i don't think because a guy is secure enough to compliment another guy it automatically makes him gay. that's a gross stereotype. what a sad society we live in. i've personaly never heard the "gay" rumours. not does it matter. why should it?

CHIC0 said:

jeami said:

I don't dislike him myself.
In fact I enjoy some of his music.
I wouldn't say he is an amazing artist, but a good one, and a lot better than much of the rubbish you hear today (I am talking more about his earlier work).

I don't hate gay people either, I just find his campness rather amusing, and am suprised that more people haven't mentioned it (not that they neccessarily should, but they usually do if they have such suspicions!).

Nothing more than that, and certainly nothing to do with his race.

KeithyT said:

I'm sure not everybody hates him but British R'n'B is/was not thought of as particularly cool within the UK. Craig was definitely influenced by US R'n'b ( I think he has been quoted as saying Usher's My Way album was like his blueprint for what he wanted to do) and I think some people see it as music without much substance and cliche'd (getting girls into your bedroom, showing off your cars and money etc).

I guess the bottom line is we do pretty much knock people down in the UK when they become successful.[/quote]


If R&B music isn't cool, why do people have more respect for Amy Winehouse, Elton John and George Michael? I know Amy has drug problems now, but people did say she was talented. All of these white people have obviously been influenced by this genre of music.

BTW, you're getting R&B music mixed up with hip hop/rap music. R&B music is more soulful and does have more substance. Usher is influenced by R&B, but his music is mostly pop/hip hop. Most of the mainstream artists like Beyaki & company are not bonafide R&B artists. They're doing the same thing that Ughsher's doing. If the UKers think this trash is R&B music, what do you think about Corinne Bailey Rae? What category does she fit into?

You said that UKers like to bring successful people down and I think that's true. I also think there's a bit of racism/prejudice going on as well because the white artists don't get dogged out when they do what Craig David's doing. Of course, I don't expect UKers to admit this because they refuse to acknowledge the pink elephant in the room. Some of you guys remind me of the people that bitterly hate Obama, but swear racism has nothing to do with it.
[Edited 3/6/10 22:32pm]

What does campness mean? Is that another way of saying Craig has sugar in his tank? How can you tell?
[Edited 3/6/10 22:34pm]
[Edited 3/6/10 22:35pm]

How many posts have you seen me write on white artists, black artist, gay artists?
In fact, how many posts of mine have you actually seen? I have very few.

By campness I meant he seems a bit gay to me. I don't know if he is or not, but he does seem it to me.
I have nothing against the guy, and enjoy some of his music.

Please think before accusing people of being racist. There is absolutely no basis for you accusation.

I don't know what it is about the UK not getting behind it's own RnB acts, Both Craig and to a lesser degree, folks like Beverley Knight are respected, have had initial hits, but then fall by the wayside, seemingly forgotten. It's always been the way, back in the 80's we had numerous good RnB/Soul singers Ruby Turner was another one that springs to mind, occasionally seen appearing on Jools Holland still tearing it up.

I suspect it will be the case with Amy if and when when she comes back, in fact the ravenous British press will act like the usual dogs. There'll be nothing wrong with her next album, but i bet it's force fed to the public it's rubbish, folks won't pick it up, and presto..another session singer is created.

We've always got Duffy.

Is it me or is he transforming into a young O.J.? The forehead is a dead giveaway.

Marrk said:

I've noticed that. The UK in particular has a more diverse outlook in terms of what people call "urban" music. Listening to 1Xtra (my favorite radio station), you'll hear R&B, hip hop, Garage, Dancehall, Dubstep, Bassline/Garage, House, World music.....you'd never find a radio station in the States with that much diversity.

jeami said:

Brits don't like the following:

Over-inflated egos;
Ostentatious displays of wealth;
People taking themselves too seriously:
A general air of phoniness.

Craig David's public persona fits all of the above criteria.

It has nothing to do with race.

