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)
The Man
Jamie Cullum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the big man's comin'
Sack full o' cheer
He's got his boots on and his big red hat
He got presents that he gonna dispatch
You can relax
The jolly fat man is back
Don't read the papers
Or join debates
He can put a smile back on your face
Make sure there's room inside your fireplace
You can relax
The jolly fat man is back
Well, everybody needs a holiday
Wouldn't you if you'd been 'round the whole world in your sleigh?
Coming down the chimney and that's no mean feat
I think you can forgive him if he overeats
We've all been livin' underground
When Christmas morning comes back around
Hold on tightly to the one that you love
'Cause here's the moment we've been dreaming of
You can relax
The jolly fat man has come back
Oh, everybody needs a holiday
Wouldn't you if you'd been 'round the whole world in your sleigh?
Coming down the chimney and that's no mean feat
I think you can forgive him if he overeats
We've all been livin' underground
But when Christmas morning comes back around
Hold on tightly to the one that you love
'Cause here's the moment we've been dreaming of
You can relax
The jolly fat man has come back
Oh, the jolly fat man has come back
The holly jolly fat man, oh, is back
Woo
The lyrics to Jamie Cullum's song The Jolly Fat Man center around the much-loved figure of Santa Claus and the feelings of joy and happiness that he brings whenever he comes to town. Cullum paints a picture of a year that has been long and lonely, but with the arrival of Santa, everything can be set right again. Through the lines "Sack full o' cheer/He's got his boots on and his big red hat/He got presents that he gonna dispatch/You can relax/The jolly fat man is back," Cullum sets the stage for a joyous celebration where Santa spreads happiness and cheer.
Cullum also highlights Santa's simplicity and the fact that he doesn't concern himself with the complexities of the world. He doesn't read the papers or join debates, all he wants to do is make people smile. This is emphasized when Cullum sings, "Well, he don't like to complicate/Don't read the papers/Or join debates/He can put a smile back on your face/Make sure there's room inside your fireplace/You can relax/The jolly fat man is back."
In the final verse, Cullum reminds us that Christmas is a time for togetherness and for holding on tightly to the people we love. The arrival of the jolly fat man signifies the moment that we have been dreaming of, and we can finally relax and enjoy the magic of the season.
Line by Line Meaning
I's been a long and lonely year
The past year has been a difficult and solitary time.
But the big man's comin'
Despite the hardships of the past year, Christmas is approaching and Santa Claus is coming.
Sack full o' cheer
Santa has a bag full of happiness and joy to bring with him.
He's got his boots on and his big red hat
Santa Claus is dressed in his iconic attire.
He got presents that he gonna dispatch
He has gifts that he intends to give out.
You can relax
There's no need to stress or worry.
The jolly fat man is back
Santa Claus, whom many children perceive as a friendly and joyful man, has arrived.
Well, he don't like, to complicate
Santa Claus prefers simplicity and isn't interested in complexity.
Don't read the papers
He doesn't pay attention to the news or current events.
Or join debates
He doesn't engage in arguments or debates.
He can put a smile back on your face
Santa Claus is capable of making people joyful and happy.
Make sure there's room inside your fireplace
He needs a clear pathway to get inside the house.
Well, everybody needs a holiday
Everyone deserves a vacation or a break.
Wouldn't you if you'd been 'round the whole world in your sleigh?
If you had to travel around the entire world on a sled, wouldn't you need a break too?
Coming down the chimney and that's no mean feat
Getting through the chimney isn't easy and takes a lot of effort.
I think you can forgive him if he overeats
Considering everything he goes through, it's understandable if he indulges in some extra treats.
We've all been livin' underground
We've been isolated and confined due to the pandemic.
When Christmas morning comes back around
Christmas is a special occasion that comes once a year.
Hold on tightly to the one that you love
Hug and cherish your loved ones during the holiday season.
'Cause here's the moment we've been dreaming of
This moment of togetherness and joy is what we've all been hoping for.
The holly jolly fat man, oh, is back
The renowned Santa Claus, who embodies the spirit of Christmas, has returned.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jamie Cullum
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind