The Cardigans are a Swedish band that formed in Jönköping, Småland, Sweden … Read Full Bio ↴The Cardigans are a Swedish band that formed in Jönköping, Småland, Sweden in 1992. The band's musical style has varied greatly from album to album; encompassing their early indie-leanings passing through '60s-inspired pop and more band-based rock. Their current lineup is Nina Persson on vocals, Peter Svensson on lead guitar, Magnus Sveningsson on bass guitar, Bengt Lagerberg on drums and Lars-Olof Johansson on keyboards and guitar.

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

Pooh Song
The Cardigans Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When the cats & dogs are falling
I'm recalling you
You said I'd be bored today
And I don't know what I want to do

Wise eyes telling twice
Dance like penguins on my table
Ain't my kind of joy

On every Friday night

I'm just whistling on a song...
Songs we wrote together

When my world is far too evil
I'm recalling you
Things are hard to understand
There's little that I really know

Wise eyes telling twice
Dance like penguins on my table
Ain't my kind of joy
On every Friday night

I'm just whistling on a song...
Songs we wrote together

Overall Meaning

The Cardigans' "Pooh Song" is a melancholic yet hopeful tune that centers around reminiscence of a friend during difficult times. In the first verse, the singer is remembering a moment when their friend told them they'd be bored that day, but now that they're facing trouble, they wish they could go back to that simpler time. They feel lost and uncertain about what to do, but they find comfort in thinking of their friend's wisdom that they can't quite grasp. The second verse echoes this sentiment, but this time the singer is grappling with the evil in the world and a lack of understanding. Again, they turn to thoughts of their friend for solace.

The chorus of "Pooh Song" is both plaintive and hopeful. The singer acknowledges that they don't find joy in the same things as others ("dance like penguins on my table/Ain't my kind of joy"), but they take solace in the fact that they have memories of writing songs with their friend. The song ends on a somewhat bittersweet note, with the singer whistling the tune to the songs they wrote together.

Overall, "Pooh Song" is a touching ode to friendship and the way in which memories of the people we love can sustain us through difficult times.

Line by Line Meaning

When the cats & dogs are falling
During times of chaos and turmoil

I'm recalling you
Thinking of someone who can offer comfort and stability

You said I'd be bored today
The person being thought of predicted a lack of excitement in the current situation

And I don't know what I want to do
Feeling lost and unsure about how to move forward

Wise eyes telling twice
A knowledgeable presence offering advice

Dance like penguins on my table
An unusual and unenjoyable activity

Ain't my kind of joy
Not something that brings happiness or contentment

On every Friday night
A regular occurrence

I'm just whistling on a song...
Trying to find a glimmer of joy in the midst of difficult circumstances

Songs we wrote together
Memories of a happier time spent creating something beautiful

When my world is far too evil
During dark and challenging times

Things are hard to understand
Feeling confused and overwhelmed by current events

There's little that I really know
Uncertainty about how to navigate the situation

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BENGT LAGERBERG, MAGNUS SVENINGSSON, MATTIAS ALFHEIM, NINA PERSSON, PETER ANDERS SVENSSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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