There are a number of non-white and mixed-race British artists (or groups containing non-white and mixed-race members) whom just haven't made the leap to household name status internationally, but are hugely popular domestically.

It's the record companies whom are failing these acts, by lack of promotion overseas - not the acts themselves - and certainly not your perceived racism of the British record-buying public.

This link is likely to change in about six hours' time, when the new official UK Charts are announced, but here's the current UK Top 40 Singles Chart...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radi...t/singles/

#2 Dizzee Rascal

#7 Sugababes

#9 Helping Haiti (featuring Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, Aston Merrygold and Marvin Humes)

#10 JLS

#14 Leona Lewis

#15 Jay Sean

#19 Lemar

#32 Alexandra Burke

#34 The Saturdays

If you've never heard of most of these British artists, phone your local radio station to ask why.

The U.K. even has a nationwide state-owned radio station, BBC 1Xtra, which is dedicated to playing music of black origin. This is aside from the evident fact that the predominant popular music in this country is urban music by homegrown artists.

Saying that the U.K. only supports urban music from white British acts like Amy Winehouse and Duffy, is a complete lie. There's a bigger argument that it's the U.S. whom only supports urban music from white British acts.

.
[Edited 3/7/10 6:27am]

GirlBrother said:

Many celebrities posses the above characteristics. Where have you been? The bolded parts are especially normal for hip hop artists. Yet, people still love them anyway.

Rich people like to buy expensive things because they can afford to and I don't blame them. If I was rich, I'd do the same thing, so why does that make the Brits so angry?

If Craig David takes himself too seriously why should that bother you? The reason he's so successful is because he takes his career seriously.

He also doesn't seem phony to me. He looks like he's having fun and enjoying his life. The man is rich and famous, so he has something to smile about.

GirlBrother said:

I agree with the fact that record companies suck. In the USA, the record companies ignore foreign artists. I wish that the American entertainment industry would be more open-minded and support foreign movies, foreign music, etc. There's great material out there, but the American public is unaware because the entertainment industry ignores it.

The bolded quote is ridiculous. I've already stated that the people that control the American entertainment industry are not interested in foreigners, so they don't get any support, so your argument is ridiculous. The US is interested in Corinne Bailey Rae and Leona Lewis. Corinne is popular in America right now, so what's your point?
[Edited 3/7/10 12:54pm]

jeami said:

Leona Lewis and Corinne Bailey-Rae are pop artists - and both very talented. It's great that they're recognised internationally... However, I wouldn't say that either are representative of British urban music - ask Timmy; he knows the score.

The only anomaly I can think of is Sade. But there again, she's not performing strictly "urban music" - she's in her own universe like Bjork or David Byrne. She's not even all that popular in the U.K.

It was you whom inferred that a British act could be disliked by the Brits, because of the act's race. It really, really isn't the case.

The U.S. is fixated with shit-hop, bugglegum-pop, country music and hipster-rock. There's so much more happening out there. It's very sad that you'd believe the pinnacle of the U.K.'s urban talent to be all-white.

And even if all the best British urban acts were all white, what would it matter? All popular music is inherently black popular music.

I'd rather listen to Dusty Springfield's Dusty In Memphis album, before I listen to Alicia Keyes' last effort. Does that make me racist? Is the Dusty album less valid because she was Anglo-Irish instead of African-American?

GirlBrother said:

I never claimed that the best British urban acts are white. I stated that the Brits hate on the Black artists because of racism, yet the white artists are respected for doing the same thing. That's what I don't like.
I don't like the fact that people hate on Craig David because he's a successful black man. I don't know if he's gay or not, but they make negative comments about that. Elton John is arrogant and extravagant, but he gets more respect. Once again, racism does play a part in this. No, it's not the only reason, but it's there whether the Brits want to admit it or not.
I don't blame Craig David for leaving the UK so he could become an international star. You make more money that way and if the people in his home country don't like that, well that's their problem. I guess some folks expected him to just tolerate their racist BS and not have a desire to be successful. Yeah right.
[Edited 3/7/10 15:07pm]

jeami said:

Any negative comments the British tabloids make about Craig David's sexuality, are in relation to the fact that he is allegedly being secretive; not for his actually being gay.

