Synonymous with the “soul” genre of music is artist Seal. Since his self-titled debut 1991 he has been taking the scene by force and is now one of the categories foremost performers.
On November 11th, (Ironically a day used to recognize the heroes of our past) Seal released his Soul album, which pays homage to the greatest soul songs ever written, by pioneers of the genre from decades ago.
The songs on this album are some of the best of their kind, that sample true emotions such as pain, loss, romance and love.
The second song on Soul is a 1973 hit by renowned R&B and soul singer/songwriter Anne Peebles, called “I Can’t Stand the Rain”. It is one of her most recognizable songs and quickly came to be her best single. This is a terribly sad song about being without someone you truly care about. The rain beating against her windowpane creates deep imagery and also appeals to the listener’s emotions.
I Can’t Stand The Rain has been covered several times by multiple artists. Most notably, Tina Turner released a version of this song as her 6th single from her 1984 album Private Dancer. Commercially the song did very well for Turner, even peaking at the #2 spot in France in early 1985.
Missy Elliot’s debut single “The Rain” also features an excerpt from “I Can’t Stand The Rain” as the chorus.
The video for Seal’s version of the song is a very moving scene of the band in a seemingly abandoned house. As the music begins the lights start flickering. And the use of light is used several times throughout as the music rises and falls, including light from windows and swinging bulbs.
In Seal’s moving performance throughout the video, he makes it very easy to absorb the emotion and tone the song was meant to be sung with, and there is no doubt that Seal has once again done justice in serving a classic soul song a deserving amount of tribute.
Monday, 24 November 2008
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
New Soul Records From Seal
Seal’s coming album, Soul features an array of covers of some of the greatest soul songs ever written from the 1960’s and 70’s. Featuring songs written by artists like Otis Redding and James Brown..
The first single, “A Change Is Gonna Come” is most notably considered an anthem for the American Civil Rights Movement after its release in 1964.
Originally the song was written in 1963 by R&B singer/songwriter Sam Cooke. Cooke wrote this song after hearing Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ In the Wind” a song whichdirectly targeted the issue of racial discrimination, which was one of the most prevalent problems in that period of time.
Cooke was incredibly moved by the fact that a white man could produce a song so direct and forward about the rampant problem of racism in the United States. This inspired Cooke to respond some of Dylan’s questions such as “How many times can a man turn his head, pretending he just doesn’t see?” with the answer, “It’s been a long time coming, but I know a change gonna come.”
The song was recorded in 1964 and placed on Cooke’s album Ain’t That Good News. Unfortunately it was not used as the single, but was re-released as the single for the B side of his album Shake. Cooke had long wanted to touch on the plaguing issue of racism but was reluctant to do so based on having a primarily white fan base.
“A Change Is Gonna Come” was first performed by Sam Cooke on February 7th, 1964 on The Tonight Show, but received little recognition, being eclipsed just two days later by The Beatles’ performance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Since, the song has been performed and recorded by artists including Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin and The Allman Brothers. Recently the song was even employed by the Arcade Fire in support of BarackObama’s nomination as President of the United States.
Seal has already released a video for “A Change Is Gonna Come” available on Youtube. It simply features Seal woefully singing into a microphone, which one can see embodies the angst and pain of the original intentions of the song.
Since “A Change Is Gonna Come” is revered as one of the three hundred greatest songs ever written by NPR (National Public Radio,) it is the perfect song to crown Seal’s album tributing other great soul artists, the aptly named, Soul album.
The first single, “A Change Is Gonna Come” is most notably considered an anthem for the American Civil Rights Movement after its release in 1964.
Originally the song was written in 1963 by R&B singer/songwriter Sam Cooke. Cooke wrote this song after hearing Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ In the Wind” a song whichdirectly targeted the issue of racial discrimination, which was one of the most prevalent problems in that period of time.
Cooke was incredibly moved by the fact that a white man could produce a song so direct and forward about the rampant problem of racism in the United States. This inspired Cooke to respond some of Dylan’s questions such as “How many times can a man turn his head, pretending he just doesn’t see?” with the answer, “It’s been a long time coming, but I know a change gonna come.”
The song was recorded in 1964 and placed on Cooke’s album Ain’t That Good News. Unfortunately it was not used as the single, but was re-released as the single for the B side of his album Shake. Cooke had long wanted to touch on the plaguing issue of racism but was reluctant to do so based on having a primarily white fan base.
“A Change Is Gonna Come” was first performed by Sam Cooke on February 7th, 1964 on The Tonight Show, but received little recognition, being eclipsed just two days later by The Beatles’ performance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Since, the song has been performed and recorded by artists including Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin and The Allman Brothers. Recently the song was even employed by the Arcade Fire in support of BarackObama’s nomination as President of the United States.
Seal has already released a video for “A Change Is Gonna Come” available on Youtube. It simply features Seal woefully singing into a microphone, which one can see embodies the angst and pain of the original intentions of the song.
Since “A Change Is Gonna Come” is revered as one of the three hundred greatest songs ever written by NPR (National Public Radio,) it is the perfect song to crown Seal’s album tributing other great soul artists, the aptly named, Soul album.
