Smooth Operator

“Smooth Operator” is about a fashionable [[Confidence trick|con-man]] who moves within high social circles. He is popular with women and breaks many hearts. The lyrics “Coast to coast, [[Los Angeles|LA]] to [[Chicago]], western male / Across the north and south, to [[Key Largo]], love for sale”<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sade.com/lyrics/smooth-operator |title=Smooth Operator |website=Sade.com |access-date=3 March 2021}}</ref> imply that he also uses women to obtain his income. It is also clear that he does not hold sincere affection for these women, as Adu sings near the end, “his heart is cold”.

“Smooth Operator” is about a fashionable [[Confidence trick|con-man]] who moves within high social circles. He is popular with women and breaks many hearts. The lyrics “Coast to coast, [[Los Angeles|LA]] to [[Chicago]], western male / Across the north and south, to [[Key Largo]], love for sale”<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sade.com/lyrics/smooth-operator |title=Smooth Operator |website=Sade.com |access-date=3 March 2021}}</ref> imply that he also uses women to obtain his income. It is also clear that he does not hold sincere affection for these women, as Adu sings near the end, “his heart is cold”.

The video to this song reinforces the message and the operator, played by actor [[Michael Feast]], appears to be a professional criminal. In one scene, he displays a gun to an interested customer, and in others, he appears to be a pimp. Apparently, he succeeds in evading law enforcement, who have him under surveillance. In the video is revealed that the operator cheats Sade with a waitress of the nightclub (played by actress [[Amanda Pays]]). However, as revealed in the extended version of the video, which contains the composition “Red Eye” (played after the song in 12-inch single release), Sade, cooperating with the police, hides behind the nightclub equipment and sees the criminal return to the club. Then she bumps into a box, causing the noise and the criminal to chase after her. When the police arrive outside, he tries to escape from them from rooftop to rooftop until he is shot and then falls from a rooftop to his death.

The video to this song reinforces the message and the operator, played by actor [[Michael Feast]], appears to be a professional criminal. In one scene, he displays a gun to an interested customer, and in others, he appears to be a pimp. Apparently, he succeeds in evading law enforcement, who have him under surveillance. In the video is revealed that the operator cheats on Sade with a waitress of the nightclub (played by actress [[Amanda Pays]]). However, as revealed in the extended version of the video, which contains the composition “Red Eye” (played after the song in 12-inch single release), Sade, cooperating with the police, hides behind the nightclub equipment and sees the criminal return to the club. Then she bumps into a box, causing the noise and the criminal to chase after her. When the police arrive outside, he tries to escape from them from rooftop to rooftop until he is shot and then falls from a rooftop to his death.

This song is noted for Adu’s spoken recitation in the song’s introduction. Some radio edits have omitted the spoken introduction and proceeded with the opening sung line of the title of the album, “Diamond Life”. Some radio edits have shortened the instrumental saxophone solo, as well as the first repeat of the lines that come after the chorus portions.

This song is noted for Adu’s spoken recitation in the song’s introduction. Some radio edits have omitted the spoken introduction and proceeded with the opening sung line of the title of the album, “Diamond Life”. Some radio edits have shortened the instrumental saxophone solo, as well as the first repeat of the lines that come after the chorus portions.