Top 10 Craig David Songs

Craig David Songs

Photo: Tom Rose / Shutterstock.com

British-born and raised Craig David first earned his fame at eighteen years of age when his vocal talent was featured in Artful Dodger’s 1999 single, Re-Rewind. Shortly afterward, David had his own album and his own singles, starting with his debut album, Born to Do It, which was released on August 14, 2000. To this day, it remains the most successful album he’s ever produced as it has scored a multitude of platinum certifications between the nations of Australia, France, Germany, Switzerland, the UK, and the US. All four singles that were released from that album charted at least within the top ten of the UK Singles Chart, and have also earned a number of certifications in their own right.

Since his smashing success, Craig David has released six additional studio albums, as well as three compilation albums, and fifty-one singles. Out of his combined total of ten albums, only three of them have yet to receive enough commercial success to achieve official certifications whereas the rest of them earned, at the very least, silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). He’s also been nominated many times over for various music performance awards but has yet to earn a win with the Brit Music Awards and the Grammy Awards. With an upcoming album, so far titled 22 on the way, here’s hoping the talented solo artist earns what seems like an overdue win.

Top 10 Craig David Songs

#10 – Rendezvous

From Craig David’s debut album, Fill Me In, “Rendezvous” was the fourth and final single that was released from it. Just like the prior three, it became a top ten hit as it peaked as high as number eight on the UK Singles Chart. It also became certified gold by the BPI. On the UK Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart, Rendezvous actually peaked even higher at number two. On the Eurochart Hot 100, the song charted at number thirty-three. Rich with sultry rhythm, the soft delivery of Craig David’s harmonic vocals adds that little extra soul to one of those songs that easily sets a romantic mood once it’s played.

#9 – Nothing Like This (featuring Blonde)

Certified gold by the UK’s BPI, “Nothing Like This” was a fast-paced dual performance by Blonde and Craig David after its 2016 release. On the music charts, it peaked as high as number five on the UK Dance Singles Chart and at number fifteen on the UK Singles Chart. It was the first of three certified singles from his sixth studio album, Following My Intuition. The romantic tone dancing to the contemporary beat made this song an easy party favorite.

#8 – Rise & Fall (featuring Sting)

The easy listening, rhythmic “Rise & Fall” was the third single released from Craig David’s second studio album, Slicker Than You Average, in 2002. The sample from Sting’s 1993 song, “Shape of My Heart,” was used in the single and was instrumental in the overall success of the song. It performed especially well in Australia as it became certified gold in addition to peaking as high as number six on its official music chart.

In the UK, Rise & Fall charted as high as number two and it was a number one hit among the nations of Hungary and Romania. Throughout most of Europe, it was a top ten hit. A contemporary classic, Rise & Fall still remains a solid favorite among the fans who appreciate the soulful lyrics delivered by two world-class vocalists.

#7 – When the Bassline Drops (featuring Big Narstie)

“When the Bassline Drops” saw Craig David return to the UK garage-genre roots as a performer in 2015. His performance with Big Narstie was also featured on the 2016 episode of The Jonathan Ross Show. The fast-paced, yet easy listening song peaked as high as number two on the UK Dance Singles Chart and at number ten on the UK Singles Chart. It also became certified platinum by the UK’s BPI for having over 600,000 copies of the single sold among the fans within the nation. Rich with urban-style influence, the rhythmic flow blending with a hint of hip-hop easily made this one of Craig David’s best songs.

#6 – What’s Your Flava?

The hip-hop single, “What’s Your Flava?” was released in 2002 and charted as high as number eight on the UK Singles Chart and at number twenty-four on the US Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart. The popularity of the song found itself on the soundtrack to the 2003 film, What a Girl Wants.

