Hey!  I just joined the mailing list today so I thought that I should
introduce myself.  My name is Lyndsay Bushey, I am 15 years old, and
live in Vergennes Vermont.

I have been a fan of Seal since the summer before I was in the seventh
grade.  My favortie Seal songs are "Crazy", "Future Love Paradise",
"Whirlpool", "Violet", "Don't Cry", And "Prayer For the Dying".

I also like to listen to Todd the Wet Sprocket, THe Goo Goo Dolls and
The Verve Pipe.  And anything else that happenes to be on the radio.

I love art and often spend hours drawing and painting. Hope to hear
from you all soon.

                  -Lyn




---Robby Wells <robby@...> wrote:
>
> From: Robby Wells <robby@...>
>
> Hello,
>
> Just wanted to introduce myself.  My name is Robby Wells and I am from
> Dallas, Texas.  I am a 23 years old, and work for a website
development
> company here in Dallas.  I am a *keen-avid* snowboarder, and
although I am a
> responsible 23 year old, I still skateboard quite often.
>
> I have been a Seal fan from the moment that I heard him.  You cannot
help
> but fall for his positive messages.  My long-time fave songs are
Deep Water,
> Whirlpool, and Violet.  There is not a single song that I could ever
turn
> off or *not* tell everyone in the room to "listen to the words" to.
I have
> seen him in concert twice.
>
> My other musical preferences: Jamiroquai, Massive Attack, George
Michael,
> Tears for Fears, some rap (wyclef, tribe called quest, busta rhymes,
> digable), way too much to think of - for some reason, these came to
mind
> immediately.
>
> I look forward to reading messages, almost as much as I look forward
to the
> latest from Seal.
>
> Robby Wells
> Dallas, Texas
>
>
>
> At 03:17 PM 7/30/98 -0500, you wrote:
> >> Side note:  the Seal list now has 24 subscribers.  And since 15
of you
> >
> >> weren't here to recieve my last welcome on July 16, I'll do so now.
> >Welcome
> >> to all of you, and feel free to talk about whatever you want.  And
> >introduce
> >> yourselves.
> >
> >
> >Okay, here goes   :-)
> >
> >My name's Steve Wonchoba.  I live in St Paul, Minnesota, USA.  I'm 29
> >years old & I've been a big fan of Seal since 1991 (or whenever I
first
> >heard "Crazy").
> >
> >Favorite tracks -- changes daily, but some constants are Future Love
> >Paradise, Wild, Prayer..., Dreaming in Metaphors (piano version)
> >
> >I have no great stories, I'm just an avid fan :-)
> >
> >Other music I enjoy:  Chicago, Genesis, Utopia/Todd Rundgren, Jason
> >Falkner, Joe Jackson, Yes, Blues Traveler, lots of others...
> >
> >I've been scanning the FLP web site waiting for more info on Seal
3, and
> >finally decided to join the mailing list yesterday.  Glad Seal &
Trevor
> >Horn patched things up!
> >
> >Happy to be on the list!
> >
> >-Steve
> >Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="vcard.vcf"
> >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> >Content-Description: Card for Steven Wonchoba
> >Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="vcard.vcf"
> >
> >Attachment Converted: c:\windows\start
menu\internet\eudora\attach\vcard.vcf
> >
>
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> To unsubscribe from this mailing list, or to change your subscription
> to digest, go to the ONElist web site, at http://www.onelist.com and
> select the User Center link from the menu bar on the left.
>
>

Hello,

Just wanted to introduce myself.  My name is Robby Wells and I am from
Dallas, Texas.  I am a 23 years old, and work for a website development
company here in Dallas.  I am a *keen-avid* snowboarder, and although I am a
responsible 23 year old, I still skateboard quite often.

I have been a Seal fan from the moment that I heard him.  You cannot help
but fall for his positive messages.  My long-time fave songs are Deep Water,
Whirlpool, and Violet.  There is not a single song that I could ever turn
off or *not* tell everyone in the room to "listen to the words" to.  I have
seen him in concert twice.

My other musical preferences: Jamiroquai, Massive Attack, George Michael,
Tears for Fears, some rap (wyclef, tribe called quest, busta rhymes,
digable), way too much to think of - for some reason, these came to mind
immediately.

I look forward to reading messages, almost as much as I look forward to the
latest from Seal.

Robby Wells
Dallas, Texas



At 03:17 PM 7/30/98 -0500, you wrote:
>> Side note:  the Seal list now has 24 subscribers.  And since 15 of you
>
>> weren't here to recieve my last welcome on July 16, I'll do so now.
>Welcome
>> to all of you, and feel free to talk about whatever you want.  And
>introduce
>> yourselves.
>
>
>Okay, here goes   :-)
>
>My name's Steve Wonchoba.  I live in St Paul, Minnesota, USA.  I'm 29
>years old & I've been a big fan of Seal since 1991 (or whenever I first
>heard "Crazy").
>
>Favorite tracks -- changes daily, but some constants are Future Love
>Paradise, Wild, Prayer..., Dreaming in Metaphors (piano version)
>
>I have no great stories, I'm just an avid fan :-)
>
>Other music I enjoy:  Chicago, Genesis, Utopia/Todd Rundgren, Jason
>Falkner, Joe Jackson, Yes, Blues Traveler, lots of others...
>
>I've been scanning the FLP web site waiting for more info on Seal 3, and
>finally decided to join the mailing list yesterday.  Glad Seal & Trevor
>Horn patched things up!
>
>Happy to be on the list!
>
>-Steve
>Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="vcard.vcf"
>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>Content-Description: Card for Steven Wonchoba
>Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="vcard.vcf"
>
>Attachment Converted: c:\windows\start menu\internet\eudora\attach\vcard.vcf
>

> Side note:  the Seal list now has 24 subscribers.  And since 15 of you

> weren't here to recieve my last welcome on July 16, I'll do so now.
Welcome
> to all of you, and feel free to talk about whatever you want.  And
introduce
> yourselves.


