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
You're the Storm
The Cardigans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can hear your canons call
You've been aiming at my land
Your hungry hammer's falling
And if you want me, I'm your country
I'm an angel bored like hell
And you're a devil meaning well
Come raise your flag upon me
And if you want me, I'm your country
If you win me I'm forever, oh yeah
'Cause you're the storm that I believe in
And all this peace has been deceiving
I like the sweet life and the silence
But it's the storm that I believe in
Come and conquer, drop your bones
Cross my borders and kill the calm
Bury your things and burn my winds
I hear bullets singing
And if you want me, I'm your country
If you win me I'm forever, oh yeah
'Cause you're the storm that I believe in
And all this peace has been deceiving
I need some wind to get me sailing
So it's the storm that I believe in
You feel my heart you keep my breathing
'Cause you're the storm that I believe in
The Cardigans's song You're the Storm is a passionate and metaphorical song about love and commitment. The lyrics suggest that the person singing has been hurt by this other person's love before, but there is a sense that they are willing to be hurt again because they feel that the other person is the only one that understands them. The refrain "You're the storm that I believe in" reinforces the idea that the person sees the other person's love as a powerful force that they can't resist.
The opening lines of the song set the stage for this metaphorical battle between lovers: "Oh it's healing bang bang bang, I can hear your canons call, You've been aiming at my land, Your hungry hammer's falling." The person singing feels the other person's love as a kind of assault, but one that they need in order to heal. The metaphor of "canons" and "hungry hammer" suggest a kind of violence, but one that is necessary to break through the person's defenses.
As the song continues, the person singing compares themselves to an "angel bored like hell" and the other person to a "devil meaning well." They see themselves as good, but in need of a little excitement, while the other person is not necessarily evil but definitely can be dangerous. The metaphorical battle between the two continues as the other person is urged to "conquer," "cross my borders," and "kill the calm." In the end, though, the person singing is willing to be won over by this other person's love, even if it means being hurt again.
Overall, The Cardigans's song You're the Storm is a powerful and evocative expression of love and desire. The lyrics are filled with metaphors and images that suggest a kind of battle between two people, but one that ultimately ends in commitment and passion.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh it's healing bang bang bang
The intense pain of the situation feels like a healing process, even though it involves emotional and psychological damage.
I can hear your canons call
Your words and actions are clearly directed at me and I can feel their impact.
You've been aiming at my land
You have been trying to invade and conquer the space that I claim as my own.
Your hungry hammer's falling
Your aggressive and forceful approach is creating chaos and destruction in my life.
And if you want me, I'm your country
If you are willing to accept me with all my weaknesses and insecurities, I will offer you my loyalty and be your refuge.
I'm an angel bored like hell
I try to put up a front of being perfect and good, but inside I'm frustrated and unhappy with the monotony of life.
And you're a devil meaning well
You may seem like a villain, but I know that you have good intentions and just want to shake things up.
You steal my lines and you strike me down
You challenge me and use my own words and actions against me to keep me on my toes.
Come raise your flag upon me
Assert your dominance and show that you have conquered me and my heart.
If you win me I'm forever, oh yeah
If you manage to win my love and affection, I will stay loyal to you forever.
'Cause you're the storm that I believe in
I am drawn to your energy and unpredictability, even though it conflicts with my desire for peace and stability.
And all this peace has been deceiving
The calm and tranquility of my life until now has been an illusion, and you have exposed me to the harsh realities of the world.
I like the sweet life and the silence
I enjoy the simple pleasures of life and the absence of noise and chaos.
But it's the storm that I believe in
Despite my natural inclination towards peace, I am drawn towards chaos and excitement that you bring.
Come and conquer, drop your bones
Assert your dominion over me and let go of everything that holds you back.
Cross my borders and kill the calm
Invade my space and disrupt the peace and quiet that I am used to.
Bury your things and burn my winds
Get rid of your possessions and let go of anything that holds you back, and I will embrace your chaotic energy.
I hear bullets singing
I am constantly aware of the danger and risks that come with being with you.
I need some wind to get me sailing
I need your disruptive energy to make me feel alive and give me the motivation to strive for more.
You feel my heart you keep my breathing
You have the power to affect me emotionally and physically, and you are the only one who can fill my life with excitement and passion.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NINA PERSSON, PETER ANDERS SVENSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-yk3ii4gm7s
"You're The Storm"
Oh it's healing, bang bang bang
I can hear your cannons call
You've been aiming at my land
Your hungry hammer is falling
And if you want me, I'm your country
I'm an angel bored like hell
And you're a devil meaning well
You steal my lines and you strike me dumb
Come raise your flag upon me
And if you want me, I'm your country
If you win me, I'm forever, oh yeah
'Cause you're the storm that I've been needing
And all this peace has been deceiving
I like the sweet life and the silence
But it's the storm that I believe in
Come and conquer and drop your bombs
Cross my borders and kill the calm
Bear your fangs and burn my wings
I hear bullets singing
And if you want me, I'm your country
If you win me, I'm forever, oh yeah
'Cause you're the storm that I've been needing
And all this peace has been deceiving
I need some wind to get me sailing
So it's the storm that I believe in
You fill my heart, you keep me breathing
'Cause you're the storm that I believe in
And if you want me I'm your country
@JonQuinn24
Such a beautiful song. This band will always be one of my all time favorites. So many amazing songs by amazing musicians. “Long Gone Before Daylight” is that one record I’d choose to be stranded on an island with. It’s a masterpiece. Thank you Cardigans for sharing so much amazing music with us!
@RRGreiner
First Band on the Moon for me
@LP-cr7jo
I have met Nina one hour ago. What a lovely woman. 🫠
@TheRockGeeksPodcast
It really is a work of genius!
@lacuna17
Saw them coheadline with Liz Phair. Hadn't heard the album but after seeing the songs live made sure I left with it. Easily one of my all time favorites.
@ianmcdonagh142
Agreed , they’ve stayed with me since I saw them live in Galway, Ireland in 1996 ❤️🇸🇪
@Titanium25Axel
This song is so underraded
@MicaRayan
This tune is so ethereal. What a special band in my heart. They figured it all out. The mv is perfection.
@MrCharlesray
Her voice is so calming and soothing, really takes your mind off of anything when you are having a bad day.
@stephenz2822
What a great song and her voice is so comforting and soothing puts me in a better mood. Also, there's never been a more beautiful woman to sing a note !