Sade-ness: not an Enigma

Procedamus in pace



This song, and many of Enigma's songs are about the conflict between the physical (body, sexuality, corporeal) and the spiritual (meaning of life, spiritual evolution, values and morals). This is immediately made clear in the music itself - the contrast between the ethereality of much of the spiritual/religious music such as Gregorian chants and others that they sample, with their grinding, techno, primitive and sexy beats.

Enigma is not at all Christian in their theology - they offer absolutely no solutions, but only bring the ideas into question. Enigma uses religious music from many different cultures including Christianity, Islam, Hindu, and native peoples, etc. which suggest they are much more easily classified as New Age - a belief that all religions share common spiritual beliefs, but there is no true theology or discipline behind New Age: it is based on personal exploration and it is "situation-specific."

If you were to listen to all of Enigma's music, some of it is explicitly New Age, especially the concept behind the name of one of their albums, "The Screen Behind the Mirror."

The Marquis de Sade may be the writer who others later used as a historical figure in the term sadism or the practice and beliefs of sado-masochism, but contemporary sado-masochism is entirely different than what the Marquis described or practiced.

I see this song as clearly playing with (not coming to any conclusions about) the idea of sadism as a sexual/spiritual practice - it believes there is a spiritual release into Oneness, through the techniques of domination of submission through sexual practices that include pain and humiliation. Practitioners describe a religious ecstasy when certain thresholds are crossed.

The Marquis de Sade is referred to as a representative of the practice of sado-masochism. In a sense, the questioner is conflicted between her Christian beliefs that sex, domination, submission, pain and humiliation are evil, while she herself is tempted by them, or perhaps has experienced them.

She asks:
Sade, tell me
Sade, give it to me ("give it to me" is a sexual reference)
Let us come in peace (a play on the word "come")
In the name of Christ, Amen (a teasing sacrilegious reference in this context).

Sado-masochism is a paradox, because it promotes a powerful pleasure to its practitioners, and a type of spiritual experience that feels "divine" while using techniques that are generally considered evil.

Ironically, some interpretations of Christianity, particularly as practiced the Medieval era, promoted submission and domination by the Catholic Church, including self-flagellation and the punishment of the body (the corporeal) to achieve the incorporeal (spiritual awakening).

Keep in mind that Michael and Sandra Cretu also live on the Spanish island of Ibiza, reknown for its wild, rave and party scene, and are highly involved in the dance club music industry.

Finally, in many of Enigma's videos, there are explicit references to the celebration of the body and sexuality, and references to sado-masochism.

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Lyrics for: Sadeness (Part One)

Procedamus in pace
In nomine Christi, Amen
Cum angelis et pueris, fideles inveniamur
Attollite portas, principes, vestras,
Et elevamini, portae aeternales,
Et introibit Rex gloriae.
Quis est iste Rex gloriae?

Sade, dis-moi...
Sade, donnes-moi...
Procedamus in pace
In nomine Christi, Amen

Sade, dis-moi, qu'est-ce que tu vas chercher?
Le bien par le mal? La vertue par le vice?
Sade, dis-moi, pourquoi l'û?vangile du mal?
Quelle est ta relûÙgû?on? Ou sont tes fidû´les?
Si tu es contre Dieu, tu es contre l'homme
Sade, es-tu diabolique, ou divin?

Sade, dis-moi... Hosanna
Sade, donnes-moi... Hosanna
Sade, dis-moi... Hosanna
Sade, donnes-moi... Hosanna

In nomine Christi, Amen

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Translation of French and Latin

Let us come in peace
In the name of Christ, Amen
In the company of angels and children, we will find the believer
Raise the poles of your glorious doors
And once they are elevated,
The Glorious King will arrive
Who is this Glorious King?

Sade, tell me
Sade, give it to me
Let us come in peace
In the name of Christ, Amen

Sade, tell me
What are you looking for?
The good or the bad
Virtue or vice
Sade, why the gospel of evil?

What is your religion and the religion of your followers?
If you are against God, you are against man
Sade, are you diabolic or divine?

Sade, say to me, Hosanna
Sade, give to me, Hosanna
Sade, say to me, Hosanna
Sade, give to me, Hosanna

In the name of Christ, Amen