múm (pronounced [muːm], “moom”) is an experimental electronic group from Ic… Read Full Bio ↴múm (pronounced [muːm], “moom”) is an experimental electronic group from Iceland whose music is characterized by soft vocals, eccentric beats and colorful effects, and a variety of traditional and unconventional instruments.

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

One Smile
múm Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

One smile, one smile
One smile
One smile, one smile
One smile
One smile, one smile
One smile, one smile

One smile

One smile, one smile
One smile
One smile, one smile

One smile
For the two of us
In arms to fit
The dark blue eyes

Swimming free
Respond too fast
I give my eyes
For just one smile

One smile

One smile, one smile
One smile, one smile

Overall Meaning

The song "One Smile" by múm is a beautiful composition that expresses the significance of one simple gesture - a smile. The artist seems to be talking about the immense power of a smile to bring people together and create a sense of warmth and unity. The repetition of the phrase "one smile" emphasizes that even one genuine smile can go a long way in making a positive difference in someone's life.

The song also has a romantic connotation with the lines “For the two of us, in arms to fit, the dark blue eyes.” It talks about the magic of one smile that can bring two people together and create a world of their own. The lines "Swimming free, respond too fast, I give my eyes for just one smile" further reinforce the idea that a smile is worth everything.

Overall, the song is an ode to the little things in life that we often fail to appreciate. It reminds us that a single smile can brighten up someone's day and make a world of difference in their lives.

Line by Line Meaning

One smile, one smile
The singer emphasizes the importance of a simple smile which can bring immense joy and positivity

One smile
A single smile can make a difference and may lead to a chain reaction of positivity

One smile, one smile
Reinforcing the idea that just one smile can have a tremendous impact

One smile
The singer is pleading for someone to give a smile which may go a long way in making their day

One smile, one smile
Continuing to stress the significance of one simple smile

One smile, one smile
Reiteration of the previous line, reiterating how one smile can have a profound effect

One smile
The singer realizes that even though just one smile may seem insignificant, it has the power to radiate positivity between two people

For the two of us
A smile is something that can be shared between two people, bringing them closer together

In arms to fit
It is a moment to be cherished, like a warm embrace shared between two people

The dark blue eyes
The singer is describing someone with piercing and captivating eyes, which makes their smile that much more beautiful

Swimming free
The freedom and comfort that a smile can bring is compared to that of swimming in the ocean with no restrictions

Respond too fast
The person the singer is addressing is quick to react in such a positive way that it catches the singer off guard

I give my eyes
The singer is telling the person that they are entranced by their smile and would give anything to get just one more smile in return

For just one smile
The singer is highlighting how even the smallest amount of positivity can go a long way and how one smile can make all the difference

One smile
The song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer knowing that just one smile can make someone's day a lot brighter

Contributed by Sydney E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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