Seal is one of those household names. People fondly remember his music, as many of his songs have become classics of his genre. However, there is a lot left unsaid about this musician, and one of them is that he did not start with the intention of becoming famous for his music. He had other ideas for his fame, but fate chose him. Moreover, more people should know how he got his trademark scars. This article will touch on everything you need to know about Seal.
Who is Seal?
One of the greatest things the youth could learn is to not have the impatience to start their careers. In other words, young people need not guilt-trip themselves for not having reached a point in their lives at a certain age. Everyone gets their time to shine, and some take a little longer than others to realize or actualize, their potential. Vera Wang and Henry Ford are among those who only started their careers after age 40. Seal is another; however, he did get his big break about a decade before Vera and Henry.
Seal was born on February 19, 1963. At the age of 28, Seal recorded his first album. One thing is for sure, unlike most other musicians in Seal’s Caliber, he never let fame and fortune go to his head. He remained humble in his position to spread his word through his work. “I’ve often described music as being the one thing that saved me,” Seal once said. “We just talked about the perils of loneliness and the ensuing tragedy of being alone. Well, I have been lucky in that ever since I discovered music, I’ve always had that to turn to. She’s always been that friend, that ear that has listened, always.”
Seal believed his music was destined to add some relief. People were able to relate to his music and find empathy for his words. “That one was meant to offer that same relief, give that same compassion, and make that same connection available for everyone else,” he said. “I guess my songs reflect that. They have been less religious and more allegorical, offering an account of life as I’ve been experiencing it. The older I get, I’ve come to understand it’s not all that different from anyone else’s, to be honest.”
How Did He Get His Scars?
One of the most notable things about Seal is his trademark scars. They run across his face, making them hard to unsee. Many people know him for his iconic appearance but do not know how he got those scars in the first place. Some have made wild assumptions that he had a wild youth and possibly got himself involved in some shady activity. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Seal actually suffered from a rare disease called Discoid lupus erythematosus, more commonly referred to as Lupus. This chronic, autoimmune skin condition leads one’s immune system to backfire on oneself. In other words, their immune system turns on itself and starts attacking its own tissues. The result is inflammation and the occasional tissue damage. Some get their internal organs like their lungs or their hearts. Others in their joints. In Seal’s case, it had permanent damage to the skin tissue on his face.
Seal is not ashamed of his disease or the scars left on his face. Instead, he boasts about them as his “battle scars.” He said in an interview once: “I always call the marks on my face my battle scars. I tell my children I sustained them when I was fighting to defeat evil demons.”
In 1990, Seal had a big break in his career. It was then that he went to see a doctor who diagnosed him with Lupus and gave him medication to help with his condition. “When I got my first success in 1990, I went to a doctor in Harley Street and he knew exactly what it was and prescribed tablets and lupus went, but it left me with scars – which I am quite proud of, actually, because they became a bit of a trademark.”
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Sources
- “Seal’s had his trademark face scars for more than 30 years – this is why. Newsner. Rasmus Senator. June 1, 2021
- “What happened to Seal’s face? Singer left with prominent scars.” HITC. Arpita Adhya. August 27 2022.