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)
Monster
Jamie Cullum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An ocean there in front of me
And I question my beliefs
Well, I make a list of everything I know
And see I've hardly even started down the road
And you'll find me, yeah, you'll find me
Singin' all I gotta do is write a monster
And I feel like I'm a savior
And it feels, and it feels
Like the world is with me
All the chips are falling where they ought to be
And it feels so sweet (so sweet)
So sweet (so sweet)
So sweet
So sweet, so sweet
I just wanna hear, I just wanna hear you sing it back to me
Sing it back to me
When I'm digging in the dirt
For what it's worth, for what it's worth
And I just can't find the treasure
Well I always thought there would be something more
Then it takes me back to where I was before
And you'll find me, yeah, you'll find me
Singin' all I gotta do is write a monster
Suddenly a flash of inspiration
And I feel like I'm a savior
And it feels, and it feels
Like the world is with me
All the chips are falling where they ought to be
And it feels so sweet (so sweet)
So sweet (so sweet)
And it feels so sweet
So sweet, so sweet
I just wanna hear, I just wanna hear you sing it back to me
Sing it back to me
Make a lot of noise, sing a lot of words
Tell myself that I'll amount to nothing then it works
And you're still you, and I'm still me
So I just wrote a monster
Suddenly a flash of inspiration
That it really doesn't matter
'Cause I know, 'cause I know
I got you wit me
All the chips are falling where they ought to be
And it feels so sweet (so sweet)
So sweet (so sweet)
And it feels so sweet
So sweet, so sweet
I just wanna hear, I just wanna hear you sing it back to me
I just wanna hear, I just wanna hear you sing it back to me, ooh
I just wanna hear, I just wanna hear you sing it back to me, ooh
I just wanna hear, I just wanna hear you sing it back to me
Sing it back to me
Baby, come back one more time, yeah
The lyrics of Jamie Cullum's song "Monster" convey a sense of self-doubt and creative struggles, but ultimately find solace in the power of music and the support of others. The opening lines suggest a feeling of being stuck or stagnant, as the singer loses their sense of motion and questions their beliefs. However, they counter this by making a list of everything they know, realizing that they haven't even started on their journey yet. The repeated line "And you'll find me, yeah, you'll find me" implies the presence of someone supportive, possibly a significant other, who provides comfort and encouragement.
The chorus brings a shift in mood, with the singer finding inspiration and feeling like a savior when they write a "monster," which refers to a powerful and impactful song. This newfound creative energy makes them feel like they have the world with them, as things fall into place as they should. It feels sweet, symbolizing the joy and fulfillment that comes with creating something meaningful.
The second verse continues with the theme of searching for something more in life, expressed through the metaphor of digging in the dirt but not finding treasure. Yet, this search leads them back to where they were before, suggesting a realization that the true treasure lies within their creative abilities. The chorus is repeated, emphasizing the transformative power of writing a "monster" song.
The final verse reflects on the singer's insecurities and self-doubt, as they convince themselves that they'll amount to nothing. However, despite these anxieties, they find solace in the presence of another person, who remains true to themselves while accepting the singer as they are. The song concludes with a longing for the audience, the listener, to sing the song back to the singer, emphasizing the desire for connection and validation through music.
Overall, "Monster" explores the creative process, self-doubt, and the power of music to transcend struggles and bring fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
When I lose my sense of motion
When I feel disconnected and stagnant
An ocean there in front of me
A vast expanse of opportunities and possibilities lies ahead
And I question my beliefs
And I start to doubt my convictions
Well, I make a list of everything I know
So, I compile a catalog of my knowledge and understanding
And see I've hardly even started down the road
Only to realize that I've barely begun my journey
And you'll find me, yeah, you'll find me
And in that moment, you will discover me
Singin' all I gotta do is write a monster
Expressing that all I need to do is create something extraordinary
Suddenly a flash of inspiration
Unexpectedly, a burst of creativity strikes me
And I feel like I'm a savior
And I am filled with a sense of being a savior or hero
And it feels, and it feels
And it brings about a sensation, a powerful emotion
Like the world is with me
As if the entire world is supporting me
All the chips are falling where they ought to be
All the pieces are falling into place as they should
And it feels so sweet (so sweet)
And it feels incredibly satisfying
I just wanna hear, I just wanna hear you sing it back to me
I simply desire to hear you sing my creation back to me
When I'm digging in the dirt
When I'm tirelessly working and searching
For what it's worth, for what it's worth
For something of value, no matter how small
And I just can't find the treasure
And I simply cannot locate the treasure I seek
Well I always thought there would be something more
Although I had always believed there would be something greater
Then it takes me back to where I was before
It brings me back to the place I started from
And you'll find me, yeah, you'll find me
And there I will be found, once again
Make a lot of noise, sing a lot of words
Creating a commotion, expressing myself through abundant lyrics
Tell myself that I'll amount to nothing then it works
Convincing myself that I will achieve nothing, and strangely, it works
And you're still you, and I'm still me
And through it all, you remain yourself, and I remain myself
So I just wrote a monster
So I have just created something extraordinary
That it really doesn't matter
Realizing that it truly doesn't matter
'Cause I know, 'cause I know
Because I am certain, I am aware
I got you wit me
That I have you with me
All the chips are falling where they ought to be
Everything is falling into its rightful place
And it feels so sweet (so sweet)
And it brings such joy and delight
I just wanna hear, I just wanna hear you sing it back to me
I simply want to hear you sing my creation back to me
Baby, come back one more time, yeah
Darling, please return once more
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jamie Cullum, Jamie Hartman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind