Cullum was born in Romford, East London. He was brought up in Hullavington, Wiltshire, and educated at the independent fee-paying Grittleton House School and the sixth form at Sheldon School. He then went on to study English Literature, and minored in Film Studies, at Reading University where he graduated with First Class Honours.
His mother, Yvonne, is a secretary of Anglo-Burmese origin, whose family settled in Wales after Burma's independence; his father, John Cullum, worked in finance. His paternal grandfather was a British Army officer, while his paternal grandmother was a Jewish refugee from Prussia who sang in Berlin nightclubs.
Cullum married British model Sophie Dahl at a country hotel in the New Forest National Park in England on 9 January 2010.
Cullum released his first album, Jamie Cullum Trio—Heard it All, in 1999, of which 500 copies were made. Due to their rarity, original copies have sold for as much as £600 on eBay. The success of Heard It All Before resulted in Cullum being invited to appear on Geoff Gascoyne's album Songs of the Summer.
After graduating from Reading University, Cullum released a best-selling album, Pointless Nostalgic, which stirred interest from Michael Parkinson[2] and Melvyn Bragg.
Just after Cullum made his first television appearance, on Parkinson in April 2003, he signed a £1m contract[3] for three albums with Universal, who beat Sony in a bidding war. Cullum's third album, Twentysomething, released in October 2003, went platinum and became the #1 selling studio album by a jazz artist in the United Kingdom. Cullum ended 2003 as the UK's biggest selling jazz artist of all time.[3]
Although primarily a jazz musician, he performs in a wide range of styles and is generally regarded as a "crossover" artist with his musical roots firmly based in jazz. Cullum draws his inspiration from many different musicians and listens to an eclectic mix of music from Miles Davis[4] to Tom Waits and many more. Cullum has belonged to several bands, ranging from banging drums in a hip hop group to playing guitar in rock bands such as Raw Sausage and The Mystery Machine, in his teenage youth. Cullum names his elder brother, Ben Cullum, as his biggest musical influence, and the two continue to collaborate extensively.
Cullum is well known not only for his abilities on the piano, but also for his unique entertainment style and charisma. One of the many things that features in Jamie's concerts is the "stompbox" (not to be confused with an effect pedal for guitars), made from a small wooden block. The stompbox is used to amplify a musician's tapping foot. Jamie found this in Australia and uses it to enhance upbeat and fast-paced songs such as Seven Nation Army originally by the White Stripes and "Gold Digger", originally by Kanye West. He is also often found using a looping machine. This plays a heavy part in Cullum's versions of Seven Nation Army and Teardrop by Massive Attack. Cullum is also often found beatboxing at most gigs.
As well as the White Stripes and Kanye West, Cullum has performed work by Massive Attack, Rihanna, Pussycat Dolls, Radiohead, Gnarls Barkley, Elton John, Justin Timberlake, John Legend, Joy Division, Lady Gaga and many others. He has also performed with Kylie Minogue, Sugababes, Will.i.am and Burt Bacharach.
Cullum rarely works to a set list and on average his gigs last just over two hours. The gigs are largely improvised, rooted in jazz but not solely consisting of jazz music.
Cullum has played at many large music festivals, including Glastonbury Festival (in 2004 & 2009), Coachella 2005, 2006 South by Southwest, North Sea Jazz Festival, the Hollywood Bowl (performing with the Count Basie Orchestra) and the 2006 Playboy Jazz Festival. On the April 29th 2006 Cullum played his biggest ever crowd on Queensday in The Netherlands.
