out in a tour that grossed over $53 million. The 2011 concert dvd/cd combo debut at number 1 in the U.S. as well! Making Sade the 8th highest grossing tour of 2011. Now, this tour will have to do for now...no telling when the reigning queen of pop/soul/r&b/jazz and rock will get around to treating us to another LP and Tour? Get your copy now!

Love this concert, only 1993 video concert better , amazing she’s 52 but looks in 30s ! Production so good, wish I could have been there ! Not only a great singer but what a beautiful woman ! Many costume changes and the best encore I’ve ever seen ! Don’t want to spoil ! When she sings the song “ Skin “, it became my all time favorite of her songs, replacing, “ Kiss of Life”, former favorite ! Looks amazing, the production on “ King of Sorrow” showcases her beauty ! I’ve often been asked, which entertainer I’d like most to see today ! Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, and Whitney Houston ( if still alive ) ? My answer without thought is SADE ! Not only the sultry voice , the entertainer, but the production and the outstanding musicians that make up Sade ! Stuart Mathewman, Paul Denman, and Andrew Hale, most notably ! The guitar solo on “ Skin “ is fantastic ! The bass on “ Cherish the Day “ ! Fantastic show, I own all her records and look forward to more ! You get a DVD and CD with this package, guarantee, you won’t be disappointed !