In the third edition of COVERS (2025), R. Kelly delivers a compelling rendition of “Sadie,” originally performed by The Spinners.
Ah, it’s time to get cozy and cover up! In COVERS, we highlight a musician or band covering songs by another musician (likely a popular musician). COVERS focuses solely on the musician who covers. It is open to established musicians and musicians who may not be as well-known. In the third edition of COVERS (2025), R. Kelly delivers a compelling rendition of “Sadie”, originally performed by The Spinners.
“This song goes out to my mother / The one I love and the one I lost.” Sigh, it is hard to adore a song and be repulsed by the musician who performs it. R. Kelly is NOT a good person. He deserves to be incarcerated for the sexual crimes he has committed. I do not condone his alleged or committed predatory or sexual behavior. For far too many years, fans, including myself, gave him a pass because we adored his music. A talented individual, his deplorable ways and sins have dimmed a remarkable catalog of music. One gem that I hesitated to write about is “Sadie”, the 10th track from his 1993 album, 12 Play. Although it could be mistaken as a Kelly original, The Spinners originally recorded “Sadie”. It was a modest success on the pop charts. It was written by Bruce Hawes, Charles Simmons, and Joseph B. Jefferson. Originally dedicated to an awesome, caring mother who is no longer with us, Kelly also dedicated his cover of the ballad to his late mom, Joanne Kelly, who died of cancer in 1993.
The lyrics from the original are retained in Kelly’s cover. He does tailor the intro to his mama, speaking poignantly over gospel-tinged organ. The sound of this 1993 version features more contemporary production compared to the original recorded nearly 20 years earlier (he produced it). The sound is characteristic of the R&B that dominated the 90s. His voice sounds terrific from start to finish. The vocals are soulful to the nth degree, particularly the ad-libs, as the energy of the song progresses to higher heights. Before knowing or accepting how bad he was as a person, the authenticity and honesty of this performance and dedication to his mother are undisputed. Even knowing now that he has been monstrous, revisiting or hearing “Sadie” for the first time, you hear beauty. The chorus is where his bread is buttered, assisted by background singers.
“Oh, Sadie, don’t you know we love you, sweet Sadie
Place no one above you, sweet Sadie
Well, well, well
Living in the past
Sometimes, it seems so funny
No money can turn your life around.”
Should I have written about an artist whose career is permanently muted because of his despicable actions? I don’t know. “Sadie” is truly beautiful from someone who showed themself to be utterly ugly, unfortunately.
R. Kelly // 12 Play // Zomba Recording LLC // 1993
R. Kelly, Sadie: Covers No. 3 (2025) [
: Brent Faulkner /The Musical Hype; Zomba Recording LLC; Alan Cordero, Wolf Art from Pexels; AcatXIo, Enrique, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]