Gabriella Cilmi was born in the Melbourne suburb of Dandenong. Of Italian and Albanian heritage, she moved to London with her family when she was fifteen, where she currently lives with her parents Paula and Joe (whose origins are in Calabria and Sicily, Italy) and her brother Joseph.
At an early age, Cilmi developed an interest in a wide range of pop music acts, including Nina Simone, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, The Sweet, T. Rex and Cat Stevens. She has also cited Suzi Quatro as a particular influence. Despite her natural aptitude and vocal talent, Cilmi was told that she lacked the discipline necessary to pursue a singing career. Idolising Janis Joplin, during this time she sang with a band (Foucault) covering songs by Led Zeppelin, Jet, Silverchair and others. Cilmi recorded original songs with writer/producers Barbara and Adrian Hannan of The SongStore.
In 2004, Cilmi captured the attention of Warner Music executive Michael Parisi while giving an impromptu rendition of the Rolling Stones' song "Jumpin' Jack Flash" at the Lygon Street Festa, a community festival in Melbourne. At the age of 13, Cilmi travelled to the US and UK with Adrian Hannan and was offered four major US deals. She eventually signed a contract with Island Records UK.
Cilmi's first album, Lessons to Be Learned, was written and recorded with hit production team Xenomania and was released in March 2008 in the UK. Cilmi has been compared to Amy Winehouse. The first single, "Sweet About Me", debuted on the UK Singles Chart that month and climbed to number six three months later, in June. It reached number seventeen on the Irish Singles Chart, and peaked at number one on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart. The song was used in a worldwide advertising campaign for the deodorant Sure/Rexona. Cilmi's second UK single, "Save the Lies", was not as successful as "Sweet About Me", peaking at number thirty-three in the UK. In Australia, the second single from the album was "Don't Wanna Go to Bed Now", which reached number twenty-eight. The subsequent single, "Sanctuary", was issued in November 2008 and failed to chart.
The lead single of Gabriella Cilmi's Ten is "On a Mission". It was released on 5 February 2010 in Australia and on 7 March 2010 in Europe. As soon as the song was broadcast on Australian radios, it reached number-one most added track to Australian radio in its second week of release, getting played 296 times. The song reached number 9 on the UK Singles Chart and number sixteen in Australia.
The new album Ten was planned for 22 March 2010 and Cilmi said it would feature "lots of uptempo funk and disco-inspired numbers designed to make people groove", referring to "On a Mission", "Hearts Don't Lie", and "Love Me Cos", as well as "some more sexy tracks" probably referring to "Superhot" and "Invisible Girl". The song "Boys" incorporates a type of yodel into it. The song "Let Me Know" is described as the "Lessons To Be Learned-ish" song of the album.
It also features a new version of "Sweet About Me", with some disco/electronic style to show her music has changed.
While producing the album, Cilmi worked with Greg Kurstin, The Invisible Men and Dallas Austin, as well as Xenomania. She made her debuts in producing songs with the track "Love Me Cos", she says the song she is most proud of due to the fact it was produced with her band. It features production from Xenomania, Dallas Austin and Greg Kurstin, and bears an electropop sound in contrast to her first album, which had more of a pop/rock style.
By October 2010, Cilmi had already begun work on her third studio album. She has been quoted as saying: "It's totally exciting because I am spending a bit more time with this record. I want to see what works. I really love Dolly Parton, roots music, Tricky and Enya, so anything could happen."
On 20 January 2012, Cilmi released an acoustic version of a song from her album, "Vicious Love". It is played in a clip video where she sings with her band and walks around an Italian restaurant with sunglasses. Two days after the broadcast, she says: "This is an 'Acoustic-ish' version of a tune that will be on the new record, one that I love very much". The song has blues influences, contrasting the disco-inspired pop sound of Ten. Cilmi claims she felt pressured into adopting a more sexual image, which prompted her to part ways with Island Records and her management team. She also told the Herald Sun that the lacklustre commercial reception of her second album, Ten, taught her not to compromise herself or her music: "It was an awakening for me to realise the position I am in to make the record that I want to make and just stand up for myself."
On 22 January 2012, Cilmi explained how the song "Vicious Love" was inspired. She states: "If you've ever experienced any type of 'Vicious Love' you will know that sometimes despite all the arrows pointing to a dead end there is just no way out, there is no way back. But then again don't all roads lead to dead ends? Guess we should just enjoy the ride..."
