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In 1984, following the success of their debut album, Diamond Life, the English band Sade, led by Sade Adu, released an even more successful follow-up, Promise. The album debuted in November 1985 and was a massive success for the band, as it was their first album to reach #1 on the US Billboard 200, where it spent two weeks at the top position. By September 1988, the album had sold more than one million copies in the United States, and by 1997, it was certified quadruple platinum for shipping over four million copies.

But before the album was released, Sade decided to give its fans a taste of what was to come, so one month prior to the album’s release, they released a 7-inch single (referring to a small, 7-inch vinyl record featuring one song per side) called “The Sweetest Taboo.” Needless to say, the single was a massive hit when it was released, and now, almost 40 years later, it remains an enduring classic, influencing artists and creators across generations.

Its smooth, sultry sound and evocative lyrics have made it a go-to reference in pop culture, appearing in everything from hit TV shows to hip-hop lyrics. Whether sampled in a chart-topping song, woven into a movie scene to set the mood, or name-dropped by an artist paying homage, “The Sweetest Taboo” continues to leave its mark decades after its release, and here are six times pop culture paid major tribute to the song.

Pose

Pose is an American drama Netflix series about New York City’s ball culture and LGBTQ subculture in the Black and Latino communities throughout the 1980s and 1990s. It centers on several characters, most of whom are dancers and models competing for trophies and recognition in this underground culture and who support one another in a network of chosen families, also known as Houses.

Sade’s “The Sweetest Taboo” can be heard at the beginning of the episode “Pink Slip” (Season 1, Episode 7), during a seduction scene between Elektra (Dominique Jackson) and her wealthy lover and financier Dick Ford (Christopher Meloni). It elevated the intimate reunion on the screen despite the fact that the scene didn’t actually end well.

Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley is a hilarious take on contemporary technology and the geeks who create it. It focuses on Richard Hendricks, a programmer who founded a startup company and then struggles to maintain it while facing competition from other giants in the tech industry. Sade’s “The Sweetest Taboo” is heard in one of the ending scenes of the seventh episode of Season 2, titled “Adult Content.”

In the episode, Dinesh, portrayed by Kumail Nanjiani, meets Karen over social media, and the two begin exchanging texts. Towards the end of the episode, Dinesh invites Karen over, only to realize that she’s Erlich’s former lover. Dinesh is then left sitting dejectedly in front of the computer, with the sound of “The Sweetest Taboo” coming from Erlich’s room as he and Karen get intimate.

Adomako Aman’s Tribute Video

In a creative homage, artist-filmmaker Adomako Adan directed and starred in a 2019 tribute video reimagining Sade’s “The Sweetest Taboo” with a few contemporary twists. The short film, premiered by PAPER magazine, lovingly recreates the look and feel of Sade’s original 1985 music video.

Aman portrayed Sade in the tribute and even went on to recreate the romantic getaway scenes with his love interest. However, the twist here is queer Black love story, as rapper DonChristian co-stars as the love interest. Aman’s tribute highlights the enduring appeal of “The Sweetest Taboo” across generations while also celebrating its legacy through a fresh narrative paired with iconic imagery and a well-known vibe of the original.

Prince: S.S.T.

Pop legend Prince also paid tribute to Sade with his 2005 charity single S.S.T., which the artist released to raise funds after Hurricane Katrina. The song’s title is an acronym that stands for “Sade’s Sweetest Taboo,” but it also refers to sea surface temperature, a metric used to monitor the threat of hurricanes.

Interestingly, “The Sweetest Taboo” was name-checked more than once in the lyrics. By weaving this reference into the title and vibe of the song, Prince acknowledged Sade’s influence, not just on music but also on his own artistry.

Les Nubians: Tabou

Les Nubians is a French musical duo and one of the most successful French-language musical groups in the United States. It is best known for its Billboard R&B single “Makeda.” Back in 1998, they paired with Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter of The Roots to produce “Tabou” for their Princesses Nubiennes album.

Though it has new French lyrics, “Tabou” carries the melody of Sade’s timeless hit, proving “The Sweetest Taboo”s global influence in the ’90s. In fact, “Tabou” is actually credited as the French adaptation of “The Sweetest Taboo,” despite the fact that the lyrics are significantly different.

Glamma Kid feat. Shola Ama: Taboo

Sade was immensely popular in their home country (England), and dancehall artist Glamma Kid paid his homage to the band by teaming up with R&B singer Shola Ama to produce their own “Taboo” — a hit single that interpolated the chorus and melody of “The Sweetest Taboo” with Glamma’s reggae-fusion.

While the track openly borrows from Sade’s own song, it became a pop culture moment of its own, as it reached #10 on the UK Singles Chart in 1999. This underscored just how enduring and adaptable “The Sweetest Taboo” really was, introducing Sade to younger late-’90s audiences.

Final Thoughts

In the end, “The Sweetest Taboo” transcended its 1980s origins, as it was sampled, covered, mentioned in other works by other artists, featured in TV shows, and even reimagined. It not only influenced the pop culture of the late 1980s, but its influence extended well into the 2010s and even 2020s, and these six moments collectively illustrate just how impactful “The Sweetest Taboo” is in both music and media.

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