She released her debut album, under the surface, in Norway on March 6. The first single, don't save me , made radio impact on January 3, 2006, and quickly climbed into the top ten on many Norwegian charts and playlists. After the physical single release on February 6, 2006, don't save me jumped to #1 on the official Norwegian singles chart in its second week of availability, and then spent five consecutive weeks in the top spot. The second single released from the album was the title track under the surface. The video was released May 10, 2006, and within a month the single became the most widely played track on Norwegian radio.
only a fool was the third single from the album but it spent only two weeks on the charts and was only a radio release. The heartbreakingly painful solid ground was the last single from the CD. It was released in March, 2007 and after several weeks, it reached #1 on Norwegian Radio Charts without needing the promotion of a music video.
under the surface, which was released in Norway on March 6, 2006, contains 11 songs, most of which were written by Larsen. Touted as "what many people consider to be the most eagerly awaited album of 2006" (according to Norwegian magazine, Plan B), the record debuted at #3 on the sales chart in her native Norway. On March 31, 2006, after just three weeks of sales, under the surface became a certified gold record in Norway, selling over 20,000 copies. In late 2006 and early 2007, the album won Larsen other accolades, including the award for Best Norwegian Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards, and the Spellemannprisen (Norwegian Grammy) awards for Best Female Artist and Best Video (don't save me). After Larsen's Spellemannprisen victories in January 2007, the album crossed the 40,000 copy mark, qualifying it for platinum certification. It was later announced in May 2007 that the album had reached double platinum status. In addition, Larsen was the most played artist on NRK P3 Radio in 2006, with her three singles (don't save me, under the surface, and only a fool) being played collectively more than 880 times.
After under the surface's huge success,her second solo album was released. Larsen's second solo album, The Chase, was released in Norway on October 13, 2008, and in Sweden on November 19, 2008. Like Under the Surface, it was well-received by critics; in December, it was named as the top album of the year by Dagbladet reviewers.
The first single from The Chase, entitled if a song could get me you, shot to #1 on the Norwegian singles chart in its first week of sales in August 2008, and was later nominated for the Spellemannprisen award as Hit of the Year. The second single was i've heard your love songs (released October 27, 2008), and another song from the album, steal my heart, was used in the soundtrack of the Norwegian movie I et speil, i en gåte.
Early 2009, Larsen joined Jason Mraz as an opening act for his European spring tour. She was invited by Mraz when they met each other during the Nobel Peace Prize concert in 2008.
Larsen released if a song could get me you as her first single outside Norway. It was released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In Germany and Austria it became a number-one single. In Switzerland it peaked at #2.
On November 24, 2009, VG -a Norwegian newspaper- made a list of the best Norwegian songs of the past decade 2000-2009. under the surface was judged as the best song of the decade, making her 1st place on the list. Her song if a song could get me you came in 4th place and her album under the surface gets 2nd place for the best album of the decade.
Walls
Marit Larsen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They grow closer when I speak
And the ceiling falls
When I try to stand up on my feet
I'm looking for doors
They disappear when I breathe
There are plenty of floors
How hard can it be?
Must all sweet things go sour?
Do all adventures have an end?
Every waking hour
I long to bring him back again
In a crowded room
I make-believe I'm somewhere bound
Wear my best perfume
Fooling everyone around
I'm not what I seem
I'm as under a spell
Watching and no-one can tell
Had I only known
That these walls were just my own
The lyrics to Marit Larsen's "Walls" express feelings of being trapped and isolated, despite being surrounded by people. The opening line, "I'm surrounded by walls," sets the tone for the rest of the song. Larsen then goes on to explain how these walls grow closer when she speaks, and the ceiling falls when she tries to stand up. This imagery suggests that Larsen feels suffocated and unable to express herself freely. She goes on to lament the disappearance of doors and the inability of floors to hold her up, emphasizing her feeling of being trapped.
In the second verse, Larsen questions the transience of happiness and adventure. She wonders if everything good in life must come to an end, and describes her longing to bring back someone who has left her life. The next lines paint a picture of Larsen in a crowded room, pretending to be somewhere else and fooling those around her. These lines suggest that she feels disconnected from those around her, and that she is unable to be her true self in social situations.
The final lines of "Walls" reveal a self-awareness that is absent in the rest of the song. Larsen sings, "Had I only known / That these walls were just my own," suggesting that the walls around her are of her own making. They are the products of her own insecurities and fears, and can be brought down by nothing more than her own realization of their nature.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm surrounded by walls
I feel trapped and confined by my surroundings.
They grow closer when I speak
The more I try to express myself, the more trapped I feel.
And the ceiling falls
I feel weighed down as if everything is collapsing on top of me.
When I try to stand up on my feet
I struggle to find my footing and assert myself in my situation.
I'm looking for doors
I want to escape my current situation.
They disappear when I breathe
I feel like opportunities disappear as soon as they arise.
There are plenty of floors
I have many options available to me.
But they can't hold me
None of the options available to me feel like a true escape or resolution.
How hard can it be?
I am frustrated that I can't seem to find a solution to my situation.
Must all sweet things go sour?
I'm questioning whether all good things come to an end.
Do all adventures have an end?
I'm wondering if all exciting experiences inevitably come to a close.
Every waking hour
All the time I'm awake.
I long to bring him back again
I miss someone or something from my past and wish I could have it back.
In a crowded room
I am surrounded by people but still feel alone.
I make-believe I'm somewhere bound
I try to distract myself by imagining I'm somewhere else, doing something different.
Wear my best perfume
I put in effort to make myself seem put together and presentable.
Fooling everyone around
Other people may think I'm doing fine, but I know I am struggling inside.
I'm not what I seem
I am hiding my true feelings and thoughts from others.
I'm as under a spell
I feel as if I am under some kind of influence or powerless to change my situation.
Watching and no-one can tell
I am observing and struggling but am not getting any external help or validation.
Had I only known
I wish I had realized earlier.
That these walls were just my own
I understand now that the limitations keeping me trapped are self-imposed and I have the power to break free.
Contributed by Jack F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Julia Conte
I love this song so much, it really touches me and everytime I hear it, a shiver runs down my spine...
Rachael Paramore
Beautiful angelic voice..if this is live this is real talent. <3
smiley24816
i am fascinated how correctly and beautifully she sings live! love her :))
andrephx90
Would love to hear a live version of this one! It´s amazing!
Susanne Trijntje
I thought this one was originally called October Month? Anyways, I love this song, it's just amazingly sung by Marit :) She's awesome!
ImagiWanderLark
this song is so poetic
mroscar1120
i'm glad that i went to the CD shop and found her. how beautiful she is...she should have more views.
zn
I love this song so mutch! Its so lovly when Marit larsen sings ♥♥
buckinghamnicks1983
my favorite song by her.
Alex
All her songs are amazin