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
Oh
múm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, how the tides shift
I lie my head in
I hear it coming
Oh, how the wave breaks on your body
look, how the lights lit
Look how it's tone shifts
We row, we row, we row towards it
Oh, how the wave breaks on your body
The song "Oh How the Boat Drifts" by Mum is a beautiful song that reflects the feeling of being lost and directionless in life. The lyrics of the song are metaphorical and invoke the image of a boat drifting aimlessly in the sea, without any control on the waves and tides. The singer expresses how the boat drifts along with the waves, and how the tides shift, signaling a change in the direction of the boat. The singer is lying low and can hear the waves as they approach the boat. The image of the waves breaking on the body of the boat is used as a metaphor for the upheaval and turbulence in one's life.
As the song progresses, the singer describes how the lights are lit, and the tone shifts, adding to the confusion and chaos in their mind. The singer is feeling lost, and the situation is doing their head in. Yet, they continue to row towards their destination, determined to reach it, despite the turmoil. The song ends with the image of the waves breaking on the body, reminding the listener of the uncertainty and volatility of life.
Overall, "Oh How the Boat Drifts" is a poignant song that captures the feeling of being lost, directionless, and uncertain in life. The metaphor of the boat is used beautifully to invoke the image of the journey of life, where we are often at the mercy of external forces, yet we continue to move forward in search of a destination.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, how the boat drifts
The boat is moving aimlessly and without control.
Oh, how the tides shift
The movement of the water is constantly changing and unpredictable.
I lie my head in
The singer rests her head, perhaps trying to find comfort or escape from the chaos around her.
I hear it coming
The artist can sense that something is approaching, creating anticipation or anxiety.
Oh, how the wave breaks on your body
The force of the water crashing against the body is strong and overwhelming, perhaps reflecting the challenges and difficulties faced in life.
Look, how the lights lit
The singer observes the illuminations, which may symbolize hope, guidance or salvation.
Look how it's tone shifts
The atmosphere changes, suggesting that circumstances are constantly evolving and may require adaptation or response.
It's doing my head in
The situation is causing frustration, confusion or distress for the artist.
We row, we row, we row towards it
Despite the difficulties, the artist and her companions are actively moving towards their destination or goal, persisting against the odds.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: OERVAR THOREYJARSON SMARASON, GUNNAR OERN TYNES, KRISTIN ANNA VALTYSDOTTIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gabbynormal7
I love how slow and sweet and gentle they play.
@seto235
So simple, cute and heat-warming! Makes me feel like a cat...
@mattwesney
Here in 2021. So crazy how fast life passes by...
@GuglielmoMarotta
Che splendore, che magnificenza, che esagerazione!!
@Cochese
Chile loves Múm !
@oaxakitajux
Me encanta la musica islandesa, es impresionante como un pais tan pequeño como Islandia produzca tanta buena musica.
@federguerrero
Oh God, what a beautiful song and voices. You re so nice. Congrats.
@hydroplaneing
Old dude in America loves Mum.
@PBScenarioScene
Beautiful song!! I love their mix of goofy/happy and somber/sad.
@mrleefosho
GOLDEN SHOWER