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.
Don't Wanna Go to Bed Now
Gabriella Cilmi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you see inside my mind
It's summer everyday
And it's music through the night
I know you'd think it's fine
If you free your state of mind
Some might say it's strange
But the bullets worth a bite
Ooh waiting, waiting baby
Ooh waiting, waiting baby
And I
I don't wanna go to bed now
I wanna be indiscreet
I don't wanna got to bed now
Bed now, not now, no
And I
I don't wanna have to beg now
That's sellin' my soul too cheap
I don't wanna go to bed now
Bed now, not now, no
I feel it in my feet
And I feel it in my bones
My heels dug in so deep
Need a truck to drag me home
I know you feel it too
Through the faces in the crowd
It's only me and you
And some good stuff going down
Ooh waiting, waiting baby
Ooh waiting, waiting baby
You look good, look good
You're good looking yeah
You look good, good, good
You're good looking yeah
You look good, look good
You're good looking yeah
You look good, good, good
You're good looking yeah
And I
I don't wanna go to bed now
I wanna be indiscreet
I don't wanna got to bed now
Bed now not now no
And I
I don't wanna have to beg now
That's sellin' my soul too cheap
I don't wanna go to bed now
Bed now, not now, no
You look good, look good
You're good looking yeah
You look good, good, good
You're good looking yeah
You look good, look good
You're good looking yeah
You look good, good, good
You're good looking yeah
In Gabriella Cilmi's song "Don't Wanna Go to Bed Now," it's clear that the singer is having a good time and doesn't want the night to end. She describes a feeling of being in a perpetual summer and experiencing music all night long. The singer encourages her companion to let go of any inhibitions and enjoy the moment. While some might find their behavior strange, the singer believes it's worth it.
The chorus is a self-explanatory repetition of the singer's desire not to go to bed yet. She wants to be spontaneous and not worry about the consequences of her actions. The second verse describes how the singer is feeling the music all the way down to her bones and doesn't want to go home. She convinces her companion that they're the only ones that matter and the night is theirs. They dance and party until the break of dawn, enjoying each other's company and the good music around them.
Overall, the song is a celebration of youthful rebellion and living in the moment. It's an invitation to ignore the norms and let oneself go for a short time without worrying about the consequences. The lyrics depict a feeling of freedom and the joy that comes with doing things that society might consider inappropriate.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you'll think it's right
I believe you will agree with me
If you see inside my mind
Once you understand my thoughts
It's summer everyday
The fun never ends
And it's music through the night
The beat goes on all night long
I know you'd think it's fine
You'll feel satisfied
If you free your state of mind
Let go of all inhibitions and enjoy yourself
Some might say it's strange
Others might find it unusual
But the bullets worth a bite
It's worth taking a risk for the moment's pleasure
Ooh waiting, waiting baby
Impatiently waiting
And I
I don't wanna go to bed now
I am not ready to sleep yet
I wanna be indiscreet
I want to let loose
I don't wanna got to bed now
I am not ready for bed
Bed now, not now, no
I want to stay up
And I
I don't wanna have to beg now
I don't want to feel desperate
That's sellin' my soul too cheap
That's not worth it
I feel it in my feet
I feel the rhythm in my whole body
And I feel it in my bones
I feel the beat deep down inside me
My heels dug in so deep
I am fully invested in this moment
Need a truck to drag me home
I don't want to leave, I need help to go home
I know you feel it too
I believe you are also enjoying yourself
Through the faces in the crowd
Despite all the people around us
It's only me and you
We are in our own world
And some good stuff going down
There are exciting events happening around us
You look good, look good
You're good looking yeah
You are attractive and catching my eye
And I
I don't wanna go to bed now
I still don't want to sleep yet
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GABRIELLA CILMI, NICK COLER, MIRANDA COOPER, BRIAN HIGGINS, TIM POWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Richard
Time
We've been waiting so long for this night
And now we're here beneath the star lights
Uh huh, we've got until midnight
Every second of it so
It's time to get yourself down
Get yourself up
Nobody else can do it for you
It's time to let yourself go
Make the world stop
Tonight it's all about getting out
Having fun
We're here for a reason
And it's time
So that's just what we're going to do
You're heaven sent we've got no excuse
The speaker box, it's playing for us
Together
I want to dance cuz it just feels right
And before it's the end of the night
Cuz the slips they must fit left
Every second of it so
Richard 🎸
cutesta007
Excellent song! She has a beautiful voice, I can't believe that she is only 16...good luck to her and I am sure we will hear more outstanding songs from her in the future.
SpockBoy
Never heard of this woman. She's great!
David Haney
(girl , shes 16 in this video, now shes a woman though )
Cyril Francisci
Fresh music and song with interesting voice of very talented singer. Thank you, Gabi.
DuncanIdaho1980
I love alot how she varies the kinds of music she sings on. The 4 singles I've heard are all of different kinds of rythm and style. Rly nice.
Lorraine Ashby
This lady has a voice that can cut through ice........
Alexander Arsov
You can say that again! Fantastic voice, especially for such a tender age.
carmyangry
🤩🤩
07rugbyplayer
she's got an amazing vocal range
Boroman9
You got that right. She's also quite excellent in terms of singing as well.