[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference mr1pst::music

Title:MUSIC V4
Notice:New Noters please read Note 1.*, Mod = someone else
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Wed Oct 09 1991
Last Modified:Tue Mar 12 1996
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:762
Total number of notes:18706

62.0. "Seal" by SWAM1::BASS_SY (If it doesn't splatter, it'll bounce) Mon Nov 11 1991 21:10

    
I entered this same topic yesterday in CD, but I figured I'd double up,
since there's bound to be more lively discussions in this conference,
throughout its MANY versions and conversions...Either the participants
in MUSIC have more idle time on their hands, or they're just lonely and
want to reach out.  I like to think they're just more fun...!!!

So...here goes:

In the past three or four years, there has emerged one bright, new, raw 
talent that is acclaimed by critics and that--coincidentally enough--
sports dreadlocks.  First Terence Trent D'Arby ("The Mouth That Roared")
in 1987, then Tracy Chapman in 1988.  They tend to burst on the scene
full of fire and brimstone, and with quite a few things to say in an
interesting and original way.  To date, there has been scant activity
from either.  Will this newest "dread-ful" artist also burn hot, bright
and fast, only to land on the funeral pyre of obscurity??  We'll see...

At any rate, for now I will give this new devil his due...

His full name is Sealhenry Samuel, but he goes by the pithy and quite
catchy one-name moniker of Seal.  The accolades have been coming from
both sides of the Atlantic for this British singer/songwriter of Nigerian/
Brazilian descent.  Already his name has been linked in comparison with
soul/R&B legends Marvin Gaye and Otis Redding.  For my part, the influence
(if not the similiarity) to Gaye is readily apparent throughout his epony-
mous debut.  His themes of social consciousness, the vagaries of love and
the dream of a world of equality and peace for all mankind bespeak his
debt to Gaye.  The rhythms, tempo and chord changes on more than one track
hark back to "What's Goin' On."  One example where this is particularly
evident is his first release, "Crazy" (a recent Top Ten hit).  Other 
noteworthy tracks are "The Beginning," "Killer," "Future Love Paradise," 
and my overall fave, the moody, haunting "Violet."

One caveat:  The project bears a homogenous quality which may make it
difficult (particularly on first listen) to distinguish one track from
another, but the overall raw material is arresting enough to bear more
than one listen, and his talent--at present--is provocative enough to
bear watching.

Anyone else gotten into Seal??  Does he deserve a "Seal of approval"??

The forum is open...


Sylvia
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
62.1hhhmmmmm......JGODCL::KWIKKELThe dance music library 1969-20..Tue Nov 12 1991 03:0814
    Hi Sylvia,
    
    We have chatted a few times before with each other in the past,remember
    me? :^)) 
    You are no doubt a fan of him huh? Seal has been around quiet a number
    of years now and it all started for him when a UK DJ/prod. dude named
    Adamski pushed him forward on the first"Killer"release.After that came 
    Seal's biggie called"Crazy".
    
    What I planned to note inhere is that a newest release of"Killer"is on
    the market which has the full signature of Seal onit,let's see this 
    re-release will do something.
    
    Jan.
62.2Seal:Violet.JGODCL::KWIKKELThe dance music library 1969-20..Fri Feb 07 1992 07:186
    News,
    
    Around this time Seal is about to release his latest single called
    "Violet",an acoustic sounding cut.Release date 2/10.
    
    Jan.
62.3Subdued, but sexy...SWAM1::BASS_SYJudged by your Achilles' heelWed Feb 19 1992 20:2614
    Jan,
    
    Glad that they're finally releasing "Violet"--that's another of my
    fave cuts from his album (They've been playing it on "THE WAVE" [our
    local New Age/light jazz/light pop radio station] for the last couple
    of months now).  For some reason, it sounds reminiscent of Marvin
    Gaye to me, in terms of arrangement and his vocal interplay.
    
    I also note that he's nominated for a Grammy for Best New Artist--
    we'll see how he fares on next Tuesday's Grammy telecast.
    
