Tame Impala have delivered a new interpretation of Seal’s classic “Kiss From a Rose” for triple j’s Like A Version, giving the 1990s hit a psychedelic and synth-driven makeover. The performance, released on Friday, October 30, sees frontman Kevin Parker and his bandmates revisit a song that played a significant role in his early musical interests.

The Australian psych-rock group performed the track at the triple j studio following the conclusion of the Australian leg of their Deadbeat tour. Parker was joined by Dominic Simper, Jay Watson, Cam Avery, Julien Barbagallo and James Ireland, with the band introducing layered harmonies and a more restrained arrangement before building into the song’s familiar melody. The performance retains the emotional character of Seal’s original while incorporating Tame Impala’s distinctive sound.

Parker revealed in an accompanying interview that “Kiss From a Rose” was a childhood favourite after he discovered it on the Batman Forever soundtrack. He described the soundtrack as the first CD he ever purchased, recalling that he listened to it repeatedly and became familiar with every song on the collection.

The Tame Impala frontman also discussed the musical complexity of Seal’s recording, pointing to its changing rhythms and different sections. Although the song does not rely on many chords, Parker said its structure made it a challenging choice for the group. He explained that the band eventually accepted that they would approach the song in their own way rather than attempting to reproduce Seal’s powerful vocals.

Originally released on Seal’s 1994 self-titled album, “Kiss From a Rose” gained worldwide recognition after appearing on the Batman Forever soundtrack in 1995. The song became one of the singer’s biggest hits and earned three Grammy Awards at the 1996 ceremony, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

The Like A Version session also marks Parker’s fourth appearance on the long-running Australian radio segment. Tame Impala previously covered OutKast’s “Prototype” in 2013, Kylie Minogue’s “Confide in Me” in 2015 and Edwyn Collins’ “A Girl Like You” in 2020. The latest performance adds Seal’s hit to the group’s collection of reinterpretations.

Alongside the cover, Tame Impala performed their own song “Dracula,” offering a fresh, more stripped-back version of the track. The appearance coincides with Halloween weekend and follows the band’s Australian arena tour in support of their fifth studio album, Deadbeat, which was released in 2025.

The band’s Like A Version performance and accompanying interview were published by triple j on October 30, with Parker discussing the song’s place in his musical upbringing and the process of adapting it for the group. The session also features the band’s take on “Dracula,” giving listeners another look at the material from Deadbeat.