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.
Sanctuary
Gabriella Cilmi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You always see my wearing when it's grey
You know what I mean
I'm riding a lazy mood
Cause you've been waiting got me ready to go
And I've been saying off the way that I know, keep me
Wise enough, nothing to owe
Lying here in my sanctuary
Days go past its autumn already
And I wish it would thunder
Lying here in my sanctuary
Day's go past it's autumn already
And I sit here and wonder
And I'll kick off my shoes
Think about the things I'd like to do
Everything going smooth
There ain't nothing I'd rather do
Cause you've been waiting got me ready to go
And I've been sraying off the way that I know, keep me
Wise enough, nothing to owe
Guess I need ya and I want it to show
Lying here in my sanctuary
Days go past its autumn already
And I wish it would thunder
Lying here in my sanctuary
Day's go past it's autumn already
And I sit here and wonder
What I say and what I mean, are two very different things
Can't tell life from lies got a bad sense of spins
What I say and what I mean are two very different things, babe, it's time to figure it out
Holding your hand in my hands and I wont let go
Keeping your words and your face is a place like home
I've been blind don't you know
The lyrics to Gabriella Cilmi's song Sanctuary describe a feeling of relaxation and peace in a place that is safe and comfortable. The reference to the old pair of jeans signifies a familiarity with this place, and the lazy mood suggests a desire to escape from the stresses of daily life. The singer acknowledges that she has been avoiding something or someone, but they have been waiting for her to be ready to go. She also admits that she needs this person, and she wants to show it.
The chorus emphasizes the idea of a sanctuary, with the singer lying there and enjoying the passing days. She wishes for thunder, which could be interpreted as a desire for a change or excitement in her life. The second verse reinforces the relaxed mood, with the singer kicking off her shoes and thinking about the things she wants to do. Again, she acknowledges the person who has been waiting for her, and she wants to show them that she needs them.
The bridge of the song is a reflection on the singer's difficulty in distinguishing between truth and lies, and a realization that she needs to figure this out. However, holding the person's hand and keeping their words and face close is like being home. The final line of the bridge suggests that the singer has been blind to something, but it is unclear what exactly that is.
Line by Line Meaning
That old pair of jeans
Referring to a comfortable and familiar feeling
You always see my wearing when it's grey
Describing a specific scenario when the jeans are worn
You know what I mean
Acknowledging the listener's understanding of the situation
I'm riding a lazy mood
Feeling relaxed and unmotivated
Cause you've been waiting got me ready to go
Being motivated to act by someone else's encouragement
And I've been saying off the way that I know, keep me
Struggling to stick to a known path due to outside influences
Wise enough, nothing to owe
Having enough knowledge to avoid negative consequences
Guess I need ya and I want it to show
Realizing a need for support and wanting to express it
Lying here in my sanctuary
Being in a personal and safe space
Days go past its autumn already
Acknowledging the passage of time
And I wish it would thunder
Wanting a dramatic change or excitement
And I sit here and wonder
Reflecting on thoughts and feelings
And I'll kick off my shoes
Relaxing and letting go
Think about the things I'd like to do
Considering personal desires and goals
Everything going smooth
Feeling content with the current situation
There ain't nothing I'd rather do
Being satisfied with the present moment
What I say and what I mean, are two very different things
Expressing confusion or a lack of authenticity
Can't tell life from lies got a bad sense of spins
Feeling lost or disoriented
What I say and what I mean are two very different things, babe, it's time to figure it out
Recognizing a need for introspection and honesty
Holding your hand in my hands and I wont let go
Feeling a strong connection and desire for stability
Keeping your words and your face is a place like home
Finding comfort and safety in someone else's presence
I've been blind don't you know
Acknowledging past ignorance or naivety
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GABRIELLA CILMI, NICK COLER, MIRANDA COOPER, BRIAN HIGGINS, TIM POWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RicardoLeo72
Que música deliciosa! Quantos méritos esta menina tem! Viva a boa música!
@isadorasouza8767
Amo a Gabriela ..voz linda...música linda❤
@rodrigo6560
Da nem pra acreditar kkkkk
Eu anos procurando essa música que ouvia na antena 1 jurava ser a Amy hyneouse que cantava hoje encontrei
@MrFcordeiro1
It's a great song and Gabriella has a powerful voice.
@yertyurystse5y
most underrated song of all time. only 1.5 million viewers??
@gabcilmifanpage
Unfortunately
@mike199219921992
Now 2 million viewers
@pinksin103
Totally agree with you! Just love this atmospheric song!
@andreaskandelhardt3300
+ one....greetings
@cstich
Only 2.5M views now