With his recent album Commitment, Craig David coincides the release of this chart-topping project with celebrating the milestone of being in the business for 25 years, starting with the Grammy Award nominated Born To Do It (Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for Fill Me In – 2002 & 7 Days – 2003) with no real drama that you would see in the tabloids, if there were any at all. Well…there was a major one but we’re not going to get into that. Especially when he wasn’t at fault; but I digress. As we all have been enjoying these new set of tunes, I would like to share 25 (or more) of MCE’s many favorite songs by one of the best artists from the UK. We have to start at the beginning of course:
While he got early notoriety as a cowriter to Damage’s track, I’m Ready, his collaboration with Artful Dodger is what put him on the UK map planting the seed on who this featured singer was. It is one of the mainstays in his TS5 shows & is a definite crowd pleaser. It gets the vibe going for sure.
For so many, including myself, this song was the introduction to UK’s newest artist to the world. You can tell this was not a fly by night/one hit wonder kind of artist; there was something about this vibe he gave. Not to mention he brought the garage sound more to the forefront.
Exception to the Rule – Deep Cut
This beautiful song was brought to my attention by a friend & I have to say this is a song that would make a girl fall hard for the guy that had zero problem in expressing himself in this way. Who hasn’t met someone they instantly connected with only to find they’re in a relationship with someone else? Despite all that, you have strong feelings that are so strong they can’t be contained. Within reason of course. She is definitely like anyone he’s seen.
Rise & Fall (Featuring Sting) – Slicker Than Your Average
This move is not only iconic, it’s also a genius one. The sampled song is Shape of My Heart by Police frontman Sting from his solo album Ten Summoner’s Tales. On top of that, the man himself is featured in the song that expresses the good & the bad points of becoming famous & the expectations it can entail. The flow of Craig’s voice in this song is so smooth & clean (Burned all my bridges, now I’ve run out of places). To have Sting featured in the track brings about an already growing fanbase for Craig. Being a Sting fan myself, this proves that point. Sting even added this song to his 2021 album Duets.
I have made this song my main alarm on my phone for when I need to wake up for work. The reason being that the start of the song, to me, sounds like the sun rising. While it gives a soft & airy vibe, the story within the song is about Craig meeting & making a connection if you will, with a young lady he met in a club. They seem to hit it off nicely & give into the moment. Even though he was the one who didn’t want to rush things, she basically lets him know it’s alright. Well, you know what happened after that.
The song title speaks for itself; this is only to be played on Friday nights. Especially after a long work week! This song has an old school big funk band vibe to it like Earth, Wind & Fire. I’ve said this before & I’ll say it again – this song gives you the energy to get ready for a fun night out with friends. This would make for a great live performance with a badass band that would make the crowd roar with excitement & they would vibe with him. This is a true party song that you would never get tired of. Trust me.
This is one of those sensually flirty songs that succeeds in grabbing her attention. Apparently, he’s in the club & sees an attractive woman on the dancefloor getting her groove on. He instantly knows that he wants to get to know her & is transfixed with her that to him, his beauty is hypnotic. The feeling of this song is as if he has his hands at the curves of her hips & whispering in her ear how ‘so damn fly’ she is. It would be at that moment their energies of attraction are melding.
No Drama – As a featured artist for fellow DJ James Hype
No Drama is a song you would play when you want to vent out some heavy stresses of the day, or week for that matter. This is one of those songs that can have more than one viewpoint to it. One could look at it as a couple talking through things & putting the drama behind them. Another can look at this song as a source of release of the unnecessary drama that people bring your way that you didn’t need or ask for. The music is upbeat & the message in the song is motivating.
Hidden Agenda – Slicker Than Your Average
Imagine a guy sees you with someone who he knows isn’t worthy of you. That same guy is one of your closest friends who has feelings for you & has no problem letting you know. He wants you to know that he knows you deserve better & is willing to be the one who treats you as you should be treated. He has zero problem in calling this guy out. The song gives off an island kind of vibe while still conveying that loving message of him wanting to be with you.
Intimate – As a Featured Artist for British Rapper/Singer/Songwriter Yungen
Craig makes yet another great collaboration with Hip Hop Artist Yungen. Not only did he co-write this song, but he also provided the hook & bridge with his beautiful voice. Intimate is about connecting & recognizing the mutual attraction. It also expressed how he gives it to her so good, she’s calling him & wanting more in the morning, because he knows that’s what she wanted. The video is nice too! It takes place in a barbershop named 7 Days which is a callback to the Craig David classic. It is also what inspired me to get a pair of those sweet Fila shoes that were featured in the video.
