On a Mission

Album: Ten (2010)
Charted: 9
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the first single from Ten, the second studio album released by teenage Australian singer-songwriter Gabriella Cilmi. The song has more of a dancier feel than her previous material. Cilmi commented to Digital Spy: "I guess it will surprise people who thought I was going to make 'Sweet About Me' part two. I surprised myself when I recorded 'On a Mission' and it totally shifted the whole album in a new direction. I've loved playing it to all my friends and watching their reactions - they certainly weren't expecting it either."
  • Cilmi told Digital Spy the story behind the song: "Well, I like to think of it as 'I Will Survive' for the 21st century. It's about unleashing your inner superhero and doing what you gotta do to get where you need to be - no matter how many brick walls you have to smash along the way. I really wanted to make a track with a disco influence too and something that would go OFF live! And it's not just for women - I actually co-wrote it with a big bald guy!"
  • The space-themed music video was influenced by the 1968 Jane Fonda science fiction movie, Barbarella. Cilmi noted to Digital Spy: "A director called Michael Gracey did the video. When he presented the idea to me, I was won over straight away. I always had a thing for Jane Fonda in Barbarella! She was my inspiration when we were shooting the video and I really did get into character. I'm sure you'll see a bit more dancing from me - though I'm not sure you'd call it dancing, more bopping and jolting!"
  • Cilmi admitted to BBC that the track borrows the bassline from Joe Jackson's 1982 hit "Steppin' Out." She added: "The whole song is a tribute to the early '80s disco sound - Flashdance, Donna Summer, the Bee Gees, and movies like Some Kind Of Wonderful and The Breakfast Club."
  • Cilmi explained to BBC News why she named the album Ten: "My birthday this year is on 10/10/10. Ten has always been my lucky number and it has a good energy around it."
  • Other tracks on Ten include songs with the titles of "Defender," "Invisible Girl" and "Superman." Cilmi explained to The Independent: "I wanted to have a superhero theme."
  • By 2010 Cilmi was tired of being a Pop star and got so stressed out that she had an anxiety attack before going up on stage at a sports event in London. "I had to perform 'On a Mission' dressed as a sexy alien and I thought, 'this is so far from where I wanted to be, how did I end up doing this?'" she recalled to The Independent October 25, 2013. "I remember bawling my eyes out."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dino Cazares of Fear Factory

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)Songwriter Interviews

Richie talks about producing the first two Kiss albums, recording "Brother Louie," and the newfound appreciation of his rock band, Dust.

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)Songwriter Interviews

The co-writer/guitarist on many Alice Cooper hits, Dick was also Lou Reed's axeman on the Rock n' Roll Animal album.

Barney Hoskyns Explores The Forgotten History Of Woodstock, New York

Barney Hoskyns Explores The Forgotten History Of Woodstock, New YorkSong Writing

Our chat with Barney Hoskyns, who covers the wild years of Woodstock - the town, not the festival - in his book Small Town Talk.

Strange Magnetics

Strange MagneticsSong Writing

How Bing Crosby, Les Paul, a US Army Signal Corps Officer, and the Nazis helped shape rock and Roll.

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.