Maria Mena - It Was Love (Live at Lindmo, NRK) 

My wife and I say this all the time… EVERYONE should hear her. 😊

Because she is a good Soul and doesnt sell it..

There is no one with the same soul-touching voice like her and that same songwriting ability like she has, always making songs people can relate to…and her songs always goes straight to the heart (and so does her voice). After hearing her tell the story of how some people in the music industry treated her when she was over in USA at only 17 years old (to be launched there as her big chance), made me sad. I dont think many people know that story and the reason why she isnt the world star she should have been. A couple of years ago she told on a Tv-show here in Norway her story and how her music career started and from the time she was in USA to be launched. In 2002 Maria was 15 and had become famous almost over night in Norway after she released her song «My lullaby» which she wrote to express her feelings during her parents divorce. After being nominated for the biggest award in Norway 2 years later (17), and she didnt win, she didnt feel that she deserved the success. So she slowly but surely - in the back of her mind - began to think that she must begin to change until she looked like what she imagined was worthy. A thin, beautiful doll. She released a new album and took photos and at that time she developed an eating disorder, so she looked very skinny. She was not healthy, and shockingly thats when the American record label Sony contacted her and wanted her over to sign and release her (cause now she fitted the mold and was «thin», even if it was because she was sick) In the US, she stayed for several weeks straight so that Sony Music could launch her. It culminated with a performance on the talk show David Letterman. She was at her worst health wise then, she has said. And very lonely. She travelled to the US with a guitarist she didnt know and a new manager. The people from the American label wanted to change her looks, cause they said she looked too Asian. She wasnt allowed to say she was from Norway, cause that wouldnt sell aso. They wanted to completely change her. When she performed at Letterman she was really sick, you could see and hear that, and she didnt sound her usual self. That was her chance to break through in America. During her stay in USA she had to get her long time manager from Norway over to give her some support. She was only 17/18, and she was at her sickest and very fragile and needed people around her that she knew and trusted. After her performance on The Letterman show, her long time manager took a car with someone from the American label back to the hotel and that person said «If you don't wanna do what we tell you, Maria will never work here again. I'll make sure of it. You'll never set your foot in America again». Then her manager answered: Then we are taking Maria with us back to Norway». So, that is how her big chance in USA ended and that shows how brutal and disgusting the business can be (especially for young artists from other countries). 😔 I bet it had a big impact on her, and thats why she wouldnt try the international break through aga8n (even though she is known in Europe/outside of Norway and Scandinaviain, especially in Germany).

I had the notifications on, but I never actually check them, I’m so glad today i did ❤

Maria is so underrated in the world. It makes me both sad and angry. There is no one with a soul touching voice like her and that same songwriting ability like she has ...her songs always goes straight to the heart (and so does her voice). After hearing her tell the story of how some people in the music industry treated her when she was over in USA when she was 17/18 to be launched there as her big chance, made me sad… We have all been through heartaches and sorrow in our life and artists like Maria with her beautiful music and voice comforts and helps our hearts heal. Hope you are okay now 🌻

it's the way it hurts and heals at the same time while listening. love it

Leaving you was the song that made me realise I can leave my abusive husband and still be ok.... I will never forget driving home to that song and then meeting the rage in his eyes, then thinking, I'm gonna be ok. It's enough, it's enough, it's enough for me!