In March 2013, Cilmi first performed "Sweet About Me", as well as two new songs "Come Wander With Me" and "Sweeter in History", at the Moxafrica Festival. On 15 March, the clip from her new single "Sweeter in History", is shown on her YouTube page. It was shot in Italy, precisely in Cassino and Valvori, Lazio. In July 2013, Cilmi announced a new track called "The Sting", released on 2 September as the album's lead single. The artwork of the single was revealed on 15 July 2013, picturing Cilmi in black and white, in front of a flower field. Cilmi's third studio album, The Sting, will be released on 4 November 2013 on her own UK-based imprint Sweetness Tunes, in association with Absolute Marketing & Distribution."Symmetry" is set to be released on 11 November as the album's second single.
Defender
Gabriella Cilmi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you get lost in the crowd
When you don't have the answer
I'll help you figure it out
I won't let you down
As long as I live I will keep you from harm
If they wanna get to ya
So just remember
I am your defender
I won't let you stand there on your own
No matter what they tell ya
I will not surrender
Now until forever
You will never
Be alone
When wallets are flying
When bombs are hitting the ground
When you can't see through the fire
You know I'll pull you out
I know that you're strong
When the tables are turned
You'll be back by my side
And if they wanna break us
Well, just let them try
So just remember
I am your defender
I won't let you stand there on your own
No matter what they tell ya
I will not surrender
Now until forever
You will never
Be alone
No way, I won't surrender
I'm here now till forever
Hold on in this together
You know I'm your defender
I am your defender
I will not surrender
Now until forever
You will never
Be alone
No way, I won't surrender
I'm here now till forever
Hold on, we're in this together
You know I'm your defender
No way, I won't surrender
I'm here now till forever
Hold on, we're in this together
You know I'm your defender
The lyrics of Gabriella Cilmi's song "Defender" speak to a deep sense of loyalty and guardianship toward another person. The singer is reassuring someone that they will be there for them in times of trouble, whether they are lost in a crowd, facing danger, or feeling alone. The singer promises to be a defender, keeping the other person from harm and standing by their side no matter what.
The verse "when you don't have the answer, I'll help you figure it out" speaks to a sense of emotional support and guidance. The singer isn't just promising to physically protect the other person; they're also offering emotional support and a listening ear.
The chorus reinforces this message of loyalty and protection, with the repeated phrase "I am your defender." It's a simple but powerful affirmation that the other person can rely on the singer to be there for them, through thick and thin.
Overall, "Defender" is a song about the power of friendship and the importance of being there for the people we care about. It's a message of hope and strength, reminding us that we're stronger together than we are alone.
Line by Line Meaning
When nobody's listening
Even if no one is paying attention to you, I'll be there for you.
When you get lost in the crowd
Even if you feel lost among a group of people, I'll be there to guide you.
When you don't have the answer
Even if you don't know what to do, I'll help you find a solution.
I'll help you figure it out
I'll be there to assist you in finding a solution to your problems.
I won't let you down
I won't disappoint you.
As long as I live I will keep you from harm
I'll protect you from any danger for as long as I'm alive.
If they wanna get to ya
If anyone wants to harm you,
They'll have to get through me first
they'll have to go through me first.
So just remember
Always keep in mind that
I am your defender
I am here to protect you.
I won't let you stand there on your own
I won't leave you alone to face your problems.
No matter what they tell ya
Regardless of what other people say.
I will not surrender
I won't give up on you.
Now until forever
From now until eternity.
You will never
You will never have to face your problems alone.
Be alone
I'll always be there for you.
When wallets are flying
Even in chaotic situations,
When bombs are hitting the ground
Even during times of violence and war,
When you can't see through the fire
Even when you can't see a way out of your troubles,
You know I'll pull you out
I'll help you get out of those situations.
I know that you're strong
I believe in your strength.
When the tables are turned
When situations change and things are no longer in your favor,
You'll be back by my side
You'll be back with me and we'll face those challenges together.
And if they wanna break us
And if anyone tries to separate us,
Well, just let them try
They won't be successful in doing so.
No way, I won't surrender
I won't give up.
I'm here now till forever
I'll always be here for you.
Hold on in this together
Let's stay together and overcome our problems.
You know I'm your defender
You know that I'm here to protect you.
Contributed by Henry J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
RaisaPineda
This song is soooo beautiful! What an amazing voice!
Bruce McBain
Love her voice and her vocal stylings. Really a pleasure to listen to.
MCS, Inc.
Incredible voice. Can't believe haven't heard her sooner. Keep it going...….
James
MCS, Inc. new single by Gabriella called Ruins out now 😁
Marie Hannon
love this song one of my all time favourite songs
Bruce McBain
Love her voice. Enchanting. Add her style and looks on and she's a total winner.
Victor Ferreira
LINDA MÚSICA E LINDA CANTORA!!!!!!
LookRealty
Wonderful voicing on this one. I love it that you sing and don't over emotionalize like many of the other singers. Keep on with that great natural style.
L Nicky
The most beautiful voice I've ever heard here...
Patrice POUTIER
Exactement ! Merci de le rappeler !....👍😀