The Verse’s Gemma Turner tells us what she thought of Seal’s show at Brighton Dome on 17th February 2018.
Seal released tenth studio album last year, and has followed it with a tour that everyone has been talking about.
A household name in the 90’s, with hits such as Batman Forever’s A Kiss From a Rose, Crazy and Fly Like an Eagle (featured on the Space Jam sound track) Seal was propelled into the music industry and considered to be a well respected entertainer. So after years out of the spotlight, returning is always a gamble; not only because of substantial changes in the industry, but also as his new release is a far cry from his older approach to music. Emulating a rat-pack style, with jazz classics such as My Funny Valentine, They Can’t Take That Away From Me, and Irma Thomas’ Anyone Who Knows What Love Is – recently featured on Netflix’s hit show Black Mirror.
Saturday night’s audience at Brighton Dome were shown just how diverse this world class star really is. His first set was enriched with a big band filling the theatre with larger-than-life melodies, whilst Seal’s powerful voice weaved its way through, effortlessly flexing trills in a way only Seal knows how.
The performance was delivered in such a pleasing way that even die-hard fans were watching on as if they were hearing the talent for the very first time. Seal smoothly moved around the stage, carefully paying homage to this classic era of music, swaying and engaging with adoring fans. He closed the first half of the set with That’s Life – giving Sinatra a run for his money. The band echoed the magnitude of Seal’s composition; the audience added to this with their applause. As the big band left the stage, Seal took to the microphone, armed with an acoustic guitar, and began to play a stripped down rendition of A Kiss From A Rose. This is where the audience were treated to the raw talent offered by the 54 year old – there was an equal amount of emotion and nostalgia in the air. Seal proved that when you are endowed with a talent, it never fades.
The highlight of the evening was when the unmissable Adamski-produced beat kicked in. The track Killer was Seal’s debut track with the acid house producer, spending four weeks at the top spot in 1990. It re-entered the charts in 2005 and has been covered by George Michael. The reaction from the audience on Saturday showed just how loved this track is. Seal made his way into a sea of fans, bringing everyone onto their feet.
Seal closed this magnificent night with an encore, performing Crazy ‘to finish things how they begun’.
This was a night neither the audience or Seal will forget.
Featured image courtesy of Ryan Johnston