Okay, here goes   :-)

My name's Steve Wonchoba.  I live in St Paul, Minnesota, USA.  I'm 29
years old & I've been a big fan of Seal since 1991 (or whenever I first
heard "Crazy").

Favorite tracks -- changes daily, but some constants are Future Love
Paradise, Wild, Prayer..., Dreaming in Metaphors (piano version)

I have no great stories, I'm just an avid fan :-)

Other music I enjoy:  Chicago, Genesis, Utopia/Todd Rundgren, Jason
Falkner, Joe Jackson, Yes, Blues Traveler, lots of others...

I've been scanning the FLP web site waiting for more info on Seal 3, and
finally decided to join the mailing list yesterday.  Glad Seal & Trevor
Horn patched things up!

Happy to be on the list!

-Steve

>Hot off the wire is the news that Seal has patched up his differences
>with his former producer of albums Seal #1 and #2, Trevor Horn.
>
>More shocking still is the revelation that Horn is working with Seal
>on the massively delayed third album.

Whoo-hoo!  Finally some news, and what great news it is!  Hopefully this
will mean that we'll get a new album before the year 2000.  :)

Since Trevor Horn will be working on the album, do you think that Seal 3
will end up being more orchestral and polished (like Seal 2)?  Or will it
have more stripped-down acoustic tracks like Seal originally planned for
Seal 3?

I personally think that it will end up being more stripped-down than Seal 2,
since that's what Seal wanted.  But I also think that it will turn out a
little more
polished than Seal originally intended, just because Trevor's such a
perfectionist.  :)

And who here thinks that Seal's third album will be titled "Seal"?

I do. :)

Side note:  the Seal list now has 24 subscribers.  And since 15 of you
weren't here to recieve my last welcome on July 16, I'll do so now.  Welcome
to all of you, and feel free to talk about whatever you want.  And introduce
yourselves.
.
.
.
__________j  o  e     p  i  e  k  a  r  s  k  i__________

                    email  jpiekars@...
                 page  http://welcome.to/joespage
                              icq  13193529

Future Love Paradise: News - http://www.ultim.demon.co.uk/seal/

.\/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/
\/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/

FUTURE LOVE PARADISE NEWS UPDATE #4

http://www.ultim.demon.co.uk/seal/

STOP THE PRESS

...and that could mean the CD presses!

Hot off the wire is the news that Seal has patched up his differences
with his former producer of albums Seal #1 and #2, Trevor Horn.

More shocking still is the revelation that Horn is working with Seal
on the massively delayed third album. One of the contributing factors
to this delay is the bust-up between the two, so quite what effect
the reconciliation will have on the progress of the album is very
concerning. Will Seal want to go the full monty and re-record every
track on the album...?

Check out the story in full on the Future Love Paradise news page

Love & Life,


G.

/\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\
/\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\

I just got the news about Seal and Trevor Horn in the studio together
again.  I'm anxious to see what happens - Gareth, I agree with you that
it's possible they'll do the whole thing over.  I hope he and Trevor have
reconciled; it seemed like they had a good friendship before the disagreement.

Does anyone know about Seal being a father-to-be?  Is it true?  If so, when
is the baby due?

I look forward to hearing from everybody.

Heidi

Hi to all who wrote for the first time this week!!!!

Hello Everyone!

Heidi you are not the only thirtysomething person on the list . I am 33 and
wiull be 34 in September. I too am a musician, and I appreciate the beauty
of the music as well as the lyrics. I am currently in Brazil on business
and was able to find a copy of Live at the Point Video in NTSC (US format).
It was made in Brazil. I can't wait to see it when I am back home in
Boston.

Here's hoping that he new CD will be here soon. I can't wait.

Michael

Hi everyone!

I'm Heidi, I live a suburb of Washington, DC, and I first discovered Seal
when I was pregnant with my daughter in 1994.  His music spoke to me at the
time, and the lyrics and music continue to have meaning.  I am very shy and
it took me a few weeks to write, but this seems like a friendly group.

Most of you are in your twenties; I'm 35 (three months older than Seal).
My favorite artists besides Seal are Al Jarreau and Neil Young.  I listen
to almost every kind of music, although I'm not crazy about country music.

Here's hoping we have some new music from Seal soon!

Hello all,

My name is Julie and I have been a Seal fan for a good little while now. I
have a very limited collection. Tried to get CD's and such via the internet,
but everytime I ordered them, what I want is always out of stock. (tis very
frustrating).

In any case, I like his music for several reasons:
a) I can really relate to his lyrics.
b) The musical arrangments are great.
c) Being a musician myself, I can appreciate the hard work and dedication it
takes to make such intricate melodies and such. (Dreaming in Metaphors would
be one example.)

Seal doesn't just throw his music together like some "artists" out there. He
really works to get it perfect and I can appreciate that because it tells me
that he really cares about what he's putting out to the public.

I think that has been the main delay with Seal's third album. Of course, he
has had so many set backs that I am a bit skeptical about this supposed Sept.
release date. But you can be sure, the *day* that baby hits the record stores,
I will be there.

Peace, love and happiness~
Julie.

