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.
Isn't It Strange
Samantha Mumba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How life is so real?
Everytime you meet someone you feel
Someone you hold Every night
The way that it makes you feel
Just A Kiss In The Dark
Made a change in my heart
To find a love so very strong
It was so right from the start
Like a hit in the charts
How you walked, The way you talked
The way you said you wanted me baby
'Cause everytime you walk away
It Makes Me want to Say
Isn't It Strange?
How life is so real?
Everytime you meet someone you feel
Someone you hold Every night
The way that it makes you feel
Isn't It Strange?
How life is so real?
Everytime you come home at night
We'll turn down the lights
Will Make it so right
The way that it makes you feel
Makes you feel
It's making eyes
I'm very slow
Let this be love
Let it grow
You're reaching things within my heart
I never knew were there from the start
This feels so right
It can't be wrong
But I don't think I could carry on
If You left me for somebody else
Or leave me waiting on your shelf
'Cause everytime you walk away
It Makes Me want to Say
Isn't It Strange?
How life is so real?
Everytime you meet someone you feel
Someone you hold Every night
The way that it makes you feel
Isn't It Strange?
How life is so real?
Everytime you come home at night
We'll turn down the lights
Will Make it so right
The way that it makes you feel
Makes you feel
Isn't It Strange?
How life is so real?
Everytime you meet someone you feel
Someone you hold Every night
The way that it makes you feel
Isn't It Strange?
How life is so real?
Everytime you come home at night
We'll turn down the lights
Will Make it so right
The way that it makes you feel
Isn't It Strange? (Isn't It Strange?)
How life is so real? (How life is real?)
Everytime you meet someone you feel
(Everytime you meet someone)
Someone you hold Every night (Every Night)
The way that it makes you feel (You come home at night)
Isn't It Strange? (How life is real?)
How life is so real?
Everytime you come home at night
We'll turn down the lights (We'll turn down the lights)
Will Make it so right (Turn down the lights)
The way that it makes you feel
Makes You Feel
The lyrics of Samantha Mumba's song "Isn't It Strange" speaks about the surreal aspects of love and how it changes one's life completely. The song talks about how life is so real and how every time you meet someone, you feel something new and exciting. The lyrics express how a simple kiss in the dark can make a difference in one's heart and how some people wait too long to find the love that is strong and true.
The song is a beautiful tribute to the power of love and how it impacts one's life in many ways. It speaks of the feelings that arise when one is in love and how the person you love makes you feel. The lyrics mention how one feels like they are in the charts when they meet someone that is right for them, the way they walk, talk, and express their love. However, the lyrics also express the fear of losing that love and being left alone, waiting for someone who may never come back.
The song portrays the complexities of love and relationships and how they can change one's life completely. The lyrics express the joy, excitement, and pain that comes with falling in love with someone. The song is a reflection of the beauty and challenges that are present in love and how it can impact one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Isn't It Strange?
A rhetorical question that draws attention to the wonder of life.
How life is so real?
The puzzling nature of life's existence and its realism.
Everytime you meet someone you feel
The feeling of attraction towards someone upon meeting them.
Someone you hold Every night
A person with whom you have a physical and emotional connection and spend time with every night.
The way that it makes you feel
The intense emotions that come with attraction and love.
Just A Kiss In The Dark
A kiss that sparked a change in the heart and feelings towards the person.
Made a change in my heart
The kiss led to a change in feelings towards the person.
Why did I wait so long?
Regret over waiting so long to find love.
To find a love so very strong
To finally find strong and intense love.
It was so right from the start
The feeling that the love was meant to be from the beginning.
Like a hit in the charts
This love was comparable to a hit song on the charts, successful and beloved by many.
How you walked, The way you talked
The mannerisms and personality traits of the person that drew the singer towards them.
The way you said you wanted me baby
The attraction towards the person grew stronger when they expressed a desire for the singer.
'Cause everytime you walk away
The intense emotions and attachment towards the person, even when they leave temporarily.
It Makes Me want to Say
The strong urge to express the feelings towards them.
Everytime you come home at night
The comfort and happiness that comes with being with the person every night.
We'll turn down the lights
Creating a romantic atmosphere to enhance the love and connection with the person.
Will Make it so right
The feeling of everything being perfect and right in that moment.
It's making eyes
The act of flirting and expressing attraction through eye contact.
I'm very slow
Feeling unsure and slow to act on the attraction towards the person.
Let this be love
Expressing a desire for the attraction to turn into love.
Let it grow
Allowing love to grow and develop naturally.
You're reaching things within my heart
The person is touching the singer's heart and bringing out new emotions and feelings.
I never knew were there from the start
New emotions and feelings are surfacing towards the person.
This feels so right
The feeling that this love and connection is meant to be.
It can't be wrong
An unwavering belief that this love is not wrong or mistaken.
But I don't think I could carry on
The fear of losing the person, and the possibility of not being able to endure that loss.
If You left me for somebody else
The fear and pain that would result from the person leaving the singer for someone else.
Or leave me waiting on your shelf
The fear of the person putting the singer on the back-burner or ignoring their feelings.
Makes You Feel
The intense emotions and sensations that come with love, attraction and connection.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDERS SVEN BAGGE, ARNTHOR BIRGISSON, SAMANTHA MUMBA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind