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Tame Impala performed a cover of Seal’s “Kiss From A Rose” for Australian radio station Triple J’s Like A Version. Kevin Parker said the band initially hesitated because Seal’s vocal performance seemed difficult to match; the group also performed its own song “Dracula.”
Tame Impala has covered Seal’s “Kiss From A Rose” for Triple J’s Like A Version, the Australian broadcaster’s cover-performance series. The group also performed its song “Dracula,” giving the session both a reinterpretation of a well-known Seal track and a performance from Tame Impala’s own catalog.
The cover takes on a song known for its elaborate vocal arrangement and its association with the Batman Forever soundtrack. Stereogum described Tame Impala’s version as “majestic and hypnotic” and pointed to its harmonies as a feature that gives the performance a Beach Boys-like quality. Those are the publication’s characterizations of the arrangement, rather than statements from the band about how listeners should interpret it.
Frontman Kevin Parker said the choice was not immediately comfortable for the group. He described “Kiss From A Rose” as a childhood favorite and called it “quite proggy”, citing the song’s unexpected rhythmic changes. The band considered whether it could do justice to Seal’s singing before deciding to perform the track in its own way.
In the same session, Tame Impala played “Dracula.” The supplied report does not give further details about the song’s arrangement in this performance, the session’s release date, or whether the group discussed additional songs. The two performances are the reported musical focus of the appearance.
A Risky Song Choice for Tame Impala
The cover puts Tame Impala’s arrangement and group vocals alongside a song closely identified with Seal’s distinctive voice. That makes Parker’s account of the band’s hesitation part of the story: he said the members recognized that none of them sounded like Seal and had to accept that their version would be different. The performance is therefore not presented as an attempt to reproduce the original singer’s voice.
For listeners, the session offers a clear example of how a familiar song can be approached through a different band’s sound. Stereogum drew attention to the cover’s harmonies and atmosphere, while Parker’s comments highlight the arrangement challenges posed by the song’s shifts in rhythm. The accompanying “Dracula” performance also gives the appearance a second point of interest beyond the cover.
The report says Seal’s Instagram account responded to Tame Impala’s post with clapping emojis. That provides a small sign of a positive response on the platform, but it is not a detailed public review from Seal. Stereogum also cautioned that the artist outsources his social media activity, so the response cannot be confidently treated as a personal statement from him.
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The Song Behind the Cover
“Kiss From A Rose” is a Seal song that became prominent through its connection to Batman Forever. In describing why Tame Impala might find it difficult to perform, Parker focused on musical structure as well as the original vocal. He called the song “quite proggy”, referring to its unexpected changes in rhythm, and said it had been a childhood favorite.
Like A Version is Triple J’s performance series in which artists play a cover alongside a song of their own. The format explains why Tame Impala’s appearance paired the Seal song with “Dracula.” The supplied report does not identify a broader theme for the session or say whether the cover will be part of a forthcoming release.
““quite proggy””
— Kevin Parker, as quoted in Stereogum
Release Details and Seal’s Response
The supplied report does not state when the performance was recorded or released, whether it will be available as an audio release, or whether Tame Impala plans to perform the cover elsewhere. It also does not provide comments from Seal himself. Although his Instagram account left clapping emojis on the band’s post, Stereogum noted that Seal outsources social media activity, leaving it unclear whether he personally made or approved that response.
Parker’s remarks explain the group’s initial concerns, but the source does not identify which members first suggested the song or describe how the band developed the arrangement. Beyond the report’s description of the harmonies and mood, further musical details would require listening to the performance itself.
Where to Hear the Performances
The immediate next step for interested readers is to watch or listen to the Like A Version performances, which the source report presents alongside its coverage. Both “Kiss From A Rose” and Tame Impala’s “Dracula” are included in the session described by Stereogum.
The source provides no announced follow-up from Triple J, Tame Impala, or Seal. Any news about a standalone release, additional performances, or a direct response from Seal would need to come from a later announcement; none is confirmed in the report available here.
Key Questions
What song did Tame Impala cover?
The band covered Seal’s “Kiss From A Rose” for Triple J’s Like A Version series.
What else did Tame Impala perform?
The group also performed its song “Dracula,” according to the report.
Why did Kevin Parker say the cover was challenging?
Parker described the song as “quite proggy” because of its unexpected rhythm changes. He also said the band was unsure it could take on Seal’s demanding vocal performance.
Did Seal personally approve the cover?
Seal’s Instagram account left clapping emojis on Tame Impala’s post, but the report says Seal outsources social media activity. It is unclear whether he personally posted or approved the response.
Source: stereogum.com
