Page 32 - Write Away Magazine April

SEAL

During the 1990’s, the British Pop culture the pop and adult contemporary Top 10. His next full-length
exploded with a mass of talent gracing our studio outing, Human Being, came forth in 1998, followed by
another self-titled album in 2003 that showcased the single
charts. A huge part of that was Seal. “Love Divine.”
Dance Focus
orn on February 19, 1963, in London, England, Seal went
on to score a major U.K. hit, “Killer,” before releasing After releasing a greatest hits collection and Live From Paris,
Bhis 1991 debut album. He’s become an internationally Seal dropped System in 2007, the first album in which he didn’t
renowned singer/songwriter with albums like Human work with Horn. He instead collaborated with producer Stuart
Being and hits like “Crazy,” “Prayer for the Price, known for Madonna’s Confessions on a
Dying” and “Kiss From a Rose,” which won Dance Floor.
multiple Grammy Awards. He was married to
supermodel and TV host Heidi Klum for several System had a more dance/up-tempo feel
years. than its predecessors, though Seal’s albums
have generally incorporated electronic
Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel was soundscapes into tunes that blend acoustic
born in London, England, on February 19, 1963, pop and R&B. His lyrics, framed by a gravelly
of Nigerian heritage. He was raised in foster voice, have tended to be ruminations on
care for a time before being brought up by his relationships and the ways that we live. He
stepmother and father, a difficult, angry figure has also cultivated an image of a sophisticate
who was physically abusive. who embraces fine art aesthetics, appearing
nude on album covers and sporting debonair
Seal earned a degree in architecture and worked fashion.
various jobs before pursuing music, working ‘Soul’ Covers
with the band Push and traveling to Japan,
Thailand and India. By the time he was 23, he In the fall of 2008, Seal released Soul, a
had developed scars on his face as the result of a collection of covers featuring the works of
rare form of lupus. R&B greats like Ben E. King, Curtis Mayfield
and Otis Redding. He worked on the project
Though he initially refused to be taken on by with super-producer David Foster, and
labels, Seal scored a major hit back in London the two would collaborate again on 2010’s
with producer Adamski and the single “Killer,” Commitment. Seal returned to covers of
which went to the top of U.K. charts. He signed classics—and reunited with Horn—on 2012’s
with ZIT, the label of producer Trever Horn, whom would work Soul 2.
on the singer’s first four studio albums.
Seal once again worked with Horn for his next album of
Seal made his full-length, self-titled album debut in 1991 and original material, 7, slated for a mid-November release. The
scored with the moody, socially aware single “Crazy,” which singer has lead off with several singles that include swoon-
reached the Top 10 of Billboard’s pop chart. The artist won inducing ballad “Every Time I’m With You” and the uptempo
several Britain-based awards and released his second self- “Life on the Dance Floor.”
titled album in 1994, a work that was sonically lusher than its Marriage to Heidi Klum
predecessor and featured “Prayer Before Dying” and “Don’t (credit - www.biography.com)
Cry,” as well as vocals from Joni Mitchell.
Grand Hit, ‘Kiss From a Rose’ Love or loathe Seal, it is undeniable that he has been a major
impact on the British music scene. As many musicians, he
Another album single, “Kiss From a Rose,” was granted a spot has had his fair share of controvesy but he has maintained
on the Batman Forever soundtrack and became a No. 1 pop his drive and dedication to music. His appearance , in 2017,
and adult contemporary hit, also catapulting Seal 1994 into on America’s Got Talent underlined his place as a respected
multi-platinum status. The song and vocalist went on to win musician.
Grammys for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best
Male Pop Vocal Performance. For me personally, he has not been my cup of tea but that is no
slur on Seal, just a personal choice. Regardless, there is little
Seal made a contribution to the 1996 Space Jam soundtrack doubt of his huge impact and success as a major pop artist and
with a Steve Miller Band cover, “Fly Like an Eagle,” that reached yes, he was, and stil is, good, damn good.

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