Everything (M2M song) explained

Everything
Cover:Everything M2M.png
Type:single
Artist:M2M
Album:The Big Room
Released:15 October 2001
Recorded:2001
Genre:Pop rock
Length:4:22
Label:Atlantic
Prev Title:Everything You Do
Prev Year:2000
Next Title:What You Do About Me
Next Year:2002

"Everything" is a single by Norwegian pop duo M2M, composed of singers Marion Raven and Marit Larsen. It was the first single from the duo's second album, The Big Room.[1] The single was released worldwide between October 2001 and March 2002. It was well received critically, and reached No. 6 in Norway in addition to being a minor hit in Australia, Italy and New Zealand. A music video directed by Chris Applebaum was released for the single. M2M performed the song on the 100th episode of Dawson's Creek and live at the 2002 Spellemannprisen awards. The song earned M2M a nomination for "Best International Artist" at the 2001 Mnet Asian Music Awards.

Composition

The song is aimed at Zac Hanson, who Marion Raven dated briefly while M2M were on tour with him and his band Hanson[2] in 2000.[3] According to Raven, once the tour ended he never contacted her, effectively ending the relationship.[2] Lyrically, the song speaks of a relationship "gone sour".[4]

Release and promotion

The single was released in South-East Asia in early October 2001, the US in January 2002 and Norway on 4 March 2002.[5] In December 2001 they opened a concert in Kuala Lumpur with the song.[4] On 1 March 2002 they performed the song at the Spellemannprisen awards in front of 7,000 people and over 700,000 viewers.[6] By mid April 2002 the track had received moderate airplay on radio in the US, particularly on the East Coast. Atlantic Records, however, decided not to market the song until M2M made their appearance on the 100th episode of Dawson's Creek, "100 Light Years from Home", on April 17, hoping this would draw extra attention to the band. This decision upset M2M, who had already arrived in the US in the beginning of March to promote the song over a three-week period, though due to Atlantic's decision they returned home to Lørenskog after only one week.[7] M2M performed the song in the episode,[8] after Pacey Witter flirted with Raven.[9] After filming the duo performed the song at a beach party which was attended by the cast of the show.[8] M2M were scheduled to recommence promoting the single and album in the US in May, before moving onto Mexico, Australia and Japan.[10] They arrived in Australia in mid May 2002 to promote both "Everything" and the follow-up single, "What You Do About Me".[11]

Reception

The single reached No. 6 in Norway,[12] No. 27 in Australia,[13] No. 37 in Italy[14] and No. 44 in New Zealand.[15] The song earned M2M a nomination for "Best International Artist" at the 2001 Mnet Asian Music Awards.[16]

Chuck Taylor from Billboard called it a "smart, driving song, drenched in glittering harmonies and indelible hooks.[17] Verdens Gang spoke highly of the track.[1] Karen Tye from the Herald Sun called it an "energetic, catchy single".[18] Entertainment Weekly considered it to be one of the "best uptempo tracks" on The Big Room, saying it "recall[ed] the acoustic pop of Hanson (that’s a compliment)."[19] Girl.com.au said the track "sparkle[d] with melodies, smart and sassy lyrics and of course Marion and Marit's trademark harmony vocals."[20] The Philippine Star said the track was one of the best songs on The Big Room, adding that it was a harder rock sound than usual for the duo.[21]

Music video

The video begins with Raven and Larsen singing the song while driving a convertible, before they perform on a red stage in the desert, along with a backup band. The music video was being played in Asia on MTV and Channel V by November 2001.[22] By mid April 2002 the music video was in rotation on MTV in Spain, Italy, Asia, Scandinavia, Brazil and Latin America.[7] It was directed by Chris Applebaum[23] and filmed in Los Angeles from 7 to 10 October 2001.[24] Two versions were filmed: one with the album version radio edit and the other with the remix by Miklós Malek and Levy Thomas Egry.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fremdeles uforløst . 6 March 2002 . . Norwegian . 29 September 2015.
  2. Web site: Her bryter Marion sammen i tårer over M2M-dagboken . 9 February 2013 . . 1 October 2015.
  3. Web site: M2M: Gigant-underskudd tross million-salg . 18 September 2000 . . Norwegian . 29 September 2015.
  4. News: Gerald . Chuah . 10 December 2001 . Angels from Norway . . 2nd . 3.
  5. Web site: M2M til Spellemannprisen . 25 January 2002 . . Norwegian . 29 September 2015.
  6. Web site: Storsalg kan gi ny gullkontrakt . 1 March 2002 . . Norwegian . 29 September 2015.
  7. Web site: M2M frustrert over manglende USA-satsing . 17 April 2002 . . Norwegian . 1 October 2015.
  8. Taylor . Chuck . Chuck Taylor (writer and editor) . 4 May 2002 . M2M Resuscitation . . 70 . 1 October 2015.
  9. 17 April 2002 . Dawson's Creek

    100 Light Years from Home

    . Television episode . The WB.
  10. Web site: M2M frustrert over manglende USA-satsing . 17 April 2002 . . 1 October 2015.
  11. News: 16 May 2002 . Singles for M2M pair . . . 36 .
  12. Web site: M2M . norwegiancharts.com . Hung Medien . 30 September 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151002121906/http://norwegiancharts.com/search.asp?search=M2M&cat=s . 2 October 2015 .
  13. Web site: M2M . australian-charts.com . Hung Medien . 30 September 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030424/http://australian-charts.com/search.asp?search=M2M&cat=s . 4 March 2016 .
  14. Web site: M2M . https://web.archive.org/web/20170110041100/http://italiancharts.com/search.asp?search=M2M&cat=s . 10 January 2017 . 10 January 2017.
  15. Web site: M2M . charts.nz . Hung Medien . 30 September 2015 .
  16. November 23, 2001 . 2001 Mnet Music Video Festival . Televised . . Mnet.
  17. Taylor . Chuck . Chuck Taylor (writer and editor) . 23 February 2002 . M2M Everyday . . 22 . 1 October 2015.
  18. News: Tye . Karen . 28 April 2002 . Pop . . Melbourne.
  19. Web site: The Big Room . 15 March 2002 . . 1 October 2015.
  20. Web site: M2M – The Big Room . Girl.com.au . 30 September 2015.
  21. Web site: M2M back with The Big Room . 8 December 2001 . . 4 October 2015.
  22. Web site: MTV-pris til M2M? . 20 November 2001 . . Norwegian . 1 October 2015.
  23. Web site: M2M – Music Videos . https://web.archive.org/web/20151001205417/http://www.vh1.com/video/m2m/15166/everything.jhtml . 1 October 2015 . dead . . 1 October 2015 .
  24. Web site: Latest News . https://web.archive.org/web/20020603202625/http://www.m2mmusic.com/news/ . 3 June 2002 . M2M Music.