M2M (band)
| Company type | Duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Marit Larsen, Marion Raven |
| Headquarters | Lørenskog , Norway |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
| Website | www |
M2M is a Norwegian pop duo made up of Marit Larsen and Marion Raven. Having been friends since they were five years old, they formed their musical partnership at the age of eight and released a children's album in 1996 under the name "Marit & Marion." After securing a contract with Atlantic Records in 1998, they adopted the name M2M. They stood out in the teen pop genre by writing most of their own material and playing their instruments.
Their initial single, "Don't Say You Love Me" (1999), achieved both critical praise and commercial success, becoming their signature hit. Their debut album, Shades of Purple (2000), was well-received by critics and sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide. However, their second album, The Big Room (2001), did not meet commercial expectations. The duo parted ways in 2002 to focus on individual solo projects. Following their split, a greatest hits collection titled The Day You Went Away: The Best of M2M (2003) was issued. In total, M2M's album sales surpassed 2 million copies.
After a 22-year break, M2M reunited in September 2024 and announced plans for a global tour in 2025. On 8 May 2025, they released an EP featuring re-recorded versions of their hits called Still in My Dreams, marking their first new music release in over twenty years.
1996–1998: Origins and Synger Kjente Barnesanger
Marit Larsen and Marion Raven originate from Lørenskog, located east of Oslo. They met when they were five years old and shared a strong connection through music, eventually forming a duo named "Hubba Bubba" at age eight. Raven was studying piano while Larsen was learning guitar. Both appeared in professional stage productions such as Annie and The Sound of Music. At ages 11 and 12 respectively, they released a Norwegian children's album titled Synger Kjente Barnesanger under the moniker "Marit & Marion" in 1996, which garnered a nomination for the Spellemannprisen. Shifting focus toward pop songwriting, their demo recordings attracted attention from Atlantic Records, resulting in a global contract signed in 1998. Initially considering the name M&M, they opted for M2M through a fan contest to avoid legal issues with the candy trademark.
1998–2000: Breakthrough with "Don't Say You Love Me" and Shades of Purple
Following their signing with Atlantic Records in 1998, M2M released their debut single "Don't Say You Love Me". The song featured prominently during the closing credits of Pokémon: The First Movie and served as the lead single for its soundtrack, released on 26 October 1999. Backed by significant promotional efforts including Radio Disney exposure and association with Pokémon, the single achieved commercial acclaim, reaching No. 2 on Norway’s charts and No. 4 in both Australia and New Zealand. It earned Gold certifications in Australia and the United States and received a nomination for best song at the 2000 Spellemannprisen awards. In November 1999, M2M performed this track on the television series One World.
Their first full-length album, Shades of Purple, was released early in 2000 to favorable reviews from critics. It peaked at No. 7 on Norwegian charts, reached No. 89 on the Billboard 200, and topped the Top Heatseekers chart. The follow-up single "Mirror Mirror" (2000) also achieved Gold status in the U.S., while another single, "Everything You Do" (2000), climbed to No. 21 on the U.S. Hot Dance Singles Sales chart.
Throughout 2000, M2M made appearances on programs such as All That, Top of the Pops, Say What? Karaoke, and MTV's Hot Zone. They gave a live performance at Walt Disney World's Epcot on 12 February 2000; this show later aired on Disney Channel in Concert alongside BBMak on April 29. A series of high school concerts across the United States was planned but some were canceled due to their educational obligations back home in Norway.
In June 2000, they received the title "Discovery of the Year" from Singapore Radio Association. That September, they embarked on a U.S. tour opening for Hanson. Despite selling over one million copies of Shades of Purple and more than 1.5 million singles by that time, industry investors still considered M2M financially risky and had only started to recoup promotional expenses.
2000–2002: The Big Room and disbandment
At the start of 2001, M2M participated in Atlantic Records' "Teensation" television concerts, which showcased emerging talents. These events were recorded at Hard Rock Live in Florida and broadcast on Music Choice. Their sophomore album, The Big Room, initially launched in Asia toward the end of 2001 and saw a global release by April 2002, presenting a more developed musical style. The album's lead track, "Everything" (2001), achieved a peak position of No. 6 in Norway and reached No. 27 in Australia. The subsequent single, "What You Do About Me" (2002), climbed to No. 46 on the Australian charts. In the United States, the song "Don't" was promoted and garnered favorable critiques despite modest chart performance. Promotional efforts included an appearance on the milestone 100th episode of Dawson's Creek and serving as ambassadors for the Pantene Pro-Voice concert series, which supported emerging female songwriters. Additionally, M2M served as the opening act for Jewel's "This Way" tour beginning June 14, 2002.
Although critics praised The Big Room, its commercial results fell short compared to their debut album; Verdens Gang attributed this to insufficient marketing by Atlantic Records. During their U.S. tour with Jewel, Atlantic Records removed M2M from the lineup due to underwhelming sales—approximately 100,000 copies sold domestically—leading the duo to return to Norway and discontinue joint performances. Raven received an offer for a solo contract from Atlantic but chose not to accept it.
In a 2007 interview, Larsen described their separation as friendly yet necessary, highlighting differing artistic paths: she gravitated toward pop music while Raven preferred rock. Raven later confirmed in 2013 that they parted ways once their collaboration ceased to be enjoyable, citing evolving personal differences as they grew older. A greatest hits collection titled The Day You Went Away: The Best of M2M was issued in 2003. By April 2002, M2M had sold over two million albums worldwide, including 1.5 million units in Asia.
