Seal (musician)

Seal Samuel (born February 19, 1963) is an English soul vocalist and songwriter.

Early life

Born Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel, in Paddington, England, his parents were Adebisi Samuel, a Nigerian immigrant, and Francis Samuel, an Afro-Brazilian immigrant. A childhood bout with lupus left him with distinctive facial scarring and hair loss. After school, he studied architecture and engineering.

Music career

Seal

As the featured vocalist on the Adamski single, "Killer", Seal became a hot property when the single reached number one in 1990 in the UK. Like many other Adamski tracks, the single was also a hit in night clubs. Seal subsequently signed to ZTT Records and released his debut album (produced by Trevor Horn), titled Seal, in 1991. Two versions of the album are known to be in circulation, the original "premix" version and a second, more common, version with an updated mix. This is attributed to the demands for a produced single rushing the final album edit, and as Seal puts it, his and producer Horn's "inability to let go"^*. The album was positively received by critics and the singles "Crazy", "Future Love Paradise" and his own rendition of "Killer" from the album all performed well on the charts.

Seal II

His second album, again self-titled, was released in 1994. A critical success, the album featured the singles "Prayer for the Dying" and "Newborn Friend", and received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. A third single, "Kiss From a Rose", performed modestly when released but was later featured in the film Batman Forever which resulted in its worldwide success. It went on to win Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year in 1996 and became Seal's best performing single in the US market. Later he recorded a cover of Steve Miller Band's "Fly Like an Eagle" for the soundtrack of the film Space Jam.

Human Being

Four years after the release of his previous album came Human Being, in 1998. The album was the product of a turbulent few years, including a split, and later reconciliation with producer Horn, which also saw Seal's departure from ZTT Records and his signing with Warner Brothers Records in 1997. At one point Stewart Levine was set to produce the album, only to be replaced by Horn. It was critically panned upon its release and its sales were lackluster. The album provided three singles, "Human Beings", "Latest Craze", and "Lost My Faith".

Failed Album: Togetherland

In 2001 fans awaited the arrival of a new album, announced as "Togetherland". However, after a protracted post-production period the album was cancelled in its entirety. The official word was that Seal simply didn't think it made the grade, though this conflicts with other reports that said the album was turned down by the label which felt that it wouldn't be commercially successful.

Meanwhile, Seal made something of a comeback in dance and club scene when he co-wrote and provided vocals for the hit single "My Vision" from Jakatta in 2002.

Seal IV

In 2003 Seal released his fourth album, Seal IV. Though it did not chart as high as either of his first two albums, this release brought him back into the public eye in the United States and continental Europe. Singles from the album include "Waiting For You", "Get It Together", and "Love's Divine" (released in 2004).

Greatest Hits Album

In 2004 a greatest hits album, entitled Seal: Best 1991-2004 was released, including a cover of the Bacharach / David classic "Walk on By" and a cover of Echo and the Bunnymen 's song "Lips Like Sugar."

Personal life

Seal had had a long term relationship with German supermodel, Tatjana Patitz. Seal then began dating German supermodel and actress Heidi Klum in 2004. He eagerly took on parenting duties to her baby daughter Leni that Klum had with her previous boyfriend, Italian businessman Flavio Briatore.

On January 4, 2005 Seal and Klum announced their engagement. ^* The couple married in May of that year, and gave birth to a baby boy named Henry Günther Ademola Dashtu Samuel in Los Angeles on September 12, 2005. Seal announced in June of 2006 that he and wife Heidi are expecting another child.

Other

On January 10, 2005 Seal criticized rappers in a magazine interview for portraying women negatively in both their videos and lyrics.

Seal is reportedly being considered for the role of Solari in the upcoming James Bond film, Casino Royale. The character of Solari is reported to be a South African criminal and a henchman of the main villain, Le Chiffre.

Discography

Albums

1991 Seal (1991) (ZTT/Sire Records) #1 UK
1994 Seal (1994) (ZTT Zang Tuum Tumb) #1 UK, #15 US, #25 Germany
1998 Human Being (Sire Records) #22 US, #24 Germany
2003 Seal IV (2003) (Sire Records) #4 UK, #3 US, #2 Germany
2004 Best 1991-2004 (Warner Bros. Records) (compilation) #27 UK, #3 Germany
2005 Live In Paris (Warner Bros. Records) (Live DVD + Live CD) #88 Germany

Singles

from Seal (1991)
- 1990 "Crazy" #2 UK, #7 US, #9 AUS, #2 Germany
- 1991 "Future Love EP" - featuring "Future Love Paradise" #12 UK, #46 AUS, #16 Germany
- 1991 "The Beginning" #24 UK, #39 Germany
- 1991 "Killer EP" #8 UK, #100 US, #95 AUS
- 1992 "Violet" #39 UK

from Seal (1994)
- 1994 "Prayer for the Dying" #14 UK, #21 US, #56 AUS, #62 Germany
- 1994 "Newborn Friend" #45 UK
- 1994 "Kiss From a Rose" #20 UK, #87 AUS
- 1996 "Don't Cry" #33 US

from Batman Forever Soundtrack
- 1995 "If I Could" (US promo)
- 1995 "Kiss From a Rose/I'm Alive" (re-issue) #4 UK, #1 US, #1 AUS, #11 Germany

from Space Jam Soundtrack
- 1997 "Fly Like an Eagle" #13 UK, #10 US, #81 AUS, #61 Germany

from Human Being (1998)
- 1998 "Human Beings" #96 Germany
- 1998 "Latest Craze"
- 1999 "Lost My Faith"

from Seal IV (2003)
- 2003 "Get It Together" #25 UK, #41 Germany
- 2003 "Waiting For You" #89 US
- 2004 "Love's Divine" #79 US, #4 France, #4 Germany

Other songs:

1990 "Killer" #1 UK (with ADAMSKI)
1993 "Love Is Powerful" (JP only)
1993 "Manic Depression" (US promo) (with JEFF BECK)
2001 "This Could Be Heaven" (from "The Family Man" Soundtrack)
2001 "Les Mots" #2 France (with Mylène Farmer)
2002 "My Vision" #6 UK, #43 AUS (with JAKATTA)
2005 "Walk On By" (Grammy nominated song featured on the "Best Of Seal" compilation) #49 Germany
2005 "Killer" (2005 Remix) #1 US-Billboard Dance Chart

External links

futureLoveParadise.co.uk Long-running fan site with vast discography
Seal.com
Sealfan.com
ZTT - Two Decades (ZTT fan page incl. Seal)
^*
Zang Tuum Tumb and all that

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Seal (musician)