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Seal | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Samuel inSydney, 2012 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Sealhenry Samuel[1][2] |
| Born | Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel (1963-02-19)19 February 1963 (age 62) Paddington, London, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Works | Seal discography |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Labels | |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4, including adopted daughterLeni Klum |
| Awards | Full list |
| Website | seal |
Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel[3][4] (born 19 February 1963) is an English singer, songwriter, and record producer.[5] He is the recipient of threeBrit Awards, fourGrammy Awards and anMTV Video Music Award, with more than 20 million albums or singles sold.[6] He signed with record producerTrevor Horn'sZTT Records to release hiseponymous debut studio album (1991). A critical and commercial success, it spawned the singles "Crazy" and "Killer", which peaked at numbers two and one on theUK singles chart, respectively, while both entered the USBillboard Hot 100. His 1994 single, "Kiss from a Rose", peaked atop the latter chart after its inclusion on the accompanying film soundtracks forThe NeverEnding Story III andBatman Forever.
"Kiss from a Rose" spawned fromSeal's second eponymous studio album (1994), which peaked atop theUK Albums Chart along with its predecessor. His following albums—Human Being (1998),Seal IV (2003),System (2007),Soul (2008),Seal 6: Commitment (2010),Soul 2 (2011),7 (2015) andStandards (2017)—were each met with critical praise.[7][8] As a songwriter, Seal has won twoIvor Novello Awards for "Best Song Musically and Lyrically" by theBritish Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors for "Killer" and "Crazy".[9]
He served as a coach onThe Voice Australia in 2012, 2013,[10] and 2017.
Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel was born on 19 February 1963 atSt Mary's Hospital inPaddington, London,[3][11] to a Nigerian mother, Adebisi Ogundeji, and aBrazilian father, Francis Samuel.[5][12][13] Seal was raised by a foster family inWestminster, London. He received a two-year diploma in architecture and had various jobs in the London area.[14]
In the 1980s, Seal spent a short time singing in local clubs and bars. In 1987, he joined Push, a British funk band, and toured with them in Japan. In Thailand, he joined a blues band for a while before separating from the group and journeying throughout India on his own. He returned to England, sleeping on the couch of friend Julian Bunster, then a model. He sometimes asked him, "Do I sing well?", to which he often received the response that he sang better than most current artists. Then he met the producerAdamski to whom Seal provided lyrics and vocals on Adamski's single "Killer".[14]
"Killer" eventually reached number one in the UK.[15] Seal subsequently signed toZTT Records and released hisself-titled début album (produced byTrevor Horn) 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, producer Horn's "inability to let go".[16]
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 an international hit in 1991, reaching number two in theUK Singles Chart and number seven on theBillboard Hot 100 in the US.[15][17] Seal stole the show at the1992Brit Awards held at theHammersmith Odeon, London, with the firsthat-trick of wins in the history of the event.[18] He won in three categories: Best British Male, Best British Video ("Killer") and Best British Album (Seal).[18]
In 1992, Seal appeared on theRed Hot Organization's compilation CDRed Hot + Dance, contributing an exclusive track "Crazy (If I Was Trev Mix)". The album, featuringGeorge Michael andMadonna among others, raised money and awareness in support of the AIDS epidemic by donating all proceeds to AIDS charities.[19]
Jeff Beck and Seal performed a cover of "Manic Depression" for the 1993 albumStone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix. Seal also contributed vocals to a cover ofJohn Lennon's "Imagine" for the 2010Herbie Hancock album,The Imagine Project along withP!nk,India.Arie,Jeff Beck,Konono Nº1,Oumou Sangaré and others.[20]
After Seal regrouped with Trevor Horn, his second album, alsoself-titled, was released in 1994. A success, the album featured the singles "Prayer for the Dying" and "Newborn Friend", and later received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. "Prayer for the Dying" became a minor pop hit in the US, peaking at number 21 on theBillboard Hot 100. A third single, "Kiss from a Rose", performed modestly when released, but was later featured to much wider popularity when it was remixed for the soundtrack toBatman Forever. "Kiss from a Rose" won aGrammy Award forRecord of the Year andGrammy Award for Song of the Year in 1996, becoming Seal's best-performing single on the US market (it topped theBillboard Hot 100 in late August 1995) and hit number four in the UK.[15][17]
In 1998, Seal releasedHuman 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 withWarner Bros. Records in 1997. The record was panned upon its release. It received gold record certification by theRIAA just two months after its release date.[21] The album provided two singles – "Human Beings" and "Lost My Faith".
In 2001, fans awaited the arrival of a new album, announced asTogetherland. After a protracted postproduction period, the album was cancelled. The official word was that Seal simply did not think it made the grade, although this conflicts with other reports,[22] that said the album was turned down by the label because producers felt the album would not be commercially successful. Even so, one single was released from the album; "This Could Be Heaven" was released in the US and featured onThe Family Man soundtrack. Since December 2006, Seal has indicated that he has plans to excerpt cuts fromTogetherland and make them available for streaming download. Meanwhile, Seal co-wrote and provided vocals for the hit single "My Vision" fromJakatta in 2002. He also recorded a successful duet with French singerMylène Farmer called "Les Mots" during that same period. Also in 2002, Seal lent his vocals to the song "You Are My Kind", the fourth track onSantana's albumShaman.