Craig is basically talking with his friends about a chance meeting with a beautiful woman on his way to see another friend of his. He then gives you a breakdown of the events of the week. The video is cool using the Groundhog Day film reference. Having the opportunity to correct a simple mistake after a simple mistake and making it right. One can hope for such a chance like that. But no matter what, always remember the petro.
Warm It Up – Following My Intuition
This is a great summer choice to get the vibe going at a get together with friends. The song is very upbeat & has that tropical island energy. From what I can gather, he wants her to get things started – hence Warm It Up. And is it the ‘it’ we’re thinking of? Well, you know the saying, they plump when you cook ‘em.
Hot Stuff (Let’s Dance) – Trust Me
For us 80’s kids, this song was rockin right from the start as we loved the music of David Bowie & his song Let’s Dance. To see that Craig wonderfully sampled the iconic track for Hot Stuff (Let’s Dance). We weren’t the only ones who enjoyed the super energetic song, so did Bowie himself! Upon asking to be able to sample the song, the legendary rock star & fashion icon gave his blessing; we’re happy that he did. This song is one for the clubs to get the energy going. The speed & flow of his vocals will get you moving on the dance floor & singing along.
Who You Are (Featuring Mnek) – 22
This heartfelt track with singer/songwriter/producer Mnek can be shared with someone who feels out of place & thinks they can’t fit in. It can be shared with someone who is critical of their physical appearance. It can be shared with someone who is part of the LGBTQ community who feels like there’s no one in their corner. The overall message in this song is unconditional love & acceptance. The video conveys said message & it also expresses that self-love & care is very important. It would make a great source material for someone struggling with mental health. At the end of the day, you are not to conform to make others feel comfortable. You are unique, amazing, intelligent & beautiful in your own way. That is the beauty of individuality. Forget the insecure naysayers & be true to who you are.
This beautiful ballad has Craig stating his claim & professing his love to someone who he regrets letting go. He’s taking accountability to what he did wrong to cause her to walk away from the relationship. When I listen to this song, I sometimes think it would be romantic to see someone use this song in the way John Cusak’s character Lloyd used Peter Gabrielle’s classic In Your Eyes. He is aware of her value & feels she is the one he wants to spend his life with. As the song progresses, so does his feelings, your heart sores more as you sense that what he’s expressing is true & deeply from the heart.
Better Days (I Came By Train) – For the I Came By Train Campaign supported by Trainline
Used to bring awareness on what we can do to make out planet a healthier & economically better place to live in, this beautiful video/song was a part of Trainline’s campaign I Came By Train with the objective to fight climate change & showing that taking the train instead of driving creates 67% less CO2 (per the campaign’s site & the video). The imagery of the video compliments the beauty of the song.
At the risk of sounding repetitive (too late), Heartline is another song that raises the endorphins & puts in one of the happiest feelings. The title of the song is perfect as the feeling being conveyed was a guy is putting his heart on the line for the woman he’s drawn to. He’s willing to do what it takes to have a chance at happiness with her. This is another one of my favorite songs to dance the day away with. The bridge gets me every time.
Best of Me – 22 (Deluxe Edition)
Sampling Mariah Carey’s hit song Heartbreaker by way of lyrical melody, Craig is telling his love interest how she makes him feel & he wants to show her that he can make her happy & give her the love she deserves. Letting her know that she has the best of who he is. If you listen closely, you can hear the melody of the chorus to Heartbreaker in the chorus for this song. Love it!
While this song is from the 2005 album, it is still so relevant today. In some way, shape or form, someone has experienced being bullied in their life. For the most part, the bully is jealous of the person they’re bullying because of various reasons like not having the best home life, taking the other person’s kindness for a weakness, or deep down they think there’s no way they can be accepted as a friend. This is a very relatable song as I have been bullied when I was a kid & it was just as bad as Craig shared through song. I feel this song can hit the listener deep & also show that you can prevail from this stage in your life with a loving support system & true friends.
A true dance song that gets you on your feet with the techno lights going. The vibe of the song reminds me of Closer by Ne-Yo. This amazing track lets the listener know that his world isn’t right without her in it. It’s on his mind so much, he can’t sleep. This is one of those many musical examples of loving someone hard.
As soon as this song came through my ears, it took me back to one of the good times of my life & great memories my friends & I created in the summer of 1998, because that was the year They Don’t Know by Jon B. was released & already in heavy rotation. The. To hear Craig breaking down the ups & downs of the relationship only to come to an end, despite the love still being there. You can hear in his voice he doesn’t want to break up but it has to happen.
