Seal performs at Paramount Theatre in Oakland on June 6, 2023. Chloe Catajan/STAFF.

OAKLAND — Toward the end of his set at The Paramount Theatre on Tuesday, Seal walked out into the crowd. Standing on the armrests of seats, the British crooner sang “Kiss From a Rose” as he held the hands of fans and encouraged the crowd to sing along. Several in the room visibly swooned as looked deeply into their eyes singing his biggest hit.

Between songs, the singer, born Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel, told the crowd he loves Oakland because the town “straddles classy and gritty.”

“When it gets too classy, it gets boring,” he said.

The band then struck up the delicate intro to “Future Love Paradise,” off his 1991 self-titled debut album. When the song’s groove struck with a thunderous bass note, attendees jumped to their feet and swayed furiously to the music. In fact, the purpose of the tour is to mark the 30th anniversary of Seal’s eponymous debut album, as well as Seal II. The set focused in largely on selections from those two albums.

Seal performs at Paramount Theatre in Oakland on June 6, 2023.

The vibe was a positive one, with Seal playfully interacting with fans, at one point singling out a couple embracing in the audience.

“That’s beautiful,” said.

Seal’s star power and supernatural charisma were undeniable as he stood on stage in a black suit coat, vest and pants with a white collared shirt.

The band, which included his producer, mentor and behind-the-scenes superstar, Trevor Horn, provided lush synths, powerful percussion, guitar pyrotechnics and fantastic background singers. Horn, who played bass, not only produced Seal’s first two albums, but he’s also been a member of prog-rock legends Yes, new wave faves Art of Noise and opening act The Buggles.

During the encore, before singing, “Love’s Divine” off 2003’s Seal IV, Seal offered a deeply personal appreciation of Horn, telling the audience Horn had never said, “You can’t do that,” in the studio, during all their years recording together.

Seal performs at Paramount Theatre in Oakland on June 6, 2023.

Before playing “Prayer for the Dying,” Seal encouraged the crowd to be more loving and not get caught up in sensationalism, as two small groups on one side of the theater argued loudly about whether the audience should remain seated or stand. But all was forgiven when Seal suddenly appeared among attendees to sing “Killer,” a song British DJ Adamski scored a No. 1 hit in 1990, but which was written by Seal and also appeared on his 1991 debut album. Seal’s vocals filled the glamorous old room as he belted, “Brother, brother/ Sister, sister/ It’s the loneliness that’s the killer.”

The Buggles and Horn opened the show with a 30-minute set of originals and covers. The band took the stage to video of a record spinning on a backdrop as an air raid siren blared. The band launched into a Latin-infused rock and roll jam that had some riffs from the Frankie Goes to Hollywood hit “Two Tribes.”

The Buggles perform at Paramount Theatre in Oakland on June 6, 2023.

With Horn in a silver blazer and glasses, and the entire band in shirts that read “Best Buggles (ever),” they blasted through a stripped-down version of “I Am a Camera,” which was recorded by Horn’s bandmates Yes as “Into the Lens” in 1980. They also played a cover of “Close (to the Edit)” by Art of Noise, after explaining how it was composed primarily of three samples: a car starting, Yes bassist Chris Squire hooting and a piano chord.

Of course, the crowd went crazy for “Video Killed the Radio Star,” The Buggles’ biggest hit and a bonafide cultural touchstone from the earliest days of MTV. It’s more than a little weird to feel nostalgia for a song that’s about nostalgia.

Follow writer David Gill at Twitter.com/saxum_paternus. Follow photographer Chloe Catajan at Instagram.com/riannachloe.