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Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday October 29, 2009

Words Lisa Dabscheck

As famous for his model wife as his music, Seal has bared his soul with a return to his R&B roots He��s a soul singer married to a model so perfect she has been made into a Barbie doll. He��s a survivor of an impoverished childhood who now lives next door to David and Victoria Beckham. And his latest album comprises soul covers originally recorded by African-American musicians campaigning for equality.But Seal denies being an advocate for change. ��I am merely a singer,�� he says. ��I sing songs. So my job is to make music that entertains people. I like to try to keep things in perspective.��Fair enough, but what were his sentiments when he sang social justice anthems such as Sam Cooke��s A Change is Gonna Come? ��I didn��t set out to make a politically loaded album,�� he says, before conceding slightly. ��I think subconsciously, as an artist, what you do is echo the social climate of that moment; you��re kind of like an oracle. So if the album does have a social message, then it��s one that is more organic.��Whatever his intentions, the album, Soul, developed its own momentum after US President Barack Obama heard Seal��s recording of A Change is Gonna Come and asked him to sing it at a pre-election rally, which Seal describes as a privilege. ��I grew up with this kind of music. That soul and R&B sound is in my DNA.��His vocal chords were noted early by a music teacher, who thrust him on stage, aged five, to sing a Johnny Nash number. But it was another 22 years before his smoky voice translated into real success.Despite having released 10 albums, he remains best known for his 1990 dance hit Crazy and 1996��s Kiss From a Rose. ��That��s what established me as an artist outside of the dance music genre and solidified me as a household name.�� Nearly two decades later, both songs are still played by radio stations worldwide.These days, the 46-year-old, London-born son of Nigerian parents �� his full name is Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel �� is more famous for his 2005 marriage to German model and television host Heidi Klum, and the conspicuously rich and famous lifestyle they lead with their four children in Los Angeles Seal met Klum in 2003 when she was three weeks pregnant to Italian formula one chief Flavio Briatore, who had already taken up with another woman. Seal, who admits he was ��useless�� before he turned 40, saw an opportunity to lead a more selfless life. ��That pretty much carved out my future. I don��t think I would have been able to understand before then that I was in a fortunate situation �� I was chosen by my wife to be part of this incredible experience.��The couple have since produced three of their own children but Seal insists it is his marriage, as opposed to child-rearing, that has changed him.��You get this sense of substance whereby you have a responsibility for someone other than yourself and the public. That brings about a whole new dynamic.It��s pretty much indescribable.��I have the most amazing wife, the most amazing family,�� he adds, before reflecting for a moment and concluding: ��I pretty much have it all.��Seal is at the State Theatre on November 10, 11, 16, 17.

© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald

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