Five questions with Seal prior to his Niagara stop
You hear it at weddings. You hear it at proms. You hear it every night at Niagara Falls magician Greg Frewin’s show. Love it or hate it, Seal’s Kiss From
a Rose is one of the most inescapable songs of the ’90s. And it nearly didn’t see a recording studio.
Written in 1987, before the London-born Seal even had a record deal, he felt “embarrassed” by the track and forgot about it for years. The tape sat in a corner.
Until he started recording his second album, 1994’s Seal II, and he gave it to producer Trevor Horn, who dressed it up in soul/ pop grandeur.
It was released as the album’s third single in July 1994 and … didn’t do much. But a year later, it enjoyed a spectacular second life on the Batman Forever soundtrack, topping the charts in the U.S. and U.K. It would go on to win Grammy Awards for both record and song of the year.
It has since popped up in more movie and TV shows, been covered by dozens of other artists, and has been Seal’s signature tune at every concert for 20 years.
Before he belts it out again at Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort Thursday and Friday, he checked in for some Q&A with Postmedia.
Postmedia: Kiss from a Rose has become one of the most iconic songs of the ’90s. Like with every trademark song a singer has, how do you keep it fresh doing it every show?
Seal: “Before this tour started, I worked with a new producer and played around with the beats, but still keeping the same melody. It was a fresh take on most everyone’s favourite Seal song.”
Postmedia: Considering its mysterious lyrics, are you amused it has become such a huge wedding song?
Seal: “I’m just happy to say as an artist I have a song that did so well for my career and has made such an impact on people’s lives.”
Postmedia: Last spring you played Pontius Pilate in Fox’s live Bible musical The Passion. After all your concerts and TV appearances, how were your nerves that night?
Seal: “It was a very surreal experience. I have sung and performed live over half my life, but to take on a new task like acting was quite invigorating. I was a tad nervous as it’s a very different part of the brain you have to tap into. Oddly enough, I received some of the best acting advice from William H. Macy while I was on promo for
The Passion. Definitely calmed my nerves.” Postmedia: There’s a recent clip of you joining a busker in Montreal to sing Stand By Me. Is this a regular thing while strolling the town, or did the urge just hit you that day?
Seal: “It’s a hobby of mine to take pictures. I was roaming the streets and saw the busker. Then thought to myself, we are both musicians, what’s the difference between him and me? Luck?’ It was such an amazing moment for him and me. Continued the process during the rest of my European tour and found two amazing female singers as well — #streetsongs was born.”
Postmedia: After a turbulent few years, how is life treating you these days? Have you found a way to keep your private and professional life separate, or do they feed each other?
Seal: “Life is good. I quite enjoy my privacy and keeping that separate to what the tabloids try and read into.”