★★★★★
Seal, otherwise known as Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel, took to the Usher Hall stage on Saturday night on the first night of his Standards tour, promoting tracks from his most recent album release of the same name. The packed crowd gathered eagerly awaiting the singer to take to the stage, and they didn’t have long to wait. 8:30pm, the lights dimmed, the music started and Seal instantly had the crowd in the palm of his hand. Playing his take on classics made famous by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole, he filled the first half of the show with songs such as Luck Be a Lady, Got You Under My Skin, My Funny Valentine and That’s Life. His voice lends its self superbly to these standards, and he was very impressive for those maybe more familiar with his early 90s chart hits, myself included. The respect from the crowd was absolute, in adoration of his vocal talents, and his between songs banter, including some ladies in the crowd professing their undying love for the Seal, to which he gratefully acknowledged them.
