The Beginning (Seal song)

"The Beginning"
Single by Seal
from the album Seal
Released8 July 1991 (1991-07-08)[1]
GenreHouse
Length
  • 5:40 (album version)
  • 4:49 (single version)
Label
Songwriters
ProducerTrevor Horn
Seal singles chronology
"Future Love Paradise"
(1991) 		"The Beginning"
(1991) 		"Killer" (remix)
(1991)
Music video
"The Beginning" on YouTube

"The Beginning" is a song by English singer-songwriter Seal, released in July 1991 by ZTT, Warner UK and Sire Records as the third single from his debut album, Seal (1991). It is co-written by Seal with Guy Sigsworth and produced by Trevor Horn. The song was edited for the UK release, but the US release saw a completely new remix produced for the single.[2][3][4] 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."[5] 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."[6] 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'".[7]

Track listing

  • Maxi CD single[2]
  1. "The Beginning" – 4:09
  2. "The Beginning" (Giro e Giro mix) – 6:06
  3. "The Beginning" (remix) – 5:41
  4. "Deep Water" (acoustic) – 3:43
  1. "The Beginning" – 4:09
  2. "Deep Water" (acoustic) – 3:43
  • US CD single[2]
  1. "The Beginning" (US remix) – 4:46
  2. "The Beginning" (Roundabout mix) – 9:06
  3. "The Beginning" (Round the Underground mix) – 7:30
  4. "Deep Water" (acoustic version) – 3:42
  5. "The Beginning" (UK remix) – 7:04
  6. "The Beginning" (Giro e Giro mix) – 6:05
  7. "The Beginning" (Round the Underground dub) – 5:48

Charts

References

  1. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 6 July 1991. p. 21. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Seal - The Beginning". Discogs. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  3. ^ The Beginning - Single Remix, 1 January 1991, retrieved 14 February 2017
  4. ^ "The Beginning by Seal on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  5. ^ Lester, Paul (6 July 1991). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 29. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  6. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 27 July 1991. p. 11. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  7. ^ Fadele, Dele (13 July 1991). "Singles". NME. p. 14. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Seal - The Beginning". Discogs. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  9. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 246.
  10. ^ "Seal – The Beginning" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  11. ^ "European Hit Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 36. 7 September 1991. p. 31. Retrieved 17 November 2025. See LW column.
  12. ^ 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 4 July 2022.
  13. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  14. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Seal". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  15. ^ Radio Luxembourg Singles. 18 August 1991.
  16. ^ "Seal – The Beginning" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  17. ^ "Seal – The Beginning". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  18. ^ "Official Singles Chart on 4/8/1991 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Playlist Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 10 August 1991. p. 14. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  20. ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 27 July 1991. p. 20. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  21. ^ "The Record Mirror Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 3 August 1991. p. 8. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  22. ^ "EHR Year-End Top 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. 21 December 1991. p. 20. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
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