Hi there everybody,

I'm Gareth Edwards. I've been on this list for a few weeks now, but haven't
had a chance to sit down and say 'Hi' to everyone.
I've been a great admirer of Seal since day one, and by that I mean his
first commercial release as vocalist to the co-written Adamski rendition
of Killer. That was 1990, and even now the very thought of that track
evokes memories of a wild summer as a fun-loving 18 year old.
Now, 8 years later, I'm still a massive fan. As if testament to this fact,
I created the Future Love Paradise (FLP) web site, and while it's been a
little quiet in the last few months, I do try to keep the site up to date
with *ANY* news of the impending album. Latest 'news' is September, but don't
hold your collective breath! See the sig for the FLP web site URL

Anyway, anough from me. I look forward to chatting with you all in the
coming years, and wish you all the best of health.

BTW, many thanks to Joe for creating this list. It's a breath of fresh air
when compared to the usenet newsgroup alt.music.seal, which has been
drowned out by the evil din of spam in the last year or so.

Love & Life,


G.
       Gareth Edwards  ?  Loom Master  :  <config@...>

  Terence Trent D'Arby's CyberSteryo:  http://www.ultim.demon.co.uk/cs/
         Seal's Future Love Paradise:  http://www.ultim.demon.co.uk/seal/

Hello all,

Just an FYI on Tunnel Records and the Unplugged CD. I ordrered it last
October, and they are still awaiting it. They do expect to get it
eventually though.'

Later,
Mike

>Hey Ang...I can get the Seal Unplugged CD from this website...
>www.tunnelrecords.com check it out...it's well worth it! And oh when Seal
>comes to NYC we'll have to go :)


I'm really interested in picking this up, but I was wondering if you could
tell me how long it took you to get your copy once you ordered it...

Thanks.
.
.
.
___________j  o  e     p  i  e  k  a  r  s  k  i___________

                    email  jpiekars@...

Hello,



I have listened to Seal's music since 1992, actually had the cd
before but had never listened to it until I received custody of it
during a divorce.  I am very thankful that I did...I have had many
difficult periods in my life since then...Seal always pulls me
through...

I had the great joy of taking my two oldest sons to see Seal in
concert at Pine Knob here in Michigan 1995.  It really was a
wonderful show..I don't think anyone could keep their eyes off
Seal..he really has great stage presence.

As for myself, I am 34, mom to three boys 13,11 & 4. I enjoy
listening to Alan Parsons, Savage Garden, Robert Palmer and Sting.

Here's hoping that September will bring us something new and
wonderful to add to our collections!

-Dawn2012


_____________________________________________
Get your free personalized email address at
http://www.MyOwnEmail.com

Hi Nick;

Thanks for the info...   :-)

And yes, we will go see him when he comes to NY...(hopefully soon!!!)


....Hi everyone else!   Have a great weekend!!!!!!

-Angela

Hey Guys!!!!

It's me Nick again! I didn't say in my first letter that I'm 20 years old and
live in the lovely state of New Jersey! It is very cool that all of you are
such big Seal fans!! It's hard to find them nowadays! He has been gone for so
long..

Hey Ang...I can get the Seal Unplugged CD from this website...
www.tunnelrecords.com check it out...it's well worth it! And oh when Seal
comes to NYC we'll have to go :)

And Amanda..keep rocking over there in Europe..I used to work in a record
store...hell his album was originally slated for a release date of sept.
1997...what the hell happened???

Well guys be sure to keep me abreast of everything! Bye for now and may I
leave you all with this... "can I reach out for you if that feels good to me?"

Isn't he awesome??
Nick

Well Hello Everyone!!!!!!

This is my 2nd posting  (i am very knew at this list stuff).  I think it is
very cool that we can discuss one common thing all around the globe!

I can not wait till this CD....I can't wait to see him on tour! (will be my
1st time).  I really can describe too well the feelings I get when I listen to
him...he sounds like he Feels the music...and makes me feel it too-deep down.
My favorite is bringing the tape to the beach at sundown and just watching the
waves....listening to "Fast Changes", "Deep Water", "Violet"...etc.

Oh Nick- I am interested in the info on the "unplugged".....thanks

And "hi" back to Molnar  ;)


Cheers,

Angela

Hi all,

I've been out of it for a while now (changing jobs etc.) I haven't heard
of anything much in the last couple of months or so - the release date
being pushed back [again] doesn't particularly surprise me...

Has there been any good news/rumours lately about what Seal is up to?
Unfurtunately, living in Australia I don't tend to hear very much - I
think people over here only know of Seal because of KFAR (like that's
the ONLY song he's ever produced...!)

It's good to see that FLP is still kicking on.  Good work G!
Compliments also go to Joe for setting up this list.

Mike

Hi

I'm 22 years old and have been 'into' Seal since he featured on
Adamski's Killer way back in April 1990. Ever since, I have tried to
collect *everything* he has ever recorded...well nearly everything! I
think there was just something about his amazing voice that just had me
hooked... Working as an assistant manager in a record shop means I am
usually pretty up-to-date with new releases. At the moment (here in
England) we have a release date for the Summer for the new CD...but I
expect it will be nearer the Autumn before we hear anything! When I am
not listning to Seal, I love listening to music...working in a record
shop is heaven...all those cheap, discounted CDs. Music is my number one
passion...I even did my dissertation on the music industry. Anyway,
that's enough about me... !!?

Amanda

Hey Jaime,
I've been a Seal fan for just as long!! I'm want a new album so badly...I
check the future love paradise website all the time hoping there will be a new
album release date. By the way I was able to locate a copy of Seal Unplugged
on CD if anyone is interested in the info I'd be glad to give it to them.  I
saw Seal in Nov. of 1994 and I must say he was incredible..his voice,
everything about him I love....and he is so different! no one on this planet
sounds like him...

Keep praying Jamie and all you seal fans out there! Keep hope for a new album
for 98!!

