Seal ... Unplugged

The singer Seal has always seemed to draw on his own private power source, so it should come as no surprise that his recent performance on MTV1s acoustic showcase, Unplugged, was suffused with energy despite the de rigueur absence of electric guitars (the segment begins airing this week). "What is surprising is just how gracefully Seal took to the format," notes TIME's Christopher John Farley. "Tuneful, enigmatically romantic songs such as 'Kiss from a Rose' blossomed under the scrutiny that a lower-volume set brings, and Seal1s voice, charismatic and craggy, revealed new depths in the low-key format, especially on his climactic rendition of 'Don1t Cry.'" Seal's show was not only a high point in his career and for Unplugged, it was also noteworthy for marking the comeback of folk sounds in pop. The musically eclectic Seal managed to draw from disparate strains of pop and weave them into a single folksy tapestry. Born in London to Nigerian parents, Seal admits that he began singing so his 3distant2 father would notice him. With his Unplugged show, Seal should win the ear of many more adults.