Discover

'Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel' (born February 19, 1963 in Paddington, London, England) is an English soul singer and songwriter. He is professionally known only by his first name, 'Seal'. He won three Grammy Awards for his 1995 single "Kiss from a Rose".

Contents

Music career

''Seal [1991]''

''Seal [1994]''

''Human Being''

Failed Album: ''Togetherland''

''Seal [2003]''

Greatest Hits Album: ''Best 1991-2004''

''Live In Paris''

''One Night To Remember''

''System''

Family

Discography

Albums

Singles

References

See also

External links

Music career

''Seal [1991]''

As the 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 demand for a produced single rushing the final album edit, and as Seal puts it, his and producer Horn's "inability to let go." [1] 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, with "Crazy" becoming a big worldwide hit, reaching the number one in several countries.

''Seal [1994]''

His second album, also eponymous, was released in 1994. A critical success, the album featured the singles "Prayer for the Dying" and "Newborn Friend", receiving 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'', which was again a hit.

''Human Being''

Four years 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 critically panned upon its release. However, it received Gold record certification by the RIAA just two months after its release date.^[1] 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, although this conflicts with other reports that said the album was turned down by the label, which felt that it wouldn't be commercially successful. Although 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 been indicating that, while still feeling the album as a whole is "not worthy", he plans to excerpt certain cuts from ''Togetherland'' and make them available for streaming download.
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 [2003]''

In 2003, Seal released his fourth album, which was again self-titled, except for Australia, where it was released under ''Seal IV''. Although it did not sell as much 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''

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".

''Live In Paris''

Also in 2004, Seal performed a couple of shows at the Olympia Theatre in Paris, France. The July 6, 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 whereby 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 16-track package includes a special version of Brahms' ''Lullaby'' which Seal sings in German and then in English for the exclusive audience. Unusually, he is accompanied by his band, and a full orchestra comprised of 52 musicians and singers. This CD/DVD is not yet available in the USA.

''System''

During his 2007 spring tour, Seal announced his new album, ''System'', to be released in October 2007. He said it would be more dance-oriented, apparently a return to the roots of his first album.

Family

Seal married German supermodel Heidi Klum on May 10, 2005, on a beach in Mexico. Seal and Heidi have three children, daughter Helene "Leni" Klum (biological father is Flavio Briatore), and sons, Henry Günther Ademola Dashtu Samuel, born September 12, 2005 and Johan Riley Fyodor Taiwo Samuel, born November 22, 2006.
Seal's younger brother, Jeymes Samuel, is also a singer and musician.
[2]

Discography

Albums

★ 1991 ''Seal'' (ZTT/Sire Records) #'1' UK

★ 1994 ''Seal'' (ZTT Zang Tuum Tumb) #'1' UK, #15 U.S., #25 Germany

★ 1998 ''Human Being'' (Sire Records) #44 UK, #22 US, #24 Germany

★ 2003 ''Seal'' (Sire Records) #4 UK, #3 US, #5 France, #2 Germany

★ 2004 ''Best 1991-2004'' (Warner Bros. Records) (compilation) #27 UK, #47 US, #3 Germany

★ 2005 ''Live in Paris'' (Warner Bros. Records) (Live CD + Live DVD) #44 France, #88 Germany

★ 2006 ''One Night to Remember'' (Warner Bros. Records) (Live CD + Live DVD)

★ 2007 ''System'' (Warner Bros. Records)

Singles

★ from ''Doctor Adamski's Musical Pharmacy''

★
★ 1990 "Killer" (Adamski featuring Seal) #'1' UK

★ from ''Seal''

★
★ 1990 "Crazy" #2 UK, #7 US, #5 AT, #9 AUS, #5 France, #2 Germany, #3 Norway, #'1' SWE, #'1' SWI

★
★ 1991 "Future Love EP" - featuring "Future Love Paradise" #12 UK, #15 AT, #46 AUS, #18 France, #16 Germany, #9 Norway, #13 SWE, #7 SWI

★
★ 1991 "The Beginning" #24 UK, #39 Germany

★
★ 1991 "Killer" #8 UK, #100 US, #95 AUS

★
★ 1992 "Violet" #39 UK

★ from ''Seal'' ''(Seal 2)''

★
★ 1994 "Prayer for the Dying" #14 UK, #21 US, #56 AUS, #62 Germany

★
★ 1994 "Kiss from a Rose" #20 UK, #87 AUS

★
★ 1994 "Newborn Friend" #45 UK

★
★ 1995 "Kiss From a Rose" (re-issue) / "I'm Alive" #4 UK, #'1' US, #3 AT, #'1' AUS, #8 France, #11 Germany, #3 NL, #16 NZ, #3 Norway, #8 SWE, #7 SWI

★
★ 1996 "Don't Cry" / "Prayer For the Dying" (re-issue) #33 US, #51 UK

★ from ''Space Jam'' Soundtrack

★
★ 1997 "Fly Like an Eagle" #13 UK, #10 US, #81 AUS, #61 Germany

★ from ''Human Being (1998)''

★
★ 1998 "Human Beings" #50 UK, #96 Germany

★
★ 1998 "Latest Craze"

★
★ 1999 "Lost My Faith"

★ from ''The Family Man'' Soundtrack

★
★ 2001 "This Could Be Heaven"

★ From ''Visions''

★
★ 2002 "My Vision" ''(Jakatta featuring Seal)'' #6 UK, #43 AUS

★ from ''Seal IV''

★
★ 2003 "Waiting for You" #80 UK, #89 US

★
★ 2003 "Get It Together" #25 UK, #29 US Adult Contemporary, #41 Germany

★
★ 2004 "Love's Divine" #68 UK, #79 US, #11 AT, #4 France, #4 Germany, #68 NL, #34 New-Zealand, #43 SWE, #4 SWI

★ from ''Best 1991-2004''

★
★ 2005 "Walk On By" #49 Germany

★
★ 2005 "Killer 2005" #'1' US Hot Dance Club Play

★ from ''System''

★
★ 2007 To Be Announced
Other songs:

★ 1992 "Who Wants To Live Forever" (Freddie Mercury Tribute)

★ 1992 "Let The Love Shine In"

★ 1993 "Love Is Powerful" (JP only)

★ 1993 "Manic Depression" (US promo) ''(with Jeff Beck)''

★ 1994 "How Do You Stop" (with Joni Mitchell)

★ 1995 "Bird of Freedom" (from "Clockers" OST)

★ 1996 "Hey Joe (live)" ''(from ''Set It Off'' soundtrack)''

★ 2001 "History" (with Outlawz)

★ 2001 "Les Mots" #2 France ''(with Mylène Farmer - 500 000 copies sold in France)''

★ 2002 "You Are My Kind" (with Santana)

★ 2003 "Mona Lisa" (from "Mona Lisa Smile" OST)

★ 2004 "Life On Mars" (Itunes exclusive)

★ 2006 "A Father's Way" (from the film ''The Pursuit of Happyness'')

References

1. RIAA.com ''Human Being'' Gold certification date 01/22/1999, Retrieved July 12 2007

See also

★ List of musicians with multiple self-titled albums

★ 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

External links

★ Seal.com

★