Tame Impala turn Seal's "Kiss From a Rose" into something unforgettable

Every so often, a Like A Version cover lands so perfectly that you wonder why nobody thought of it sooner. Tame Impala's take on Seal's "Kiss From a Rose" for triple j is exactly that, a pairing that feels both completely surprising and totally inevitable, and it's one of the most memorable covers in the segment's long history.

It's Kevin Parker's fourth time stepping into the Like A Version studio, and he's built an impressive track record there. He first appeared in 2013 with a reworking of OutKast's "Prototype," followed in 2016 by a take on Kylie Minogue's "Confide in Me," and in 2020 by Edwyn Collins' "A Girl Like You." Each choice has shown off a different side of how Parker hears pop songs, and each one has become a fan favorite. This latest cover feels like the boldest swing yet, and also the most satisfying.

Prepare to have your minds blown! "Kiss From a Rose" is one of the great pop moments of the 1990s, written by Seal in 1987 and produced by Trevor Horn for his 1994 album Seal II. Re-released in 1995 on the Batman Forever soundtrack, it topped the US Billboard Hot 100, reached number one in Australia, and swept the Grammys the following year with wins for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. It is a song with towering melodic hooks and a dramatic, almost operatic sense of romance, qualities that make it a natural fit for an artist known for dreamy, widescreen psychedelia and falsetto-laced pop.

Parker brings his own unmistakable sensibility to a song everyone thinks they know, and the result is a performance that honors the original's grand emotional sweep while sounding unmistakably like Tame Impala.

The timing is fitting, too. Tame Impala's fifth studio album, Deadbeat, arrived in October 2025 and has been the centerpiece of a massive worldwide tour, and this cover is a fun, generous bonus for fans who have been following along. It's also proof that Parker is just as compelling interpreting someone else's songwriting as he is performing his own.

If you've ever had "Kiss From a Rose" stuck in your head, this is the version you'll want on repeat. Press play, turn it up, and let it sweep you away.

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