Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel (born February 19, 1963 in Paddin… Read Full Bio ↴Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel (born February 19, 1963 in Paddington, London) is a Grammy award winning English soul singer-songwriter of Nigerian and Brazilian descent, professionally known only by his first name, Seal. A childhood battle with discoid lupus left him with distinctive facial scarring and hair loss. He released his debut studio album Seal in 1991 and has since released 1994's Seal II, 1998's Human Being, 2003's Seal IV, 2007's System and 2010's Commitment. He has also released four live albums and three greatest hits collection albums. He was previously married to German supermodel Heidi Klum and they have three children together.

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)

Don't Make Me Wait
Seal Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Are we tired of feeling blue
Can I get along with you
Just don't tell me try
Every time we fuss and fight
What I really try to say
Is I won't be afraid, yah
If you say you're willing too
Close your eyes and maybe - maybe see it through

Don't make me wait long
Sounds like a sad song of mine
Every time we meet baby on the street there we go
Always seem to fight why we do I never now that
All I can take
'Cause you ain't easy
Some can relate

That's life, get back together, every time
It amazes me to say, yah
I've been so tired to find my way, close to you
To love divine is what I - what I'm gonna do
Yeah, What I'm really trying to say
Is love won't deny me, cause everyday is like a newly day
Lovin' till the end yah yah yah yah:.

Don't make me wait long
Sounds like a sad song of mine
Every time we meet baby on the street there we go
Always seem to fight why we do I never now that
All I can take
'Cause you ain't easy
Some can relate
So I dream of
And dream of
And dream of
And dream of your life
And dream of
And that's how we make love
And we dream of
And dream of
And dream of
And dream through the night

Don't make me wait long
Don't make me wait long
Every time we meet baby on the street there we go
Always seem to fight why we do, I never now that
All I can take
'Cause you ain't easy

Some can relate, hey
That's life, get back together, every time.

Overall Meaning

The recurring theme in Seal's song "Don't Make Me Wait" is the struggle of a couple to maintain a healthy relationship. The lyrics convey the message that the singer is tired of feeling blue and wants to get along with his significant other without having to constantly fight and argue. He pleads with her not to make him wait too long for a resolution to their issues, emphasizing the idea that love should not be denied and that they should be able to love each other until the end.

The line "All I can take, 'cause you ain't easy" suggests that the singer is willing to endure the difficulties of the relationship because he loves his partner, but he also acknowledges that she is not the easiest person to deal with. The lyrics also express frustration at the constant fighting and questioning why it keeps happening. The dream-like quality of the chorus symbolizes the desire for a perfect love and a happy ending, but the reality is that they must always get back together and work things out.

Overall, "Don't Make Me Wait" is a reflection of the ups and downs of a long-term relationship. The lyrics convey a sense of poignancy and resignation, suggesting that sometimes, even when things are tough, love can conquer all.

Line by Line Meaning

Are we tired of feeling blue
Are we tired of being sad and unhappy

Can I get along with you
Can we have a good relationship

Just don't tell me try
Don't just tell me to try, there must be more

Every time we fuss and fight
Every time we argue and fight

What I really try to say
What I'm really trying to express

Is I won't be afraid, yah
I won't be scared to love you

If you say you're willing too
If you say you're willing to try

Close your eyes and maybe - maybe see it through
Let's have hope and see it through

Don't make me wait long
Please don't make me wait too long for love

Sounds like a sad song of mine
It all sounds sad like my own song

Every time we meet baby on the street there we go
Every time we bump into each other on the street, we start again