"Flower of the Universe" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Sade | ||||
from the album A Wrinkle in Time (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | ||||
Released | 7 March 2018 | |||
Length | 3:49 | |||
Label | Sony | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Sade singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Lyric video | ||||
"Sade - Flower of the Universe (From Disney's "A Wrinkle In Time") - Lyric Video - 2018" on YouTube |
"Flower of the Universe" is a song recorded by the British singer Sade Adu for the soundtrack to the 2018 film A Wrinkle in Time . Written and produced by Sade, Andrew Hale and Ben Travers, it was released as the lead single from the soundtrack, serving as Sade's first song in seven years. The song starts at No. 25 on "R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales" with 6,000 sold in the week ending March 15, 2018. [1]
The film's director Ava DuVernay revealed the song in a tweet on 20 February 2018, alongside a GIF of Sade. [2] "I never thought she'd say yes, but asked anyway. She was kind plus giving. A goddess. We began a journey together that I'll never forget. Proud to announce that Sade has created an original song for Wrinkle in Time. It's entitled 'Flower of the Universe.' And it's a dream come true." [3] [4]
Jordan Sargent of Spin commented "Flower of the Universe" feels of a piece with Soldier of Love —the band’s most recent album, released in 2010—which sucked the grooves out of their sound in favor of a stillness that conveyed both the vulnerability and strength inherent in isolation. Likewise, there are no drums present on “Flower of the Universe”—instead, the song’s arrangement (written in tandem with bandmate Andrew Hale and another collaborator, Ben Travers) is constructed only from the strums of an acoustic guitar and cooed backing harmonies that seem to stretch far and wide. The song—about a mother’s eternal love—suggests that Sade is out somewhere in the wilderness, detached from the rest of humanity. It invites repeated listens and eventually envelops you, offering a calming, nourishing comfort. [5] Andrew Flanagan of NPR stated "The track is classic Sade — a lush, honey sway, a voice like thick, slow-motion silk." [6] Ben Baumont-Thomas of The Guardian noted "Backed by pretty acoustic guitar and almost eerie wordless backing vocals, Sade delivers a typically spellbinding vocal line. The sentimental lyric is aimed at a child, described as a "flower of the universe". [7]
Credits adapted from Tidal. [8]
Helen Folasade Adu, known professionally as Sade Adu or simply Sade, is a Nigerian-born British singer, known as the lead vocalist of her band Sade. One of the most successful British female artists in history, she is often recognised as an influence on contemporary music. Her success in the music industry was recognised with the Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2002, and she was made Commander in the 2017 Birthday Honours.
Sade are an English band, formed in London in 1982 and named after their lead singer, Sade Adu. Three members, Paul Anthony Cooke, Stuart Mathewman, and Paul Spencer Denman, are from Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Its music features elements of soul, quiet storm, smooth jazz and sophisti-pop. All of the band's albums, including compilations and a live album, have charted in the US Top Ten.
The Best of Sade is the first greatest hits album by English band Sade, released by Epic Records in the United Kingdom on 31 October 1994 and in the United States on 4 November 1994. The compilation chronicles Sade's first four studio albums, while also including non-single songs "Jezebel", "Like a Tattoo" and "Pearls", as well as "Please Send Me Someone to Love", which appeared in the soundtrack to the film Philadelphia. The album was digitally remastered in 2000.
Lovers Rock is the fifth studio album by English band Sade, released on 13 November 2000 by Epic Records. The album was titled after a style of reggae music known as lovers rock, noted for its romantic sound and content, which frontwoman Sade Adu listened to in her youth. Lovers Rock was seen as a departure from the band's previous use of jazz elements, opting instead for a wider use of musical elements from soul music, R&B, soft rock, folk music, dub, reggae, neo soul and lovers rock. The album's production has been characterised as spare, with simple arrangements and reggae flourishes. A concept album, the lyrics focus on both the positive and the negative sides of love; the album's lyrical content also touches upon political themes.
Promise is the second studio album by English band Sade, released in the United Kingdom on 4 November 1985 by Epic Records and in the United States on 15 November 1985 by Portrait Records. Recording for the album began in February and lasted until August 1985. The band co-produced the album with the same team of producers they worked with on their debut album, Diamond Life, including Robin Millar, Mike Pela and Ben Rogan. The album's title comes from a letter from Sade Adu's father where he refers to the "promise of hope" to recover from cancer.
Young Storytellers, formerly known as the Young Storytellers Foundation, is an arts education non-profit operating primarily in Los Angeles.
"By Your Side" is a song by English band Sade from their fifth studio album, Lovers Rock (2000). Written by Sade Adu, and produced by her and Mike Pela, it was released as the album's lead single in the United States on 3 October 2000 and in the United Kingdom on 6 November 2000. The track was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards in 2001. The music video for the single was directed by Sophie Muller. In 2002, the song was listed as the 48th greatest love song of all time by VH1.
"Your Love Is King" is a song by English band Sade from their debut studio album, Diamond Life (1984). The song was written by Sade Adu and Stuart Matthewman, and produced by Robin Millar. It was the album's lead single in the UK, released in January 1984, and the third single in the US, released there circa June 1985.
"Cherish the Day" is a song by English band Sade from their fourth studio album, Love Deluxe (1992). It was released as the album's fourth and final single in the United Kingdom on 19 July 1993. The music video was written and produced by Sade, followed by the co-writers Andrew Hale, and Stuart Matthewman.
Ava Marie DuVernay is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer. She is a recipient of a Primetime Emmy Award, two NAACP Image Award, a BAFTA Film Award, and a BAFTA TV Award, as well as a nominee of an Academy Award and Golden Globe. In 2011, she founded her independent distribution company ARRAY.
Stuart Colin Matthewman, also known as Cottonbelly, is an English songwriter, record producer and musician. With Sade Adu, Paul S. Denman, and Andrew Hale, he gained worldwide fame as the guitarist/saxophonist of the band Sade. Stuart is also a member of Sweetback, and was one half of Twin Danger.
Jennifer Michelle Lee is an American filmmaker. She is the chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios. She is best known as the writer and one of the directors of Frozen (2013) and its sequel Frozen II (2019), the former of which earned her an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Lee is the first female director of a Walt Disney Animation Studios feature film and the first female director of a feature film that earned more than $1 billion in gross box office revenue. She has won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award and an Annie Award, and has been nominated for one more BAFTA Award and two more Annie Awards.
A Wrinkle in Time is a 2018 American science fantasy adventure film directed by Ava DuVernay and written by Jennifer Lee and Jeff Stockwell, based on Madeleine L'Engle's 1962 novel of the same name. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Whitaker Entertainment, the story follows a young girl who, with the help of three astral travelers, sets off on a quest to find her missing father. The film stars Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Levi Miller, Storm Reid, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michael Peña, Zach Galifianakis, and Chris Pine.
Sing into My Mouth is a covers album by Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses that was released on July 17, 2015. The album's title is a lyric from the Talking Heads song "This Must Be the Place ".
Storm Reid is an American actress. After early roles in the television show A Cross to Bear (2012), the drama film 12 Years a Slave (2013), and the superhero film Sleight (2016), she earned Teen Choice Award and NAACP Image Award nominations for playing Meg Murry in the fantasy film A Wrinkle in Time (2018). She garnered further recognition with roles in the thriller film Don't Let Go (2019) and the horror film The Invisible Man (2020).
"I Believe" is a song by American record producer DJ Khaled featuring American singer Demi Lovato. Written alongside Denisia Andrews and Brittany Coney, it was released by Epic Records on March 7, 2018, as the third single from the soundtrack to the 2018 film A Wrinkle in Time. The song surrounds the message of believing in oneself.
A Wrinkle in Time (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2018 film of the same name. The soundtrack features seven original songs written for the film, as well as the film score by Ramin Djawadi. Walt Disney Records released the soundtrack digitally and on streaming services on March 9, 2018, and physically released it on CD on March 30.
"The Big Unknown" is a song by the English band Sade released in 2018. The song is featured in the motion picture Widows directed by Steve McQueen and centered on four women forced to pull off a robbery to pay a large criminal debt left behind by their late husbands. The film, which was adapted from the UK crime series of the same name, stars Viola Davis, Daniel Kaluuya, and Robert Duvall. Along with the songs by Sade and Nina Simone, the official soundtrack to Widows features an original score written by Hans Zimmer.
Cherish the Day is an American romantic drama anthology television series created and produced by Ava DuVernay. The series chronicles the relationship of one couple, with each episode spanning a single day marking a significant moment. The first season took place over the course of five years. The second one expanded over a few months.
Tendo Nagenda is an American film producer and former studio executive, described as "one of the most high-profile black film executives."