Gabriella Cilmi: 'Sweet About Me'

Released on Monday, Mar 17 2008

Published Tuesday, Mar 4 2008, 14:28 GMT | By Nick Levine | 18 comments

Fresh-faced enough to advertise Boots makeup, sufficiently talented to record her debut album with Xenomania, the songwriting collective behind Girls Aloud's brilliant run of singles, and blessed with the nouse to record the Echo Beach theme tune without asking to appear on the show, Gabriella Cilmi has everything going for her. Oh, and did we mention she's only 16?

'Sweet About Me', her debut single, is a typically smart Xenomania confection: authentic and retro-sounding, but, thanks to some subtle electro flourishes, fresh and contemporary too. Its melodic cuteness notwithstanding, Cilmi's lyrics are surprisingly bitter: "When you're playing with desire, don't come running to my place when it burns like fire boy," she spits. Most impressive of all is Cilmi's voice, which manages to be sweet and coarse all at the same time, much like a drizzling of honey on a slice of toast.

> Click here to watch the 'Sweet About Me' video

More: Gabriella Cilmi, Echo Beach, Music

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18 Comments

Your Responses

Stewart Gladstone, on October 12th, 2009
Utter tripe and possibly the most annoying song of the year. There's nothin' talented about her...

Georgia Pomfrett, on April 1st, 2009
Brilliant! (//) (//) ( = = ) ( - )

Trevor, on September 26th, 2008
Sweet about me yeah

Blavatsky, on August 29th, 2008
This song IMHO has a chorus which is very similar to New Orders chorus on their hit True Faith;check it out on yoiutube

Niall, Ireland, on August 6th, 2008
Brilliant tune.Why the negativity?

Barbara, Poland, on August 4th, 2008
I think she is the the numer 1! beautiful voice and very strong:) i love it!!!

Jennifer, Belfast, on August 3rd, 2008
I hated this song at first! However, after I listened to it a few times it really grew on me! She has a really unique voice, really mature considering she's only 16! Hope to see more of her in the future.

Alan, Cork, on July 27th, 2008
BRILLIANT song!! One of the best of 2008 for sure. No wonder its been in the UK top twenty for about three months now...

Kim, on June 20th, 2008
The biggest pile of s**t since duffy!

Jay, Melbourne, on June 13th, 2008
Horrbile song, its so annoying!!

Ben Rigsby, on June 9th, 2008
this song gets better & better everytime I hear it!

Ken, Manila , on June 6th, 2008
i totally love this song! Gabriella is such an amazing artist. I am planning to buy her album when it hits stores here in the Philippines. :) Peace Out!

Amanda, Longford, on June 1st, 2008
heard it today for first time its actually awful. I actually hate it!

CJ, Dublin, on May 31st, 2008
hate it so much such a bad singer

Ryan, on April 14th, 2008
Love this song so much! Stunning voice- Gabriella will be a big star no doubt!!

Ian, Fraserburgh, on April 3rd, 2008
Awesome. A number 1 for sure !!

Matt, London, on March 14th, 2008
I like it! and she has a wonderful voice... especially considering her age!

Phoebe Olander, on March 13th, 2008
good, catchy song