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.
Sweet About Me
Gabriella Cilmi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hanging by a string this time
Don't, easily
The climax of the perfect life
And you, watching me
Hanging by a string this time
Don't, easily
My smile's worth a hundred lies
And if there's lessons to be learned
I'd rather get my jamming words in first, so
I'll tell you something that I've found
That the world's a better place
When it's upside down, boy
And if there's lessons to be learned
I'd rather get my jamming words in first, so
Oh when you're playing with desire
Don't come running to my place
When it burns like fire, boy
Ooh, nothing sweet about me, yeah
Sweet about me
Ooh, nothing sweet about me, yeah
Sweet about me
Ooh, nothing sweet about me, yeah
Sweet about me
Ooh, nothing sweet about me, yeah
Blue, blue, blue waves, they crash
As time goes by so hard to catch
Too, too smooth, ain't all that
Why don't you ride on my side of the tracks
And if there's lessons to be learned
I'd rather get my jamming words in first, so
I'll tell you something that I've found
That the world's a better place
When it's upside down, boy
And if there's lessons to be learned
I'd rather get my jamming words in first, though
When you're playing with desire
Don't come running to my place
When it burns like fire, boy
Ooh, nothing sweet about me, yeah
Sweet about me
Ooh, nothing sweet about me, yeah
Sweet about me
Ooh, nothing sweet about me, yeah
Sweet about me
Ooh, nothing sweet about me, yeah
Ooh, and I oh I ooh
Doo la da da da, la da da da da, la da da da ooh
These lyrics speak of a woman who is aware of the male figure in her life who is watching her and hanging her by a string. He is drawn to her irresistible smile, despite her telling him that her smile is worth a hundred lies. She warns him that playing with desire will not lead him to her when it burns like fire. She has learned her lessons and prefers to have the upper hand in their interactions. She believes that the world is a better place when turned upside down, suggesting that it is better to take risks and experience the unknown, rather than always playing it safe.
The chorus repeatedly declares that there is nothing sweet about the singer, who seems to be confident and self-assured, yet uninterested in playing into the expectations of what a man would want from her. Meanwhile, she taunts him with the line "Why don't you ride on my side of the tracks," suggesting that he is not adventurous enough to follow her on her journey.
Overall, the lyrics of "Sweet About Me" capture a sense of independence, rebellion and self-awareness that are common themes in many modern pop songs.
Line by Line Meaning
You, watching me
Hanging by a string this time
Don't, easily
The climax of the perfect life
And you, watching me
Hanging by a string this time
Don't, easily
My smile's worth a hundred lies
You're observing me and waiting for me to fail. However, don't keep your hopes too high because even in the event that things don't go my way, I won't give up easily. I won't let my confident exterior crumble just because it's expected of me.
And if there's lessons to be learned
I'd rather get my jamming words in first, so
I'll tell you something that I've found
That the world's a better place
When it's upside down, boy
I will speak my truth before anyone else gets the chance to tell their version of the story. In my experience, the world is a better place when it's unconventional and unpredictable.
And if there's lessons to be learned
I'd rather get my jamming words in first, so
Oh when you're playing with desire
Don't come running to my place
When it burns like fire, boy
If you're going to play games with me and try to use me to fulfill your desires, don't come back when you're the one getting burned.
Ooh, nothing sweet about me, yeah
Sweet about me
Ooh, nothing sweet about me, yeah
Sweet about me
Ooh, nothing sweet about me, yeah
Sweet about me
Ooh, nothing sweet about me, yeah
I'm not your typical sweet girl, so don't expect me to act as such. I'm confident in my own skin and I won't apologize for being myself.
Blue, blue, blue waves, they crash
As time goes by so hard to catch
Too, too smooth, ain't all that
Why don't you ride on my side of the tracks
Life is unpredictable and even the things we think we have figured out can suddenly disappear. Don't be too quick to assume that everything is perfect just because it appears to be. Realize that it's okay to take risks and try something new.
And if there's lessons to be learned
I'd rather get my jamming words in first, so
I'll tell you something that I've found
That the world's a better place
When it's upside down, boy
I will always speak my mind and stand up for what I believe in. My experiences have taught me that sometimes the most innovative ideas require flipping things on their head and doing something unexpected.
And if there's lessons to be learned
I'd rather get my jamming words in first, though
When you're playing with desire
Don't come running to my place
When it burns like fire, boy
If you try to use my desires against me, I will call you out on it right away. I won't hesitate to show you the door if you hurt me.
Ooh, and I oh I ooh
Doo la da da da, la da da da da, la da da da ooh
This line doesn't serve a specific meaning and is likely used as a part of the song's chorus. It repeats a catchy tune and reinforces the message that the singer is not somebody who can be easily put in a box or labeled.
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GABRIELLA CILMI, NICK COLER, MIRANDA COOPER, BRIAN HIGGINS, TIMOTHY LARCOMBE, TIM POWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stejaurni4169
Ooh, watching me...
Hanging by a string this time
Don't, easily...
The climax of the perfect lie
Ooh, watching me...
Hanging by a string this time
Don't, easily...
Smile worth a hundred lies
If there's lessons to be learned
I'd rather get my jamming words in first, so
Tell you something that I've found
That the world's a better place
When it's upside down, boy
If there's lessons to be learned,
I'd rather get my jamming words in first, so
When you're playing with desire
Don't come running to my place when it burns like fire, boy
Sweet about me
Nothing sweet about me, yeah
Sweet about me
Nothing sweet about me, yeah
Sweet about me
Nothing sweet about me, yeah
Sweet about me
Nothing sweet about me, yeah
Blue, blue, blue
Waves, they crash
As time goes by
So hard to catch
Too, too smooth
Ain't all that
Why don't you ride
On my side
Of the tracks
If there's lessons to be learned
I'd rather get my jamming words in first, so
Tell you something that I've found
That the world's a better place
When it's upside down, boy
If there's lessons to be learned
I'd rather get my jamming words in first, so
When you're playing with desire
Don't come running to my place when it burns like fire, boy.
Sweet about me
Nothing sweet about me, yeah
Sweet about me
Nothing sweet about me, yeah
Sweet about me
Nothing sweet about me, yeah
Sweet about me
Nothing sweet about me, yeah
Sweet about me
Nothing sweet about me, yeah
Sweet about me
Nothing sweet about me, yeah
@livs4721
Love songs like this where you forget they exist but finding them again is just the best
@samsong24
Totally agree!
@Kirtabus
L04 she stinks like Cole slaw
@THECOMICFANalpin
Exactly. ๐๐๐ป๐
@duck7146
L04 I agree
@lilycollins8934
I know and the gorrilaz childhood memories
@beeman2075
Anyone else rediscovered this song after not hearing it for about 8-10 years and now can't stop listening to it on repeat?
@letz_getschwifty9785
just now lol
@owenlewis8006
YesโฆI loved it when it was current too. What a voice!
@Zaverda
https://youtu.be/8DX398Wj6XA