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)
Mankind
Jamie Cullum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the music's gotten bad
The party's feeling rotten
Was that the best we've ever had?
Sometimes the thoughts in my head
Yeah, they terrify me
When you understand the radical
And the pure simplicity
Goodbye to patience
Farewell to dreams
So long to sacred
Well it's as painful as it seems
Still, I won't write off
No, I won't write off
No, I won't write off
Mankind
Well, I don't believe you'd go to hell
But I like the sound of heaven
I took a pill and went there in my mind
In spring 2007
Well, the message came through loud and clear
So I hung up the phone
It didn't bring me any peace, my love
But I did not feel alone
Singin'
Goodbye to patience
Farewell to dreams
So long to sacred
Well it's as painful as it seems
Still, I won't write off
No, I won't write off
No, I won't write off
Mankind
No, I won't write off
No, I won't write off
No, I won't write off
Mankind
God knows I could use a lover lately
God knows I could use a lover lately
Still, I won't write off
No, I won't write off
No, I won't write off
Mankind
Oh, I won't write off
No, I won't write off
No, I won't write off
Mankind
No, I won't write off
No, I won't write off
No, I won't write off
Mankind
(Won't write off) won't write off
(Won't write off) no, I won't
(Won't write off) no, I won't write off
(Mankind) no, I won't
(Won't write off) no, I won't write
(Won't write off) no, I won't
(Won't write off) no, I won't write off
(Mankind) no, I won't, yeah
(Won't write off) no, I won't write off
(Won't write off) no, I won't, yeah
(Won't write off) no, I won't write
(Mankind) ooh
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
The lyrics to Jamie Cullum's song "Mankind" explore the singer's thoughts on the state of humanity. The opening lines suggest a party or gathering that has lost its enjoyment, with the music having gone bad and the singer questioning if it was the best time they've ever had. This juxtaposition of a lackluster experience with a nostalgic memory sets the stage for a deeper reflection on the human condition. The singer then admits to feeling terrified by the radical and pure simplicity of their own thoughts, insinuating a fear of their own innermost ideas about life and the world around them.
The chorus "Goodbye to patience, farewell to dreams, so long to sacred; well, it's as painful as it seems" suggests a goodbye to hope and optimism for humanity. Despite this, the singer refuses to write off mankind entirely, stating a continuous belief that things can improve. The line "God knows I could use a lover lately" adds a more personal note before the repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the universal desire for connection amidst the chaos of the world.
Overall, the song seems to be a call for reflection on the flaws and potential of humanity, acknowledging the darkness and pain but insisting on a continued belief in the good.
Line by Line Meaning
Now the ghost has left the room
The negative emotions and experiences of the past have been left behind
And the music's gotten bad
Current state of life seems unfulfilling compared to the past
The party's feeling rotten
Feeling discontent with the current state of life
Was that the best we've ever had?
Comparing past experiences with present and feeling dissatisfied
Sometimes the thoughts in my head
Intrusive thoughts arising from within
Yeah, they terrify me
Inability to control one's own thoughts is scary
When you understand the radical
There is a realization of the need for dramatic change
And the pure simplicity
The solution to our problems is simple
Singin' Goodbye to patience
The patience to endure the current situation is gone
Farewell to dreams
Losing hope for a better future
So long to sacred
Things that were once important or cherished have lost their value
Well it's as painful as it seems
Accepting the harsh reality of the current state of life is painful
Still, I won't write off
Despite the difficulties, the singer refuses to give up
No, I won't write off
The singer is determined to not give up
No, I won't write off
The singer will not abandon hope
Mankind
Referring to the human race
Well, I don't believe you'd go to hell
The artist has doubts about the concept of hell
But I like the sound of heaven
The singer likes the idea of heaven, but doesn't know if it exists
I took a pill and went there in my mind
The singer tried to experience heaven through a mind-altering substance
In spring 2007
The exact date of when the artist had this experience
Well, the message came through loud and clear
A clear message was communicated to the artist
So I hung up the phone
The artist disconnected from the source of the message
It didn't bring me any peace, my love
The experience did not bring the singer peace or clarity
But I did not feel alone
Although the experience was not enjoyable, the artist did not feel isolated
Singin' Goodbye to patience
The same line is repeated, emphasizing the loss of patience
Farewell to dreams
The same line is repeated, emphasizing the loss of hope
So long to sacred
The same line is repeated, emphasizing the loss of value in things that were once important
Still, I won't write off
The same line is repeated, emphasizing the artist's unwillingness to give up
Mankind
Referring to the human race
God knows I could use a lover lately
The singer desires a romantic relationship but has struggled to find one
Still, I won't write off
The same line is repeated again, emphasizing the singer's determination
Won't write off
The same line is repeated several times, emphasizing the artist's resolve to not give up on humanity
Mankind
Referring to the human race
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jamie Cullum
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nadineallwardt8608
🎵🎵🎶Amazing grace... 🎶
Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free? No there's a cross for everyone... and there and was many crosses ➕ for me.... 🎶
But I am getting closer....
And thank God I am feeling saver everyday.
🎶🎵🎶... and on that hallelujah day I would like to be in rhat number.
N. F. A.
@inessintra2370
Now the ghost has left the room
And the music's gotten bad
The party's feeling rotten
Was that the best we've ever had?
Sometimes the thoughts in my head
Yeah they terrify me
When you understand the radical
And the pure simplicity
Singin'
Goodbye to patience
Farewell to dreams
So long to sacred
Well it's as painful as it seems
Still I won't write off
No I won't write off
No I won't write off
Mankind
Well I don't believe you'd go to hell
But I like the sound of heaven
I took a pill and went there in my mind
In spring 2007
Well the message came through loud and clear
So I hung up the phone
It didn't bring me any peace my love
But I did not feel alone
Singin'
Goodbye to patience
Farewell to dreams
So long to sacred
Well it's as painful as it seems
Still I won't write off
No I won't write off
No I won't write off
Mankind
No I won't write off
No I won't write off
No I won't write off
Mankind
God knows I could use a lover lately
God knows I could use a lover lately
Still I won't write off
No I won't write off
No I won't write off
Mankind
Oh I won't write off
No I won't write off
No I won't write off
Mankind
No I won't write off
No I won't write off
No I won't write off
Mankind
@headfulloftrees4071
Wow. Just wow. This guy doesn't make music, he is pure music. Love you Jamie
@brendahawkins3965
Hi would love to know what you think my 17 year old grandsons cover of this https://youtu.be/Gj_BKcgCmxs
@taikitokunaga437
Real music is not always on TV or billboards, but they live forever to one day be heard by who appreciate them having been created. This just brought me to that moment :)
@carotheplaylistmaker
Britain like I love it : red bricks, a beautiful garden, people of several origins, gathered together for the best music in the world 😀 Kisses from France 😘
@dinarrawr
the bench is very british too
@carotheplaylistmaker
@@dinarrawr Ha ha, really? Thank you to take me back to this video 😉👍
@carotheplaylistmaker
@@dinarrawr Yeah, true, and what a pair of breasts, I hadn't noticed either 😉
@5amJones69
Someone who gets the UK. :D
@carotheplaylistmaker
@@5amJones69 I'm flattered 😉😘
@albertodolbeth1
One of the best musician of our time!