By Odeisel

There was once a time when there was nothing quite as moving as a Rock ballad. Thin Lizzy’s 1974 heater “Still In Love With You” is a rousing song rife with emotional tumult and passion. Punctuated by pregnant pauses that erupt into electric guitar solos and drums that power the ebb and flow of emotion, the song is ranked as one of the most romantic Rock ballads ever created. Singer Sade has chosen to cover the number for her coming compendium The Hits Collection with a rendition that goes in a different direction energy-wise, but manages to maintain the same quiet desperation.

Gone are the pyrotechnics associated with the original. Sade is blanketed in acoustics including that crunchy acoustic guitar that sounds like the springs of a well-worn mattress. The easy listening groove lends itself to allowing Sade’s voice and presence to take a larger role in the movement of the song. Organs do most of the musical emotion building and an understated electric guitar keeps pace with bongos and maracas.

The cleansing admission of the love that remains even in the face of the impending end of a relationship is proof of the strength of that love, or how hooked Sade is on a relationship not meant to be. Call on her if you need anything, as any form of contact is acceptable as long as some semblance of a relationship remains. In her heart she knows he’s not going to call, but she wouldn’t be honoring the love she had if she didn’t at least make the attempt. The song’s power lies in how resigned the singer is to the end, while maintaining the slightest of dignity in such a desperate admission.

While the music doesn’t move you as much as the original, Sade’s vocals and her smooth delivery hit home on a song that could easily be configured to match either sex on the wrong side of a dying relationship that would survive if they had their say. It seems no matter who covers this song, we’ll still be in love with it.  For comparison’s sake, above is a live version of the original.
Sade – Still In Love With You by Hypetrak

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