Seal (musician)

Seal

Seal Henry Olusegun Kanu Shakazulu Kwassi Olumudu Monae Hashellastain Adams Olumide Adelo Samuel (born 19 February 1963 in Paddington, London) is a British soul singer and songwriter. His name Olusegun means "God is victorious". Known professionally by his first name, Seal is known for his numerous international hits and his marriage to supermodel Heidi Klum.

Childhood and early life

Seal was born Henry Olusegun ("God is victorious") Kwassi Olumide Adeola Samuel to Nigerian parents in London, England. The rumor that he was half Brazilian is false. He was adopted because his parents were unable to support him financially. He was raised in Paddington, a district of the City of Westminster in inner London. He graduated with a degree in architecture and worked in various jobs in the London area.

While there have long been rumors as to the cause of the scars on his face, they are not the result of a tribal scarification rite. Seal’s appearance is the classic example of a relatively rare condition, discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). Seal has revealed in interviews that he was afflicted with this syndrome as a teen. A condition where the immune cells attack various body tissues, DLE usually affects young people. Intense inflammation develops in the skin, particularly in sun-exposed areas. If not treated aggressively with sun protection and anti-inflammatory medicines, scarring can result. Not only did it cause the cheek scars, but he had significant scalp involvement, causing hair loss. The singer's condition has been in remission for years.

Music career

Early career

After a short time singing in local clubs and bars, in the 1980s he joined Push, a British funk band, and toured with them in Japan. In Asia, he joined a blues band in Thailand for a while before separating from the group and journeying throughout India on his own. When Seal arrived back in England, he was rumoured to sleep on the couch of an acquaintance of his, Julian Bunster, then a fashion model. He sometimes asked him "Do I sing well?" To which he often met the response that he sang better than most current artists. After a short while of living on the edge, he met Adamski, a producer who was impressed by him. He was given the lyrics of the song "Killer", which was a huge hit in 1990.

Seal [1991]

Main article: Seal (1991 album)

Seal first came to public attention as vocalist on the Adamski single "Killer" in 1990. The single eventually reached number one in 1990 in the UK. Seal subsequently signed to ZTT Records and released his début album (produced by Trevor Horn), self-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 demand for a produced single rushing the final album edit, and as Seal puts it, his and producer Horn's "inability to let go."

Seal was positively received by critics. The singles "Crazy", "Future Love Paradise", and his own rendition of "Killer" performed well on the charts. In particular, "Crazy" became a hit in the United States in 1991, reaching number seven on the Billboard Music Charts and number two in the U.K.

In April 1992 Seal performed with the surviving members of the rock band Queen at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. Seal performed on his own singing the 1986 hit Who Wants To Live Forever and joined the rest of the acts for the all star finale singing We Are The Champions.

Seal II [1994]

Main article: Seal (1994 album)

His second album, also self-titled Seal, was released in 1994. A success, the album featured the singles "Prayer for the Dying" and "Newborn Friend", later receiving a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. "Prayer for the Dying" became a minor pop hit in the U.S., peaking at #21 on the Billboard charts. A third single, "Kiss from a Rose", performed modestly when released but was later featured in the film Batman Forever. "Kiss from a Rose" won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Song of the Year in 1996, becoming Seal's best performing single on the US market (it topped the Billboard Hot 100 in late August 1995).

Human Being

Main article: Human Being (album)

After the release of his previous album, in 1998, Seal released Human Being. The album was the product of a turbulent time in his life, including a split and later reconciliation with producer Horn as well as Seal's parting with ZTT Records and his signing with Warner Bros. Records in 1997. The record was panned upon its release. However, it received Gold record certification by the RIAA just two months after its release date. The album provided three singles, "Human Beings", "Latest Craze", and "Lost My Faith".

Togetherland

Main article: 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. The official word was that Seal simply didn't think it made the grade, although this conflicts with other reports that said the album was turned down by the label because producers felt the album wouldn't be commercially successful. Even so, one single was released from the album. "This Could Be Heaven" was released in the US and featured on The Family Man soundtrack. Since December 2006, Seal has indicated that he has plans to excerpt cuts from Togetherland and make them available for streaming download. The complete or edited versions of the songs "All I Wanted To Say," "Elise" (also known as "Eliz"), "Love Is Better," and "This Could Be Heaven", are available as streaming audio only on Togetherland co-producer Henry Jackman's website.

Meanwhile, Seal co-wrote and provided vocals for the hit single "My Vision" from Jakatta in 2002. He also recorded a successful duet with French icon Mylène Farmer called "Les Mots" during that same period.