Nick

>Hey everyone,

My name is Jamie and I've been a Seal fan for about 6-7 years now. He's
definitely my favorite artist, bar none. I'm 22 years old and live in
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. I'm originally from Newfoundland, Canada but
am now a first year med student at McMaster university. Although Seal is
my favorite artist, I have a very eclectic taste in music. I like
everything from pop, hip hop/ R&B hard rock, alternative to celtic
music. Maybe that's why I like Seal so much, because his music doesn't
seem to fit any one genre.
    Hope to hear more Seal info soon!

Bye,
Jamie
>

I recently became interested in Seal and his music.  I would like some
interpretations
of the lyrics, if possible.  Thank you!  Please reply!  Char:)

> I'm Joe Piekarski, 23 years old, and I've been listening to Seal for
> about five years.

Hi Joe,

     I'm Andras Molnar from Hungary (so: Molnar Andras), 23 years old,
and I've been listening to Seal about six years (I won:).
     My English is not the best actually, sorry for the mistakes I
will inevitably make.
     I'm a student at the Janus Pannonius University of Pecs (they say
that I'm learning Italian, but I'm not so sure about it, more exactly:
I'm forgetting Italian). I play the piano and the guitar a bit, I
sing, and write poems - hi Angela ;) - and I draw/paint sometimes.
Like Seal, I love to take photos too. I recently came to like
swimming (in deep water).
     I think the next Seal album is going to be "classic" in some way.
..."Classic"? I don't really know what I mean by classic. I
just have this feeling about it. Classic. It sounds good.
     My favourits from Seal are Violet and Dreaming in Methaphors - (hi
Angela 2 :) - and the unplugged performance of Bowie's Quicksand.
And the rest. :)
     My favourites include Terence Trent D'Arby, Sade (mostly the
first 3 album), Bjork, jazz - do you know the eminent Hungarian
group, Brass Age? (I guess you don't, damn it). Gregorian, makam-,
Indian and also renaissance and baroque music, briefly. And folk
music. Hungarian, Siberian, West-African.....I love music.
     Oh, if somebody wants to see my homepage (strongly under
construction) should try

     http://sophia.jpte.hu/~enam

Uff. That's enough of me. :)

Ave,
Andras

Hi Joe....

My name is Angela.; I'm 28 y.o,..live in Brooklyn, NY.  I got turned onto Seal
through an ex-boyfriend when his 2nd album was just out.  I love everything he
does...esp. Violet, Dreaming in Metaphors,,,B-sides are awesome too.  I buy
all the maxi-singles so I can have All the different versions...I usually like
the ones Not on the CD better (The slower versions).  I have not seen him yet;
and I wait ever-so-patiently.  I hope it's out now by Sept.!!!!!
My hobbies include learning how to play the piano I just bought
(eeek)..reading (love Stephen King), writing, roller blading,
bowling...walking on the beach. I am an Assistant Editor, and am about to go
for my Masters degree in Publishing.  My favorites besides Seal are Billy
Joel, Melisa Etheridge,Barry Manilow, STP,George Winston, Harry Connick
Jr....and everything Metal 80's.  I am now beging to get a bit mellow (as you
can see...)
Hope to hear from everyone else soon!  Hope you're enjoying the summer!!!!

Cheers,
Angela

Hi everyone!

I'm Michael Goodblatt. I'm 33 years old from Boston (although currently in
Brazil on business) and I too was turned on to Seal by an ex-girlfriend. I
have seen him twice in concert and it was quite good. Interestingly enough,
my musical taste tends more toward straight ahead jazz, althouhg I also
like R&B, soul and various other music as well. I particularly enjoy my
"Live in Toronto CD" as wll as the Acoustic EP "Violet"

I am anxiously awaiting the new CD as well. You would think that Warner
Bros. would have more info on such a prominent artist!

Well, back to work.....

Mike

Hi Joe . . pleased to meet you.   I'm a bit riper . . . 40 yrs. old
female.  Fell asleep one nite in front of the TV & woke up to my first
sounds of Seal on Saturday Night Live.   Have been hooked ever since and
I'm not totally sure why . . . can't figure the heck out of his lyrics,
but feel he's the most soulful singer around.  Of course, very anxiously
awaiting the new disc and a tour???   I'm from the Pittsburgh area and
very regretably missed his run thru here a couple of years ago.   I
generally listen to the 70's alternative rock, but have lately been
playing the same Neil Young tape  (Harvest Moon) over and over and over.
I did the same with Seal's discs . . . to the point that my kids know
ever lyric, though they're not too crazy about it.   Well . . hope to
hear some news soon.    Chris
  ----------
From: (JOEpiekarski)
To: seal@onelist.com
Subject: [seal] Welcome to the list.
Date: Thursday, July 16, 1998 2:08AM

From: "(JOEpiekarski)" <jpiekars@...>

Hi, and welcome to all of the new subscribers to the Seal list.

Post about whatever you want.  Just start posting!  Maybe write what you
think the new album will sound like, or what you would like it to sound
like.  Or if the album will ever come at all.  :)

Oh yeah, and introduce yourselves.

I'm Joe Piekarski, 23 years old, and I've been listening to Seal for
about
five years.  I was introduced to Seal by my girlfriend at the time.  I
also
run this list (which currently has 12 subscribers).

I live in Silver Bay, Minnesota, USA and I enjoy music, movies,
computers, and going to work.  Yes, I enjoy going to work.

Some of my favorite musicians/bands are:  Seal, Recoil, Massive Attack,
Public Enemy, Annie Lennox, Depeche Mode, and pretty much anything 80's.

So there ya go.  Start talking about anything.
.
.
.
___________j  o  e     p  i  e  k  a  r  s  k
i___________

                    email  jpiekars@...
                 page  http://welcome.to/joespage
                              icq  13193529


PS--If anyone needs to get a hold of me, I'm going to be gone until
Sunday.




