Sade, with John Legend, last night at Sprint Center

Last evening at the Sprint Center, the lead singer changed into four different outfits. More than a couple of times, the band transported itself to the stage via elevator risers through trap doors. The show also featured a number of multimedia elements; at one point, everyone in the band exited the stage, and a moody, faux-noir video was shown. The word “dame” was used. Later on, a performance was accompanied by video projection consisting of three full minutes of the lead singer humorlessly swinging a lasso. Cold, blue, tumultuous clouds passed quickly in the background. 

All are normally grounds for exaggerated eye rolls, but not at a Sade show. At a Sade show, you sit there with intermittent goose bumps for two straight hours and marvel at the fact that a person as graceful, elegant, talented and beautiful as Sade Adu even exists on this planet, and you learn to love that shit.