Kiss from a Rose

Today has been another busy day, this time caring for one of our grandkids. I was already feeling fatigued after all the energy expended yesterday getting my bike set up and out to Birds Hill Park, then riding in a reasonably fierce wind (something I don’t encounter on the trainer all winter!), but it is always a lovely day when there’s special toddler time.

This morning during the little one’s naptime, I visited a site I last visited quite a while ago: Song Exploder, where artists break down their songs and discuss the writing, recording and production processes. Scrolling through the episode list, I landed on the English singer and songwriter Seal (aka Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel, b. 1963) telling about his massive hit, “Kiss from a Rose.” I previously featured his collaboration with Jeff Beck (1944-2023), brilliantly covering “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan (b. 1941), so Seal’s music was fairly fresh in my mind.

Another exploration of today’s song comes from music producer and teacher Rick Beato in episode 105 of his What Makes This Song Great? series on YouTube. It’s a detailed musical analysis above my level of understanding, though I enjoy that there is so much to discover about how musicians create their art. During the episode, Beato discusses the medieval sound of the orchestration in the song. He also speaks with Seal about the song and asks about the meaning of the line, “Baby, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey.” As quoted elsewhere, Seal responds to Beato that he thinks it’s more important what the listener thinks the song’s meaning is rather than him explaining it. Not the first time I’ve heard that kind of response, for sure, and I suppose it creates freedom for listeners to attach their own meanings to songs that matter a lot to them.

For me, there are contrasts among a kiss, a rose and greyness, perhaps meant to symbolize the depth of love. It’s an alluring song by a sensual performer.

“Ba-ya-ya, ba-da-da-da-da-da, ba-ya-ya
Ba-ya-ya, ba-da-da-da-da-da, ba-ya-ya
Ba-ya-ya, ba-da-da-da-da-da, ba-ya-ya
Ba-ya-ya, ba-da-da-da-da-da, ba-ya-ya

There used to be a greying tower alone on the sea
And you became the light on the dark side of me
Love remained a drug that’s the high and not the pill

But did you know that when it snows
My eyes become large and
The light that you shine can’t be seen?

Baby, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey
Ooh, the more I get of you, stranger it feels, yeah
And now that your rose is in bloom
A light hits the gloom on the grey

Ba-ya-ya, ba-da-da-da-da-da, ba-ya-ya
Ba-ya-ya, ba-da-da-da-da-da, ba-ya-ya

There is so much a man can tell you
So much he can say
You remain my power, my pleasure, my pain, baby
To me, you’re like a growing addiction that I can’t deny
Won’t you tell me, is that healthy, baby?

But did you know that when it snows
My eyes become large and
The light that you shine can’t be seen?

Baby, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey
Ooh, the more I get of you, stranger it feels, yeah
Now that your rose is in bloom
A light hits the gloom on the grey

I’ve been kissed by a rose on the grey
I, I’ve been kissed by a rose on the grey
I’ve (And if I should fall, will it all go away?) been kissed by a rose on the grey
I, I’ve been kissed by a rose on the grey

There is so much a man can tell you
So much he can say
You remain my power, my pleasure, my pain
To me you’re like a growing addiction that I can’t deny, yeah
Won’t you tell me, is that healthy, baby?

But did you know that when it snows
My eyes become large and
The light that you shine can’t be seen?

Baby, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey
Ooh, the more I get of you, the stranger it feels, yeah
Now that your rose is in bloom
A light hits the gloom on the grey
Yes, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey
Ooh, the more I get of you, the stranger it feels, yeah
And now that your rose is in bloom
A light hits the gloom on the grey

Ba-ya-ya, ba-da-da-da-da-da, ba-ya-ya

Now that your rose is in bloom
A light hits the gloom on the grey”

“Kiss from a Rose,” by Seal.
Lyrics retrieved from AZLyrics.com.

Along with the many stories about “Kiss from a Rose” is the fact that Seal wrote it around 1986-1987, years before ever recording it. He didn’t put the song forward when recording his 1991 debut, self-titled album, as he didn’t think it was any good. He finally recorded it when making his second record, also titled Seal (1994, often referred to as Seal II to differentiate it from the first eponymous release).

“Kiss from a Rose” was highly successful commercially and critically, though not immediately. It was released as a single in 1994, then appeared that year on the soundtrack for the film The NeverEnding Story III. It reappeared as the love theme from Batman Forever (1995), and that exposure brought it renewed and broader acclaim.

The wind and string instruments, dreamy but solid melody, and layered, echoing vocals combine to create a magnificent song. I’ve heard the song countless times over the years but hadn’t listened to it as intently as today after being introduced to the various elements that “make this song great.”

The Beato and Song Exploder pieces are over 20 minutes each, but if you like this song, I recommend you listen to them to learn more about its creation.

Now you know a little about why this is my Song of the Day for Today. Thanks for joining me here.

Here is a video of Seal performing the song in an intimate session hosted by Sirius XM, the satellite and online radio provider.

I also recommend listening to the studio track to hear the many sounds that are talked about in the two explorations of Seal‘s song:

Warmly,

Steve