Song: Officially Yours -- Craig David

Okay! I know a lot of people are worried about the nuclear plants in Japan, but too much of that doesn't help the mood, and even if it does leak, life goes on, people still have to work and try to live a good life. Our English Playground will cheer for Japan! And to cheer for Japan, LOVE is the most important at this point!

So, let's not let the love stop!

Finally, it's time to introduce my favourite favourite singer that I have been listening since he broke out from the common pop songs framework in year 2000 and created a whole new listening experience! Young and talented, naturally soothing and easy-listening vocal singing his very unique style of R & B, Craig David become an immediate success in his very first album, Born to Do It!

Image from PUM

According to Wikipedia,

"The success of David's debut, which was written almost entirely by David andMark Hill of Artful Dodger, led to the United States release of "Fill Me In" in May 2001. It reached Number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. Born to Do It was released in the United States on 17 July 2001, peaking at Number 11 on the Billboard 200 and sold over one million copies. The single "7 Days" hit the Top 10 in the U.S.; although "Walking Away", which had reached Number 3 in the UK and Number 5 in Australia, missed the Top 40 in the U.S. and was the last of his singles to chart there.
In April 2009, MTV viewers voted Born To Do It as Number 2 on their "Greatest Album of All-Time" poll, behind Michael Jackson's Thriller."

Now, to the song I'm recommending, Officially Yours -- from the album Trust Me (2007/2008).

Image from wikipedia

This is a soft slick midtempo song with lyrics that show regret, make apology and make proposal to to his lover at the same time. The melody is happy, warm, romantic and fortunate. I like the bridge in particular as he stretches his voice in several occasions and changes his keys.

The purist love is love that is given unconditionally.

Enjoy!!!!

Lyrics:

"Officially Yours"

[Intro]
Oh yeah yes
La da day, la da day
La da da da da oh

[Verse 1]
Thinkin' how the story goes
You're helpless and I'm wishin'
Put the film inside my mind
But there's a big scene that I'm missin'
As I re-read my lines
I think I said this, I should've said that
Did you edit me out of your mind
'Cos in a flash you had disappeared, gone (gone)
Before the curtain falls
And we act this out again
Maybe I should risk it all and state

[Chorus]
That I'm officially going on the record
To say I'm in love with you
I'm officially everything you hope that I would be
This time I'll tell the truth
I'm officially wrong I know
For letting you go the way I did
Unconditionally more than I ever was before
I'm officially yours
La da day, la da day
La da da da da oh

[Verse 2]
Travellin' down this road again
Gotta make a few decisions
Don't want you to feel this hurt again
That's why I'm hopin' that you'll listen
If you let me press rewind
I'll rehearse every word I should have said
'Cos girl I'm ready to make things right
Here on this stage so we can move on (on)
And before the curtain falls
And we act this out again
Missin' pieces I'll resolve so stay

[Chorus]
I'm officially going on the record
To say I'm in love with you
I'm officially everything you hope that I would be
This time I'll tell the truth
I'm officially wrong I know
For letting you go the way I did
Unconditionally more than I ever was before

[Bridge]
Things I should have said
Like I appreciate the time that I spend with you
Inspire me with the smile I put on your pretty face
My world comes alive, now I know (now I know it babe)
This time I'm not letting go
'Cos I'm officially yours (oh oh)

[Chorus]
Officially everything you hope that I would be
This time I'll tell the truth
I'm officially wrong I know
For letting you go the way I did
Unconditionally more than I ever was before

I'm officially going on the record
To say I'm in love with you
I'm officially everything you hope that I would be
This time I'll tell the truth
I'm officially wrong I know
For letting you go the way I did
Unconditionally more than I ever was before

[Outro]
Girl I'm unconditionally yours (oh yeah)
Officially yours, your man (La da day, la da day, la da day)
Girl I'm unconditionally yours (La da da da da oh)
Officially yours, I am

Girl I'm unconditionally yours (listen what I'm tryna say)
Officially yours, your man (oh oh)
Girl I'm unconditionally yours
Officially yours, I am

Vocabulary:
stretch -- (vb) [T] (also stretch out) to make a process or task continue for a longer period of time than was originally planned
unconditionally -- (adv) completely and not limited in any way
inspire -- (vb) to make someone have a particular strong feeling or reaction




Resources:

Craig David @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_David

Officially Yours @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Officially_Yours

Trust Me @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust_Me_(album)

Craig David - Officially Yours (Official Video) @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp9ZvbMLF4g

Officially Yours Lyrics @ AZlyrics
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/craigdavid/officiallyyours.html

Officially yours - Craig david w/ lyrics @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSrYx3hIfGA

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/stretch_5
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/unconditional
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/inspire