It was at the Night of the Proms that I had the pleasure of seeing Seal perform live. In one word: amazing! I had solemnly promised myself to see him live again, but to this day that hasn't happened. Since then, I've made do with a number of really great DVDs and, of course, his records!
Seal
Seal, stage name of Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel (19 February 1963), is a British singer. His musical style ranges from soul and pop to rap and rock.
Seal's musical career began in 1989 when he released a demo recording. In 1990, he provided vocals on the single 'Killer' by Adamski, which became a number 1 hit in Flanders and the United Kingdom, among others. Afterwards, Seal recorded his first solo album with the singles 'Crazy' (which reached number 1 in the Netherlands), 'Future Love Paradise' and 'The Beginning'.
After these successes, Seal moved to Los Angeles and shaved off his dreadlocks as a kind of fresh start. In 1994, his second album was released, with the first single 'Prayer for the Dying'. The second single 'Kiss from a Rose' initially made little impression but became a big hit a year later as the love theme for the film Batman Forever. The song also appeared on the soundtrack of this film.
In 1996, Seal scored a hit with the cover 'Fly Like an Eagle', originally a song by the Steve Miller Band. He recorded this version for the soundtrack of the film Space Jam.
Top 2000
In the 23rd edition of the Top 2000, Seal was listed with the following entries:
Sunday Morning Classic: Seal
On 21 June 2020, Seal was a guest on our Sunday Morning Classics with his debut album Seal.
Debut albums are often a kind of trial for various musical acts. For some, they were instant masterpieces. For others, stepping stones to bigger and better things, and in some cases, more of the same or complete failures. Yet Seal's first record fits into both the first and second categories: it is both a masterpiece and a stepping stone. This is because it has effective, catchy songs that stick with you.
Seal's mix of R&B, soul and pop is sometimes driven by pumping electronic beats, while elsewhere things are more stripped back with guitars and strings forming the basis. The central constant is Seal's distinctive earthy yet soulful voice, which shows an impressive range in both pitch and intensity. Much of this music now feels quite dated, but it is still filled with infectious grooves and tender moments. These songs are full of character, both vocally and musically, with progressions that avoid complete predictability while remaining as catchy as hell.
'Crazy' is a great pop hit of all time, with seductive and mysterious melodies. The spicy, dramatic 'Killer' is another worthy classic, although in some places it struggles a bit compared to the rhythmic drive of 'Crazy'.
Opener 'The Beginning' is my other favourite choice, with zapping electronics accentuating the driving beat. 'Future Love Paradise' is another winner, not least helped by the irresistible bass licks of Trevor Horn.
It is clear that the singles are the tracks that stand out, but as a whole Seal flows seamlessly and easily withstands the test of time. There is a nice variation in mood and tempo, with the non-single tracks picking up most of the softer and slower feelings. The album ends in smooth, softer areas, with the almost Prince-like quiet, funky romance of 'Show Me' preceding 'Violet's lush, expansive and atmospheric lounge/jazz soundscape.
A unique pop voice in both senses of the word, Seal and Seal are not without reason enduring classics.
source: Jan Liebregts and Wikipedia photo: by Eva Rinaldi - Seal, CC BY-SA 2.0 and Ppmarat
Visit Seal on his website.
