☝️ Key Points
- 'Sadeness' by Enigma is directed towards the Marquis de Sade and attempts to understand his philosophy and motives.
- The main theme of the song lyrics is the conflict between morality and pleasure, good and evil, and the question of whether one can be against mankind without God.
- The singer poses questions about the meaning of passion without love and emotion in human culture, which points to Sade's focus on human desires and appetites.
- The repeated lines 'Sade, tell me... Sade, give me...' could be interpreted as the singer's desire to understand Sade's thinking or even follow in his footsteps.
- Finally, Sade is asked if he is devilish or divine, underscoring the singer's ambivalence towards Sade's philosophy. The song leaves this question open and encourages the listener to draw their own conclusions.
Interpretation
The song "Sadeness" by
Enigma refers to the French nobleman Marquis de Sade, who in the 18th century was known for his libertine writings that depicted sexual freedom and often violent and perverse acts. The song lyrics are in French and English and present a kind of dialogue with Sade, in which the singer tries to understand his philosophy and motives.
The main theme of the song is the conflict between morality and desire, good and evil, and the question of whether one can be against God without being against humanity. The singer asks Sade why he preaches the "gospel of evil" and why he advocates blood as pleasure, especially pleasure without love. The question is also raised whether there is no emotion in the "cult of man", which suggests the godlessness promoted by Sade and the exclusive focus on human desires and passions.
The repeated lines "Sade, tell me... Sade, give me..." can be interpreted as the singer's desire to understand Sade's thinking or even to follow in his footsteps. The final part of the song, where the "principles of pleasure" are discussed, reinforces this interpretation and suggests that the singer may be trying to explore and understand the concept of pleasure as understood by Sade.
In conclusion, Sade is asked whether he is devilish or divine, which underscores the singer's ambivalence towards Sade's philosophy. The song leaves this question open, inviting the listener to draw their own conclusions.