Sadeness (Part I)

Infobox Single
Name = Sadeness (Part I)

|225px
Artist = Enigma
from Album = MCMXC a.D.
Released = December, 1990
Format = CD, cassette, 12"
Recorded = ?
Genre = New Age
Length = 4:16
Label = Charisma / Virgin / EMI
Writer = Curly M.C.
F. Gregorian
David Fairstein
Producer = Michael Cretu
Chart position =
* #1 (Austria, Austria, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Belgium, Eurochart, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK Singles Chart, US Hot Dance Singles Sales, US Hot Dance Club Play, Venezuela)
* #2 (Australia, New Zealand)
* #4 (Thailand)
* #5 (US Hot 100)
* #6 (Finland, US Modern Rock)
* #67 (US Top R&B Singles)
[http://www.five.no/enigma/articles/CROSSOfChanges.press.html Source]

Last single =
This single = "Sadeness (Part I)"
(1990)
Next single = "Mea Culpa (Part II)"
(1991)

"Sadeness (Part I)" is a 1990 song created by the musical project Enigma. The single was the first of four singles released from "MCMXC a.D."

History

"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 song was named "Sadeness (Part I)" on its single release in Germany, and "Sadness 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 less popular than "Sadeness".

Track listing

* 4-track CD single for the UK
# "Sadness Part I" (Radio Edit) – 4:16
# "Sadness Part I" (Extended Trance Mix) – 5:04
# "Sadness Part I" (Meditation Mix) – 3:01
# "Sadness Part I" (Violent US Remix) – 5:03

* 5-track CD single for the U.S.
# "Sadeness Part I" (Violent US Remix) – 5:03
# "Sadeness Part I" (Meditation Mix) – 3:01
# "Sadeness Part I" (Extended Trance Mix) – 5:04
# "Sadeness Part I" (Radio Edit) – 4:17
# "Introit: Benedicta sit sancta Trinitas" – 3:04

* 2-track promotional CD single for Japan
# "Sadness Part I" (Ebi-Kuma Mix)
# "Sadness Part I" (Meditation Mix)

* 2-track 7-Inch single for France
# "Sadeness Part I" (Radio Edit) – 4:17
# "Sadeness Part I" (Meditation Mix) – 2:57

Uses in other media

On October 16, 2002, the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Anne Dudley performed a live version of "Sadeness (Part I)". The video was featured in "The Brothers Grunt" episode "The Ceremony".

The song was featured in the "slow motion" sketch, from the 2nd season of Chappelle's Show. It was also used as background music in films such as "Charlie's Angels", "Boxing Helena" and "Exit To Eden", the Fake Trailer titled "Satan's Alley" featuring Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey, Jr.) and Tobey Maguire from the film "Tropic Thunder"

Video

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.

Certifications

References