Jump to content

Born to Do It

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by RussBot (talk | contribs) at 05:20, 4 April 2016 (Robot: fix links to disambiguation page America). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Untitled

Born to Do It is the debut studio album by English recording artist Craig David. It was released in the United Kingdom on 14 August 2000 via Wildstar Records and in the America in 2001 via Atlantic Records. Following exposure from his work with British group, David began performing vocals for garage duo Artful Dodger. During this time Wildstar Records became aware of David offering David a development deal before offering David an album contract. The recording for the album began in 1999 before David had acquired a record contract, the recording lasted until 2000 and was composed by David himself and Mark Hill.

The title Born to Do It comes from a quote describing the character Willy Wonka in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. "Born to Do It" is an 2-step garage and R&B album, backed by electro beats, garage and hip hop. The album's songs contain acoustic guitars and insistent thumps of beats and bass, with lyrics that revolve around themes of romance, the complexities of relationships, and clubbing. Upon release the album was met with rave reviews from music critics and was listed as one of the Greatest Albums Ever by MTV.

Commercially the album was a huge success, eventually selling over eight million copies worldwide, making it one of the biggest albums by a UK R&B artist. The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart becoming the fastest-selling debut album ever by a British male solo act, and eventually being certified six times platinum in the region. The album spawned four singles including the UK number ones "Fill Me In" and "7 Days", and the successful "Walking Away" and "Rendezvous".

Background

David's earliest exposure came when he worked on a B-side to British group Damage's cover of "Wonderful Tonight", he then began performing vocals for a few tracks with garage act Artful Dodger. Wildstar Records first became aware of David when the artist's then manager Paul Widger met the label's co-owner Colin Lester and played some of his music.[1] Lester later told HitQuarters that he was particularly impressed by the first song he heard, "Walking Away".[1] The Wildstar boss was further won over when, on later visiting the artist's home in Southampton, he found that David's tiny bedroom stacked from floor to ceiling with 12" vinyl records, commenting: "That convinced me he was the real deal and not just some kid acting out the part."[1] At that point Lester offered him a development deal with his label. When Lester later heard the song "7 Days", he said he immediately heard a number-one record and promoted the contract to an album deal the same day.[1]

Recording

Fraser T Smith served as the album's programmer.

After David and Mark Hill met, Hill enlisted David to feature on the Artful Dodger's debut album, Hill found it hard to pay David for his appearances so instead offered him studio time and help with production at a small recording studio in Southampton.[2] The album's recording began in 1999 and lasted through until 2000, Hill took responsibility for the album's production along with David, whilst David wrote the majority of the album's lyrics with co-writing from Hill. Hill stated that because there was no label during this time the pair had more creative freedom when creating the album;

When we started writing Born To Do It, there were no labels involved or managers or anything. We’d written the majority of the album before any of us was signed, so it was very much an organic process and it was just the two of us working on it without anyone. I remember when we were taking demos around the industry trying to get a deal, we had ‘7 Days,’ ‘Walking Away,’ ‘Time To Party’ and others and those ended up being the final versions of the album.[2]

The album was solely produced by David and Hill, whilst the latter also provided backing vocals, engineering and mixing.[3] Ceri Evans also served as one of the album's producers, alongside Wayne Lawes who also provided drum programming, programming, remixing and vocal production, Fraser T. Smith also provided programming.[3] A variety of other people were called up during the album's production Dick Beetham helped with the Mastering of the album whilst Andy Ward served as of the album's mixing engineers, with Goetz who provided engineering and mixing, Steve Fitzmaurice also provided mixing.[3] Around the time that "Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta)" began to gain commercial success, the majority of the album was recorded and produced. The last song to be recorded was the album's lead single "Fill Me In".[2] Hill stated he wanted to create a song that contained a Garage element in order to bridge the gap between Craig’s project and his previous work with The Artful Dodger. Following the album's recording David acquired a recording contract.[2]

Content

"Born to Do it" merges smooth-soul over cascades of glistening keyboards, circling guitars, and sophisticated rhythms. The album merges current R&B vocal stylings and U.K. garages beats, creating a "pristine and immaculate" album.[4] Ernest Hardy of "Rolling Stone Magazine" described the album as composed of electro-rouged beats of two-step (UK garage), which Hardy compared to that of Teddy Riley and Timbaland, however Hardy stated the album was also different from Rileys and Timbalands due to the album's ability to strike balance between traditional pop and R&B, using modern production flash as the bridge. The album's music contains acoustic guitars and prominently placed strings, layered just so over the insistent thump of beats and bass, even in the ballads.[5]

