MoonChyld’s Entertainment – What’s Your Vibe by Craig David – A Review

You can purchase Craig David’s book on Amazon, Waterstones, WHSmiths, eBay & on Craig David’s website – https://craigdavid.com/.

British singer/songwriter/producer/DJ Craig David has been pumping out memorable music since his 2000 debut album Born to Do It with hit singles Fill Me In & 7 Days. After 7 albums, various awards & sold-out concerts, Craig has maintained his international superstar status; despite people saying he’s made a comeback with his 2016 album Following My Intuition. He’s switched gears a bit by way of writing his first book titled What’s Your Vibe?: Tuning Into Your Best Life. The title is a take on the song title What’s Your Flava? from his sophomore album Slicker Than Your Average.

With What’s Your Vibe?, Craig takes a layer off & shares some of his life experiences & the lessons he’s learned from them. As he’s reflecting on the moments of his life that prove to be contributions to the man he’s become, the reader can find some of the moments to be very relatable.

Craig & GMA Host Robin Roberts

He begins with his appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America performing I Know You , where at the time – to no knowledge to the viewers or the GMA staff for that matter – he was experiencing some severe back pains due to overworking himself while promoting his album at the time, The Time is Now. Something we can relate to, the pain from overworking. Like for so many, this was a wake-up call to reset oneself & make sure everything is well with you. Because if you’re not ok, you’re no good to yourself or those closest to you. We then venture out to his humble beginnings in the Holyrood Estate in Southampton, England with his Mother & the close bond with his Grandmother who as he tells it, made quite a tasty chicken stew.

Craig with his parents Tina & George. His father with his Ebony Rockers bandmates (top & bottom pictures).

Craig’s exposure to music came at an early age as his father was a bass player for the reggae band Ebony Rockers. He also found solace in music with his parents’ vinyl collection where he would create his own lyrics over the songs he would listen to, finding his musical voice with his natural ability as a songwriter. We’ve all been there, especially if the collection is like that! My parents’ collection included Earth, Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield & Tina Marie, so I understand.

As you read through the book, you’ll see how the titles of his songs are cleverly woven into his stories. Unless you’ve listened to his music regularly, you may not pick up on it right away. Along with that, we find out how some of our favorite songs came to light. There are so many points he brings up that make the reader feel connected such as being bullied, experiencing heartbreak for the first time, and finding joy within yourself by way of self-care & acceptance. Knowing that you’re good enough. In an attempt to not give too much away – because I recommend getting this book – I want to touch on some key moments he shared.

The Sting of A Parody

Comedians are here to make us laugh & entertain us. But there are times where the material can get offensive. A lesson Leigh Francis learned over time & owned up to it.

Early on in his career, Craig was parodied by comedian Leigh Frances who had a show called Bo Selecta!; this was a reference to the song Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta). As someone who has grown up watching sketch comedy shows like In Living Color, Mad TV & SNL, it can go without saying that those in the public eye will be lampooned in one way shape, or form. It can also go without saying that not everyone will respond in the same way. For every celeb and/or political figure that find humor in their parody, there are at least 3 that don’t find it funny; Craig just happened to be one of the 3 in this instant.

I looked at one of these videos and found myself, after seeing a fair number of comments, to be in a small majority who didn’t find this at all funny. And before anyone feels the need to rebuff my comment, I also grew up on British humor like Monty Python, The Benny Hill Show & the series Are You Being Served? to name a few. Try to understand that Craig was riding on the success of his first album, entering his 20’s & releasing his 2^nd album, Slicker Than Your Average. He’s not the first person to react the way that he did. And he won’t be the last.

The parody of Craig took a toll on him as it stuck with the public & they were repeating what Leigh was doing with his sketches. He decided to take some time away & traveled to the U.S., making his way to Miami. From what I could comprehend, it was a nice move to make to reset oneself and get away from that drama for a while, not to mention adding a new vibe to his music. Miami also became the birthplace of his TS5 shows; named after his new home Tower Suite 5.

Make no mistake, Craig has a sense of humor, a lot of us do. But, if it escalated to the point where the parody overshadows your talent & taking the focus off the trueness of your career, it does have some effect on it. At the end of the day, it’s so easy for the trolls to make such comments; it’s not happening to them.

His True Winning Moment at the 2001 BRIT Awards

Craig may not have been a big winner at the 2001 BRIT Awards, but he won big with the support of his fellow music artists.

Word leaked out in the UK papers that Craig wouldn’t come out as a winner from his first 6 BRIT Award nominations before the show was even broadcasted. A moment that could be seen as a preempted strike to crush his spirit, was flawlessly rectified. It seems that he & his fellow artists got the last laugh as Craig got much love from the likes of U2 singing the chorus to Walking Away during their medley performance of their hit songs, Dane Bowers from the group Another Level wore a shirt saying “Craig Woz Robbed” & Elton John who said, “If there’s a better singer in England than Craig David, then I’m (former Prime Minister) Margaret Thatcher.”; got to love that legend! To add the cherry on that sundae, Craig performed his debut single Fill Me In & added some freestyle implying his supporters are more important than getting an award. He would see soon after the awards would come anyway & his fanbase would grow.