    
    Sylvia
62.4SALEM::TAYLOR_JAnyone seen my air guitar ?Wed Mar 04 1992 11:241
     Seal gets my seal of approval, great album !
62.5CRAZY REMIX CDMR4DEC::FOSTERWed Sep 09 1992 15:526
    Does anyone know where I can pick up one of Seal's remix CDs?  It 
    has 4 or 6 different versions of "Crazy" and a couple versions of another
    song (can't remember which one).  
    
    Thanks!
62.6SALEM::TAYLOR_JPickin' and a grinnin'Tue Sep 15 1992 12:571
    newbury comics in Boston or Nashua
62.7MPGS::MARKEYHaving a bad DNA dayThu Oct 20 1994 12:4337
    Hmmmm.. No Seal activity in a long time. The man's still putting out
    great records... some Seal thoughts:
    
    - Says his biggest song-writing influence is Joni Mitchell
    
    - Considers himself a folk singer
    
    - The first album was produced by Trevor Horn... who was with Yes
      (along with Buggles cohort Geoff Downes) for one album: Drama.
      However Horn's biggest claim to fame is probably the song "Video
      Killed The Radio" star which he performed with Downes in "The
      Buggles" and which literally kicked off the MTv generation,
      as it was the first song that was played on MTv.
    
    - Trevor Rabin from Yes makes an appearance on the first album,
      and from what I've read played both guitar and keys! (The
      liner notes don't break down who played what.)
    
    - Doug Wimbish (Doug! My man!) plays bass on at least one Seal
      album (maybe more.) Doug is a monstah. If you happen to play
      bass, you should check out Wimbish's work with a variety of
      artists including Michael Jackson, and Living Colour (I think
      he's the permanent replacement for Muzz Skillings, or whatever
      his name is...) Wimbish is one of the most taseteful players
      on the session circuit, who generally plays fairly low key grumbly
      parts... but having seen Doug perform in various live situations,
      he's amazing... perhaps the greatest slap player on the planet.
    
    Seal creates deceptively simple music... but with a lot of
    soul... Seal Soul. A handful of simple chord changes...
    arrangements that just kind of blend together without any
    real structure, they just kinda flow... with Seal mostly
    scatting over the whole thing like paint thrown on a
    canvas... the effect is mesmirizing. Definite Seal of
    Approval!
    
    -b
62.8MPGS::MARKEYHaving a bad DNA dayThu Oct 20 1994 12:455
    And... what I forgot to say is... Seal is doing some AIDS related
    benefit that I think is televised on VH1 this month... the promos
    show K.D. Lang joining Seal on "Crazy". Could be awlright...
    
    -b
62.9JUGHED::FLATTERYThu Oct 20 1994 13:053
    ...saw him the other night on some program...whats the scoop with his
    face?..he's got some deep scars that i never noticed before...i heard
    that they were self induced..anyone know about this?.../k
62.10MPGS::MARKEYHaving a bad DNA dayThu Oct 20 1994 13:084
    I think he had... Smallpox??... not sure, but it was some disease which
    produced scarring. Liked him better with hair, though!
    
    -b
62.11JUGHED::FLATTERYThu Oct 20 1994 13:292
    ..hmmm..maybe he did have the scars before and i just never noticed it
    cuz he had hair then................./k
62.12USPMLO::DESROCHERSMine's made outta unobtainium!Thu Oct 20 1994 14:1010
    
    	He was on SNL last week, wasn't he?  I believe it was John
    	Revolting who intro'd him.  I'm kinda fuzzy as I was sleeping
    	and happened to wake up.  I have the new album and like it
    	quite a bit.  Your description is right on the button, Brian.
    
    	Lots of great grooves...
    
    	Tom
62.13sounded goodSLICK1::OSTIGUYThu Oct 20 1994 14:173
    Yup, he was on SNL, and it was cool..I've heard that his scars were
    from tribal rituals...but who knows ??  I liked what he played on SNL,
    and I wasn't very familiar with his work before that
62.14DAGWUD::FLATTERYFri Oct 21 1994 14:155
    ...i don't know the name of the first song, but the second song was
    'crazy'..the tune that pretty much put him on the map ..or at least
    what most people identify with him .........(and that
    he's probably really sick of singing, but i'm gladd he did it cuz i
    like it!)......;")........./k