The band formed in late 2000, when ex-member Brent Knopf graduated from Dartmouth College and returned to Portland to collaborate with Harris and Seim. They played their first show in July 2001, at The Meow Meow, a now-defunct all ages venue in Portland.
Menomena self-released their debut album, I Am the Fun Blame Monster!, on May 20, 2003. The album was elaborately packaged in an 80-page flipbook that Seim designed and individually hand-assembled. It later received nationwide distribution through FILMguerrero in 2004. The title is an anagram for The First Menomena Album.
In 2005, Under an Hour was released as a three-track album of instrumental music written for and performed with Monster Squad, an experimental dance company based in Portland.
In August of 2006, Menomena signed with Barsuk Records although the band still maintains a relationship with their old label, FILMguerrero. It was stated that FILMguerrero would still be involved in their old catalog and future vinyl releases.
Menomena released their next album in 2007, titled Friend and Foe. It received relative critical acclaim -- while some websites like Pitchfork Media praised the album for its effective modular pop, others like PopMatters criticized it for presenting a sense of feigned maturity. Their record release show was held in their home town of Portland, Oregon. The packaging features artwork by graphic novelist/cartoonist Craig Thompson, consisting of die-cut shapes, decoder rings, and hidden messages. It was nominated for "Best Recording Package" at The Grammy Awards.
The band's following album, Mines, was released in July 2010.
In January 2011, Brent Knopf's departure was announced. He left the band under good terms in order to focus on his other project Ramona Falls.
Without Knopf, Menomena released their most recent album, Moms in September of 2012.
The band's name was chosen for "the way it rolls off the tongue, sexually, or something" and has no specific meaning, although it is often assumed to refer to the Piero Umiliani song "Mah Nà Mah Nà", a staple of The Muppet Show.
Danny Seim also has a side project began in the late 90's titled Lackthereof.
Polo
Menomena Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I swear
I know
Come home
I can win
Marco
(more distorted vocals)
I swear
I come
Come home
Marco
Marco
I go home to you
I swear
I know
Come home
Marco
I come home to you
Marco
I come home to you
"Hello, let's play... I swear I know Come home I can win Marco I go home to you" – The lyrics seem to be suggesting a game of Marco Polo, a swimming pool game where one person keeps their eyes closed while saying "Marco," and the other person responds with "Polo," until they get close enough to touch. The singer then says "I swear I know, come home, I can win" implying that they are confident in their ability to win the game. The repetition of "Marco, I go home to you" and "Marco, I come home to you" seems to be the singer's way of finding their way back to their partner (the person responding with "Polo") in the game. The distorted vocals towards the end add an eerie and unsettling element to the lyrics, as if something is not quite right.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello, let's play...
The singer is addressing someone and suggesting a game.
I swear
The singer is making a solemn promise.
I know
The singer is confident in their ability to play the game.
Come home
The artist is inviting the other player to their location.
I can win
The artist believes they have the skill to emerge victorious.
Marco
The singer is initiating a game of Marco Polo, with themselves as Marco.
I go home to you
The singer will seek out the other player as soon as they hear their response.
I swear
The artist reiterates their promise.
I come
The artist announces their approach.
Come home
Once again, the artist invites the other player to come to their location.
Marco
The singer is calling out for a response.
Marco
The artist repeats their call.
I go home to you
The singer emphasizes their intention to find the other player.
I swear
The singer repeats their commitment to the game.
I know
Again, the singer displays their confidence in their ability to play.
Come home
The artist repeats their invitation to the other player.
Marco
Once more, the artist initiates a call-and-response game of Marco Polo.
I come home to you
The singer reiterates their intention to physically find the other player.
Contributed by Xavier G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.