Giving new life to “Luck Be a Lady,” “I Put a Spell on You” and a few of his own well-known hits, the British-born performer graced the crowd at Meijer Gardens with as much class as those from the Rat Pack era.
As smooth and sultry as ever, Seal captivated the audience at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park on Wednesday night with his classiness and a set of songs mostly from his 10th studio album, “Standards.”
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In a show that exuded coziness, Seal took the stage following an opening set by Australian singer-songwriter Rennie Adams, with the 55-year-old soul/R&B singer showcasing selections from an album featuring renditions of songs by timeless talents such as Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole, who inspired Seal as a young boy.
A mere second after the entire band got settled on stage, the horn section kicked in and fans immediately rose to their feet. And before you had a chance to blink, Seal was grooving across the stage toward the mic to begin his rendition of “Luck Be a Lady,” with women of every age screaming.
Not surprisingly, the song that evoked the most enthusiastic audience participation by far was the classic hit single, “Kiss from a Rose,” which he played in acoustic fashion.
An air of calmness provoked couples and singles alike to dance and sway in front of the stage from the beginning till the end of the show.
The London-born singer commented early on that he had “never seen an audience looking more comfortable at a show,” something he took to heart by entering the crowd to choose women to serenade for brief periods as he made his way through the lawn portion of the venue for three songs.
In the end, the warmth of his voice and presence was matched only by the veil of fiery colors that the sunset cast over the amphitheater.
PHOTO GALLERY: Seal at Meijer Gardens
Photos by Jamie Geysbeek
Copyright 2018, Spins on Music LLC