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
Give Me Your Eyes
The Cardigans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What have you done?
What have you become?
Well, I couldn't say
Slow down and think of your heart
Where do you go?
How how am I supposed to know
Give me your eyes
So I can see me straight
Give me your eyes
I can't tell night from day
Give me your eyes
So I can see me straight
Give me your eyes
And watch me walk away
Yeah, yeah
I took a look at myself
Nothing inside
Except cigarettes and wine
Where there should be a life
You've been watching me for a while
And you like what you see
It's in the eyes of the beholder
Now give them to me
(Chorus... Give me your eyes)
Oh, mirror mirror on the wall
Mirror mirror made no reply
Mirror went black and cracked
From side to side
Oh girl, look at yourself
What have you done?
What have you become
You know the camera don't lie
(Chorus... Give me your eyes)
The Cardigans' song Give Me Your Eyes is a piece about self-reflection, as the singer looks at her own reflection and is unable to recognize the person she has become. The lyrics showcase a sense of desperation and need for someone to guide the singer back to reality; she is confused and lost. In the opening lines of the song, the singer appears to be having a conversation with herself, questioning what she has done and who she has become.
As the singer continues to introspect, she reaches out to someone (presumably, a significant other) to help her find herself again. Through the lines "give me your eyes, so I can see me straight," she is asking for guidance, someone to help her see herself clearly. The chorus repeats this request, further emphasizing her need for clarity.
The song's emotional edge intensifies when the mirror refuses to provide her with the answers she seeks. With this incident, the singer realizes that she must rely on other people, instead of mirrors, to guide her back to reality.
Overall, Give Me Your Eyes is a song about the importance of self-reflection, self-love, and accepting help from others when it's needed. The singer is lost but is willing to accept guidance to find her way back to reality.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh girl, look at yourself
Take a moment to reflect on yourself
What have you done?
What decisions and actions have you made?
What have you become?
What type of person have you transformed into?
Well, I couldn't say
I am unsure of the answers to those questions
Slow down and think of your heart
Take a moment to consider your emotions
Where do you go?
What direction are you headed in?
How how am I supposed to know
I cannot answer that question
I'm always looking away
I tend to avoid difficult questions and situations
Give me your eyes
Let me see things from your perspective
So I can see me straight
So that I can see myself accurately
I can't tell night from day
I'm lost and confused
And watch me walk away
Observe me leave
I took a look at myself
I reflected on myself
Nothing inside
I feel empty and alone
Except cigarettes and wine
I self-medicate with substances
Where there should be a life
I should be living a fulfilling life instead
You've been watching me for a while
You have been observing me
And you like what you see
You are pleased with what you observe
It's in the eyes of the beholder
What one sees is subjective
Now give them to me
Allow me to perceive things through your eyes
Oh mirror mirror on the wall
Addressing a mirror that reflects oneself
Mirror mirror made no reply
The reflection provides no response
Mirror went black and cracked
The mirror shattered
From side to side
Breaking into pieces
You know the camera don't lie
Photographs capture the truth
Give me your eyes
Let me see things from your perspective
And watch me walk away
Observe me leave
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Anders Peter Svensson, Nina Elisabet Persson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
lkgrave
I'm always amazed how Nina has increased the range of her voice since 'First Band.' She kept getting better with every album.
Michel Limón
The important thing is that this song sounds really nice, it´s one of my favourites!!!
betterstayaway
Really nice voice :)
vania guy
Love it!!!
littleschlott
god, i love this song soooooooooo much! :)
heinzv von jentschyk
TREMENDA CANCION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111
A Finley
Why isnt this on Spotify!!
Jay Ham
it used to be on streaming services.. I bought it when it was, so it's on my device. in the cloud and download
970ronaldo
Nina! Gimme your soul, pleeeease :) This song is very good, as all of the Cardi song!
raptorperegrine
damn nina only gets more beautiful with the years