------------------------------------------------------------------------
Help support ONElist, while generating interest in your product or
service. ONElist has a variety of advertising packages. Visit
http://www.onelist.com/advert.html for more information.

Hi, and welcome to all of the new subscribers to the Seal list.

Post about whatever you want.  Just start posting+ACE-  Maybe write what you
think the new album will sound like, or what you would like it to sound
like.  Or if the album will ever come at all.  :)

Oh yeah, and introduce yourselves.

I'm Joe Piekarski, 23 years old, and I've been listening to Seal for about
five years.  I was introduced to Seal by my girlfriend at the time.  I also
run this list (which currently has 12 subscribers).

I live in Silver Bay, Minnesota, USA and I enjoy music, movies,
computers, and going to work.  Yes, I enjoy going to work.

Some of my favorite musicians/bands are:  Seal, Recoil, Massive Attack,
Public Enemy, Annie Lennox, Depeche Mode, and pretty much anything 80's.

So there ya go.  Start talking about anything.
.
.
.
+AF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXw-j  o  e     p  i  e  k  a  r  s  k
i+AF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXw-

                    email  jpiekars+AEA-lakenet.com
                 page  http://welcome.to/joespage
                              icq  13193529


PS--If anyone needs to get a hold of me, I'm going to be gone until Sunday.

Here's part two of the interview from +ACI-Seal:  In Conversation+ACI-.

Joe Piekarski

-----------------------------

I:  I was going to say, I mean you+IBk-re talking about the commercial aspect of
it.  I mean, it
literally, I mean the song could be several different ways in several
different layers.  But
to me, I take it as a prayer for the dying almost.

S:  Oh.  Yes.

I:  Have you heard that response, I mean, because I know how you are with
your songs,
and I+IBk-ve read a lot of interviews with you and you say, +IBw-Hey, you
know+IB0- and
even in the
album you say +IBw-Look, I don+IBk-t want to print the lyrics +IBg-cause
everything
means something
to somebody else.+IB0-

S:  Yes.

I:  The story behind the song, how it, I mean obviously you must have been
feeling,
(laughs) feeling for a lot of people.

S:  Um, I was really feeling for myself, to tell you the honest truth.  Yes,
a lot of people,
like some close friends of mine died, or one particular close friend of mine
died, a guy I
grew up with, um...he sort of died really suddenly.   But it was mainly to
do with my own
insecurities, my views, my fears of death, you know, what death meant to me.
Um...I
guess it was, it was taking, I tried to take a different viewpoint of it, of
you know, looking
at death as a continuation of life rather than the end of everything.  Or at
least another
stage in life.  Um...and so that+IBk-s really what +IBw-Prayer For the
Dying+IB0- was
really meant to
do.  It was, it+IBk-s also meant as a kind of offering to people who were dying
of terminal
diseases like AIDS, cancer, people involved in the war in Bosnia, people who
uh...who
were dying all over the world for various different reasons you know, beyond
their
control.  It was meant as something, some kind of offering, some kind of
offering of
hope, you know, at the same time as being a therapy to its writer, myself.
You know, it
was meant as some kind of alternative, something to sort of make our time
spent here
easier, more enjoyable, you know, um...what can you say to somebody who+IBk-s
dying of a
terminal disease that is going to make the rest of their time here, go,
spent, what can you
say that+IBk-s going to make it, make it, the time pass easily, more easily?

I:  You know, music has that power.  I+IBk-ve talked to a lot of people,
I+IBk-ve
been doing this
job for a while now, music has that power, both for the artist and for their
fans of, (Seal is
drinking loudly) almost like a catharsis hearing the songs.  I mean, have
you felt that
growing up maybe listening or even your own music?  Just of it+IBk-s almost like
a release
and it can make others feel good?

S:  Oh, absolutely+ACE-  When I have a problem, the way I deal with it, or one
of, one of the
ways I deal with (microphone fizzes out) a problem is I write about it and
(microphone
comes back on) sing about it.  Right?

I:  I+IBk-m sorry, can you say that one more time?

S:  When I have a problem, one of the ways, one of the ways I deal with it
is to write
about it.  To write a song.  And when I hear that song coming back over a
piece of tape
through the monitors, um...that makes me feel, that makes me feel better.
It serves as a
kind of, a kind of self-therapy.  Um...and I guess music has always been
like that to me.
Music has always given me a kind of feeling of...well don+IBk-t worry because
someone
understands, someone sympathizes with you, someone empathizes with you.
Someone
understands, don+IBk-t worry about it.  And that+IBk-s, I guess, what I+IBk-ve
tried to
do first and
foremost for myself because I am a firm believer that charity begins at
home.  And then,
if other people get affected by my music and think it+IBk-s great, then it+IBk-s
fantastic.  That+IBk-s
the biggest payoff of it all.

I:  Let me ask you, since there+IBk-s a time crunch, I+IBk-m going to jump
around a
little bit.
(Laughs)

S:  What, I+IBk-m listening to you...

I:  Okay, um I know you basically wrote or co-wrote all, all the songs on
this record, I
mean on a, on a sophomore record, was there anything specific that you
wanted to get
across that, you know, in any...

S:  I wanted to get across the fact that this album is a celebration of
life, and life is for
living and people, as much as they can, should try and live in the
+IBw-now+IB0-, as
opposed to,
to um...living in the future, living in the future or in the past.  Um...I
guess that was the
general feeling of I tried to...I tried to put across.  Um...Yes, that was
pretty much it.

I:  I was going to say it seems like this album almost went through, I mean
you even
wrote in your, you know, +IBw-Two years, three months, a week, and two days to
complete+IB0-.

