The five-piece met as teenagers in Jönköping, Sweden, a town whose only distinguishing feature is its 52 churches. In October 1992, bonded by their mutual love of hard rock and folk music (they listed Nick Drake and Iron Maiden as their two biggest influences by 1994), guitarist Peter Svensson and bassist Magnus Sveningsson conceived The Cardigans. As their hometown was hardly a Mecca of musical enterprise, the group packed up and moved to the somewhat more central fishing port of Malmö, Sweden's third largest city, to seek their fortune. With Peter writing most of the music and the band as a whole composing the lyrics, the quintet set out to find a deal.
After an early recording of "Rise & Shine" appeared on a local independent label in 1994, The Cardigans were swiftly signed to Stockholm Records. The same year the band made their debut for the label with Emmerdale and later won the accolade of "Best Album of 1994" from Slitz, at the time Sweden's leading music magazine. The rise of The Cardigans has since been gradual, allowing them the time to develop naturally as their sales and positive exposure grew with each release. Their second long-player, Life, which followed in 1995, featured the hit singles "Carnival" and the re-recorded "Rise & Shine", and witnessed the band's first international chart success. Prior to the First Band on the Moon album in September 1996, The Cardigans released "Lovefool". Although the first response to the single was very positive and landed them in the Top 40, it achieved nowhere near the impact that awaited it the following Spring.
It was in 1997 that The Cardigans were first catapulted towards international superstardom. "Lovefool"'s inclusion on the blockbuster Romeo and Juliet film soundtrack that Spring pushed them past the boiling point. The single not only reached No. 1 on both the United Kingdom and United States airplay charts but also debuted at No. 2 on the United Kingdom national chart, where it remained top five for five weeks. All in all, the album reached more than 2.5 million sales worldwide, achieving Platinum status in the United States and Japan, but only achieving Gold in the United Kingdom. The promotional activities supporting the worldwide success of "Lovefool" and First Band On The Moon were never ending. The band not only performed a year long world tour complete with endless radio sessions and press and television interviews, but even ended up making guest appearances on Beverly Hills 90210 and the David Letterman Show.
It was because of the sheer exhaustion resulting from such a schedule, that The Cardigans since took some well deserved time off at home in Malmö to recuperate their artistic juices and write new material. During their time off, however, the band was by no means dormant. In the beginning of 1999 they contributed a new track, "War", to the A Life Less Ordinary soundtrack, a live recording of "Been It" to the Lilith Fair compilation and "Deuce", featured on The X-Files: The Album, an X-Files soundtrack album. Their break also included experimentation with various solo projects.
In June 1998, the group, who are very loyal to their roots, once again joined long-time producer Tore Johansson at his studio, Country Hell, located beside the picturesque Svaneholm Castle in Malmö and recorded the album, Gran Turismo.
The first single "My Favourite Game", was a major hit in many territories. The video for "My Favourite Game" was directed by Jonas Åkerlund. The song was also included in the soundtrack of the hit Playstation racing game, Gran Turismo 2, were it was the intro theme. The second single "Erase/Rewind" was released in January 1999, and this single also turned out to be a major hit around the world.
Gran Turismo reached more than 2.5 million sales worldwide.
The album Long Gone Before Daylight was released in February 2003 and from the album the singles "For What It's Worth" and "You're The Storm" were taken. The album received great reviews and the band spent most of 2003 touring Europe and North America.
In Fall 2005, the band released, Super Extra Gravity.
Official site: http://www.cardigans.com
Das Model
The Cardigans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ich nehme sie heut' gerne mit zu mir nach Haus
Sie wirkt so kuehl, and sie kommt niemand 'ran
Doch vor der Kamera da zeigt sie was sie kann
Sie trinkt im Nachtklub immer Sekt (korrekt)
Und hat hier alle Maenner abgecheckt
Im Scheinwerferlicht ihr junges Laecheln strahlt
Sie stellt sich zu Schau fuer das Konsumprodukt
Und wird von millionen Augen angeguckt
Ihr neues Titelbild ist einfach Fabelhaft
Ich muss sie wiedersehen, ich weiss sie hat's geschaft
The Cardigans's song Das Model is a commentary on the modeling industry and the commodification of beauty. The lyrics describe a beautiful model who seems untouchable and cool, but who comes to life in front of the camera, showing off her abilities. She is admired and desired by men in the nightclub scene, where she sips champagne and checks everyone out. Her youthful smile shines in the spotlight, and she is paid for her beauty. She is a product to be consumed, shown off for the masses, but she is also a person with a talent and a personality.
Overall, the song criticizes the way society values and consumes beauty, reducing people to mere objects to be bought and sold. The model is more than just her looks; she has a life and personality beyond her appearance. The song reminds us that it's important to recognize and appreciate people for their talents and personalities, instead of just their outward appearance.
Line by Line Meaning
Sie ist ein Modell und sie sieht gut aus
She is a model and she looks good.
Ich nehme sie heut' gerne mit zu mir nach Haus
I would like to take her home with me today.
Sie wirkt so kuehl, and sie kommt niemand 'ran
She seems so cool, and no one can approach her.
Doch vor der Kamera da zeigt sie was sie kann
But in front of the camera, she shows what she can do.
Sie trinkt im Nachtklub immer Sekt (korrekt)
She always drinks champagne in the nightclub.
Und hat hier alle Maenner abgecheckt
And she has checked out all the men here.
Im Scheinwerferlicht ihr junges Laecheln strahlt
In the spotlight, her youthful smile shines.
Sie sieht gut aus und Schoenheit wird bezahlt
She looks good, and beauty is paid for.
Sie stellt sich zu Schau fuer das Konsumprodukt
She presents herself for the consumer product.
Und wird von millionen Augen angeguckt
And she is looked at by millions of eyes.
Ihr neues Titelbild ist einfach Fabelhaft
Her new cover photo is simply fabulous.
Ich muss sie wiedersehen, ich weiss sie hat's geschafft
I have to see her again, I know she has succeeded.
Contributed by Maya M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Daniel Pearson
I AM ONLY NOW FINDING OUT ABOUT THIS!!!!
Spotify has been kind enough to reveal to me the "For What It's Worth" single, after listening to them for hours and hours over a couple years....
I can't believe I thought I heard everything by them!!!
This is FANTASTIC!!!!
The Cardigans' covers are incredible, gosh I'm just so excited to be finding this now....freaking KRAFTWERK!!!!
I wonder if there are more "hidden" (well, for me at least hahaha) tracks, just waiting to be found...
Гектор Улисс
Está está tremenda, cielos qué bien suena
obed3113
muy bien que la cancion trascienda el tiempo y los generos eso es bueno solo falta el cover en version cumbia
PyleanHedgehog
oh. my. god. nina´s german sounds soooo cute! how come i never heard of this song before? was it ever released on cd? love it!
Bjørn-Sondre Svensen
Nina sounds so cute on this song. And she sounds like the most beautiful german woman ever on this song and shes from sweden. Shes nail it every time. And she is so beautiful. And The Cardigans are the best band ever. Love from norway 💓 💓 💓
doetmaar
klinkt lekker zwoel als de Cardigans het zingen! het origineel blijft toch mijn favoriet.
WALLENSTEIN1618
Die Stimme ist ja toll und dieser Akzent dazu einfach toll!
Валерiй Стаднiк
BRAVO!!!from Ukraine!!
Jay Ham
may Ukrainian people prevail.. PEACE FOR UKRAINE 🌍
Apsuart777
True art! omg i love it.