In 2003, Seal released his fourth albumSeal IV. Although it never achieved the sales figures of 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"; the latter was released in 2004 and was a big hit in several European countries.
In 2004, a greatest-hits album entitledBest 1991–2004 was released, including a cover of theBacharach/David classic "Walk On By" and a cover ofEcho & the Bunnymen's "Lips Like Sugar". An edition of the album was available that included an extra CD with acoustic versions of some of Seal's hits. Also in 2004, Seal performed shows at theOlympia Theatre in Paris. The show of 6 July 2004 was recorded and released about one year after as a CD/DVD package, simply titledLive in Paris.
In June 2005, Seal recorded a concert which was subsequently released in 2006, entitledOne Night to Remember, as a CD/DVD combination. The DVD includes a "making of" documentary in addition to the live performance. Recorded in a historic steel mill, theAltes Kesselhaus ("old boiler house"), inDüsseldorf, Germany, this performance includes a version of Brahms'Lullaby which Seal sings in German and then in English. Unlike earlier recordings in which Seal is accompanied by his band, a full orchestra and choir of 52 musicians accompanies the singer.
System was released in the UK on 12 November 2007 and in the US on 13 November 2007.[23] 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 then-wife, modelHeidi Klum. The album's first single, "Amazing", was released on 25 September 2007 and nominated for the "Best Male Pop Vocal Performance" Grammy at the 2007 50th Annual Grammy Awards.[24]
Seal performed "Amazing" andthe Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" at the 2007Royal Variety Performance. Seal also performed "Amazing" at the 2007Victoria'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 theSpice Girls andwill.i.am ofthe Black Eyed Peas. He appeared on theAmerican Idol season-seven finale, singing with third-place contestantSyesha Mercado.
Seal's sixth studio album,Soul, was released on 3 November 2008 internationally and on 11 November 2008 in the US. It contains 11soul classics produced byDavid Foster.[25] The first single was a cover ofSam Cooke's song "A Change Is Gonna Come".
On 14 March 2009, Seal performed a song from the album and coached the participants on the "Top 9-Show" of thesixth season of the German TV showDeutschland sucht den Superstar (German Idol).[26] On 4 December 2009,Hits, a compilation album, was released. It contains two new tracks, "I Am Your Man" and "Thank You".
Seal's seventh studio album,Seal 6: Commitment was released on 20 September 2010 internationally and 28 September 2010 in the US. The first single "Secret" was released 10 August 2010 on iTunes in the US and in the UK on 13 September 2010. This album was said to be inspired by his wife, Heidi.[27] On 7 November 2011, Seal released his second cover album of classic soul songs,Soul 2, throughReprise Records.
In October 2011, Seal was criticized by human-rights groups for appearing at an event inGrozny,Chechnya, that turned into a birthday celebration forRamzan Kadyrov, the President of Chechnya.[28] Also appearing at the event were the actressHilary Swank, actorJean-Claude Van Damme and violinistVanessa-Mae. The New York-basedHuman Rights Foundation claims that it sent letters to invitees in advance of the event noting Kadyrov's record and asking them to decline the invitations.[29]Human Rights Watch sent an enquiry to Seal regarding his performance at the event and released a statement about the incident that said:
Ramzan Kadyrov is linked to a litany of horrific human rights abuses. It's inappropriate for stars to get paid to party with him. It bolsters his image and legitimizes a brutal leader and his regime. And getting paid to be part of such a lavish show in Chechnya trivialises the suffering of countless victims of human rights abuses there.[30][31]
Seal refused to apologise for appearing at the event, sending a message from hisTwitter account telling people to "leave me out of your politics".[29] Seal was reported to have made $500,000 for singing at the party.[32]
In 2012, Seal was one of the four vocal coaches in the first season of the Australian version of the reality singing competitionThe Voice. He was the coach of the series winnerKarise Eden. Seal returned toThe Voice season two, which debuted on 7 April 2013, where he became the winning coach once again, coaching eventual winnerHarrison Craig.[33][34] He did not return for the third season in 2014, with theNine Network stating that Seal "will take a break from the third season ofThe Voice to focus on music and material for a new album."[10] Channel NINE announced on 8 November 2016 that Seal would be returning alongsideDelta Goodrem toThe Voice as a coach in 2017, replacingJessie J after a three-year hiatus.