S:  Yes.

I:  Uh...and, and if you listen, like I have, to all the songs, it seems
like you, (laughing)
your life was going all around.

S:  Yes, it has been.

I:  Can you talk about, I mean because there was some songs, there+IBk-s some
songs where
I+IBk-m, I+IBk-m feeling for you and other songs where you can see where,
+IBw-Oh, okay+IB0-
.

S:  Yes, it+IBk-s kind of like a journey, like it+IBk-s, like lots of conflicts
going on, um lots of
things, asking myself whether or not I wanted to, um...continue doing this,
whether or not
it was the right thing that I should be dealing in my life.  Whether or not
I was doing it to
the best of my ability.  Whether or not if I was really happy in doing it.
Um...uh whether
I could sort of deal or cope with the change that was occurring all around
me.  Whether
or not I could um...whether or not I wanted to.  Whether I was ready for
spiritual growth,
whether or not I wanted that spiritual growth.  Did I want to keep sort of
living, living in
kind of like a non-spiritual way and sort of deny, deny that aspect of my
life and become
numb to it or whether I was ready to sort, to start digging into the dirt,
and re-...clean in
my life, repairing my life, whether or not, whether or not I thought that
this was going to
give me the opportunity to do that.  Whether or not I+IBk-d be able to do that
within the kind
of the, the rules of, of my profession.  Um, and I guess um I got a lot of
those
uh...indecisions if you like on, on the album, I guess the, the, a lot of
the songs, especially
like um, oh let me see, like +IBw-Metaphors+IB0-, um...+IBw-Newborn Friend+IB0-,
uh +IBw-Bring
It On+IB0-,  I
guess I address a lot of those things I just talked about, those questions I
asked myself in
those songs.

I:  Is +IBw-Bring It On+IB0- the next single?  No?

S:  No, uh...

I:  It+IBk-s a good next single.

S:  They+IBk-re talking about +IBw-Newborn Friend+IB0-.  See, I don+IBk-t know
what would be
the next
best single for America, because I don+IBk-t really understand America.

I:  Why?  Give me your take on America.  Not even American radio, but
just...

S:  I have no take on it at all+ACE-  I, I just, I+IBk-m here, I+IBk-m just here
and,
and I really enjoy it.  I
like Americans, I love the enthusiasm over here.  Obviously everybody+IBk-s got
it+IBk-s good
and it+IBk-s bad points, you know, there are things that I dislike about
England, my home.
But I don+IBk-t, I won+IBk-t even begin to, to try and understand how it all
works
over here
because I just don+IBk-t understand, and I don+IBk-t know what would be the next
best single.  I
mean, if they seem to think, when I say they, I mean the record company, if
they seem to
think that songs like +IBw-Bring It On+IB0- or, or +IBw-Newborn Friend+IB0-
would be the
best single
then, then that+IBk-s what will be the next single+ACE-  I mean, you know, just
to
sort of cap on
that, I have complete artistic control over what happens with my career.
But then, you
see, the record company, I mean, they+IBk-re a record company for a reason,
because they+IBk-re
good at selling records.  And if you know they, they think that they can
sell this kind of a
record and I don+IBk-t necessarily agree with it, well then one has to ask
himself the question,
I, am I qualified to, to um...to doubt what they+IBk-re telling me?  Because I
make records.
They sell them.  It+IBk-s as simple as that.  I don+IBk-t know what the next
record
will be.  If they
say +IBw-Newborn Friend+IB0-, they think it will um...it will be a good record,
a
good, the right
song to release then that+IBk-s what, that+IBk-s what um...that+IBk-s what,
that+IBk-s what
we+IBk-ll do
because after all our motives are all the same, you know.  Our agendas are
the same.  I
mean, I, I want to, I want for, for more people to hear my music because
um...that would
make me feel good.  That+IBk-s what enables me to make the next record.  If
people like what
I+IBk-m doing.  If they don+IBk-t like it then I+IBk-m just (laughing)
couldn+IBk-t make it
another record.
If they like it, if they don+IBk-t like it to the extent where they don+IBk-t
buy
it, then it+IBk-s a lot
harder to make a third record.  Or the next record, whenever.  So um...uh
that+IBk-s, that+IBk-s
really you know, um, how it goes basically.

I:  What I like most um about your career so far is because I, I remember
when you came
onto the scene, at least in America.  And your debut album just kind of took
off.  I, I
would like to, to hear from your perspective, because they+IBk-re gonna yank you
any
second...

S:  They+IBk-re gonna +IBw-yank+IB0- me.

I:  Yank you away from me.  But just, how that, that, was that overwhelming,
uh was it
delightful, was it surprising, I mean can you imagine...

S:  Overwhelming.  A bit scary.  I loved it, though.  In retrospect, I loved
it, because
um...it gave, it sort of dug up a lot of dirt with me, you know what I mean?
It, it, all sorts
of insecurities I had lying around in my, in my life all came to the surface
and hit me like
a ton of bricks.  You know, everything from anxiety attacks to uh...just the
whole thing.
You know, um...yes I, but like and it seemed pretty tough at the time and it
was tough.
But then there were good aspects of it, you know.  I got the chance to work
with great
musicians um, um...my lifestyle changed, you know.  I, I was living in a
squat, I now own
my own house, which is nice.  You know, a turnaround in a period of five
years.  It+IBk-s
quite good, and so, and also um...as I mentioned before, it gave me the
chance to, to
address problems that might have hit me at a later stage in my life when it
was all too late
to do anything about them.  You know, I mentioned anxiety attacks, well
though anxiety
attacks, they+IBk-re always there, they+IBk-ll always be there if you have some
kind
of anxiety.
It+IBk-s just a question of in what way they+IBk-ll manifest themselves, what
way
they+IBk-ll be
treated, you know?  Um...and so, yes, looking back on it all, I really like
it, it was quite
scary but I was glad for it.  I was glad to have the chance to, to clean my,
you know to
start um...to start my search, I guess, for whatever it is I+IBk-m looking for.