Love Will Come Around – The Time Is Now
Craig knows how to express his love to the woman who holds his heart. The declaration he gives in this song is incredibly beautiful. He is letting her know that he will be there for her through thick & thin. That she has no worries. No matter what the tone of the song is, there is sure to be some mention of the girl’s friends on the outside looking in with something to say to throw things off. The point is, do not let someone in your ear blocking a blessing that is in the for of a man with a heart like his, a heart that will show how much you mean to him.
Abracadabra – Deep Cut as a featured artist for Wes Nelson
I know there are many fans of the reality show Love Island who are familiar with Wes Nelson, this fun song was my introduction to him. This track has one of the most debatable lyrics in it – Champagne in jacuzzi or Champane and jacuzzi. Either way it sounds like fun times. I always felt from the start that it was the former. Great fun song, nonetheless.
Magic (Featuring British Rapper Yxng Bane) – The Time Is Now
I really love this version of the song. Now while there is no change in the melody of the song, having Yxng Bane on the track added an additional vibe that flowed well with what Craig already brought to the song. I would take the verse being repeated by Craig as a way to emphasize & ensure how true his feelings are for her. To say that when someone can be this happy with you to the point that is like magic. That is a heart skipping “I feel so special” kind of vibe.
When You Know What Love Is – Deep Cut
This song has in my opinion, one of the best accompanying videos I’ve seen for a song. The video tells a sweet story of a cute chance meeting between two people. What’s another great element to this is that neither planned for it to happen. You can hear it in the song how happy & excited he is to have found this connection, especially when he wasn’t looking for it. In most cases, the best love can be found when you’re not looking for it.
What Your Flava? – Slicker Than Your Average
Unless you have been living under a rock to not recognize this video pays homage to the classic film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, it’s very cool. From the beginning to the end, you see various scenes being played out including my favorite – the Oompa Loompas! Like Juicy Fruit by Mtume, Craig gives some sensual innuendos with What’s Your Flava? It’s a hip shaking song of the millennium with 90’s energy. This song can still rock today & the reaction at his shows when he performs it is proof of that.
Got It Good – Featured Artist on KAYTRANADA’s album 99.9%
If there was a way to express your gratitude towards the woman who has been there for you from day one & believed in you, this is how you show it. Craig knows his lady has been by his side from the ground up. He knows that she cares for the amazing person that he is. I love that last line in the 1st verse – Treat you like the Queen at Buckingham Palace, yeah. Every woman wants to be treated like a Queen!! The track flows smooth like butter.
This was a sign of things to come with Craig. He was getting his footing in with regard to honing the vibe, the groove of his sound and what a way to do it. With this track, Craig gives off a smooth R&B vibe. Definitely a song to groove to, especially the hook. Even the video gives that look of a smooth R&B video. The element of Craig being an arrogant ladies’ man who just knew he can get any girl he wants with that smile, those eyes and the right thing to say was very familiar to see. The energy is tempting but it can also be very tricky, if you’re not familiar with the game he’s playing. Who didn’t encounter a guy like this? Then there’s the element of Craig being a more trusting one-woman man who has a close relationship with his family – my kind of guy.
Honorable Mentions:
Rain – Commitment – Check out my review of this song.
In It With You (Featuring JoJo) – Commitment – Check out my review of this song.
Dominoes – Commitment – Check out my Commitment album review.
16 – Following My Intuition – A song that was first seen & heard on BBC Radio 1 w/Mista Jam & Kurupt FM, a wish was granted to have this immortalized on an album.
I Know You (Featuring Bastille) – The Time Is Now – A new anthem for a fun night out with friends. And to have the band Bastille on the song is stellar!
All Alone Tonight – Signed Sealed Delivered – Putting a spin on the Stylistics hit is a great listen. And the video showed some great views of Miami.
One thing we can all say for certain; Craig David is a musical force that should be recognized more. And thanks to music streams & YouTube, Craig is getting the recognition he more than deserves. Make no mistake, it is easy to see that his is very happy & living his best life. He has been given so much love from his family, close friends and many music lovers around the world. I appreciate that through his music, Craig has introduced some great artists to us. I will not stress this enough; his music has brought this writer joy & cheered me up when the moment called for it. In his 25 years in the business, Craig has grown as a writer & producer. His TS5 shows continue to grow a fan base & the crowds are getting bigger with each performance. By way of his book, he shared how his music tells stories of his life experiences. Thus, making him a more relatable artist.
Happy 25 Years Craig!!! We look forward to the next 25!!
That’s my opinion & everyone’s entitled to one.
T.S. Jones
Moonchyld's Entertainment 