Big City Life

Album: Signs Of A Struggle (2005)
Charted: 8
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about the hard life in the big city, the pressure and all the getaways. It explains how living in a metropolitan area is hard, and how everyone's on the move. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Hi - Campinas, Brazil
  • Mattafix was a duo comprising London-born, Caribbean-raised vocalist Marlon Roudette and producer/keyboardist Preetesh Hirji. Roudette is the son of music producer Cameron McVey (Massive Attack, All Saints, Sugababes) and the stepson of singer Neneh Cherry.
  • Roudette sings the chorus in Jamaican Patois.
  • "Big City Life" topped the charts in Austria, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and Switzerland, buoyed by its inclusion on the 2006 FIFA World Cup soundtrack. It peaked at #15 in the UK.
  • Mattafix had several more minor hits, but in 2010 Roudette and Hirji split because of their different new ideas for future projects. Roudette embarked on a successful solo career that included two #1 singles in Germany, "New Age" and "When The Beat Drops Out."
  • In 2022, Australian electronic dance music producer Luude remixed "Big City Life" as a drum-and-bass track. Luude was approached for a Mattafix remix after his version of "Down Under" blew up. "I don't even know how old I was but I remember we'd walk through town with our Nokias or whatever. 'Big City Life' was one of the songs I used to always play," the Aussie producer said. "When I got the offer to do it is, I was like 'absolutely'!"'
  • Luude's version took the song into the UK Top 10 for the first time, reaching #8.

Comments: 2

  • Miguel from Coimbra, PortugalThe chorus is in Jamaican English.
  • Mikael from Aizawl, IndiaDon't let the system get you down... don't let the big city crush u within its high skylines...
    Basically about adapting to the metropolitan city, and the conflicts with surroundings,and his innermost desire for a living breathing space..suffocated by the big city...

    Lolz,now we gotta start a topic on finding the meanings for MY meanings
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.