I:  Last question is, what is, what are you, no.  But the future for Seal,
what+IBk-s going to
happen, what would you like to see happen, +IBg-cause I get scared when I read
some
interviews that say, +IBw-Well, you know, I don+IBk-t know if I+IBk-m gonna do
it or...+IB0-

S:  Hermit with me?

I:  Yeah+ACE-  The future for you, I mean it+IBk-s the last question, I+IBk-m
taking...

S:  Oh, I+IBk-ll be doing it.  I mean, I+IBk-ll always like, they+IBk-ll, music
will
always be a part of my
life in some form or another.  But you know, I mean like, I have a life too
(laughs), you
know and I+IBk-d like to, I+IBk-d like to start a family real soon.
Um...I+IBk-m 31
now.  And I+IBk-d, I+IBk-d,
it+IBk-s something that, which is on my mind.  You+IBk-ve got to find someone
first,
of course.
But um...that+IBk-s what, you know, there are things that I+IBk-d like to do,
there
were other areas
of my life that I+IBk-d like to explore.  Um...I don+IBk-t know what all those
areas
are yet, but,
but, I, or I don+IBk-t know um...I mean I+IBk-m sure I+IBk-m capable of doing
lots of
other things and
I just, I+IBk-d like to discover them.  But I+IBk-ll always be involved in
music,
um...I+IBk-m definitely
going to come back here to tour towards the end of the year.  I love
touring.

I:  I can+IBk-t wait.

S:  And I+IBk-ve got a great band at the moment, or the makings of a great band.
It+IBk-s not
quite complete yet, but I+IBk-ve got some really, really cool musicians that,
that are helping
me this time.

+AFs-end+AF0-

The following is a transcript from an interview taken from +ACI-Seal:  In
Conversation+ACI- which was released on Baktabak Records in 1996.  I'll split it
up into two parts, because it is rather large.

Joe Piekarski
--------------------------------

Interviewer:  (Laughing) Hey, guess what, Seal?  You+IBk-re back with a new LP.
Is that...is
the rumors true?  Is what I listened today new?

Seal:  Yes, it is new.

I:  Isn+IBk-t it, isn+IBk-t it, yeah (laughing).  Yet it still says Seal on it,
just
like the last one I have.

S:  Yeah.

I:  (Laughing) Are you having fun with us?

S:  No...

I:  Can you give us a little insight into that?

S:  I couldn+IBk-t think of a better title.  I really couldn+IBk-t think of
anything
which was more
descriptive or representative of the album.  I couldn+IBk-t, I
didn+IBk-t...I...I
tried, and I thought
+IBw-Seal+IB0- was appropriate.  It+IBk-s the second album, in any case.  It
doesn+IBk-t
really matter what
it+IBk-s called, it+IBk-s just a body of music, isn+IBk-t it?

I:  Well, you know the thing is the songs, I mean the songs are
definitely...they+IBk-re, they+IBk-re
different but on the same token it+IBk-s...

S:  A progression.

I:  Yeah, you know, I mean it+IBk-s definitely you.  Can you talk a little about
that aspect, the
progression aspect of it?

S:  Um, it+IBk-s just a natural progression really, I didn+IBk-t consciously try
and
make any
particular type of album, it just sort of turned out that way.  Um...yes,
that+IBk-s the way it
turned out.  I didn+IBk-t...uh...I mean I guess when I listen to it I guess,
yes, that it does seem
like a natural progression from the first.  But um, no I listen to many
different types of
music, and I+IBk-m influenced by all I see, the different stuff that I listen
to, and so...um...my
music is, is a representation of that.  It+IBk-s a result of what I listen to.

I:  (Loud drinking sound in foreground)  Before I can get into the whole
album aspect,
because I+IBk-ve listened to it a couple of times today, I listened to in fact a
long time ago,
when I first got it...By the way, for those listening, that+IBk-s Seal guzzling,
and it sounds
great on the microphone, (laughing) guzzling a 40 ounce beer.  Um...

S:  What are you using?  Why don+IBk-t you have a DAT player?

I:  Well, we do, but you know, it+IBk-s easier...

S:  Cutbacks.

I:  It+IBk-s easier for dubbing purposes.  +IBg-Cause for, +IBg-cause we send it
out to
a lot of people.

S:  Right.

I:  And we have to dub it onto cassette.

S:  Oh.

I:  And we don+IBk-t have as many DAT machines to keep dubbing from DAT to
cassette.

S:  Right.

I:  So that+IBk-s the only reason why.  But it sounds great.

S:  I+IBk-m sure, I don+IBk-t doubt that at all.  (Sighs loudly)

I:  Look, you know, I was looking at our file, and a couple of years ago in
a Rolling Stone
article you were talking about how everyone at like the record label when
you were
handing in your record, +IBw-Oh, it+IBk-s...it+IBk-s fucking brilliant.
It+IBk-s
  brilliant.+IB0-  You know, how
everyone around you, +IBw-Oh, it+IBk-s the best, it+IBk-s the best,+IB0- and
you+IBk-re like
+IBw-Look, it+IBk-s a good
record+ACEgHQ-  But you know, +IBw-It+IBk-s a good record+ACE-  Relax+ACEgHQ-

S:  Well, some people, but, thought it was brilliant, and I guess that was
valid, you know
and maybe I was a little sort of like...um...what+IBk-s the word,
self-depreciating then.
Um...It was, I thought it was good record, but then, that+IBk-s relevant...what
I thought was
relevant to me and what anyone else was relevant to them, really.  If they
thought it was a
brilliant record, then for them it was a brilliant record.  Um...I thought
it was a good, a
very good record.  I thought for a first-time artist I thought it was good.
Um...(coughs)
excuse me...I didn+IBk-t think that it was brilliant.  Um...I think this is,
this is a really good
record.

