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"The Beginning"
Single by Seal
from the album Seal
Released	8 July 1991 (1991-07-08)
Genre	House
Length	5:40 (album version) 4:49 (single version)
Label	ZTT Warner UK Sire
Songwriter(s)	Guy Sigsworth Seal-Henry Samuel
Producer(s)	Trevor 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 as the third single from his debut album, Seal (1991). The song was edited for the UK release, but the US release saw a completely new remix produced for the single. 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." 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." 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'".

Track listing

• Maxi CD single

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

• 7" single

1. "The Beginning" – 4:09
2. "Deep Water" (acoustic) – 3:43

• US CD single

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. ^ "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. 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.
12. "Seal – The Beginning" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
13. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Seal". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
14. "Seal – The Beginning" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
15. "Seal – The Beginning". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
16. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
17. "EHR Year-End Top 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. 21 December 1991. p. 20. Retrieved 24 February 2024.

• 1991 songs
• 1991 singles
• Seal (musician) songs
• Songs written by Seal (musician)
• Songs written by Guy Sigsworth
• Song recordings produced by Trevor Horn
• ZTT Records singles