Seal has said he was embarrassed by “Kiss from a Rose” and almost left it off his second album. The song went on to win Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 1996 Grammy Awards.
The track appeared on Seal, his 1994 album, but its fortunes changed when it was used in the film Batman Forever in 1995. The film brought it to a massive audience, and it went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Henry Olusegun Adeola Samuel
Seal was born in London in 1963 to a Nigerian mother and an Afro-Brazilian father. He spent his early years with a foster family before living with his father. His childhood was difficult, and he has spoken about it in interviews.
The scars on his face come from a form of lupus he had as a young man. He studied architecture before turning to music.
Crazy
Seal’s breakthrough came in 1990 with “Crazy”, produced by Trevor Horn, a hit in Britain and the United States. His first album, released in 1991, established him as a distinctive voice mixing soul, pop and electronic music. He also sang on “Killer”, a dance hit with Adamski that reached number one in the UK.
Kiss from a Rose
The song, with its unusual waltz rhythm and layered harmonies, was written years before it was released. Its lyrics are poetic and open to interpretation. After Batman Forever, it became one of the most played love songs of the decade, and it won three Grammys in 1996: Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
Later career
Seal continued to release albums, including covers of classic soul songs, and became a coach on television talent shows such as The Voice Australia. He was married to the model Heidi Klum from 2005 to 2014, a relationship that kept him in celebrity news.
Nigerian connection
Seal’s Yoruba names, Olusegun Adeola, reflect his Nigerian heritage, and Nigerian audiences often celebrate him as one of the British stars with Nigerian roots.
Why the song lasts
“Kiss from a Rose” has been covered widely, used in films and television, and revived online by new generations. Its mix of romance and mystery keeps it fresh.
He nearly hid the song. It became the one people ask him to sing first at every show.
