SEAL SONG INSPIRED BY OBAMA.

British singer SEAL was inspired to record a SAM COOKE song by BARACK OBAMA's election as the next president of the United States. The Kiss From A Rose hitmaker says his new single, a cover of soul legend Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come, was influenced by the mood of optimism gripping America during the historic election.

He tells Billboard, "The initial inspiration came from what I perceived to be a collective consciousness of people, not only in America but around the world, saying, 'Look, the whole place is in turmoil, the economy's in the toilet, people are reckless, frustrated and irresponsible'. And I think the collective got together realising there's something that needed to change."