In 1998, she was cast as the lead in The Hot Mikado, a jazzy production based on Gilbert and Sullivan's opera. She also appeared in several Irish television shows, using the opportunity to be recognised as a singer.
At the age of 15, Mumba was discovered in a night club by Irish svengali Louis Walsh (manager of Boyzone and Westlife). Walsh was impressed by her talent and she was signed to Polydor Records, subsequently spending several months moving between Denmark, Sweden, England and Ireland, where she co-wrote and recorded her debut album, Gotta Tell You. She eventually dropped out of school to focus on her music career, citing that it was becoming a difficult task for her to stay in school and work on her music.
Mumba's first hit, Gotta Tell You, was released in 2000 and shot to the #1 spot on three Irish charts, later reaching #2 on the United Kingdom charts. She also scored American success with her debut single, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album stayed on the charts for a staggering 6 months and eventually certified Platinum for shipments of 1 million copies. Five more Top 10 hits followed in the UK and another top 50 hit in the US, leading some to call her the "black Britney Spears" of pop music, although she has rejected this title. To date, her album has sold over 4 million copies world-wide. Mumba was nominated for a 2002 Grammy award for her song Baby, Come Over (This is our night) in the 'best remixed recording, non-classical' category, but did not win.
In 2002, Mumba prepared to release her follow-up album, entitled Woman, but with the poor sales of the lead single, "I'm Right Here," in both the US and UK, she was dropped from her label and the album was cancelled.
In 2012, she married Charles Porter.
In 2006, she collaborated with Filipino artist Jay-R on a new song, "Just The Way You Are", which will be featured on his upcoming album, scheduled to be released later in the year. It was stated in an article in PC World magazine that Samantha is working on her follow up album with a new label. In October 2008, three new songs "Candyland", "Turn The Beat Up" and "Bad Boy" were posted on her MySpace and YouTube profiles. In a January 2009, Mumba suggested a new would be released in 2010. She also resumed her career as an actress. She will star in the Irish Horror film "Loftus Hall" due for release in October 2010.
Can It Be Love?
Samantha Mumba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It could be just in my fantasy
It could be just in my mind
A funny feeling you were giving me
Whenever you are coming around
Seem to be floating on a cloud
Seem to be losing control
Can it be love that I feel in my heart?
Can it be love - have I fallen for you?
Can it be love?
Everlasting emotion?
'cos when you look at me and smile I know...
Would never ever work like this
Would never ever happen so fast
Don't blame me 'cos I can't help myself
Can't seem to open my eyes - I'm dreaming
Seem to be floating on a cloud
Seem to be losing control
Can it be love that I feel in my heart?
Can it be love - have I fallen for you?
Can it be love?
Everlasting emotion?
'cos when you look at me and smile I know...
Ooooh I wanna know (know, know, know)
Can it be love?
Oooh I - oooh I wanna know
Yeah - can it be love?
Just give me a smile
And I'll keep holding on
Until you will rescue me
Just give me a sign
And I will know
That you can set me free...
Can it be love that I feel in my heart? (can it be love? )
Can it be love - have I fallen for you? (fallen for you)
Can it be love?
Everlasting emotion? (everlasting emotion)
'cos when you look at me and smile I know...
Can it be love that I feel in my heart? (can it be love? )
Can it be love - have I fallen for you? (uhh uh)
Can it be love? (can it be? )
Everlasting emotion?
'cos when you look at me and smile I know...
The lyrics of Samantha Mumba's "Can It Be Love?" are about the questioning and uncertainty that come with falling in love. The singer talks about the possibility of these feelings being just in her mind or fantasy, but how they are intensified every time the object of her affection is around. She describes feeling like she's floating on a cloud and losing control, showing how overpowering and consuming these emotions can be. The chorus repeatedly asks the question of whether it could be love that she's feeling and whether she's fallen for the other person. Despite the doubts and insecurities, the singer yearns for confirmation of these feelings and hopes that they can be reciprocated.
Line by Line Meaning
It could be just in my fantasy
I may be imagining this feeling
It could be just in my mind
This feeling could be all in my head
A funny feeling you were giving me
You were making me feel emotions I haven't felt before
Whenever you are coming around
Whenever I see you
Seem to be floating on a cloud
Feels like I'm walking on air
Seem to be losing control
I can't seem to think straight
Can it be love that I feel in my heart?
Is this feeling I have love?
Can it be love - have I fallen for you?
Could I have fallen in love with you?
Everlasting emotion?
Is this an enduring feeling?
'cos when you look at me and smile I know...
Because I feel certain whenever I catch you smiling at me
Would never ever work like this
I never thought I could feel like this
Would never ever happen so fast
This feeling came too quickly
Don't blame me 'cos I can't help myself
I can't control these emotions
Can't seem to open my eyes - I'm dreaming
This must be a dream because it feels surreal
Ooooh I wanna know (know, know, know)
I'm curious and want to know
Just give me a smile
Your smile is all I need to keep holding on
And I'll keep holding on
I'll keep holding on to this feeling
Until you will rescue me
Until you save me from this uncertainty
Just give me a sign
Just show me a sign that you feel the same way
And I will know
If you do that, I'll know you feel the same
(Uh, uh)
Vocal ad-lib
Yeah - can it be love?
Yes, it could be love I'm feeling
Contributed by Savannah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.