Born on born 9th January 1987 in Paisley, Scotland, his father is of Italian descent and his mother Glaswegian, although his father's family have been in Scotland for four generations. Nutini had no formal music training, and was expecting to follow his father into the family fish and chip shop business. He was first encouraged to sing by his music-loving grandfather and a teacher at his school who recognised his talent. He left school to work as a roadie and to sell T-shirts for Speedway and spent three years learning the music business, performing live, alone and with a band, and working as a studio hand at Glasgow's Park Lane Studio.
His big chance came when he attended a concert for David Sneddon's return to his home town of Paisley at the beginning of 2003. Sneddon was delayed, and as the winner of an impromptu pop quiz, Nutini was given the chance to perform a couple of songs on stage during the wait. The favourable reaction of the crowd impressed another member of the audience, who offered to become his manager.
A Daily Record journalist, John Dingwall, saw him performing at the Queen Margaret Union, and invited him to appear live on Radio Scotland. Still only seventeen, he moved to London, and performed regularly at the Bedford pub in Balham whilst still legally too young to drink alcohol himself. Other radio and live appearances followed, including two live acoustic spots on Radio London, The Hard Rock Cafe, and support slots for Amy Winehouse and KT Tunstall.
His debut album, These Streets, produced by Ken Nelson (Coldplay/Gomez), was released on 17th July 2006, and immediately entered the U.K. album charts at number three. Many of the songs on the album, including "Last Request" and "Rewind", were inspired by a turbulent relationship with a girlfriend, and "Jenny Don't Be Hasty" is a true story about encounters with an older woman.
On 29th May 2009 Nutini released his second studio album, Sunny Side Up, after the first single from that album, "Candy", was released on 18th May. In July, he appeared on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, performing "Coming Up Easy". This was released as the second single from the album on 10th August.
I Wanna Be Like You
Paolo Nutini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, the jungle VIP
I've reached the top and had to stop
And that's what botherin' me
I wanna be a man, mancub
And stroll right into town
And be just like the other men
I'm tired of monkeyin' around!
Oh, oobee doo
I wanna be like you
I wanna walk like you
Talk like you, too
You'll see it's true
An ape like me
Can learn to be humen too
Gee, cousin Louie
You're doin' real good
Now here's your part of the deal, 'cause
Lay the secret on me of man's red fire
But I don't know how to make fire
Now don't try to kid me, mancub
I made a deal with you
What I desire is man's red fire
To make my dream come true
Give me the secret, mancub
Clue me what to do
Give me the power of man's red flower
So I can be like you
You! I wanna be like you
I wanna talk like you
Walk like you, too
You'll see it's true
Someone like me
Can learn to be
Like someone like me
Can learn to be
Like someone like you
Can learn to be
Like someone like me!
The lyrics to Paolo Nutini's cover of "I Wanna Be Like You" from Disney's The Jungle Book depict the character of King Louie, an orangutan who desires to be more like Mowgli, a human boy. The song opens with King Louie expressing his dissatisfaction with his current position as the "King of the Swingers" and the "Jungle VIP," stating that he has reached the top but is bothered by the fact that he cannot be more like Mowgli and other humans. He yearns to be a "mancub," to stroll right into town and be just like the other men, tired of "monkeying around."
The main chorus of the song, "I wanna be like you," emphasizes King Louie's desire to become more like a human, to walk, talk, and even learn how to make fire like them. He asks Mowgli to lay the secret on him of man's red fire to make his dream come true. Despite Mowgli's confession that he doesn't know how to make fire, King Louie urges Mowgli to reveal the secret to him, to clue him in on what to do, and give him the power of man's red flower so he can be like him.
The song illustrates the idea of wanting what others have and the lengths one will go to obtain these desires, even if it means disguising oneself and pretending to be someone else entirely. It also touches on the theme of self-acceptance and the idea that it's ok to be different, and that one can learn and grow without changing who they are entirely.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I'm the king of the swingers
I have achieved a lot and am well-respected
Oh, the jungle VIP
I am highly regarded in my community
I've reached the top and had to stop
I have reached my goals but am feeling unfulfilled
And that's what botherin' me
I am troubled by this lack of purpose
I wanna be a man, mancub
I want to be a successful, respected human
And stroll right into town
I want to fit in with society
And be just like the other men
I want to be accepted as a regular person
I'm tired of monkeyin' around!
I am fed up with not being taken seriously
Oh, oobee doo
Expression of excitement
I wanna be like you
I want to be like humans
I wanna walk like you
I want to have the same gait as humans
Talk like you, too
I want to speak like humans
You'll see it's true
It is possible for me to become like humans
An ape like me
My current state as a non-human
Can learn to be humen too
I am capable of adapting my behavior to mimic humans
Gee, cousin Louie
Addressing a fellow primate
You're doin' real good
Impressed with the progress made by other primates
Now here's your part of the deal, 'cause
Asking for help in exchange for a favor
Lay the secret on me of man's red fire
Sharing knowledge about human technology
But I don't know how to make fire
Admitting lack of knowledge about human technology
Now don't try to kid me, mancub
Don't deceive me, human
I made a deal with you
We have an agreement to help each other
What I desire is man's red fire
I want access to human technology
To make my dream come true
To fulfill my aspiration of being a human
Give me the secret, mancub
Asking for knowledge of human technology
Clue me what to do
Provide me with instructions
Give me the power of man's red flower
Give me the ability to use human technology
So I can be like you
To become more human-like
You! I wanna be like you
Expressing desire to become more like humans
Someone like me
A non-human being
Can learn to be
It is possible to adapt and learn
Like someone like me
Another non-human
Can learn to be
There is hope for non-humans to become more like humans
Like someone like you
The humans who are being emulated
Can learn to be
Humans can also learn and adapt from other beings
Like someone like me!
Expressing hope that non-humans can be accepted by humans
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JON BON JOVI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
musicalman1995
He's always high in his performances and there is nothing wrong with that. He's an artist!!!!!!!!! This is what they do, and he sounds fucking fantastic.
Lorna Boyle
OK... I saw him in Vancouver on Monday evening. He was amazing! When he's singing without his guitar he hunches over. When he sings with his guitar in front of him he stands up really straight... it's a prop or a security blanket or something. I think deep down inside he's still seriously self-conscious being on stage. He's still so young and it's GOT to effect him. He comes across that way in interviews too - when you can actually understand him!
Nick Piovanelli
Saw this live and was blown away - when I saw him again this year at Glasto he did it to me again - now I wait for November in Rome for the big K.O!
esmeevsteen
he's not drunk, he is himself in his own way and i love it! really good version of the song!!! (L)
Cheryl Jones
Yeah, he makes me smile and feel better too. He's very special.
аличе Никкия
That's why i dream about him almost every night! Oh man you really rock!!!
genderbenderphile
@esmeevsteen I like it better than the original, Paolo Nutini's got one of those awesome voices that makes you love his songs. Hence how he can do a song basically about his shoes and millions of people will buy it, because it makes you feel good.
Omar Orenday Camarillo
Ternurita :')
freefall516
omg i must have missed this!!! amazing!!! he is so amazing n he looks like he is having such fun!!!lmao
Joan Seiler
i think paolo could sing anything and make it good...im not to into concerts anymore but that is one guy i would like to see. seems like it would be a great time.