The Sweetest Taboo” is a song by Nigerian Singer Helen Sade Adu, taken from her second album Promise (1985). While the song peaked at #31 on the UK Singles Chart, it fared considerably better in the United States, where it reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1986, remaining in the Top 40 for 13 weeks. It also became the band’s second consecutive number-one hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, following “Smooth Operator”. It is considered the group’s signature song.
“The Sweetest Taboo” is mentioned in the lyrics of Prince’s 2005 charity single “S.S.T.”, as well as in Mos Def’s 1999 song “Ms. Fat Booty”.
The French duo Les Nubians recorded a song called “Tabou” on their 1998 album Princesses Nubiennes, credited as a French adaptation of “The Sweetest Taboo”, although the lyrics are significantly different.
British artists Glamma Kid and Shola Ama sampled the song in 1999 in a somewhat more upbeat version with both a ragga and R&B feel to it. It was released as a single only.
The song was featured in a 1985 episode of the US daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless.
DOWNLOAD: Audio: Sade – The Sweetest Taboo
DOWNLOAD Video: Sade – The Sweetest Taboo
LYRICS:
If I tell you
If I tell you now
Will you keep on
Will you keep on loving me
If I tell you
If I tell you how I feel
Will you keep bringing out the best in me
You give me, you give me the sweetest taboo
You give me, you’re giving me the sweetest taboo
Too good for me<b…r>There’s a quiet storm
And it never felt like this before
There’s a quiet storm
That is you
There’s a quiet storm
And it never felt this hot before
Giving me something that’s taboo
(Sometimes I think you’re just too good for me)
You give me the sweetest taboo
That’s why I’m in love with you (with you)
You give me the sweetest taboo
Too good for me
(Sometimes I think you’re just too good for me)
I’d do anything for you, I’d stand out in the rain
Anything you want me to do, don’t let it slip away
There’s a quiet storm
And it never felt like this before
There’s a quiet storm
I think it’s you
There’s a quiet storm
And I never felt this hot before
Giving me something that’s taboo
You give me the (you give me, you give me the) sweetest taboo
That’s why I’m in love with you (with you)
You give me, keep giving me the sweetest taboo
Too good for me
You’ve got the biggest heart
Sometimes I think you’re just too good for me
Every day is Christmas, and every night is New Year’s Eve
Will you keep on loving me
Will you keep on, will you keep on
Bringing out the best in me
