Music 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. Seal 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 met the response that he sang better than most current artists. His break came when he met the producer Adamski. He was given the lyrics of the song "Killer", which was a huge hit in 1990.
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." 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. Excerpts from "Crazy" have been used as commercial background music, and more recently, Alanis Morissette has covered it.
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 (1998)
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. 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 (2004)
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 (2006)
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 (2007)
During his 2007 spring tour, Seal announced his new album, System, which was released in 2007. He said it would be more dance-oriented, apparently a return to the roots of his first album. Years active 1989 - present.
Soul (2008)
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.[13][14] 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.
Seal coached the participants of Germany's TV show "Deutschland sucht den Superstar" (Popidol) in February/March 2009.[15]
Hits
Main article: Hits (Seal album)
On 4 December 2009, Hits, a compilation album was released. It contains two new tracks, "I Am Your Man" and "Thank You".
7 (2015)
Best of Me
Seal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That brought me to my knees
Never before could so much beauty
Have affected me
And I thought I needed no one
I had it all complete
Who would've thought that we could be
But you got the best of me, baby
When we don't try to understand
Our love, our love
You bring out the best in me, baby
When we don't try to understand
Our love, this love
The look in your eyes was lonely
As they're fallin' at your feet
(So many men at your feet)
Which lucky guy will hold your hand?
(I want your lovin' when I touch you, baby)
Well it can't be me
(Well it can't be me)
Oh, baby
But I am so tired of running
(I'm so tired of running)
And I almost didn't see
You standing there without your fame
(I got your lovin' and I got you, baby)
As you reached for me
(I got your lovin' and I got you, baby)
But you got the best of me, baby
When we don't try to understand
Our love, our love
You bring out the best in me, baby
When we don't try to understand (try to understand)
Our love, this love
You bring out the best in me, baby
If you're lookin' for love in this world
People say you will know
When you look the least
If you're dreamin' of love in this world
It will come
I believe, I believe
That you get the best of me baby
When we don't try to understand
Our love, our love
You bring out the best in me, baby
When we don't try to understand (try to understand)
Our love, our love
But you bring out the best in me, baby
When we are standin' in the aisle (we are standing in the aisle)
Our love, this love
You bring out the best in me, baby
When we don't try to understand (try to understand)
Our love, our love
I'm so tired of running
I'm so tired of running
The song “Best of Me” by SEAL is a love song that speaks about the transformative power of love. The song is about a man who is mesmerized by the beauty of a woman who is wearing a gown at an event, and how she brings out the best in him. Although he thought he had it all, he confesses that she got the best of him as she made him see things he never thought he needed.
The song begins with the man being captivated by the beauty of the woman in a gown that he falls to his knees in awe. The lyrics ‘Never before could so much beauty have affected me’ express how the woman has a tremendous impact on him. The man admits he thought he needed no one, indicating the innermost feelings of self-sufficiency, but the presence of the woman has shattered this illusion. To him, the woman brings out the best in him when he does not try to understand their love. The lyrics 'when we don't try to understand our love' suggest that the love between them is mysterious and works best when they do not overthink it.
The chorus reveals that the woman brings out the best in him. The lyrics 'You bring out the best in me, baby when we don't try to understand our love, this love' suggest that love is enigmatic and requires surrendering without any thought of understanding it. The second verse of the song talks about how the woman has many men who want to hold her hand, and he wonders which lucky guy will hold her. The lines 'I want your lovin' when I touch you, baby' suggest that the man desires to have the woman's love. He further confesses that he is tired of running, implying that he has been searching for love but it has now come to him.
Line by Line Meaning
You wore a gown that evening
The singer is recalling a specific moment when the person he's singing to wore a particularly striking dress.
That brought me to my knees
Seeing the person in the gown was so powerful that it made the singer feel overwhelmed and brought him to his knees.
Never before could so much beauty
The singer is acknowledging that he's never experienced something so beautiful before.
Have affected me
Seeing the person in the gown had a profound effect on the artist.
And I thought I needed no one
The artist states he thought he was complete and didn't need anyone else in his life.
I had it all complete
The singer believed he had everything he needed to be happy and didn't think there was something missing from his life.
Who would've thought that we could be
The singer admits he didn't see a romantic relationship coming between them.
But you got the best of me, baby
The artist acknowledges that the person he's singing to has had a profound effect on his life and has brought out his best self.
When we don't try to understand
The artist hints that there's something special about their relationship, something he can't explain or understand.
Our love, our love
The artist is celebrating the love between them.
The look in your eyes was lonely
The singer observes that the person he's singing to seems sad and in need of companionship.
As they're fallin' at your feet
The artist notices that the person he's using all her charms on everybody around her but she is still looking for a real connection.
(So many men at your feet)
The singer notices that the person has many men trying to impress her, but none that she's interested in.
Which lucky guy will hold your hand?
The singer wonders which man will be the lucky one to be with the person he's singing to.
(I want your lovin' when I touch you, baby)
The singer expresses his desire for physical intimacy with the person he's singing to.
Well it can't be me
The artist doubts that he will be the person to win the affections of the person he's singing to.
Oh, baby
The artist is expressing affection for the person he's singing to.
But I am so tired of running
The singer is tired of pursuing something that seems elusive and out of his reach.
(I'm so tired of running)
The singer is repeating his desire to stop running from something.
And I almost didn't see
The artist is revealing to the person he's singing to that he almost missed noticing her as she reached for him.
You standing there without your fame
The artist is suggesting that the person he's singing to is someone well-known, possibly a celebrity, but in that moment they were just an ordinary person standing in front of him.
(I got your lovin' and I got you, baby)
The artist is expressing love and satisfaction for having the person he's singing to in his life.
(Well it can't be me)
The singer is acknowledging that he thought he could never be with the person he's singing to, but now he is.
If you're lookin' for love in this world
The artist is offering some advice, suggesting that finding love can be challenging.
People say you will know
The singer suggests that people often say that you'll instinctively know when you've found real love.
When you look the least
The singer is pointing out that love can come unexpectedly, when we're not actively looking for it.
If you're dreamin' of love in this world
The singer suggests that it's okay to have dreams of finding love.
It will come
The artist believes that love is possible.
I believe, I believe
The artist is expressing hope in finding love and that it will come when it's supposed to.
When we are standin' in the aisle
The singer is referencing their wedding day, suggesting that they're going to be together for the long haul.
You bring out the best in me, baby
The singer believes that the person he's singing to makes him the best version of himself.
When we don't try to understand (try to understand)
The artist suggests that their love is something that they both feel, but can't quite explain, but that it's all the more powerful for it.
Our love, this love
The artist is celebrating the love between them and the unique quality of said love.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GUS ISIDORE, SEAL SAMUEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind