This Delicate Rose Is A Beauty

Another post is in full bloom. That's my way of giving you advanced word that today I'm saluting National Rose Month with a word or three about "Kiss From a Rose", the #1 smash off of the soundtrack to Batman Forever. If one was to compare the growth of a superhero franchise to that of us biological mortals, the Batman series was at about the teen awkwardness phase. Gone was Michael Keaton. Gone was the criminally insane Joker played by Jack Nicholson, the only thespian who could've filled those shoes. Gone was the huge adrenaline rush of the original Batman soundtrack which featured Prince demonstrating why there are very few artists truly worthy of being called legend. With this new link in the superhero legend we got Val Kilmer who, some of you may remember from his star turn (?) in Top Gun. Too bad that Tom Cruise fellow never found acting work ever again. We also got some prime scenery chewing from Jim Carrey who's pretty much made about as lucrative a living as one can make off of unsettling facial gyrations. This time around Seal brought some much needed calm during the emotional firestorm to the proceedings. Seal is quite the dashing chap. He's the guy who reminded us how being a little crazy is necessary for our long term chances at survival. As you probably know the character of Batman can be, well, a little of a brooding sort. "Kiss From a Rose" was a welcome reminder that yes, even he has a sensitive side. The song opens with a classic echo effect where Seal sounds like he's harmonizing with himself. The lyric I've always found a little funny was: "There is so much a man can tell you, so much he can say". To me that sounds like the analysis of a Ken doll. "Oh look, Mommy. He walks and talks and has so much to say about what makes him tick!! Please buy me one of those, Mommy! Puh-leeeeze!!" Just sounds a bit clinical to me, like you're investigating a robot and want to strip his his gearbox to see what exactly is making that pinging sound under the hood. In Batman's case saying something would've been a wonderful relief. Brooders don't exactly lay all their cards out on the table to demonstrate they have a pithy hand being dealt them. Anyway, the background orchestration is thoughtfully quiet. Not that there's no oomph to it. It's merely that less proves more here. A soft clarinet pops in time and again. How many times does that instrument enjoy so much as a supporting role? There's no denying the bass guitar is a friend you'd love to roll around the covers with. And the drums don't blow you away with their brilliance. The same as the Caped Crusader, these drums ace Stealth Class 101. If the intent was to prove how delicate romantic entanglements, especially those involving a perpetually conflicted superhero can be then, step forward and take a bow ya' big lug. The piano scenes roll gently onto the musical shores. At every turn the layers of this rose are peeled open with utmost delicate hands. Seal's job is merely to enhance the impression of aloofness being melted away. For the record my eyes don't exactly become large when it snows as Seal intimates is possible for any of us but, given I live in Texas were hot is just another language to place beside English and Spanish, they do light up a bit. The changes in tone are haunting but never threatening. This version of the story is approachable. You still can't wrap it up in a bear hug, but you can tap it on the shoulder in an "I understand your sorrows" sort of manner. "Kiss From a Rose" is a captivating breather, a respite from other go for the jugular white knuckle efforts like U2's "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me". For the record I'm blown away by that song. And the ending? Oh Bono that's what I like!! Seal truly knows the way to the ladies' hearts. It's been suggested that the lupus scar on his face actually adds to his appeal. With pipes like his which know the right corridors to take to bring down walls erected high over time due to accumulated heartbreak he doesn't need any other indirect selling points. "Kiss From a Rose" smells like a carefully cultivated plant whose grower has taken just the right amount of toil to increase the odds that his beauty will enjoy a long flourishing life. If Seal had his own signal glowing in the distance I bet many ladies would swing off into the night with him. Here's to Seal for putting the quiet into quiet storm. It's nice to be heard over the din, huh?