Sean Combs Approached Craig to Be Part of the Bad Boy Family

One can wonder would have came out of this musical venture. But do we really want to?

This is one of those moments where it would come as a surprise like when it was revealed in The New Edition Story that Maurice Starr offered Ralph Tresvant a solo deal early on in New Edition’s career without the other members knowing.

Bad Boy Records CEO Sean Combs, after hearing his demo tape, reached out to Craig with interest in signing him as an artist. He told Craig that there was a private jet ready to take him to NYC. Thankfully, he didn’t take him up on that offer. Granted, the label has produced some great artists like Total, 112, Lil Kim, Craig Mack & Faith Evans, but a lot of emphasis was on Biggie Smalls aka The Notorious B.I.G. – in my opinion anyway. I just don’t think that would be a good fit for the Best of Me artist. It’s not to say that Craig couldn’t bounce back; his body of work is proof that he could. It’s almost like the road back could have been different. He did right by not going that route.

The Freestyle of a Classic Jam

An appearance at BBC Radio 1extra turned a musical collaboration into a great friendship.

Craig mentions how he met rapper/comedian Big Narstie while making an appearance at BBC Radio 1Extra with Mista Jam & Kurupt FM. The collaborator of the garage-pumping track When the Baseline Drops expressed his sentiments to CD’s debut album & he’s not alone in that. That album & the tracks meant a lot to so many & just like Big Narstie, Booty Man is my favorite song on the album as well.

While at the radio station, Craig gave an impromptu/freelance performance of Fill Me In to the music of Jack Ü’s Where Are Ü Now which was shown on YouTube to much positive feedback from viewers, including this writer. There were many requests to have that version available to be added to their music library. This wish was granted when it became one of the tracks, titled 16, for his 6^th studio album Following My Intuition; his 2^nd #1 album since Born to Do It. Around this time, people were talking about Craig making a comeback to the music scene.

Speaking of a comeback…

I found it surprising that Craig himself said he was making a comeback with his music. The word “comeback” should not be associated with Craig David because like LL Cool J, he’s been here for years. He’s been releasing music for the past 22 years & many of us have been there along the way with every album, single, remix & collaboration. Those that say Craig’s making a comeback are the ones who stepped away; not going beyond the song 7 Days. With several of his music performances, he’s incorporated his skills as a DJ with his TS5 sets. They’re all the rage around the world & have been a mainstay at the Ibiza Rocks festivals; not to mention parts of the U.S.

The book is overall awe-inspiring & provides sage advice on how to harness your inner spirit, obtain & maintain balance in your life & that saying no isn’t always a bad thing. It also gives one the chance to get to know Craig on a level outside of what is seen & heard regarding his music. He presents himself to be approachable to begin a lasting friendship with. He’s open to meeting new people; genuine people. Like-minded people. With his life experiences, be it ones he’s reflected on from his past or ones leading to his immediate present, Craig has shared how he’s learned over time to set & establish his boundaries. Thus, making him more at peace with himself while still being open to learning from experiences in the future. The life experiences he shared that lead to his music & this book has proven that he was… Born to Do It.

That’s my opinion & everyone’s entitled to it.

T.S. Jones

MoonChyld’s Entertainment – What to Watch: Bridgerton on Netflix

From Introducing Dorothy Dandridge to Inventing Anna, Shonda Rhimes has been bringing some attention-grabbing & thought-provoking stories, including the Netflix Original Series Bridgerton, where she’s one of the producers.

Created under the Shondaland umbrella by Chris Van Dusen, who has worked with Shonda on Scandal & Grey’s Anatomy. Based on the book series by Julia Quinn, Bridgerton takes place in London during a time of true nobility and aristocratic status as well as detailed décor and intrigue. The Bridgerton family is one of high regard & family closeness; they are true to the bond. They set the bar for representation of London’s regal high society, fully aware of their status with a balance of humbleness. And with a reputation like theirs, it would be expected to have a few haters in the mix.

The imagery of the show is so detailed, right down to the dance cards hanging from the young ladies’ wrists. Each house reflects the tone of each household – the Bridgerton House is complimented with light & soft colors enhanced by the natural light through the windows. The Featherington House is however in contrast with medium tones, showing that their status isn’t on the same level. Which doesn’t sit well with Portia Featherington, the Dowager Baroness.

