One A Day: Seal - 'The Burden Of My Mistakes'

Guest post by the Guardian Of Soul, Zac Seidler.Given that it seems we are on the subject of comeback kings, with D finding ease for his multiple sunburns in German rock legends, Scorpions, I thought I`d open my two cents worth. While on vacation in Vietnam recently, I was bombarded by Asian pop stars who dyed their hair orange or used vocoders in an effort to tap into the mainstream market.

It was thus a pleasant surprise when MTV Asia finally played an artist I`d heard of.Famous for his blonde bombshell of a wife, unusual scars on his case and penis jokes, Seal was -once upon a time -a huge success, serenading the earth with his husky baritone on `Kiss From a Rose.` Despite being the soundtrack for Tim Burton`s film-noir epic, Batman Forever, and spending many a week atop the charts, the call is now limited to late night radio; the form where people confess their passion to fellow employees/girls on the bus who don`t yet acknowledge their name. However, as its Valentines Day tomorrow, I find it is my romantic duty to introduce the blogosphere back to Seal, and his new song direct from Vietnam, `The Burden of My Mistakes.`The picture is just put_ fucking awesome, and for a pop song, it has some pretty complex rhythms that I found spellbinding at the time. It starts out like any ballad, some arpeggiated chords, some cymbal rolls for dramatic effect yet is held together by Seal`s pure vocal performance, raw and rich in cascading melodic layers. The fact that he happens to be wearing an old-school, badass leather cap and a vast ring that looks like it was taken directly out of Star Wars is just as essential in keeping the viewers attention, though. The offbeat entry by the drums that follows is both unexpected and interesting and the driving bass drum gives the once hollow shell a thicker texture that helps prevent it moving forward.The verse ends just as it began, on an off-beat, and Seal`s dancing seems to cross into uncharted waters with the fist pumps of old becoming what one would label `microphone stand abuse,` as his foot tapping takes on a new, violent urgency. This bravado all pays off however when the chorus evolves, with the incredible magnetism in Seal`s voice drawing you in. As he howls "The burden of my mistakes, depends on how I find" you can`t help but conceive him, his scar-ridden face expressing a deep truth that you won`t happen in Gaga`s made up features or Fergie`s overbearing cleavage. Just like a sound wine, I think Seal has gotten better with age. His lyrics are smooth as warm as before but musically; he has matured from the tacky artist of the 90`s, who was overrun by heavy harmonies and Hammond organ. This is Seal at his best, raw and uninhibited.So, on this, the eve of Valentine`s Day, a vacation that some cynics call a Hallmark invention, I`m here, as the One A Day Cupid to reunite you with Seal. Spread the love_Seal - 'The Burden Of My Mistakes'Flap yo' fins here.