Rewind (2000)
Excerpt from "Rewind" by Artful Dodger featuring Craig David, which fused the 2-step rhythm with R&B vocals. This excerpt also demonstrates the prevalent use of samples, such as glass breaking and a backspin.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The album's lyrical content focusses on themes of romance, the complexities of relationships, and clubbing.[4] The album was noted for a range of lyrical themes from "the kind of sappy fare that lovesick teenagers play for one another late at night over the phone" to more self-conscious songs such as "Booty Man."[5] Davids vocals were described as "creamy" by Ernest Hardy of "Rolling Stone Magazine" who continued to describe his vocals has giving "texture", stating the David sounded like a boy becoming a "smooth" man. Davids vocals were seen as being able to "flutter" over the album's "stuttering beats" and "race ahead of those same beats while still keeping time."[5]

The album opens with Fill Me In a garange and R&B song built over plinky keyboards and sticatto strings, that lyrically speaks on a modern-day tale of forbidden love.[6] Tracks six and eight ‘Last Night’ and ‘Time To Party’ both take influence from hip-hop and contain spoken rap-like breakdowns, while relaying on a dance production.[7] "Time To Party" also includes a brief sample of Busta Rhymes's "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See".[6] "Booty Man" features a folky acoustic guitar-driven production that features "overtly cocky lyrics."[6] "Rewind," is a collaboration with two-step band Artful Dodger, the song is a bass-heavy track that features no R&B influences unlike the rest of the album.[6]

Release and promotion

Born to Do It was released first in the United Kingdom on 14 August 2000 through the independent record label Wildstar Records and was later released in the United States in 2001 via Atlantic Records. In 2007 Wildstar records an Atlantic records released the album for digital download.[8] The album was also released in Singapore in a limited edition bonus CD single format, the release featured four remixes including a radio edit, an Ignorants remix, DJ Chunky remix and a Better Day remix.[9] The title Born to Do It comes from a quote describing the character Willy Wonka in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

The album was promoted with the release of four singles; the first Fill Me In was released on April 3, 2000 and became a commercial success debuting at number one on the UK Singles charts making David the youngest British male to have a number one.[10][11] On 28 December 2009, when BBC Radio 1 presenter Nihal revealed "The Official Top 100 Songs of the Decade", "Fill Me In" was at number 93.[12] The song also saw success internationally peaking at number fifteen in the United States.[13]

The album's second single "7 Days" was released on 24 July 2000, on 30 July 2000, the song debuted at number one the UK Singles Chart after selling more than 100,000 copies in its first week,[14] giving David his second consecutive UK number-one single and spending fifteen weeks inside the UK top seventy five.[10] It became David's only top ten single on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it reached number ten. The song also reached number four in Australia and number six in New Zealand. The album's third single "Walking Away" was released on 31 October 2000, the song fared well on charts and became a huge success in New Zealand where it reached number one and became the number one song of 2001 in the region, combining both sales and airplay.[15]

Commercial performance

"Born to Do it" debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, selling 225,320 copies in its first week, in doing so the album became the fastest-selling debut album ever by a British male solo act, a record the album still holds.[16] The album has since been listed as the 45th fastest selling album ever.[17] The album went on to be certified 6× Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipments of 1,800,000 copies.[18] The album went on to become the 35th best selling album of the decade in the United Kingdom.[19] It has sold 1,860,000 copies in the UK as of April 2015.[20]

Born to Do It was a huge success worldwide: in Australia, it debuted at number eight on the week of the 24 September 2000, the album went on to peak at number two on the Australian album charts, where it stayed for five weeks. "Born to Do It" spent 52 weeks (one year) on the chart and was certified four times platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for shipments of 280,000 copies.[21][22] The album saw similar success in New Zealand where it also peaked at number two on the charts and spent a total of 51 weeks before eventually being certified platinum.[23]

Prior to the album's US release, it had sold 3.5 million copies worldwide.[24] "Born to Do It" peaked at number eleven on the US Billboard 200 and spent 62 weeks on the chart, and was eventually certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of one million copies.[25][26] The album was listed as the 156th best selling album on the year in the United States.[27] As well as appearing on the Billboard'' 200, the album also peaked at number twelve on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[28] The album has sold 8 million copies worldwide.[29]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[30]
NME[31]
Robert Christgau(*** honorable mention)[32]
Rolling Stone[5]

Born to Do It received critical acclaim from music critics.[33] Davey Boy of Sputnik music described the album as an "excellent debut" continuing to state that David was a "mature 19 year old singer-songwriter whose soulfully smooth voice will result in fans thinking he is singing to them and only them."[7]

Legacy

David holds the record for the fastest-selling debut album ever by a British male solo act.

