Though Jidenna has laid claim to being called a "classic man," our boy Seal is getting ready to bring back the classics. He announced his upcoming album Standards last month and he's been giving us preview after preview ever since. After letting us hear his takes on American standards "Luck Be A Lady" and "It Was A Very Good Year," he delves into songwriting legend Cole Porter's songbook for a take on "I've Got You Under My Skin."
The classic, perhaps best known as a favorite of Frank Sinatra, is a fitting one for Seal. The London-born crooner approaches the song with a panache akin to Ol' Blue Eyes himself. His phrasing is smooth and clipped, with him adding a certain playfulness that underscores the lyrics' declaration of love. However, Seal's slightly raspier tone makes his take an interesting one. Where Sinatra's version was all dulcet tones, the slight rasp adds a bit of character to the proceedings, possibly expressing a bit more emotion in the process. It also helps that this particular arrangement is one of the most sublime approaches we've heard. The bass sways and swings along with airy strings that breeze along the piano notes. Then the horns whirl together to create nothing short of audible pleasure as the song swells and retracts in accordance with Seal's intensity.
If Seal's bringing it like this, we can't wait to see what else he's got in store when Standards arrives this November. Get swept up in "I've Got You Under My Skin" below.
