Chris Harbem  

Seal, The No Soul Having Soul Singer

Soul music comes from the Blues.

I recently read a book called Langston Hughes and the Blues.

Langston Hughes is an African American, or Black American, poet whose poetry intimately described the life of a black man who lived during the early 20^th century one of the most oppressive times for blacks in America.

Hughes’ poetry and rhyme in the book is compared to the rhyme in Blues songs from men living in very troublesome times in their lives. The comparisons resulted in many similarities, likenesses.

My thing is, where does a rich Rock singer like Seal get off singing the Blues, or a hipper version of the Blues called Soul?

Warner Brothers Records recently released a CD of Otis Redding songs re-produced by the great remix producer David Foster that are sung by Seal.

Otis Redding is most remembered today for his song written when he was homeless called “Dock of the Bay”.

Seal is a guy whose aunt and uncle paid for his recording sessions and got him a record deal with Warner Brothers Records.

That doesn’t make Seal a guy with much blues in his life.

Seal may have endured some mental suffering in his life between getting a highly paid recording contract and not having one, but the fact still remains that he has been rich way too long to be singing the Blues, or Soul music.

If you see Seal around in Vegas or LA, tell him that Chris Harbem said to give him a call if he wants to hear some real Blues stories, and good soul songs.

Chris Harbem