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.
Never Meant to Be
Samantha Mumba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never would have thought that this would come to an end.
How was I to know that you had another someone new?
I recall the days loved you in a million ways.
Suddenly; you and me, from friends to history.
I realize that my trust ain't coming back no more.
[Chorus]
You are in my heart.
I loved you from the start.
Baby, it's hard to believe that you and I were never meant to be.
Does anybody know this feeling of despair?
When you really love someone?
When you really care?
It's hard to walk away when I really want to stay with you.
Does anybody know what tears you up inside?
When you try to decide between what's wrong and right?
Gotta know for sure my trust ain't coming back no more.
[Chorus: x2]
That you and I were never meant to be.
(Yeah Yeah Yeah)
That you and I were never meant to be.
The lyrics of Samantha Mumba's song "Never Meant to Be" depict a heartbreak and a realization that a relationship has come to an end. In the first verse, the singer recalls the days when she believed in the words of her lover and had never anticipated a breakup. However, her world crumbles when she discovers that her partner was seeing someone else while they were still together. Despite trying to hold on, she realizes that her trust in the relationship is broken and cannot be restored.
The second verse begins with a question asking if anyone has felt the pain of loving someone who is not meant to be. The singer expresses how difficult it is to leave someone you love even when you know it is the right thing to do. She is torn between what is right and wrong and must make a decision. The chorus repeats the line that her love for her partner will last eternally and expresses the regret that they were never meant to be together.
Overall, the lyrics of "Never Meant to Be" offer relatable and emotional insights into the pain of heartbreak and the realization that a relationship was not meant to be.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember when I still belived the things you said.
I reminisce the time when I had faith in your words.
Never would have thought that this would come to an end.
I never expected our story to end.
How was I to know that you had another someone new?
I was unaware that you were seeing someone else.
I recall the days loved you in a million ways.
I remember how I loved you unconditionally.
Suddenly; you and me, from friends to history.
Our relationship transitioned from being friends to becoming part of the past.
I realize that my trust ain't coming back no more.
I have accepted that I cannot trust you again.
'Cause my love for you will always last eternally,
You are in my heart.
I loved you from the start.
Baby, it's hard to believe that you and I were never meant to be.
Despite everything, my love for you will never fade. You were always in my heart, and I loved you from the very beginning. It is difficult to accept that we were never meant to be together.
Does anybody know this feeling of despair?
When you really love someone?
When you really care?
Do you know how it feels to be in despair when you love someone deeply and care for them?
It's hard to walk away when I really want to stay with you.
Leaving you is difficult when I want to be with you so badly.
Does anybody know what tears you up inside?
When you try to decide between what's wrong and right?
Can anyone relate to the internal conflict when you need to choose between what is right and wrong, and it rips you apart?
Gotta know for sure my trust ain't coming back no more.
I need to be certain that I cannot trust you again.
That you and I were never meant to be.
It is clear that we were never meant to be together.
(Yeah Yeah Yeah)
That you and I were never meant to be.
We were never supposed to have a relationship, and this is the reality.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MIKKEL ERIKSEN, HALLGEIR RUSTAN, TOR HERMANSEN, SAMANTHA MUMBA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind