Seal Claims Becoming a Seal for Super Bowl Ad Wasn’t Challenging
Get ready to see Seal in a whole new light — as an actual seal.
The English artist, known by his birth name Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel, has donned the guise of the marine creature for Mountain Dew’s latest commercial, which will air during Super Bowl LIX. This advertisement is part of the brand’s Kiss From a Lime campaign aimed at promoting the tropical lime flavor of Mountain Dew Baja Blast.
At 61, Seal spoke exclusively to Us Weekly about this commercial, which features him serenading singer Becky G with a reimagined version of his famous song “Kiss From a Rose,” now titled “Kiss From a Lime,” featuring Mountain Dew-inspired lyrics.
“Transitioning into a seal wasn’t hard,” he said regarding the role. “I’ve heard the seal joke before, but it was entertaining. If it brings laughter, both for the audience and myself, then it’s worth it.”
The Grammy-winning artist enjoyed changing the lyrics of his classic track for this campaign. “My brother from another mother, Patrick, relished the idea of altering the lyrics because that’s his thing,” Seal shared. “He loves to put me in embarrassing situations, and honestly, it was a blast. I feel fortunate to have a song that resonates with so many.”
In the ad, Becky G takes a drink of the tropical-lime Mountain Dew Baja Blast and is whisked away to Baja Beach, arriving in a speedboat. The boat brings her to a rock where Seal, transformed into a seal, performs the modified song.
“It was a great time, and I genuinely enjoy drinking Mountain Dew Baja Blast, so it felt like an obvious choice,” he explained. “Everything is done with a hint of humor. It’s designed to entertain and amuse. I appreciate the opportunity to laugh at myself, and laughter is a precious commodity these days.”
Seal first released “Kiss From a Rose” in 1994, and it peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1995. Three decades later, it remains arguably his most famous track, although initially, he hesitated to release it. He composed the song in 1987, but disliked it, opting to exclude it from his debut album in 1991.
“I wouldn’t even play it for anyone,” he stated.
As for Seal, he won’t be watching the debut of “Kiss From a Lime” from home during the Super Bowl. He plans to attend the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans, but since his San Francisco 49ers aren’t playing, he’s simply hoping for a good match.
“I’ll be cheering for an exciting game,” he shared. “I just want to see a thrilling matchup, and fortunately, the recent games have been excellent. Last year was tough for me when my 49ers didn’t make it.”
With reporting by Christina Garibaldi
