The Cardigans

The Cardigans are a Swedish rock band from Jönköping, Sweden, formed in 1992 and active since then. The group’s line-up includes 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; Mattias Alfheim is also listed as a member. Peter Svensson and Magnus Sveningsson conceive the band in October 1992, and the group later move from Jönköping to Malmö to pursue music.

Style and influences

The Cardigans’ sound changes from album to album, moving from early indie-oriented material through 1960s-influenced pop and into a more band-led rock style. Their genres include alternative rock, indie pop, indie rock, pop, pop rock, and rock. Early influences include hard rock and folk music, with Nick Drake and Iron Maiden named among the band’s main influences.

Recordings and releases

After an early recording of “Rise & Shine” appears on a local independent label in 1994, the band signs to Stockholm Records and releases their debut album, Emmerdale, the same year. The album wins “Best Album of 1994” from Slitz. Their second album, Life, follows in 1995 and includes the singles “Carnival” and a new version of “Rise & Shine”, bringing the band their first international chart success.

Before First Band on the Moon is issued in 1996, the band releases “Lovefool”. The song becomes their biggest international breakthrough after its use on the Romeo and Juliet film soundtrack in 1997, reaching number one on both the UK and US airplay charts and number two on the UK singles chart. The album sells more than 2.5 million copies worldwide and is certified platinum in the United States and Japan and gold in the United Kingdom.

Later work and collaborations

After the success of “Lovefool” and First Band on the Moon, the band tours internationally and appears on Beverly Hills 90210 and The David Letterman Show. During a break, they contribute “War” to the A Life Less Ordinary soundtrack, a live version of “Been It” to the Lilith Fair compilation, and “Deuce” to The X-Files: The Album. The group also spends time on solo projects.

In June 1998, The Cardigans work again with long-time producer Tore Johansson at Country Hell near Svaneholm Castle in Malmö for Gran Turismo. The album includes “My Favourite Game”, whose video is directed by Jonas Åkerlund and which also appears as the intro theme to Gran Turismo 2, and “Erase/Rewind”, another major international single. Gran Turismo also sells more than 2.5 million copies worldwide.

Later albums include Long Gone Before Daylight in 2003, which yields the singles “For What It’s Worth” and “You’re the Storm”, and Super Extra Gravity, released in 2005. The band tours Europe and North America following Long Gone Before Daylight.