The first season had a viewership of record numbers, and with good reason too – his name is Regé-Jean Page (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, For the People). Page played the ever-alluring Duke of Hastings, Simon Bassett. Under the care of Lady Danbury, the Duke is a well-refined worldly bachelor, catching the eyes of many of Lady – including Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor – The Colour Room, Snatch). Simon may make licking a spoon a sensual crime, but his past is another story. His father dismissed him ever since he was a baby as his mother passed away after giving birth. Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh – Invictus, Doctor Who) stepped in after witnessing his father’s mistreatment. She took him under her wing and made him the distinguished man the prim & proper ladies stop & stare at. You can imagine the collective gasp when news came out that Page would not return for a second season. But fret not, it does get better.

Another gentleman to be on the lookout for is Daphne’s brother Anthony, Viscount Bridgerton. Played nicely by Jonathan Bailey (Broadchurch, Chewing Gum) from Chewing Gum, Anthony has the reputation of being a bit of a playboy but at his core, the most important thing to him is his family. He’s also close friends with Simon & was intentionally not supportive of the union between the Duke of Hastings & his sister. He eventually came around after seeing Simon being genuine towards the now Duchess Hastings, resulting in their own addition to their respective family trees. In the second season, the focus is on the eldest Bridgerton & the eloquent pressure from his mother Violet, the Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell – Home Fires, My Mum Tracy Beaker). There is also a special bond between them as they were by his father’s side when he passed away from a bee sting. It’s something he carries with him to their present day as he was thrust to being the head of the family & he takes the role very seriously; his father would be proud – his mother is for sure. The second season also focuses on Anthony retiring from his playboy status & making an honest woman out of one of the newest debutantes, that is until he meets his true match& can feel the undeniable connection.

Anthony’s second youngest sister Eloise (Claudia Jessie – Defending the Guilty, Bali 2002) can be viewed as a feminist & rightfully so. She does love her family, but she would rather live her life at her own pace than conform to the yearly tradition of being chosen as one of Queen Charlotte’s diamonds. She’s an avid reader & has a close friendship with Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan – Derry Girls, Harlots), who is overlooked sometimes by her sisters Prudence & Philippa; she seems to be smarter than them as well. Which proves to be beneficial for the youngest Featherington sister. You must watch the show to understand why. Eloise is one who feels there’s more to a woman’s capabilities than just being a debutante to be paired with a Lord or Duke. She believes in marrying a man of her own choosing and on her time; at her own pace if you will.

With all the elegance & vibe of the various parties & balls, there’s another side to the lives of some of the high society individuals in the form of underground parties. These parties allowed ladies, lords & viscounts to lower their inhibitions & be sensually liberated. There is the possibility of feelings being developed as well as those discovering their true selves. This party scene isn’t shown as much in the second season as there are other outlets to release the stress of being aristocratic all day. It does however make one wonder if these get-togethers still go on with the social media climate being as active as it is as of late.

The music featured is suitable for the show’s time period they would however sound familiar to the avid music lover. This writer quickly noticed modern day songs like Rihanna’s Diamonds, Ariana Grande’s Thank You, Next & Maroon 5’s Girls Like You being given a classical spin; it’s excellent. As the series goes on, you’ll notice at times the moment goes well with the chosen song.

To circle back to the Featherington matriarch, she does a poor job in trying to sabotage her daughter’s competition. Polly Walker (Pennyworth, Cursed) is convincing as the antagonist Dowager Baroness Portia Featherington, she strives to have her family be viewed in the way the Bridgertons are more in higher regard than they are. There are moments where she has fallen victim to some unfair situations; one being her late husband hiding the true details of their financial standing. At the present time, she’s doing her best to keep up appearances & getting her daughters married as soon as possible to someone with a healthy dowry. One can hope that as the series moves on, Baroness Featherington will ease up on the haterade.

Bridgerton also presents to the viewers that no matter the time period, there’s always room for gossip, and it can be juicy sometimes. Lady Whistledown is a gossip columnist who is perfectly cast by acclaimed award-winning actress Dame Julie Andrews as the narrator of the woven tales among the royal elite; she & Shonda worked together on The Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement. Her voice is very fitting for the time – for any time for that matter – she gives just enough inflections to the spicy details that come about, Mrs. Whistledown can be considered the Gossip Girl of their time. That’s a clue to those who are just starting to watch the show or will watch it after reading this piece. The revelation of Mrs. Whistledown will come as a surprise for sure.

There are movies & television shows where there’s something for everyone, Bridgerton is one of those shows. Romance & intrigue for the ladies, action & intellectual dialogue for the guys. Ok, maybe the ladies can be pleasing to look at as well fellas. It’s a show like Downton Abby & Anne of Green Gables that will transport you. Having been renewed for a third & fifth season, there will be more stories to tell about the affluent family & those in their inner circle. There’s even a prequel limited series telling the backstory of Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel – Lady Macbeth, Dune) set to be released on Netflix in 2023 with India Amarteifio (The Midwich Cuckoos, Military Wives) as Queen Charlotte in her youth.

Whichever way you choose to watch this entertaining franchise, it will be enjoyable.

That’s my opinion & everyone is entitled to one.

Tamica S. Jones