Originally a duo, the band has expanded and contracted in the 12 years of being and has counted 15 - 20 people along the way.
The band was formed in 1997 by original members Gunnar Örn Tynes and Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason, their first release was a split 10" with the girl-band Spúnk and saw light in the summer of '98. They were joined a year later by twin sisters Gyða and Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir and released two albums as quartet. Following a number of collaborative projects, the group’s celebrated debut album Yesterday was dramatic - today is OK (reissued by Morr Music in October 2005) gained a wealth of glowing press and widespread praise. A remix project, Please Smile My Noise Bleed, also released on the Morr Music label in November 2001.
In 2002, after the release of Finally We Are No One and the extensive first world tour, Gyða left the band to return to her studies in Reykjavík. Shortly after, the third sister Ásthildur Valtýsdóttir joined for singing duties temporarily and Serena Tideman replaced Gyða on cello, for a single European tour. The band's third album, Summer Make Good, a darker and foggier, nautically themed work was released in May 2004, flanked by two singles, Nightly Cares and Dusk Log. By then the ensemble had evolved to include Eiríkur Ólafsson and Hildur Guðnadóttir (who had guest appearances on múm recordings from the beginning) and Ólöf Arnalds. In early 2006, Kristín also left the band after releasing and heavily touring the album Summer Make Good.
The start of 2006 saw the band's creativity start to blossom once again, starting with two remixes Goldfrapp of the tracks ‘Number 1’ and ‘You Never Know’. They followed this with two legendary DJ sets at the FatCat Festival in Belgium in February and SXSW in Austin Texas 2007. With a combination of decks, effects, laptops, toy microphones, old cassette player recordings and vocals, coupled with their own recorded material, strange electronic covers by friends, gypsy folk music and general craziness on stage. They were also subsequently invited DJ at Summer Sonic Festival in Japan as well as be headline act as DJ's in Radio 1’s Rob Da Bank tent at Bestival on the Isle of Wight. In september 2007 múm released Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy which turned out to be the bands last release for the Fatcat Records.
múm has always worked on projects which could be classed as unusual for a pop band or a pop collective. Among their extra curricular activity is their own soundtrack for the classic Sergei Eisenstein film, 'Battleship Potemkin', live performances of which have taken place in Hafnafjordur Iceland, Brooklyn Lyceum New York, and at the distinguished Gijon Film Festival Spain. múm have also composed for theater, most notably two radio theater plays, 'Svefnhjólið' (Sleeping Wheel) by Gyrdir Eliasson which won the Nordic Radio-theater prize and in 2008 Augu þín sáu mig (Your eyes saw me) by poet Sjón (which múm also worked with in 1999 on the operetta Kisa (cat). In 2005 they were invited to Amsterdam by the Holland Festival to collaborate with the National Dutch Chamber Orchestra to create a performance piece based around various compositions of the late avant-garde composer Iannis Xenakis for one of the centre piece shows at the festival.
múm released their fifth studio album, Sing Along to Songs You Don't Know, in August 2009. The collective now consists of founding members Gunnar Örn Tynes and Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason and for touring and recording, this line-up is expanded to include their friends Eiríkur Orri Ólafsson (trumpet / piano/ keyboards), Hildur Guðnadóttir (cello / vocals), Sigurlaug Gísladóttir (Vocals / ukulele/ various), Róbert Reynisson (guitars/ukulele's) and the Finnish Samuli Kosminen (drums / percussion). The musical group sometimes extends to Ólöf Arnalds, Högni Egilsson, Ólafur Björn Ólafsson and Guðbjörg Hlín Guðmundsdóttir as well as a never ending family of friends and musicians who may join at the drop of a hat.
Official website: http://www.mum.is
Blow Your Nose
múm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A bird hits the window pane with a joyless sound
That echoes round and round
In your belly swim the spores, we picked off the forest floors
And if you must cry with grief, blow your nose right on my sleeve
Dreams push out reality, sand kisses fingertips
Who's never coming back
In the bathtub swim the spores, we picked off the forest floors
And if you must cry with grief, blow your nose right on my sleeve
Blow your nose right on my sleeve, blow your nose right on my sleeve
Blow your nose right on my sleeve, blow your nose right on my sleeve
The lyrics to "Blow Your Nose" by múm seem to be describing different elements of nature and how they interact with our emotions. The first few lines describe the earth moving while the sun remains still, possibly representing the shifting of the world around us while our own personal struggles remain constant. The bird hitting the window with a "joyless sound" echoes round and round, indicating the repetitive nature of our own negative thoughts.
The second verse switches the focus to the spores that we carry within us, and how they can take over our emotions. The line "if you must cry with grief, blow your nose right on my sleeve" highlights the comfort and support we can offer to others, even during their most vulnerable moments.
The final verse brings in the idea of dreams pushing out reality, and how we can be haunted by the absence of a loved one. The repetition of the line "blow your nose right on my sleeve" acts as a comforting mantra, reminding us that it is okay to let our emotions out and seek comfort in others.
Overall, the lyrics to "Blow Your Nose" delve into the emotional complexities of the human experience, from the impact of nature on our psyche to the need for comforting connection with others during difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
The earth moves and the sun keeps still, bathwater tides come in
Despite the world being in constant motion, some things like the tides are dependable and known. They come in like bathwater, consistent and soothing.
A bird hits the window pane with a joyless sound
Even simple things can bring about feelings of sorrow and pain, as exemplified by a bird hitting a window, creating a sound that's devoid of any happiness.
That echoes round and round
Not only does the sound persist, but it reverberates, signaling that even the smallest events can continue to impact us long after they occur.
In your belly swim the spores, we picked off the forest floors
The idea of ingesting spores seems to suggest exploring and inviting new experiences, since these come from the forest floor, a place of natural wonder and mystery.
And if you must cry with grief, blow your nose right on my sleeve
In the midst of sadness and despair, grief can make us feel isolated and alone, but someone who truly cares will not only listen but offer physical and emotional support as well.
Dreams push out reality, sand kisses fingertips
Dreams have a transformative power that can transport us to a world that is more pleasant than our reality, like feeling the tickle of sand against our fingers.
Ghosts sing behind your ear for the one you loved
The memory of someone we've lost still lingers in everything we do, even though they are no longer with us. It's like hearing their voice singing from behind our ear.
Who's never coming back
The finality of death is hard to accept, but it is reality. As much as we may wish it were different, the person we have lost is gone forever.
In the bathtub swim the spores, we picked off the forest floors
The idea of immersing oneself in a bathtub filled with spores seems to affirm the earlier idea of being open to new experiences, now with the added element of water, which connotes cleansing and renewal.
And if you must cry with grief, blow your nose right on my sleeve
This line is repeated to further emphasize the importance of having a support system during times of grief. It's a reassurance that someone is there to help, to listen, and to be physically present when needed.
Blow your nose right on my sleeve, blow your nose right on my sleeve
Repeating this line drives home the idea that no matter how hard the pain is, it is always possible to find someone to lean on, someone who is willing to be there in difficult times.
Contributed by Alex P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lydiadegois4133
THIS IS EPIC!!!!@!!!!!@!!!