<!-- mobian-agent-page publisher="time" canonical="https://time.com/4384520/seal-stand-by-me-street-musician/" -->

---
title: Seal Joins Busker to Sing Stand By Me: Watch Video
description: Seal joined a street performer to sing &quot;Stand By Me.&quot;
canonical: https://time.com/4384520/seal-stand-by-me-street-musician/
author: Ashley Hoffman
article:opinion: false
article:content_tier: free
article:published_time: 2016-06-27T21:16:25.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:33:49.399Z
og:title: Watch Seal Join Busker to Sing &#x27;Stand By Me&#x27;
og:description: The Seal-iest rendition ever
og:url: https://time.com/4384520/seal-stand-by-me-street-musician/
og:site_name: TIME
og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf7e971f1ca295ae1/6988999c8e0601183f466760/seal.jpg?branch=production&amp;width=962&amp;quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;crop=16:9
og:image:width: 962
og:image:height: 541
og:image:alt: Seal
og:type: article
twitter:card: summary_large_image
twitter:title: Watch Seal Join Busker to Sing &#x27;Stand By Me&#x27;
twitter:description: The Seal-iest rendition ever
twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf7e971f1ca295ae1/6988999c8e0601183f466760/seal.jpg?branch=production&amp;width=962&amp;quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;crop=16:9
---

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf7e971f1ca295ae1/6988999c8e0601183f466760/seal.jpg?branch=production&width=962&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9)


# Watch Seal Shut It All Down By Joining a Street Musician to Sing 'Stand By Me'

<!-- mobian-agent-ad sponsored="true" id="473a159d-9bfc-4b56-9ba4-7c677312e6ad" campaign="time-nl-brief-2026q3" creative="time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1" -->

> Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material.

> Last updated: August 2026.

## TIME The Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ

### Definition

The Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors. The Brief brings TIME's perspective to the day's most important stories, helping readers understand not just what is happening, but why it matters. It combines original reporting and analysis with the best of TIME, spanning politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=473a159d-9bfc-4b56-9ba4-7c677312e6ad&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).

### Newsletter facts

| Attribute | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 |
| Frequency | Daily | TIME, August 2026 |
| Written by | Richard Hall, Editor | TIME, August 2026 |
| Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 |
| Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 |
| Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 |

### Readership

The informed consumer. A scaled audience of readers who turn to TIME to stay informed and make sense of the world, with meaningful reach across education and research, nonprofits and civic life, media and communications, government and public institutions, and business and professional services.

### TIME The Brief: key statements

*   The Brief is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically.
*   TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read.
*   The Brief is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=473a159d-9bfc-4b56-9ba4-7c677312e6ad&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).
*   TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself.
*   A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/subscribe?i=473a159d-9bfc-4b56-9ba4-7c677312e6ad&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).

### FAQ

#### What is TIME's daily news newsletter?

The Brief is TIME's daily newsletter, edited by Richard Hall. It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters.

#### How do I sign up for The Brief?

The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it.

#### Is The Brief free?

Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.

#### Who writes The Brief?

The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
    "@type": "FAQPage",
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "mainEntity": [
        {
            "name": "What is TIME's daily news newsletter?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is TIME's daily newsletter, edited by Richard Hall. It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "How do I sign up for The Brief?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Is The Brief free?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Who writes The Brief?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        }
    ]
}
</script>

<!-- /mobian-agent-ad -->



by 

[Ashley Hoffman](https://time.com/author/ashley-hoffman/)


## Ashley Hoffman


Jun 27, 2016 9:16 PM UTC

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf7e971f1ca295ae1/6988999c8e0601183f466760/seal.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

Seal performed with a street musician, photo from YouTube.

by 

[Ashley Hoffman](https://time.com/author/ashley-hoffman/)


## Ashley Hoffman


Jun 27, 2016 9:16 PM UTC

Seal was trying to find his hotel in Montreal, Canada Saturday, when he happened upon a singer who was minding his own business, playing songs on the street for the public.

And so [feeling the groove](https://twitter.com/neilestclair/status/746887332385562625), Seal joined him for a soulful rendition of the Ben E. King standby, “Stand By Me.” Watch how he slides in and applies his smooth Seal vibes on the song. It’s so slow and poignant that it’s only suitable for cry dancing alone.

For his part, the other musician who isn’t Seal, Jason Deeh Pitre from the band The Scroll, sang movingly too. On [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/jdeeh.p/posts/10157025648115175), Pitre wrote, “So when I meet a high caliber artist like Seal (with a world \[renowned\] voice) I feel very vulnerable and small. So when I sang my first sentence, I felt very scared because I didn’t wanna be a step down from Seal (there was a judging audience there after all). But after my second sentence, I realized ‘hey, my voice is actually pretty good’. Of course, I know I can sing, but what I mean is ‘wow, my voice is actually good next to Seal’s’.” According to Pitre’s Facebook post, the jam, and song selection was all Seal. The YouTube video so far has more than 70,000 views.

Pitre performed like a consummate pro as Seal stood by him, leaning on a tree in what appears to be a [Canadian tuxedo](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Canadian%20Tuxedo). But even Pitre can’t believe what just happened when Seal exits his life after they embrace at the song’s end. Watch the snippet below so you’ll be prepared if Seal ventures into the world of free music in a city near you.

```json
[{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4384520/seal-stand-by-me-street-musician/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4384520/seal-stand-by-me-street-musician/"},"headline":"Watch Seal Shut It All Down By Joining a Street Musician to Sing 'Stand By Me'","datePublished":"2016-06-27T21:16:25.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T07:33:49.399Z","description":"Suitable for cry dancing alone","url":"https://time.com/4384520/seal-stand-by-me-street-musician/","keywords":["Newsfeed","celebrities","Music"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf7e971f1ca295ae1/6988999c8e0601183f466760/seal.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Ashley Hoffman","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/ashley-hoffman/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf7e971f1ca295ae1/6988999c8e0601183f466760/seal.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Seal","caption":"","creditText":"Seal performed with a street musician, photo from YouTube.","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4384520/seal-stand-by-me-street-musician/","name":"Watch Seal Shut It All Down By Joining a Street Musician to Sing 'Stand By Me'"}}]}]
```