I:  That+IBk-s what I wanted to talk about.  I mean, coming out on the last
round, on this
record, what are your feelings?  I mean, you+IBk-re a little older, you+IBk-re a
little more
experienced in this business...

S:  Yes.

I:  I mean, what are your feelings on this particular second record, your
sophomore
effort?

S:  Um...I really like it.  I don+IBk-t really sort of listen to it that much
because I just spent so
much, such a long time making it.  So I don+IBk-t really, I don+IBk-t really
listen
to it but
whenever I do, on the odd occasion I have done, I+IBk-ve sat through it playing
somewhere,
um, I do like it as a record.  It+IBk-s a particular type of record, or I+IBk-m
not
quite sure what it
is.  I guess it+IBk-s just a collection of songs, really.  Um...just done in a
really nice way.  And
do I think it+IBk-s a good record?  Well....don+IBk-t know.  I don+IBk-t know if
I think
it+IBk-s a great
record.  I really really enjoy it.  I+IBk-m too close to it.  I+IBk-ve...I think
that if I listened to it in a
year+IBk-s time I+IBk-ll be able to see if whether it was a great record or not.
  I
don+IBk-t quite know
yet.  I mean, it+IBk-s different than a lot of other records.  That much I do
know.  Um...I know
that it took a lot out of me.  I put...I put everything into it.  Um...it+IBk-s
truly representative
of the time of...of the period in which it was written.  Um...all the things
that were
happening to me, how my life was changing, it+IBk-s an accurate representation
of all that.
So I guess it+IBk-s really good in that respect.  Um...it deals, some of the
topics in some of the
songs, like for example +IBw-Prayer For the Dying+IB0-, um, +IBw-Metaphors+IB0-,
+IBw-Why
  people+IB0-, they
deal with things that I felt quite strongly about.  And I+IBk-m glad that I...I
um...I+IBk-ve
approached things like that in...I+IBk-ve approached songs like that in a
realistic as well as
idealistic approach.

I:  Since you bring up +IBw-Prayer For the Dying+IB0-...

S:  What?

I:  And it+IBk-s the single and it+IBk-s being played and the acceptance was
pretty
much right
there, I mean are you happy that people have come to accept it, +IBg-cause...

S:  Oh, tremendously happy+ACE-  Because it+IBk-s not, it+IBk-s not immediately
a
commercial song.  I
mean, it+IBk-s got the word +IBw-dying+IB0- in the title for a start.  I mean
it+IBk-s not
exactly
radio-friendly.  Do you know what I mean?  And so I+IBk-m happy that people,
it+IBk-
s because I
took a chance with it.  You know...it+IBk-s um, it+IBk-s not necessarily the
biggest
single on the
album, or in terms of it+IBk-s commercial success, but...potential commercial
success.  But I
think it was, it was the right single because I thought it was
representative of what I+IBk-d
been doing, you know, where my head has been at for the past three and a
half years.  I
thought was the right single because I thought it was topical.  I thought,
you know, our
society has been constantly plagued more and more with killer diseases such
as cancer,
AIDS, whatever, um...and so uh...and so I, I+IBk-m glad that it+IBk-s been
really
well received,
because...because um...I didn+IBk-t know how it would be received.  I didn+IBk-t
know whether
people would just be kind of put off by the fact that it+IBk-s like, it has, it
doesn+IBk-t go,
(singing) +IBw-If searching for happiness, maybe that will make me feel
better...+IB0-  That it+IBk-s
not a kind of immediately kind of poppy kind of song.  You know, in
amongst...um...a
market which is full of poppy commercial stuff.  I+IBk-m glad that people like
it.  It makes
me feel really good, that people are willing to listen, that people, there
are people like
myself, who want to listen to, who want some kind of answers, or some kind
of
alternative.  Doesn+IBk-t matter if they+IBk-re answers or not, but some, some
kind
of like an
attempt at an answer, or something kind of, something alternative, you know,
something
other than kind of +IBw-I love you baby and you love me and like, hey we+IBk-re
gonna ride in my
car together and sort of really, you know, get it off somewhere.+IB0- or
whatever.  It, it makes
me happy that people are willing to listen to something which I happen to
feel really
strongly about.

+AFs-end of part one+AF0-

Hello+ACE-

I nearly forgot about this list+ACE-  Well, since there's a couple of people
here, I will introduce myself.

I am Joe Piekarski, nearly 23 years old, and I've been listening to Seal for
about five years.  I was introduced to Seal by my girlfriend at the time.

I live in northern Minnesota, USA and I enjoy music (of course), movies,
computers, and going to work.  Yes, I enjoy going to work.

Some of my favorite musicians/bands are:  Seal, Recoil, Massive Attack,
Public Enemy, Annie Lennox, and Depeche Mode.

I hope to get more Seal fans on this list.  I am going to request that
Gareth Edwards, the maintainer of Future Love Paradise
(http://www.ultim.demon.co.uk/seal/), put a link to this list.

There are no rules to this list, so feel free to talk about...whatever.

I hope to hear from you soon.
.
.
.
+AF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXw-j  o  e     p  i  e  k  a  r  s  k
i+AF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXwBfAF8AXw-

                        jpiekars+AEA-lakenet.com