Seal IV

Main article: Seal (2003 album)

In 2003, Seal released his fourth album, which was again self-titled, except for Australia, where it was released under Seal IV. Although it didn't sell as well 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 included "Waiting For You", "Get It Together", and "Love's Divine" (released in 2004, and a big hit in several European countries).

Greatest Hits Album: Best 1991-2004

Main article: Best 1991-2004 (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". Also for a small additional fee the album could be bought with a limited edition acoustic CD with acoustic covers of songs such as "Killer" And "Kiss from a Rose".

Live in Paris

Also in 2004, Seal performed shows at the Olympia Theatre in Paris, France. The 6 July 2004 show was recorded and released about one year after as CD/DVD package, simply titled Live in Paris.

One Night to Remember

In June 2005, Seal recorded a special concert which was subsequently released in 2006, entitled One Night to Remember, as CD/DVD combination. The DVD includes a special "the making of" documentary in addition to the live performance. Recorded in a historic steel mill, the Altes Kesselhaus ("old boiler house"), in Düsseldorf, Germany, this performance includes a special version of Brahms' Lullaby which Seal sings in German and then in English for the exclusive audience. Unlike earlier recordings in which Seal is accompanied by his band, a full orchestra and choir of 52 musicians accompanies the singer.

System

Main article: System (Seal album)

Seal in March 2008

System was released in the UK on 12 November 2007 and in the U.S. on 13 November 2007. Seal describes the album as more dance-oriented, apparently a return to the roots of his first album. On the track titled "Wedding Day", Seal sings a duet with his wife, model Heidi Klum. The album's first single, "Amazing", was released on 25 September 2007, and was nominated for the "Best Male Pop Vocal Performance" Grammy at the 2007 50th Annual Grammy Awards.

Seal performed "Amazing" and the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" at the 2007 Royal Variety Performance.

Seal also performed "Amazing" at the 2007 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in December, as well as the duet "Wedding Day" with his wife. Other performers at the 2007 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show include the Spice Girls and will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas. He appeared on the American Idol Season 7 Finale, singing with third-place contestant Syesha Mercado.

Soul

Main article: Soul (album)

Seal's sixth studio album Soul was released on 11 November 2008 in the United States and 3 November 2008 internationally, and contains eleven soul classics produced by David Foster. The video for the first single, a cover of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" is up on his official YouTube Page. As well, he will be mentoring the top 9 on Deutschland sucht den Superstar and performing one of his songs from the album.[1]

Personal life

Seal with wife Heidi Klum

Seal proposed to German supermodel Heidi Klum on 24 December 2004 at 14,000 ft, in an igloo on a glacier in Whistler, British Columbia.

On 10 May 2005, the couple married on a beach in Mexico near Seal's home on Mexico's luxurious Costa Careyes.

The couple have two sons together, Henry Günther Ademola Dashtu Samuel (b. 12 September 2005) and Johan Riley Fyodor Taiwo Samuel (b. 22 November 2006). Seal is also the adoptive father of Heidi's daughter, Helene "Leni" Klum (b. 4 May, 2004), whom Heidi had with Renault Formula One team director and Italian businessman Flavio Briatore. Seal is her only father figure, and he has praised Briatore for keeping his distance and not disrupting Leni's life. Seal will be coaching the participants of Germany's TV show "Deutschland sucht den Superstar"(Popidol) in February/March 2009.

Discography

Main article: Seal discography

Studio albums

• 1991 Seal
• 1994 Seal II
• 1998 Human Being
• 2003 Seal IV
• 2007 System
• 2008 Soul

Other albums

• 1991 The Acoustic Session
• 1991 Violet: Acoustic EP
• 2004 Best 1991-2004
• 2005 Live in Paris
• 2006 One Night to Remember
• 2008 Live in Hattiesburg

DVDs

• 2004 Videos - 1991 - 2004
• 2005 Live in Paris
• 2005 Live At the Point - 1992
• 2006 One Night to Remember
• 2008 Soundstage (Blu-ray DVD only)

See also

• List of number-one hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart

References

• Entertainment Weekly, June 3, 1994.
• Guitar Player, October 1994.
• The Independent, May 12, 1994.
• Metro Times (Detroit), June 22, 1994.
• Q, July 1994.
• Rolling Stone, November 28, 1991; August 25, 1994.

External links

• Official site
• Seal discography at MusicBrainz
• Seal at IMDb
• Seal's imeem page featuring his entire catalog
• Official YouTube Page