| "Sadeness (Part I)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Enigma | ||||
| from the album MCMXC a.D. | ||||
| Released | December 1990 | |||
| Format | CD, cassette, 12" | |||
| Recorded | 1990 | |||
| Genre | New Age, dance | |||
| Length | 4:16 | |||
| Label | Charisma / Virgin / EMI | |||
| Writer(s) | Curly M.C. F. Gregorian David Fairstein |
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| Producer | Michael Cretu | |||
| Enigma singles chronology | ||||
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"Sadeness (Part I)" is a 1990 single created by the musical project Enigma. The song was the first of four singles from the project's first album MCMXC a.D. and upon release became an international smash hit, reaching number one in 24 countries and the top ten in four others including the United States where it made number five on the pop chart and number one on the dance chart.
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"Sadeness" was written by Michael Cretu (under the pseudonym Curly M.C.), Frank Peterson (under the pseudonym F. Gregorian), and 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 French lyrics.
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 "Sadeness 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.
It was followed by a pseudo-sequel named "Mea Culpa (Part II)", which was a moderate commercial success compared to "Sadeness (Part I)".
The video shows a scholar, possibly a reference to Marquis de Sade, who falls asleep at a desk in his room whilst writing ... and has a fantastic, seductive, and enlightening dream. The scholar finds himself wandering among cathedral ruins. He comes up to Auguste Rodin's The Gates of Hell, which is probably the "Forbidden Door", according to the album concept. As the young man looks on, he sees a beautiful young woman beyond it. She whispers the main lyric to him in a seductive tone - "Sade, dis-moi" "Sade, donne-moi" or translated- "Sade, tell me" "Sade, give me". The man turns and tries to flee, but relents to his desires and is "sucked" back through the door. At this point, the young man wakes from the dream and looks around anxiously, but finds only a light from his window shining down on him.
Toronto electronic duo Crystal Castles has sampled segments of Sadness (Part I) in some of their Live acts. They are to release their new album in April or May 2010 which includes the single that features the sample.
The single became a number-one hit in the UK in January, and soon followed in over 20 other countries.[1] 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 U.S. and was certified gold.[2] The single has sold more than 5 million copies worldwide.[3]
Peak positions
1 "Principles of Lust" ("Sadeness"/ "Find Love" / "Sadeness") |
Year-end charts
Certifications
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