He was alleged to have had a relationship with a member of a British/Norwegian boy-band in the mid-1990s. Craig David is still only 28 years old, and at the height of his fame was still a teenager. I'd be more surprised if he hadn't slept with a man at that time. When you're famous, you live your life in fast-forward.

I do notice the ego

CHIC0 said:

I've never heard the rumors either but then I was never a fan so I'm not familiar with what the press says about him. I guess it doesn't matter if he's gay as long as he's not hiding it.

jeami said:

Wrong race does play a part but i agree with the most point, but forgive Craig as he was a young guy so in someways they are going to be a bit cocky...

The guy was a two-hit wonder, if he's been lambasted in the UK press since then it's probably over his percieved fake "urban" persona and subsequent all-round musical awfulness rather than race. They're cunts generally, I doubt any inherent racism.

jeami said:

Maybe actually live in the UK before you come out with stupid shit like this. You're the one with the chip on your shoulder. Craig David is seen as a twat in the UK because

1) He's so far up his own arse that he can lick his lower intestines clean

2) He loves to refer to himself in the third person

Well, there are more reasons but I'm bored.

^

Mong said:

Somebody sounds angry. The truth hurts huh!
Maybe if you would learn to be more open-minded and respectful, your country wouldn't get bombed so much. I won't deny that my country has problems with race, but people are more upfront and honest about it. Get your heads out of the sand.
[Edited 3/8/10 21:14pm]
[Edited 3/8/10 21:16pm]
[Edited 3/8/10 21:17pm]

Grow up. You are ill-informed. Ever visited London? Far more multi-cultural and integrated than anywhere in the States. Could you tell me when London was bombed? Looks like you get your news intake solely from USA Today.

Ever heard of false flags? Open up your eyes.

You are the perfect example of someone with a very large chip on their shoulder. You have the problem, not me.

Mong said:

San Francisco and NYC would beg to differ. They've got to at least tie with London.

Mong said:

You need to stop getting off topic because you're not making any sense. I know that there are diverse areas in the UK, just like the USA. Duh! That doesn't mean that racism/prejudice don't exist. The Bo Selecta parodies proved that. I didn't like the way the moronic comedian distorted Craig David's features. People used to do that to the Jews and Blacks in the past. That is racially offensive, but you don't hear the UKers mention that. They just keep on saying that racism isn't a problem. Then they get pissed off when other people talk about this awful behavior. Yes, many places have problems with racism/prejudice and the UK is no exception.
[Edited 3/9/10 10:24am]

Bo Selecta racist? God, you're a lost cause. So the fact that he also lampoons white celebrities (Elton, Kelly Osbourne for example) using similar distorted features is lost on you.

You're not making any sense. Don't comment on what you don't have a clue about. YOU'RE the one going off tangent bringing up racism. Pathetic.

Mong said:

Yes Bo Selecta is racist. It's not even funny. Stop getting pissed off because the UKs dirty laundry is being aired.

LOL @ the notion tha Bo Selecta is racist. That's a lost argument rght there. If you don't get it then fine, but calling it racist when you have clearly only ever seen the lampooning of black celebrities is ridiculous. I can thinking of 4 black people that are portrayed on that show (Craig David, Michael Jackson, Mel B and Trisha) and everyone else is of another colour.

As for racism talk, Craig David is actually of mixed heritage. I remember a big fuss being made when he was promoting his stuff in the USA at the time and his American tour managers told him to get rid of the white members of his band because it might "confuse" audiences. I applauded Craig's response to that as he went public with it and refused to comply, announcing that he was proud of everywhere where he came from and thought it was a ridiculous request.

Here's one of the articles: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/h...480365.stm
[Edited 3/9/10 23:21pm]

Ellie said:

Yep. They wanted him to get rid of his guitarist

Funny how jeami has gone all quiet