Interview with Ce’Cile (Bad Gyal)

by: Jud Benjamin
Jud: The name “Bad Gyal” is said to be your self proclamation. How did you came up with such an alias and does this mean that you are an uptown girl or a ghetto girl?
Ce’Cile: I think the name Badgyal has been wildly used since I’ve began using it as my alter ego. The name for me signifies another “persona” than the real CeCile and for me this was my on stage “being.” It simply meant the person I became when I took the Stage (sassy and saucy, maybe a lil naughty, pro feminine) wasn’t a class thing neither was it a bad gyal who will get physical or anything like that. I don’t consider myself ghetto, in any definition of the word. I’m not sure what up town is. I’m a classy badgyal!

Jud: I understand you have a life’s motto.
Ce’Cile: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Jud: Why do you put so much faith in this motto of yours?
Ce’Cile: Because if you don’t put yourself in other person’s shoes, anyone of us can become very destructive, after all we are only humans and susceptible to human ways and sins (jealousy, deceptive, devious, physical and verbally abusive etc).

Jud: How supportive are your family and friends of you as a dancehall artist?
Ce’Cile: They are supportive enough.

Jud: As a female artist, how did you manage to work your way up among the most talented singers who long existed before you?
Ce’Cile: I tried to be unique, I wanted to be known as different that any other females out there. Naturally females will sometimes sing about similar topics, I wanted to push the envelope. Madonna is one of my idols; do I need to say more? If I’ve worked my way up, then I’m happy, I’m not limiting myself, I’d love to be compared to real stars like Madonna, and Fiona Apple.

Jud: In 2001, you got 4 Awards. Do you see your achievements and successes as a motive for more performance and an early retirement?
Ce’Cile: I don’t see myself having achieved any of my goals yet, that’s the sky, I’m somewhere floating around in the clouds right now, I’d love to be like Lady Saw who has a Grammy or Sean Paul or Shaggy who has achieved so much internationally. As for early retirement, I can never truly retire from music, when I stop performing I will probably be producing or writing songs for others.

Jud: How was it like performing in the most popular and the world famous Apollo Theatre in New York on June 28, 2006?
Ce’Cile: It was my second time there, before I did a stint with Beenie Man singing Mya’s vocals for the song she did with him. I felt really good singing my own song that night. Stuff like that means a lot to me because I have watched many a star begin their very successful careers on that stage.

Jud: Performing live and courageously is one of your dominating talents. Could you tell me how you handle your malfunctions on stage?
Ce’Cile: I laugh about it. Once in ATL, half my top fell off, it was the biggest forward I got for the night, I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable on stage now, so if I fall or anything I know I’ll come up with a way to laugh about it.

Jud: What are your thoughts about the current conflict between Beenie Man and Bounty Killer?
Ce’Cile: Don’t care.

Jud: Are you currently actively involved in any charitable organization in Jamaica? If yes, what type of organization is it and how did you became involved?
Ce’Cile: Not currently

Jud: What qualities do you find attractive in a guy?
Ce’Cile: Right now I’m mad at my man so I hate this question and refuse to answer it.

Jud: When you say you brought Hardcore Dancehall to existence, what do you really mean by that?
Ce’Cile: If u saw that printed anywhere it’s misquote. I’ve said I brought sexy and classy to hardcore dancehall. I’m the first gyal to come up and say yes, I’m doing this, and I don’t have to do it like the guys, I don’t have to dress like them, I don’t have to be aggressive like them. I can be sexy and feminine in hardcore dancehall. U tell me who u saw did that b4 me!

Jud: The hit “Can You Do Di Wuk” with Sean Paul still tops the music charts world wide. Do you find this surprising?
Ce’Cile: No, the beat in itself was crazy. Sean is extremely talented and I found a simple hook that was very contagious. If I go on stage anywhere and no one knows who I am, I sing that song and its over. People are like ” ooh that’s her?” and its all good.

