Sparro's debut single, Cottonmouth, was released in late 2007. Sam's first album, Sam Sparro, was released in April 2008, as was the single Black & Gold, which was critically acclaimed and performed well in the charts of many countries, reaching number 2 in the UK.
As a child, Sam was a low-mileage triple-threat Christian school boy who acted in commercials and plays, sang in church, and danced just about anywhere there was open space. After moving from Sydney, Australia to Los Angeles at the age of 10, he continued to sing in church – learning from some of greatest session singers LA had to offer. Singers that had performed with Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Chaka Kahn and the likes were booking Sam to sing on Demos, TV Shows and records.
At 17 Sam left home and moved overseas again. He went back to Sydney and worked in a music PR company before relocating to London. He quickly developed a love for the city and its accompanying culture and soundtrack. He spent his days temping in Record Companies and such, his spare time making electronic music in his bedroom and his nights dancing at clubs and house parties. After a few years abroad, Sam’s visa was coming to an end so he returned to LA and continued producing and recording in his bedroom.
With his unique universal appeal Sam Sparro has already single-handedly wooed the rather spoiled Los Angeles music scene with his grace and signature wit. Currently featuring a semblance of laptops, keytar, and vocals, his presence is reminiscent of the funk greats of the 80s. His seductive, soulful vocals on top of post-modern electro beats however, make him distinctly 21st century.
Sparro announced his second album, Return to Paradise, on his newly redesigned website. It was described as being inspired by soul and funk from the late seventies and early eighties. A new video premièred, featuring a new track from the album. In January 2012, The Shallow End was uploaded onto VEVO and YouTube. It is "compiled of home video footage of the making of the record and was filmed in LA, New York, London and Spain." The album was released spring 2012, accompanied by tours in the United States and Australia. A video was filmed for the upcoming track, Happiness.
21st Century Life
Sam Sparro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thought about living in the future then it occurred to me
I turned around the future was now, the future was all around me
Nothing like I had imagined, it was totally confounding
21st century life, I got swept away
I got 21,000 things that I gotta do today
21st century life, well what can I say?
Think I need to get down and play
Well, now I turned on the TV just in time enough to hear
What the Pope said, the Pope said
And just a few tiny words later somebody wants the man dead
What about famine and disease, well they said it's too bad, oops
Because I'm never alone, it's not just a phone, it's a stereo
21st century life, I got swept away
I got 21,000 things that I gotta do today
21st century life, well what can I say?
The new world's got me feeling so dirty
Think I need to get down and play
Now I'm not a little boy, I'm in the 21st century
Well, you might think we've come a really long way
But there's still no equality
I watched the news on my computer screen
Talking about buying my weed out of a vending machine
You tell me I'm free but how can it be
When you're always watching me on the CCTV
21st century life, I got swept away
I got 21,000 things that I gotta do today
21st century life, well what can I say?
The new world's got me feeling so dirty
Think I need to get down and play
21, 21, 21
I'm talking about 21, 21
In Sam Sparro's song "21st Century Life," the lyrics express the struggle of living in the present day and the effects of modern technology, politics, and social issues on a person. The song begins with the singer reminiscing about his childhood and how he had imagined what living in the future would be like. However, now he realizes that the future he had envisioned was nothing like he thought it would be. He feels swept away by the demands of modern life and overwhelmed by the sheer number of things he has to do.
The song highlights the political instability and growing social unrest in the world. The reference to the Pope's message and someone wanting to kill him shows how power struggles and religious issues are still prevalent today. Additionally, the news on the computer screen talks about legalizing marijuana and buying it from vending machines, reflecting the changing attitudes towards drugs and drug laws. The lyrics also address the lack of privacy and the omnipresence of surveillance cameras in society, which further exacerbates the feeling of being constantly monitored and evaluated.
Sparro's song ultimately conveys a sense of longing for simpler times and embodies the frustration and helplessness that many people feel in modern life.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was a little boy living in the last century
As a child in the previous century, I eagerly looked forward to what the future held
I thought about living in the future then it occurred to me
I began imagining what it would be like to live in the future, but something dawned on me
I turned around the future was now, the future was all around me
Suddenly, I realized that the present time was what I had dreamed of for so long
Nothing like I had imagined, it was totally confounding
However, the reality of the future was nothing like I had envisioned and was overwhelming
21st century life, I got swept away
Living in the present time can be all-consuming and leave me feeling lost
I got 21,000 things that I gotta do today
The demands of modern life are many, and there is always something that needs to be done
21st century life, well what can I say?
I'm left feeling puzzled and unsure about how to navigate this new world
The new world's got me feeling so dirty
This current era can feel overwhelming, and I feel drained and unclean
Think I need to get down and play
Perhaps taking time to relax and have fun is what I need most
Well, now I turned on the TV just in time enough to hear
As I watched TV, a significant event was unfolding that caught my attention
What the Pope said, the Pope said
The Pope made a statement about something relevant to that moment
And just a few tiny words later somebody wants the man dead
Then, in just a few brief moments, a threat was made against the Pope's life
What about famine and disease, well they said it's too bad, oops
Despite the urgent issues of famine and disease, they seemed to be dismissed as insignificant
Because I'm never alone, it's not just a phone, it's a stereo
The way technology has advanced means that I am always connected, even if it's just through a phone or music player
Now I'm not a little boy, I'm in the 21st century
With the passage of time, I have moved from being a child to an adult living in the current era
Well, you might think we've come a really long way
While one might argue that humans have made significant progress, we still have a long way to go
But there's still no equality
Despite any advancements we have made, we still do not have true equality in our society
I watched the news on my computer screen
I receive current events and news through my computer screen
Talking about buying my weed out of a vending machine
The advancement of technology means that even buying illegal substances can be done discreetly through a vending machine
You tell me I'm free but how can it be
Despite being told that we have personal freedoms, we are constantly monitored and controlled in various ways
When you're always watching me on the CCTV
Moving in public spaces often means being captured on camera, and our lives are under constant surveillance
21, 21, 21
The repeated number emphasizes how much the 21st century has become a part of our daily reality
I'm talking about 21, 21
The repetition of the number indicates the overwhelming feeling that this era has on our lives
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JESSE ROGG, SAM FALSON, SAMUEL FALSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
OMELAU DEBEL
2k17 was legit full of nostalgic songs 😭😭
D WADE IS THE GOAT
Facts😭
Shaq
They run through my head rent free I swear I somehow know all the words
Marvin Atwell
Song randomly crossed my mind, nostalgia😢
YexaM
Same
Chasing History
@YexaM same
Brandon Beams
Same
Lobo Negron
Deadass
SoniaSerpentes
Same here 😂😂😂
SwishMamba
Good times... whenever years go by, gotta love these old songs from 2k.