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#REDIR [[Sexual arousal]]
[[image:CardigansPromo.jpg|right|thumb|400px|From left: Lars-Olof Johansson, Peter Svensson, Bengt Lagerberg, Nina Persson, Magnus Sveningsson]]
'''The Cardigans''' is a [[Sweden|Swedish]] band formed in the town of [[Jönköping]] in [[1992]]. The band's musical style has varied greatly from album to album and encompasses their early [[Indie rock|indie]] leanings passing through 60s-inspired [[Pop music|pop]] and more band-based [[Rock music|rock]].
Each one of their records has opened a new market and attracted the attention of new audiences. Their debut album "[[Emmerdale (album)|Emmerdale]]" ([[1994]]) gave them a solid base in their home country and raised some flags abroad, especially in [[Japan]]. But it wasn't until their breakthrough second album "Life" ([[1995]]) that international audiences and critics responded. The band is perhaps best known for their international hit single "Lovefool", from the album "[[First Band on the Moon]]" ([[1996]]). Its inclusion in the soundtrack of [[Baz Luhrmann]]'s [[Romeo and Juliet (1996 movie)|Romeo + Juliet]] secured their popularity and although some might consider them a [[one-hit wonder]] the band has had international success after that with the singles "My Favourite Game" and "Erase/Rewind", both from the album "[[Gran Turismo (album)|Gran Turismo]]".
The Cardigans are:
* '''Peter Svensson''', lead guitar.
* '''[[Magnus Sveningsson]]''', bass.
* '''Bengt Lagerberg''', drums.
* '''Lars-Olof "Lasse" Johansson''', keyboards and guitar.
* '''[[Nina Persson]]''', vocals.
==History==
Peter Svensson and Magnus Sveningsson, both [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] musicians, formed the group in October of 1992 in [[Jönköping]], Sweden, with drummer Bengt Lagerberg, keyboardist Lars-Olof Johansson and lead singer [[Nina Persson]]. Living together in a small apartment, The Cardigans recorded a demo tape which [[record producer]] [[Tore Johansson]] heard, leading to an invitation to record at a studio in [[Malmö]]. In [[1994]] they released their debut album, ''[[Emmerdale (album)|Emmerdale]]'' in Sweden and [[Japan]] (it was re-released internationally in [[1997]]). The album includes the Swedish radio hit "Rise & Shine" and was later voted the best of [[1994]] in a poll in ''[[Slitz]]'' magazine.
The rest of [[1994]] was spent touring Europe and recording ''[[Life (1995 album)|Life]]'', which was released worldwide [[1995]]. ''Life'' became an international success, selling more than a million copies and achieving platinum status in Japan. In [[1996]] ''Life'' was released under the label Minty Fresh in the U.S, but this release was essentially a compilation of tracks from ''Emmerdale'' and ''Life''. '''Life''' was perhaps a satirical riposte to the first album, and saw the band move in a more avant-garde direction in terms of arrangements and artwork.
After their success with ''Life'', The Cardigans were signed to [[Mercury Records]] under which they released ''[[First Band on the Moon]]'' worldwide in [[1996]]. With this album, the band had developed into a more complex, darker animal, the songs included themes of heartbreak, infidelity and despair. ''Lovefool'' was a hit across the globe, especially in the [[United States]] and again in Japan, where the album reached platinum in only three weeks. However, it was unrepresentative of the album as a whole and although it helped it achieve gold sales status in America many critics branded them saccharine soft-pop on the basis of ''Lovefool''.
[[1998]]'s ''[[Gran Turismo (album)|Gran Turismo]]'' was darker and more moody, and was followed by a long hiatus during which the band members pursued solo side projects. The same year they also released a compilation of rare B-sides called ''[[The Other Side of the Moon]]'' as a Japan-only release which makes this album somewhat rare outside Japan.
During the break that followed, Nina Persson released an album as [[A Camp]] and the Cardigans recorded a duet cover of [[Talking Heads]]' "Burning Down the House" with [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]] on his album ''[[Reload (Tom Jones album)|Reload]]'', Peter Svensson worked on the project [[Paus (band)|Paus]] with help from Joakim Berg from [[Kent (band)|Kent]], and Magnus Sveningsson recorded as [[Righteous Boy]]. The Cardigans returned in [[2003]] with the quieter, more introspective ''[[Long Gone Before Daylight]]''.
Recently, the band has followed a more [[country music]] style. The band finished recording their 6th album, ''Super Extra Gravity'', in [[May 2005]].
==Discography==
===Albums===
*"[[Emmerdale (album)|Emmerdale]]" ([[1994]]) - ''USA release in [[1999]]''
*"[[Life (album)|Life]]" ([[1995]]) - ''USA release in [[1996]]''
*"[[First Band on the Moon]]" ([[1996]])
*"[[Gran Turismo (album)|Gran Turismo]]" ([[1998]])
*"[[Long Gone Before Daylight]]" ([[2003]]) - ''USA release in [[2004]].''
*"[[Super Extra Gravity]]" - ''Due October 19th [[2005]].''
===Other full-length records===
*"The Other Side of the Moon" ([[1997]]) - ''[[B-side]] and rarities compilation released only in Japan and Australia.''
===Singles===
*"Rise & Shine" ([[1994]]) - ''Sweden only''
*"Black Letter Day" ([[1994]]) - ''Sweden and Japan only''
*"Sick & Tired" ([[1994]]) (#34 UK)
*"Carnival" ([[1995]]) (#35 UK)
*"Hey! Get Out of My Way" ([[1995]]) - ''Europe and Japan only''
*"Rise & Shine" ([[1995]]) - ''Re-recorded and reissued for Sweden, Japan and UK.'' (#29 UK)
*"Rise & Shine" ([[1996]]) - ''Re-recorded and reissued for Europe.''
*"Lovefool" ([[1996]]) - ''First issue'' (#21 UK)
*"Been It" ([[1996]]) - ''Europe and Australia'' ([[1997]]) - ''USA'' (#56 UK)
*"Your New Cuckoo" ([[1996]]) - ''Japan'' ([[1997]]) - ''Europe''
*"Lovefool" ([[1997]]) - ''Reissued internationally, including USA'' (#2 UK)
*"Your New Cuckoo" ([[1997]]) - ''Reissued in Europe and Australia'' (#35 UK)
*"My Favourite Game" ([[1998]]) (#14 UK)
*"Erase/Rewind" ([[1999]]) (#7 UK)
*"Hanging Around" ([[1999]]) (#17 UK)
*"Junk Of The Hearts" ([[1999]])
*"For What It's Worth" ([[2003]]) (#31 UK)
*"You're The Storm" ([[2003]]) (#74 UK)
*"Live and Learn" ([[2003]])
*"I Need Some Fine Wine And You, You Need To Be Nicer" ([[2005]]) (#3 Sweden, #59 UK)
== External links and references ==
* [http://www.cardigans.com/ Official Website]
* [http://cardigans.warmbytes.org/ The Cardigans Country] - a fan site with news, discography, lyrics database, and more.
* [http://cardigans.marvelhill.vze.com/ The Very Best Cardigans Website Ever] - a fan site with complete discography, album specials and more.
* [http://www.redpenguin.net/bandphotos/a-camp.php Live photos of Nina Persson and A Camp]
* [http://www.mtv.com/bands/az/cardigans/bio.jhtml The Cardigans @ MTV.com]
* [http://www.musicemissions.com/features/interviews/cardigans.php Interview with the band]
[[Category:Swedish musical groups|Cardigans, the]]
[[Category:Rock music groups|Cardigans, the]]
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