2002–2024: Individual pursuits
Following their split, both Larsen and Raven embarked on solo endeavors. Raven's debut solo album, Here I Am, released in 2005, marked a transition toward alternative rock from her previous M2M sound. Her initial solo single "Break You" (2005) reached No. 9 in Norway. In 2006, she collaborated with Meat Loaf on a rendition of "It's All Coming Back to Me Now", which attained number one status in Norway’s charts. Raven followed with her third studio project Scandal Vol. 1 in 2014 and continued with Scandal Vol. 2 in 2015.
Larsen debuted her solo career with Under the Surface in 2006, incorporating elements of folk, pop, and country into her music. Her fifth studio release, Joni Was Right I / II, came out in 2016. She has secured three No. 1 singles on Norwegian charts, among them "If a Song Could Get Me You" (2008), which also topped charts in Germany and Austria.
2024–present: Reunion and Still in My Dreams
On September 22, 2024, Larsen and Raven shared an acoustic rendition of "The Day You Went Away" on Instagram that quickly went viral. Alongside this, they launched an official M2M Instagram account and website. The pair confirmed their reunion and unveiled plans for "The Better Endings Tour," featuring shows across Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and Norway scheduled between April and June 2025. In April 2025, they announced the upcoming EP Still in My Dreams, consisting of re-recorded versions of their greatest hits; it was released on May 8 and represents their first new studio recordings in over two decades.
Critical reception, musical approach, and influence
Distinct from numerous mainstream pop performers, M2M distinguished themselves by composing their own material and performing with live instruments, a notable exception within the teen pop genre. In 1999, Ron Shapiro of Atlantic Records commended their approachable pop style paired with genuine songwriting and instrumental proficiency, observing that few mainstream acts could rival their live musicianship. Stephanie McGrath from AllPop.com praised M2M's innovative perspective on pop music, emphasizing themes such as patience and fidelity rather than conventional adolescent subjects. Michael Paoletta of Billboard characterized their first album, Shades of Purple, as "radiantly warm" with a mature vocal delivery that set them apart from peers like Britney Spears.
The duo completed their sophomore album, The Big Room, within a six-day span, aspiring to replicate the swift recording sessions typical of bands like the Beatles. Karen Tye of the Herald Sun lauded their preference for "grounded melodies and introspective lyrics" over the image-centric marketing prevalent in pop music. M2M described this record as "organic pop," highlighting the use of authentic instruments rather than the digital sounds commonly found in the genre.
In 2020, Taylor Swift acknowledged M2M among 51 female artists who have shaped her artistic journey, emphasizing their enduring influence within the music industry.
Studio albums
| Title | Album information | Highest chart positions | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOR |
AUS |
US | ||||||
| Synger Kjente Barnesanger (as Marit & Marion) |
|
— | — | — | ||||
| Shades of Purple |
|
7 | 63 | 89 | ||||
| The Big Room |
|
16 | 61 | — | ||||
| "—" indicates an album that did not chart or was unavailable in that region. | ||||||||
Compilation albums
| Title | Album information |
|---|---|
| The Day You Went Away: The Best of M2M |
|
Extended plays
| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| The Acoustic EP | |
| Still in My Dreams |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Highest chart placements | Certifications | Album | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOR |
AUS |
ITA |
CAN |
FRA |
NL |
NZ |
SWE |
UK |
US | |||||||||||||||||
| "Don't Say You Love Me" | 1999 | 2 | 4 | 27 | 12 | 21 | 16 | 4 | 17 | 16 | 21 |
|
Shades of Purple | |||||||||||||
| "Mirror Mirror" | 2000 | — | 30 | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | 62 |
| ||||||||||||||
| "Everything You Do" | — | 103 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
- |
"Everything" | 2002 | 6 | 27 | 37 | — | — | — | 44 | — | — | — | The Big Room | ||
| "What You Do About Me" | — | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| "—" indicates the single did not chart or was not released in that country. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Official music videos
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | "Don't Say You Love Me" | Pokemon edition |
| "Don't Say You Love Me" | Standard version | |
| 2000 | "Mirror Mirror" | |
| "Mirror Mirror" | Remix version | |
| "Pretty Boy" | ||
| "Everything You Do" | ||
| "Everything You Do" | Featuring new vocal tracks | |
| 2001 | "The Day You Went Away" | |
| "Girl in Your Dreams" | ||
| "Give a Little Love" | Live performance version | |
| 2002 | "Everything" | |
| "Everything" | Alternate cut | |
| "What You Do About Me" | ||
| 2003 | "Wanna Be Where You Are" | Exclusive edition |
| "Pretty Boy" | Mandarin language version | |
| "Everything You Do" | Spanish language version |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Spellemannprisen | Best Children's Album | '‘Synger Kjente Barnesanger’’' | Template:Nom |
| 2000 | Best Pop Album | '‘Shades of Purple’’' | Template:Nom | |
| 'Song of the Year' | "Don't Say You Love Me" | Template:Nom | ||
| 2001 | 'Best Group' | 'M2M' | Template:Nom | |
| '2001 Mnet Asian Music Awards' | 'Best International Artist' | 'M2M' | Template:Nom | |
| 2002 | 'MTV Asia Awards 2002' | 'Favorite Pop Act' | 'M2M' | Template:Nom |
| 2025 | 'Rockheim Hall of Fame' | 'Hall of Fame Inductee' | 'M2M' | Template:Nom |
External links
- Norwegian musical duos
- Norwegian pop music groups
- Norwegian pop rock groups
- Norwegian girl groups
- Atlantic Records artists
- Musical groups formed in 1999
- 1999 establishments in Norway
- Musical groups disbanded in 2002
- 2002 disestablishments in Norway
- Musical groups originating from Akershus
- Lørenskog
- Pop music duos
- Female musical duos
- Musical groups reunited in 2024
- Musical groups disestablished in 2002