The Beginning (Seal song)
| "The Beginning" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Seal | ||||
| from the album Seal | ||||
| Released | July 1991 | |||
| Recorded | 1991 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length |
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| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) | Trevor Horn | |||
| Seal singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Seal - The Beginning (Official Music Video) [HD]" on YouTube | ||||
"The Beginning" is a song by British singer and songwriter Seal, released in July 1991 as the third single from his debut album, Seal (1991). The song was edited for the UK release, but the US release saw a completely new remix produced for the single.[1][2][3] It was a top 20 hit in Finland, Ireland and the Netherlands. In the UK, it peaked at number 24.
Critical reception
Paul Lester from Melody Maker commented, "By several zillion miles the stand-out track from Seal's debut LP—I can't stomach all that electro-trobadour, Richie Havens-with-knobs-on crusading urban blues nonsense meself—'The Beginning' is a stunningly propulsive rush of Housey energy that should ensure the man's residency at the top of the charts for another few centuries."[4] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "For being a newcomer, this man turned into a household name in no time. This third single off his self-titled album, and follow-up to 'Future Love Paradise' is tuneful, soulful and full of good grooves."[5] Dele Fadele from NME felt the song "lacks the mystical edge that made 'Crazy' so gripping and euphoric—thanks to a Trevor Horn-on-autopilot production—but is still an improvement on the cloying 'Future Love Paradise'".[6]
Formats and track listings
- Maxi CD single[1]
- "The Beginning" – 4:09
- "The Beginning" (Giro e Giro mix) – 6:06
- "The Beginning" (remix) – 5:41
- "Deep Water" (acoustic) – 3:43
- 7" single[7]
- "The Beginning" – 4:09
- "Deep Water" (acoustic) – 3:43
- US CD single[1]
- "The Beginning" (US remix) – 4:46
- "The Beginning" (Roundabout mix) – 9:06
- "The Beginning" (Round the Underground mix) – 7:30
- "Deep Water" (acoustic version) – 3:42
- "The Beginning" (UK remix) – 7:04
- "The Beginning" (Giro e Giro mix) – 6:05
- "The Beginning" (Round the Underground dub) – 5:48
Charts
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[8] | 82 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] | 22 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[10] | 13 |
| Germany (GfK)[11] | 39 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[12] | 12 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] | 16 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[14] | 40 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[15] | 24 |
References
- ^ a b c "Seal - The Beginning". Discogs. Retrieved 2017-02-14.
- ^ The Beginning - Single Remix, 1991-01-01, retrieved 2017-02-14
- ^ "The Beginning by Seal on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2017-02-14.
- ^ Lester, Paul (6 July 1991). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 29. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 27 July 1991. p. 11. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ Fadele, Dele (13 July 1991). "Singles". NME. p. 14. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- ^ "Seal - The Beginning". Discogs. Retrieved 2017-02-14.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 246.
- ^ "Seal – The Beginning" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Seal". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 229. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
- ^ "Seal – The Beginning" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Seal". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- ^ "Seal – The Beginning" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- ^ "Seal – The Beginning". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- ^ "the+beginning | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Retrieved 2017-02-14.
