An invitation to dance again

British pop star Craig David’s singing is full, sexy and ideally suited to soul. Ironically though, instead of putting listeners in a mellow, sensual mood, he gets everybody up to party. It must be that smile I feel in his voice whenever he sings. He is inviting his listeners to have a good time and we are only too glad to oblige.

Craig’s sleek handling of uptempo R&B tunes made him an instant favorite among the hip, club set the first time he appeared some four years ago. In fact he so captivated people that he has since then sold over 10 million records, headlined concerts, been nominated a few times for the Grammy and done other pop star things.

Two hit albums later, I am very glad to inform you that Craig David is back once more with his third release entitled The Story Goes…. As the title implies, the album is a continuation of what he has done before. Truth to tell, the whole package sounds like he never missed a beat. He still makes me feel like giving the dance floor a try. And of course, I still sense that smile when he sings.

No matter what he is singing about, bullies or sweet romantic stuff, Craig really holds up the party vibe throughout the album. It is there from the first few notes of the opening cut All the Way down to Don’t Love You No More (I’m Sorry), Hypnotic, really heats it up with Just Chillin’ and then simmers down with the closers, My Love Don’t Stop and Let Her Go.

Craig does play for the different with his themes.

Johnny for example is about a school bully. Unbelievable and Take ‘em Off are the album’s make-out songs that slow the tempo down a few beats. Take note, he sounds like a young combination of R&B greats Babyface and Brian McKnight in these cuts. But again no matter how he sounds, Craig’s music stays cool. These are the tunes with which you should make your way to the dance floor.

The rest of the songs in The Story Goes... are Separate Ways, Do You Believe in Love, One Last Dance and Thief in the Night.

The Lighthouse Family’s greatest hits

Still on music from the Brits. The soul duo Lighthouse Family is no more. In fact, the half named Tunde, who was the acknowledged sound of the group, has already released his first solo album. It is an excellent example of smooth R&B and certainly sounds like something that the Lighthouse Family might have done.

Since the chance of getting anything new from the group is only wishful thinking at present, you might want to check out the music that made Lighthouse Family a big favorite among the hip set some years ago. Those songs can be found in the Greatest Hits collection that is finally available in the local stores after three years and is one album you can get lost in over and over again.

All the hit singles are present. Lifted, Ocean Drive, High and Postcard from Heaven. Then there are two previously unreleased songs, I Could Have Loved You and Absolutely Everything and an enchanting take on Ain’t No Sunshine, a lovely ballad popularized by Bill Withers and which the Lighthouse Family recorded for the soundtrack of the romantic movie Notting Hill.

Also included are Raincloud, Lost in Space, Loving Every Minute, (I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be) Free/One, Question of Faith, Goodbye Heartbreak, Run and Happy.

Top 20 videos on MYX

On the local front, here are the Top 20 videos in the MYX Hit Chart for this week. I was really glad to find out that the top six tunes are all by Pinoy talents. Here goes:

Kahit Pa by Hale; Especially for You by M.Y.M.P.; I Need You by Mark Bautista; Sorry by Cueshé; I Will Never Leave You by Erik Santos; Gemini by Sponge Cola; Shake It Off by Mariah Carey; Helena by My Chemical Romance; You are Beautiful by James Blunt; I Am Feeling You by Santana featuring Michelle Branch; Mang Jose by Parokya ni Edgar; Pinoy Ako (with PBB) by Orange and Lemons; Love Can’t Lie by Sarah Geronimo; Sunday Driving by Rivermaya; Ever After by Bonnie Bailey; Don’t Cha by the Pussycat Dolls; Wake Up by Hilary Duff; I Don’t Care by Ricky Martin featuring Amerie & Fat Joe; Crazy by Simple Plan; and Shine On by Ryan Cabrera.