It was also used for the Flavas dolls from Mattel, and later remixed and used in 2007 to promote Popeyes Chicken through its commercials. What’s Your Flava? was the first single released from Craig David’s second album, Slicker Than Your Average, which did manage to chart within the top forty among most of the European and Oceania nations. It was the first of six singles released from the multi-platinum album, which also earned itself platinum from the Australia Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

#5 – I Know You (featuring Bastille)

Released in 2017, “I Know You” was a collaborated performance between Bastille and Craig David. This party-themed song climbed as high as number five on the UK Singles Chart, as well as on the Euro Digital Song Sales Billboard. On the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, I Know You peaked at number twelve. In sales, the song earned BPI’s platinum certification for having over 600,000 of its copies sold within the UK.

The song was performed live for the first time on November 24, 2017, on an episode of Sounds Like Friday Night and then again on December 10, 2017, on the Top of the Pops program. Their performances helped the popularity of the song among European fans, as well as pique the interest of American fans who tune in on British programming.

#4 – Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta) (featuring Artful Dodger)

In 1999, Artful Dodger recorded and released its only studio album, It’s All About the Stragglers. Craig David collaborated with them on three different songs, including the most successful of those three, “Re-Rewind.” Not only did the song become platinum with the UK’s BPI, but was a number one hit on the UK Dance Singles Chart, as well as a number two hit on the UK Singles Chart. It was a song that almost never happened due to a multitude of computer-related error issues it was plagued with.

All these errors ultimately led to the title of the song becoming Re-Rewind as the recording itself endured a number of computer engineering tactics in order to release it as a song. This wound up becoming a pioneering platform for mainstream music from that moment forward by a number of recording studios who learned of this technique. David’s lyrical performance remained seemingly unblemished while the mix of the synth-heavy instrumentals worked beautifully to bring home a contemporary urban classic that deservedly gave Craig the launch to stardom he earned.

#3 – Walking Away

When it was released as a single in 2000, it was the third hit from Born to Do It, Craig David’s debut album. On the UK Singles Chart, it peaked as high as number three. On its Hip Hop and R&B Chart, it peaked even higher at number two. Among the majority of the European and Oceania nations, “Walking Away,” was a top forty hit, and was even a top ten hit among some of them. On the US Billboard Mainstream Top 40, it was a number seventeen hit and on the US Billboard Hot 100, it charted at number forty-four.

In certifications, “Walking Away,” earned gold in New Zealand and the UK and platinum in Australia. Rich with the fluidic rhythm delivered by David’s vocals gave this contemporary, urban-style song a soulful boost that turned it from ordinary to extraordinary.

#2 – Fill Me In

The fluidic and soulful “Fill Me In” was Craig David’s first single as a solo artist, which came from his debut album, Born to Do It. It was a number one hit in the UK, both on the UK Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart and on the UK Singles Chart. Throughout the European nations, the song charted within the top forty among most of them. In some cases, it even cracked into the top ten. In the US, “Fill Me In,” was released almost a year after its original 2000 release and was a success in that nation as well.

On the US Billboard Mainstream Top 40, the song peaked at number seven and it was a number fifteen hit on the US Billboard Hot 100. The speedy lyrical narrative of parents trying to learn from their daughter about her activities was the base of Craig David’s musical storyline as he sang from the perspective of someone trying to spend more time with her but is unable to do so. In Australia and the UK, “Fill Me In,” became certified platinum and was certified gold in New Zealand.

#1 – 7 Days

Sensual, adult contemporary music at its finest, “7 Days” is the second of four hit singles from Craig David’s debut album, Born to Do It, cracked into the top ten among most of the Billboard charts among the European nation, including the US Billboard Hot 100 as it charted right at number ten. On the US Billboard Mainstream Top 40, 7 Days peaked at number six. In the UK, it was a number one hit on both of its music charts, namely the UK Singles Chart and the UK Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart. Although Craig David didn’t earn the win at the Brit Awards for this song, it was at least nominated for Best Single and Best Music Video.

It was also nominated at the Grammy Awards for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. In certifications, 7 Days earned double platinum with the UK’s BPI and single platinum with Australia’s ARIA. Among the nations of Denmark, France, and New Zealand, it was certified gold.

Updated April 20, 2023

Top 10 Craig David Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2021

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