FSC Norway - March 2024 - Maria Mena - And Then Came You
Representing Norway in FSC March 2024, and returning to the FSC for Norway after 3.5 years, is the talented Norwegian singer-songwriter Maria Mena. Here is some more information about her.
Maria Viktoria Mena (born in 1986), artist name Maria Mena, is a talented and very popular Norwegian songwriter and pop artist. She was born into an artistic family, her mother, a playwright and her father, a drummer. Her mother is Norwegian and her father is Nicaraguan (Afro-Nicaraguan). Her parents’ divorce when Maria was 9 years affected her much and at 13 she moved to live with her father. She wrote music lyrics as a form of ‘personal therapy’ and made a demo of a song called “My Lullaby” which subsequently led to her being given a record contract. It was the start of a musical journey where lyrics would always be important for her.
In 2002 she released her debut-album called “Another Phase” which included her first song. It reached nr 5 on the Norwegian Singles Chart as well as gaining much radio-play. In the years that followed she released several albums to critical acclaim, “Mellow” (2004), “Apparently Unaffected” (2005) and “Cause and Effect” (2008) which won her a Norwegian Grammy (“Spellemannspris”). A popular single called “All This Time” was the Norwegian entry in FSC April 2009.
In late 2010 she released a Christmas-song (cd-single) called “Home For Christmas” which gained much radio-play and has become a Norwegian “evergreen”. In the following years she released the albums “Victoria” (2011) and “Weapon in Mind” (2013). The song “Am I Supposed To Apologize” was the Norwegian entry in FSC January 2012. Another song, called “The End”, was the Norwegian entry in FSC April 2014.
In late 2015 she released the album “Growing Pains”. Maria took a long break from the music business after this, focusing on other projects in her life. In 2019, however, she began work on new songs. The first single from this new album-project was the beautiful melodic Pop-ballad “Not OK” which was released in April 2020. This was the Norwegian entry in FSC September 2020. The new album was called “They Never Leave Their Wives” released in October 2020.
Another album came a few years later, in September 2023 called “And Then Came You” which was well received by reviewers and her many fans all around the world. Several singles were released and one of the most popular songs was the title track “And Then Came You”, a beautiful Pop-ballad in Maria’s style with important lyrics that have strong meaning for her. This is the song chosen by the Norwegian jury as the Norwegian entry here in FSC March 2024.
Maria Mena has written many songs over the years, in many styles and with different arrangements, and her songs very often tell a personal story or give a message that is important to her. She has a dedicated fan base and her music is appreciated by many. She is a creative talent who has made her mark in Norwegian music and of whom we will surely hear more.
The Norwegian entry for FSC March 2024, called “And Then Came You”, is a melodic and beautiful pop-ballad co-written and performed by Maria Mena. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Maria Mena again in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the lyrics in English. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for March 2024!
Maria Mena - And Then Came You
I was just getting comfortable
Thought of being alone
Felt a sense of connection
To being on my own
Just wasn't looking to waste my time
On someone who was scared
Was a time for reflecting
And a little self-care
Don't know how I turned around
How I let my whole guard down
It was not what you said
But the way that you said it
And I was a little bit drunk
But no way I'd forget it
That you put your hand on my chest
Looked me straight in the eye
Said that I know who you are
"I think I am your guy"
And I wasn't prepared for
Wasn't prepared for anything
No I wasn't prepared for
Wasn't prepared for
How did you know where to look for me
Or that I had shut down
That you had to get in through friendship
'Cause I would be hard to unwind
How do you know how to talk to me
Make me laugh till I cry
Kiss me like you've always known me
How did you know to come by
Don't know how I turned around
Or how I let my whole guard down
It was not what you said
But the way that you said it
And I was a little bit drunk
But no way I'd forget it
That you put your hand on my chest
Looked me straight in the eye
Said that I know who you are
"I think I am your guy"
And I wasn't prepared for
Always been scared of
Love's been cruel
And I've never been cared for
He wasn't there for
Then came you
Yeah, I wasn't prepared for
Always been scared of
Love's been cruel
Never been cared for
He wasn't there for
Then came you
It was not what you said
But the way that you said it
I was a little bit drunk
But no way I'd forget it
When you put your hand on my chest
And looked me straight in the eye
Said that I know who you are
"I think I am your guy"
And I wasn't prepared for
Always been scared of
Love's been cruel
Never been cared for
He wasn't there for
Then came you
Yeah, I wasn't prepared for
Always been scared of
Love's been cruel
Never been cared for
He wasn't there for
Then came you
-M