At the 2001 Brit Awards, the video for the album's second single "7 Days" was nominated for the Award for Best Music Video, but lost out to the video for "Rock DJ" by Robbie Williams.[34][35] Following the album's release, David was nominated for three MOBO Awards, including best newcomer and best album for Born to Do It. David was also nominated for four Brit Awards in 2001, including Best British Album.[24] "Born to Do it" became the fastest-selling debut album ever by a British male solo act, a record the album still holds.[16] The album has since been listed as the forty fifth fastest selling album ever.[17]

With the album's lead single going to number one in the UK, David (at 18 years and 334 days old), became the youngest British male to have a UK number-one single since Jimmy Osmond, and was the youngest solo artist at the time to have his debut single go to number one in the UK. This record has since been surpassed by Gareth Gates, who was 17 years and 255 days old when he debuted at number one with "Unchained Melody" in March 2002.[36] The album would serve as a musical inspiration to producer Rodney Jerkins during his work on Brandy's album Full Moon, following a gig in London, England months before where he was exposed to the UK garage collaborations between David and Artful Dodger.[37]

Charles Ingram's £32,000 question on the ITV quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? asked him to identify the artist behind the album. Ingram claimed to have never heard of Craig David but went for the answer regardless, correctly answering the question. Ingram was famous for cheating on this question and many others on the show.[38]

In a 2009 poll devised by MTV to find the Greatest Album Ever, MTV viewers voted Born to Do It as their second most favourite, behind Michael Jackson's Thriller.[33]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Craig David & Mark Hill except where noted

UK version (2000)[39]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Fill Me In" 4:16
2."Can't Be Messing 'Round"Craig David3:54
3."Rendezvous" 4:37
4."7 Days"
  • David
  • Mark Hill
  • Darren Hill
3:55
5."Follow Me" 4:01
6."Last Night" 4:31
7."Walking Away" 3:24
8."Time to Party" 4:04
9."Booty Man" 3:48
10."Once in a Lifetime" 3:30
11."You Know What" 3:34
12."Rewind" 5:32
US version (2001)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Fill Me In" 4:16
2."Can't Be Messing 'Round"David3:54
3."Rendezvous" 4:37
4."7 Days"
  • David
  • Mark Hill
  • Darren Hill
3:55
5."Follow Me" 4:01
6."Key to My Heart"Craig David & Jeremy Paul4:13
7."Fill Me In (Part 2)" 4:12
8."Last Night" 4:31
9."Walking Away" 3:24
10."Time to Party" 4:04
11."Booty Man" 3:48
12."Once in a Lifetime" 3:30
13."You Know What" 3:34
14."Rewind" 5:32
Singapore limited edition bonus CD single[9]
No.TitleLength
1."Walking Away" (radio edit) 
2."Walking Away" (Ignorants Remix) 
3."Walking Away" (DJ Chunky Remix) 
4."Treats" (Better Day Remix) 

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.[3]

Charts

Weekly charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[65] 4× Platinum 280,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[66] Platinum 100,000^
France (SNEP)[67] Platinum 300,000*
Germany (BVMI)[68] Platinum 300,000^
Italy (FIMI)[69] Platinum 100,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[70] Gold 100,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[71] Platinum 80,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[72] 3× Platinum 45,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[73] Platinum 100,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[74] Platinum 50,000^
Sweden (GLF)[75] Platinum 80,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[76] 6× Platinum 1,860,000[20]
United States (RIAA)[77] Platinum 1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Australia 14 August 2000 CD, vinyl Atlantic
Ireland
New Zealand
United Kingdom
United States 17 July 2001

