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
Iron Man
The Cardigans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can he see or is he blind?
Can he walk at all,
Or if he moves will he fall?
Is he alive or dead?
Has he thoughts within his head?
We'll just pass him there
Why should we even care?
He was turned to steel
In the great magnetic field
When he travelled time
For the future of mankind
Now the time is here
For Iron Man to spread fear
Vengeance from the grave
Kills the people he once saved
Nobody wants him
He just stares at the world
Planning his vengeance
That he will soon unfurl
Nobody wants him
They just turn their heads
Nobody helps him
Now he has his revenge
Heavy boots of lead
Fills his victims full of dread
Running as fast as they can
Iron Man lives again!
The Cardigans's song Iron Man is an interpretation of the original song by the same name by Black Sabbath. The lyrics tell the story of a man who has been transformed into a steel machine and is seeking revenge on those who have wronged him. The first verse asks whether the Iron Man is still human or has become a mere machine, and whether he can even move without falling down. The questions express a sense of detachment by the singer toward the Iron Man and suggests that he has no value in the eyes of society.
The second verse narrates how the Iron Man was created in a magnetic field and travelled through time to save humanity. However, after returning from his mission, he finds that he is no longer needed or wanted. The Iron Man's only purpose now is to seek vengeance on those he once saved. He is rejected by society and left to plan his revenge alone. In the bridge, the Iron Man's heavy boots represent his newfound power, and he proceeds to terrorize the people he once saved as they flee from him.
The overall interpretation of the song is about the dangers of creating and disowning technology, leaving it to seek its own means of revenge. The theme of isolation is particularly compelling, with the Iron Man being rejected by society and left to his own devices. The song is a reflection on the consequences of humanity's actions, particularly when we create powerful technologies that can turn against us.
Line by Line Meaning
Has he lost his mind?
Is he mentally unstable?
Can he see or is he blind?
Is he able to see his surroundings or is he visually impaired?
Can he walk at all,
Is he mobile?
Or if he moves will he fall?
Is he capable of moving without losing balance?
Is he alive or dead?
Is he still breathing or has he passed on?
Has he thoughts within his head?
Does he have cognitive processes intact?
We'll just pass him there
We won't pay much attention and move ahead.
Why should we even care?
There's no point in showing concern.
He was turned to steel
His body was transformed into a metal-like substance.
In the great magnetic field
This transformation happened in a powerful electromagnetic environment
When he travelled time
He moved through time
For the future of mankind
To secure the well-being of humanity.
Now the time is here
The present moment has arrived.
For Iron Man to spread fear
Time for Iron Man to instill fear in people.
Vengeance from the grave
Getting revenge even after death.
Kills the people he once saved
Eliminating people he had once protected.
Nobody wants him
No one desires to have him around.
He just stares at the world
He observes the world and its happenings.
Planning his vengeance
Devising his plan for revenge.
That he will soon unfurl
Which he will soon execute.
They just turn their heads
People ignore him when they see him.
Nobody helps him
No one comes forward to aid him.
Now he has his revenge
He has taken his revenge.
Heavy boots of lead
His footsteps sound heavy and oppressive.
Fills his victims full of dread
His presence makes people terrified.
Running as fast as they can
His victims flee as quickly as possible.
Iron Man lives again!
Iron Man has come back to life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Terence Michael Butler, Anthony Frank Iommi, John Michael Osbourne, William Ward
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter Pumkinghead
on Erase Rewind
.