Discography:
1999 - Heard It All Before
2001 - Pointless Nostalgic
2003 - Twentysomething
2005 - Catching Tales
2009 - The Pursuit
2010 - Devil May Care
2013 - Momentum
2014 - Interlude
2018 - The song society playlist
2019 - Taller
2020 - The pianoman at christmas
2021 - The pianoman at christmas (The complete edition)
High Dry
Jamie Cullum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Flying on your motorcycle, watching all the ground beneath you drop
You'd kill yourself for recognition; kill yourself to never ever stop
You broke another mirror; you're turning into something you are not
Don't leave me high, don't leave me dry
Don't leave me high, don't leave me dry
All your insides fall to pieces, you just sit there wishing you could still make love
They're the ones who'll hate you when you think you've got the world all sussed out
They're the ones who'll spit at you, you will be the one screaming out
Don't leave me high, don't leave me dry
Don't leave me high, don't leave me dry
It's the best thing that you have ever had
It's the best thing that you have ever had
Don't leave me high, don't leave me dry
Don't leave me high, don't leave me dry
The song "High and Dry" by Jamie Cullum is about the painful and confusing emotions that come with unrequited love. The lyrics paint a picture of a young man who is determined to take risks and live life on the edge in order to gain recognition and avoid feeling stagnant. Swiftly moving on his motorcycle, this boy breaks mirrors and falls into a persona that he detests. However, he still cannot win the approval of the person he loves, who has left him high and dry. This heartbreak has left him unable to communicate, feeling as if he is falling apart, and wishing that he could reclaim his lost love. Meanwhile, those around him who he believed would support him and share in his intentions instead turn on him, adding to the pain of his situation.
The repetition of "don't leave me high, don't leave me dry" is representative of the desperation and yearning at the core of the song. The line "It's the best thing that you have ever had" can be interpreted as the boy acknowledging that the love he's lost was something rare and valuable, and he regrets his mistakes. Overall, the song is a poignant and poetic portrayal of longing, rejection, and pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Two jumps in a week, I bet you think that's pretty clever don't you, boy?
You're proud of your recent reckless actions, believing them to be impressive.
Flying on your motorcycle, watching all the ground beneath you drop
You enjoy the thrill of danger, even as you travel at great speeds.
You'd kill yourself for recognition; kill yourself to never ever stop
You'd do anything for fame and success, no matter the cost to your own well-being.
You broke another mirror; you're turning into something you are not
Your obsession with image and success is leading you to becoming someone you don't recognize.
Don't leave me high, don't leave me dry
Please don't abandon me when I need you the most.
Drying up in conversation, you will be the one who cannot talk
In social situations, you often struggle to communicate and connect with others.
All your insides fall to pieces, you just sit there wishing you could still make love
You feel broken and helpless, and search for comfort in physical intimacy.
They're the ones who'll hate you when you think you've got the world all sussed out
Those who disagree with your worldview will show you hostility when you believe you understand everything.
They're the ones who'll spit at you, you will be the one screaming out
Those who criticize you will leave you feeling deflated and powerless to reply.
It's the best thing that you have ever had
Your relationship with me is the most valuable and significant thing in your life.
Don't leave me high, don't leave me dry
Please don't abandon me when I need you the most.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLIN CHARLES GREENWOOD, EDWARD JOHN O'BRIEN, JONATHAN RICHARD GUY GREENWOOD, PHILIP JAMES SELWAY, THOMAS EDWARD YORKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@UnderHerPillow
I fell in love with this mans voice when I was in the 5th grade. I remember buying his album at a Barnes & Nobles somewhere in North Carolina. I went up there with my mom because she had a brain tumor and needed to have major surgey at hospital there. During all of this my parents were in the proccess of splitting up. His music gave me the strength I needed to make it through.
@djskidot
Just seen this. I hope everything turned out well and you're Mum is OK. This track is amazing ❤
@kelliash8434
What happened?
@reg1892
Just a phenomenally haunting song in anybody's hands. Cullum definitely does it justice.
@christineluc1447
The best singers are not frequent on radios in France...just heard this song in a shop....like it...sad and smooth...
@adelefairfield6600
For some reason i always picture me meeting my soulmate in a bar while this song plays in the background lol
@hurlock009
Wowwwwwww. I thought I was the only one that soundtracked my life
@ninjamonkey002
I'll be at the end of the bar sortly singing harmony.
@Ilovesunlight
@@ninjamonkey002 🤣
@joeblack2216
Agreed