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Interview With Colin Lester". HitQuarters. 10 December 2001. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d "Craig David's debut LP Born To Do It revisited with producer/writer Mark Hill | Return To The Classics". SoulCulture. 13 November 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d "AllMusic credits". AllMusic. 10 August 2000. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  4. ^ a b http://www.allmusic.com/album/born-to-do-it-mw0000010804
  5. ^ a b c d Hardy, Ernest (2 August 2001). "Rolling Stone : Craig David: Born To Do It : Music Reviews:" (RS 874). Archived from the original on 10 July 2007. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ a b c d http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/craig-david-born-to-do-it
  7. ^ a b http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/26889/Craig-David-Born-to-Do-It/
  8. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/born-to-do-it-mw0000010804/releases
  9. ^ a b "Craig David Born To Do It Singapore DOUBLE CD (181868)". Eil.com. 10 April 2001. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  10. ^ a b "UK Charts > Craig David". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  11. ^ "Fill Me In by Craig David Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  12. ^ Radio 1 Official Chart of the Decade, as broadcast on BBC Radio 1 on Tuesday 29 December 2009, presented by Nihal
  13. ^ "Craig David > Album & Song Chart History > Billboard 200". Billboard Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 16 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ "Craig David gets second chart-topper". BBC News. BBC. 30 July 2000. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  15. ^ "2001 New Zealand Singles Chart". Rianz. Retrieved 23 July 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ a b http://www.nme.com/photos/revealed-music-s-all-time-chart-record-breakers/214348#/photo/40
  17. ^ a b http://www.nme.com/photos/50-fastest-selling-albums-ever/213617#/photo/7
  18. ^ "BPI Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  19. ^ a b "The Noughties' Official UK Albums Chart Top 100". Music Week. London, England: United Business Media: 19. 30 January 2010.
  20. ^ a b Myers, Justin (9 April 2015). "Number 1 today in 2000: Craig David scores a debut chart-topper". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  21. ^ http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Craig+David&titel=Born+to+Do+It&cat=a
  22. ^ "ARIA Charts > Accreditations > 2001 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
  23. ^ http://www.charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Craig+David&titel=Born+to+Do+It&cat=a
  24. ^ a b http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/79085/lauded-uk-star-craig-david-is-born-to-do-it
  25. ^ http://www.billboard.com/artist/299719/Craig+David/chart?f=305
  26. ^ "RIAA Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
  27. ^ http://www.billboard.com/artist/299719/Craig%20David/chart?f=412
  28. ^ http://www.billboard.com/artist/299719/Craig%20David/chart?f=333
  29. ^ http://www.musicaljack.com/blog/craig-david/
  30. ^ a b "AllMusic review".
  31. ^ "NME Album Reviews - Born to Do It". NME. 10 August 2000. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  32. ^ "Robert Christgau review".
  33. ^ a b Lindvall, Helienne (9 April 2009). "Has Craig David really made the second greatest album ever, asks Helienne Lindvall". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  34. ^ "Robbie Wins Big, David Comes Up Empty At Brit Awards". Billboard. 26 February 2001. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  35. ^ Kemp, Rob (26 February 2001). "Robbie Williams, U2, Coldplay Dominate Brit Awards". MTV. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  36. ^ "Record-Breakers and Trivia". everyHit.com. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  37. ^ Reid, Shaheem; Yago, Gideo (18 January 2002). "Fans Will Get A New Taste Of Brandy On Full Moon". MTV News. MTV.com. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  38. ^ "Millionaire's route to the top prize". BBC Online. BBC. 7 April 2003. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  39. ^ "Born To Do It - Craig David". allmusic.
  40. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Craig David – Born to Do It". Hung Medien.
  41. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Craig David – Born to Do It" (in German). Hung Medien.
  42. ^ "Ultratop.be – Craig David – Born to Do It" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  43. ^ "Ultratop.be – Craig David – Born to Do It" (in French). Hung Medien.
  44. ^ https://books.google.co.uk/books?lr=&rview=1&id=NBAEAAAAMBAJ&q=craig+david#v=snippet&q=craig%20david&f=false
  45. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Craig David – Born to Do It" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  46. ^ "Craig David: Born to Do It" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  47. ^ "Lescharts.com – Craig David – Born to Do It". Hung Medien.
  48. ^ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH.
  49. ^ "IFPI Greece – Gary Barlow – Open Road". IFPI Greece. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  50. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – {{{year}}}. {{{week}}}. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ.
  51. ^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 33, 2000". Chart-Track. IRMA.
  52. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Craig David – Born to Do It". Hung Medien.
  53. ^ https://books.google.co.uk/books?lr=&rview=1&id=uhAEAAAAMBAJ&q=craig+david#v=snippet&q=craig%20david&f=false
  54. ^ "Charts.nz – Craig David – Born to Do It". Hung Medien.
  55. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Craig David – Born to Do It". Hung Medien.
  56. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry.
  57. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  58. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Craig David – Born to Do It". Hung Medien.
  59. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Craig David – Born to Do It". Hung Medien.
  60. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Craig David – Born to Do It". Hung Medien.
  61. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  62. ^ "Craig David Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  63. ^ "Best Sellers of 2000: Albums Top 100". Music Week. London, England: United Business Media: 27. 20 January 2001.
  64. ^ "Best Sellers of 2001: Albums Top 100". Music Week. London, England: United Business Media: 23. 19 January 2002.
  65. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  66. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Craig David – Born to Do It". Music Canada.
  67. ^ "French album certifications – Craig David – Born to Do It" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  68. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Craig David; 'Born to Do It')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  69. ^ "Italian album certifications – Craig David – Born to Do It" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Select "2001" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Born to Do It" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
  70. ^ "Japanese album certifications – Craig David – Born to Do It" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan.
  71. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Craig David – Born to Do It" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Born to Do It in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2001 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  72. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Craig David – Born to Do It". Recorded Music NZ.
  73. ^ "Spanish album certifications – Craig David – Born to Do It". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España.
  74. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Born to Do It')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  75. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2001" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011.
  76. ^ "British album certifications – Craig David – Born to Do It". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Born to Do It in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  77. ^ "American album certifications – Craig David – Born to Do It". Recording Industry Association of America.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Born_to_Do_It&oldid=713461272"