Seal - Songs in the Key of Life

Not many musicians can get away with having just one name as their stage monicker.

Seal is one of those musicians. The Grammy Award-winning singer is world famous for tracks including Killer, Crazy and A Kiss from a Rose, which appeared on the soundtrack to the 1995 film Batman Forever. He has sold more than 20 million albums -- and his most recent record is Standards, a graceful collection of classic songs reinterpreted by him for the modern age.

I caught up with Seal backstage after his performance to a packed audience at Dublin's Olympia theatre recently. He was in flying form, ready to pick his favourite tunes and even sing a little unaccompanied -- which was a treat.

For his song picks, he mixed and matched classic choices with more obscure tracks. A number of the songs he picked were from iconic artists such as Stevie Wonder and the late David Bowie. "I was lucky enough to be friends with David Bowie," Seal reflected, selecting the track Where Are We Now. "That song is so beautiful. It is everything that David was, if you're a fan or if you're new to him, it's so quintessential, it takes you back. It reminds me of Joni Mitchell singing Both Sides Now. It has the same poignancy." 

Speaking of lost icons, Seal also talked about the late George Michael, and the time he and David Bowie watched Michael perform at the rehearsal for the Freddie Mercury tribute show. "George was someone I had a huge amount of respect for," he said. "Somebody posted something to my Facebook feed and it was the day after George Michael passed. And it was a video of what we fondly refer to as the 'Dead Fred' show.

So, to be more specific, it was the Freddie Mercury tribute shortly after he died. Somebody posted the rehearsal with Queen, the surviving members and George singing Somebody to Love, and George just killing it as he does. Everyone is there from Annie Lennox, everyone. And in the back of the video, I see my idol David Bowie and this tall young black guy with dreadlocks [Seal himself] and it took me back to the time where David and I were talking and watching George Michael and we were marvelling at that performance. David just loved him. One can't help but get really emotional. It was a huge loss."

To listen back to the show, click the play button on the top right side of the screen -- and to let us know what you think of Seal's choices, you can tweet @nadineoregan or @songsinthekey.

Seal's Playlist: 

1. Seal 'Crazy' 
2. Stevie Wonder 'Living for the City' 
3. U2 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' 
4. George Michael 'Somebody to Love' 
5. David Bowie 'Where Are We Now' 
6. Big Shaq 'Man's Not Hot'
7. Seal 'Smile' 
8. Alpha 'Blue Autumn'