Jud: You went on a tour with Lady Saw early 2005. How would you describe the tour?
Ce’Cile: She’s the best, bad gyal, learnt a lot from her and is a very unselfish artist who is too confident in her own artistry to “not impart info” to others. Love her to death. Grammy gyal dat!!!

Jud: Would you categorize your kind of music as the same with Lady Saws’ or would you put yourself under a different category?
Ce’Cile: As an artist I’d love to be considered different, hopefully that will come with the release of an album. That’s how people generally get a real feel for an artist. Not from a few juggling. Saw’s the best at what she does and I want to be the best of what I do.

Jud: Collaboration between reggae and hiphop artists is very common in the music industry today. You recently did collaboration with G-unit’s Olivia. What was it like working with her?
Ce’Cile: Music is funny, I have done collaborations with many people, its sad sometimes the world don’t get to hear it because sometimes the tracks end up being cut by the label. I’ve worked with Timbaland, Scot Storch, Olivia, Trina and many other European and Canadian acts – all except Scot and Trina I was actually in the studio doing the tracks with them. Olivia is a personal friend of mine, who is so talented, Timbaland has imparted lots of info to me, it’s a dream come true to work with people I consider “talented.” For me it’s the working with them that truly inspires and awes me, and having it released or cut is only secondary.

Jud: Talking about “multi-tasking”, how do manage to the songwriting, singing, performing, touring, promoting, and marketing of your own work?
Ce’Cile: I no longer do all of that. I have people who help me. I’ve been with Danger Zone now for a good 8 months; we will see where we go from there.

Jud: In today’s entertainment industry nearly everyone is involved in other areas of the business which includes: fashion, business, acting and commercials. Have you gotten your hands wet in those areas?
Ce’Cile: I did my first movie role last year, I’ve done my bit of commercials, I want to do my BG wear soon – of course we want to do whatever it is to make that money.

Jud: If you held a very significant position in Jamaica’s government and you had to address the “gay and lesbian” community of your country, what would that be?
Ce’Cile: Damn, there are many other issues more important to be dealt with. I don’t choose friends by their sexual orientation; I however chose not to have any murderer friends, any rapists’ friends, or any pedophile friends. Some of the kindest people I’ve met are gay; you want me to say they shouldn’t have the same human rights as I do? Sorry can’t do. As for morally, damn, the bible says sex after marriage, I’m not married and having lots of it. Plus I wouldn’t dare be in politics, there just no wining.

Jud: How do you feel about Jamaica having its first female president?
Ce’Cile: From a purely female perspective it’s an achievement.

Jud: Do you consider yourself as a role model to the younger generation?
Ce’Cile: I guess I’m aware that kids may see me as their role model, I’m aware and I do what I can to impart and highlight my good qualities, non smoker, non drinker, etc etc. However I don’t think it is necessarily my duty to raise people’s kids, values should be taught at home, as I was.

Jud: Performing “Rude Boy Thug Life” in Germany during the European Tour brought a lot of popularity. How did you felt when you saw yourself featured in Riddim Magazine in Germany?
Ce’Cile: It’s nice, don’t know what the hell they’re saying…(laughing)…No its nice, its a pleasure.

Jud: As a female dancehall artist, do you find that you have to work twice as hard as your male counterpart?
Ce’Cile: In a way, because our genre of music is mostly male dominated, filled with lots of gun tune, bad man tune, weed tune, they don’t show us the respect we deserve.

Jud: What is the most memorable gift a person has ever given you for valentines?
Ce’Cile: Good sex.

Musically, what can fans expect from you in 2007?
Ce’Cile: The album I hope.

Visit: CecileFlava.com
For dubplate info and other inquiries please email her at cecilecharlton@hotmail.com

Credits: Jud Benjamin, Mark Dixon (editor) and Zola Burse (president of Zola Burse Production) for making this interview with Ce’Cile possible.