On 15 November 2014, Seal joined the charity groupBand Aid 30 along with other British and Irish pop acts, recording the latest version of the track "Do They Know It's Christmas?" atSarm West Studios inNotting Hill, London, to raise money for the2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa.[35] Seal was cast asPontius Pilate inTyler Perry's musical rendition ofThe Passion, which aired onFox on 20 March 2016.[36]
Seal began work on a new album, initially entitledLet Yourself, produced again by Horn. In February 2015, Horn said the album was nearly finished.[37] Seal later re-signed to Perfect Songs and had a two-week writing period in Horn's Los Angeles studio booked for October 2012.Stewart Copeland (formerly ofthe Police) said that month on his Twitter feed that Trevor Horn and Lol Crème were working with Seal on a project. In April 2013, Seal said on Twitter that the new album would be released in about June (which did not eventuate) and that tracks to be included were "Let Yourself", "Do You Ever" and "Laying with an Angel".[38] The album was later retitledBeautifully Scarred.[39] On 10 September 2015, Seal announced that the album, now named7, would be released on 6 November 2015.
Seal released the albumStandards in November 2017. The album was produced by classical crossover composerNick Patrick. It received a nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the2018 Annual Grammy Awards.[40]
In 2022, Seal launched his own limited-edition camera withLeica, a Q2 camera called Dawn, which is limited to 500 cameras.[41]
Seal announced a North American tour in 2023 with Trevor Horn as the musical director, who also doubles as the show opener with his band, The Buggles.[42][43] In 2024, he released an alternate version of "Kiss from a Rose" with a deluxe edition of the albumSeal upon its 30th anniversary.[44]
He released a new song, "All I Know is Now", produced by Horn, on 14 February 2025.[45]
Seal's brother, Jeymes Samuel, better known asthe Bullitts, is also a singer-songwriter.[46]
Seal first began dating German modelHeidi Klum in February 2004,[47] shortly after she announced her pregnancy and the end of her relationship with ItalianFormula One team managerFlavio Briatore. Klum gave birth to Briatore's daughter in May 2004 in New York City[48] with Seal at her side. According to Klum, Briatore is not involved in fathering duties and she has stated emphatically that Seal is Leni's father.[49][50] Seal is her only father figure and he has praised Briatore for keeping his distance.[51]
Seal proposed to Klum on 23 December 2004 in aquinzee[52] he had built on a glacier inWhistler, British Columbia.[53] On 10 May 2005, the couple married on a beach in Mexico near Seal's home onCosta Careyes.[54] Every year during their marriage, Seal and Klum renewed their vows on their anniversary with close friends and family. About these renewals, Seal said in 2010, "Each year, Heidi and I get remarried. It's a great party, but for about an hour, we go off on our own down to a private beach. We sit there with the kids and read vows to each other as the sun sets. It's a very special moment to us".[55] In November 2009, Klum officially adopted Seal's surname and became legally known as Heidi Samuel.[56]
On 11 June 2009, Seal, on tour with his new albumSoul, revealed, "It is nice to be in newspapers and magazines for something other than my marriage". He said his marriage to Klum may take away the attention, but does not detract from what he loves doing: making music.[57] In February 2011, Klum praised Seal for his good parenting skills, saying, "When I first met Seal he had a kindness and compassion that was so sincere I knew he'd be a good father... He has infinite amounts of love and patience for our kids... He puts me and the children first".[58] Klum also remarked how lucky she was to have a husband like Seal.[27]
In late 2009, Seal officially adopted Klum's daughter and her last name was changed to Samuel.[59] The couple have three other children: two sons, Henry Günther Ademola Dashtu Samuel (born September 2005) and Johan Riley Fyodor Taiwo Samuel (born November 2006), and a daughter named Lou, born in October 2009.[60][61][62]
On 22 January 2012, Seal and Klum announced that they were separating after nearly seven years of marriage.[63][64] Klum filed for divorce from Seal on 6 April 2012.[65] Their divorce was finalized on 14 October 2014.[66]
Since 2021, he has been in a relationship with his former personal assistant Laura Strayer.[67]
The prominent scarring on Seal's face is the result of a type oflupus calleddiscoid lupus erythematosus, which affects the skin and leaves large scars.[68][69][70][71]
In April 1992, Seal performed with the surviving members ofQueen atThe Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert held at London'sWembley Stadium five months afterMercury's death.[72] Seal sang the 1986 Queen hit "Who Wants to Live Forever" and joined the rest of the acts for the all-star finale singing "We Are the Champions".[72] Thomas Curtis-Horsfall ofSmooth Radio stated Seal's performance of "Who Wants to Live Forever" was "one of the standout moments" from the concert, adding "his spine-tingling rendition of the Queen classic had everyone in the arena close to tears."[73]
On 10 March 2012, Seal shared the stage withKanye West,Soul Rebels Brass Band andSnoop Dogg atBrad Pitt's Night toMake It Right Foundation New Orleans after-party, hosted by comedianAziz Ansari.[74] The charity event, hosted byEllen DeGeneres, raised money to build homes for victims ofHurricane Katrina.
Studio albums
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A rep for Klum did not comment when asked if [she] intends to be known professionally as Heidi Samuel from now on.