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
New Album Info
SEAL TO RELEASE SOUL — PRODUCED BY DAVID FOSTER
NOVEMBER 3 Internationally
Multi-Platinum Singer-Songwriter Delivers Career Defining Album in SOUL
(October 1, 2008) - Burbank, CA - Grammy-winning vocalist and songwriter Seal will release a new album, SOUL, on Warner Bros. Records on November 3, 2008 internationally. It is the best-selling artist’s sixth studio album and was created in partnership with legendary producer David Foster.
SOUL is comprised of eleven classic soul songs that each evokes their own drama, emotion and romance. Seal brings his unique, signature style to the album and found a great collaborative spirit working with Foster.
“Someone once said ‘...the album will sound like the time you had making it’…. Never before has it been as true as the process of recording this record,” said Seal. “Although David and I had been acquaintances before, we’d never quite managed to work together. Upon doing so, I was quick to realize that I was in the presence of true greatness. I’ve worked with a lot of producers before, but never have I come across anyone as naturally gifted and knowledgeable as David. If you are fortunate enough to have that combination, then you find that the album making process tends to go very swiftly, making this the smoothest and most enjoyable album I have ever made. And if you are exceptionally fortunate, you find yourself also having made a great friend. I cannot thank him enough.”
“I've made a lot of records in my time, but I've never enjoyed the recording experience more than I have with Seal. I think he's the only singer on the planet that could do this album, bringing something new and fresh to these classics, paying tremendous respect to their heritage, but, at the same time, owning them and making them uniquely "Seal". He was born to sing these songs and all we got to do is hang on for what is going to be a "killer" ride,” said David Foster.
The London-born Seal first emerged from Britain’s house music scene in the early ’90s providing vocals and lyrics for techno artist Adamski’s 1990 hit “Killer.” The Top Ten debut single, “Crazy,” followed and Seal would go on to earn critical acclaim and worldwide commercial success over four albums. Seal’s prodigious vocal gifts — his soaring, husky baritone that has become a signature on such hits as “Prayer for the Dying,” “Kiss From a Rose,” and “Don’t Cry” — amplify the emotion he brings to a song.
To learn more, listen to streaming audio, and watch music video clips, please visit his website at www.seal.com.
The track-listing for SOUL is as follows. Please note this is not a final album sequence.
1. A Change Is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke
2. I Can't Stand The Rain - Ann Pebbles
3. It's A Man's Man's Man's World - James Brown
4. Knock On Wood - Eddie Floyd
5. I've Been Loving You Too Long - Otis Redding
6. Here I Am (Come And Take Me) - Al Green
7. If You Don't Know Me By Now - Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
8. It's Alright - The Impressions
9. I'm Still In Love With You - Al Green
10. Free - Deniece Williams
11. People Get Ready - The Impressions
NOVEMBER 3 Internationally
Multi-Platinum Singer-Songwriter Delivers Career Defining Album in SOUL
(October 1, 2008) - Burbank, CA - Grammy-winning vocalist and songwriter Seal will release a new album, SOUL, on Warner Bros. Records on November 3, 2008 internationally. It is the best-selling artist’s sixth studio album and was created in partnership with legendary producer David Foster.
SOUL is comprised of eleven classic soul songs that each evokes their own drama, emotion and romance. Seal brings his unique, signature style to the album and found a great collaborative spirit working with Foster.
“Someone once said ‘...the album will sound like the time you had making it’…. Never before has it been as true as the process of recording this record,” said Seal. “Although David and I had been acquaintances before, we’d never quite managed to work together. Upon doing so, I was quick to realize that I was in the presence of true greatness. I’ve worked with a lot of producers before, but never have I come across anyone as naturally gifted and knowledgeable as David. If you are fortunate enough to have that combination, then you find that the album making process tends to go very swiftly, making this the smoothest and most enjoyable album I have ever made. And if you are exceptionally fortunate, you find yourself also having made a great friend. I cannot thank him enough.”
“I've made a lot of records in my time, but I've never enjoyed the recording experience more than I have with Seal. I think he's the only singer on the planet that could do this album, bringing something new and fresh to these classics, paying tremendous respect to their heritage, but, at the same time, owning them and making them uniquely "Seal". He was born to sing these songs and all we got to do is hang on for what is going to be a "killer" ride,” said David Foster.
The London-born Seal first emerged from Britain’s house music scene in the early ’90s providing vocals and lyrics for techno artist Adamski’s 1990 hit “Killer.” The Top Ten debut single, “Crazy,” followed and Seal would go on to earn critical acclaim and worldwide commercial success over four albums. Seal’s prodigious vocal gifts — his soaring, husky baritone that has become a signature on such hits as “Prayer for the Dying,” “Kiss From a Rose,” and “Don’t Cry” — amplify the emotion he brings to a song.
To learn more, listen to streaming audio, and watch music video clips, please visit his website at www.seal.com.
The track-listing for SOUL is as follows. Please note this is not a final album sequence.
1. A Change Is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke
2. I Can't Stand The Rain - Ann Pebbles
3. It's A Man's Man's Man's World - James Brown
4. Knock On Wood - Eddie Floyd
5. I've Been Loving You Too Long - Otis Redding
6. Here I Am (Come And Take Me) - Al Green
7. If You Don't Know Me By Now - Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
8. It's Alright - The Impressions
9. I'm Still In Love With You - Al Green
10. Free - Deniece Williams
11. People Get Ready - The Impressions
Seal's new Album!
Seal's new album, 'Soul', is released on November 3rd 2008, and you can check out the new video right here!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXH13skpsNo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXH13skpsNo
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