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The Cardigans

Data updated on 2025-04-04 10:20:45 UTC
One of the most pleasing pop groups of the alternative era, the Cardigans specialized in sugary confections that would grow annoying very quickly if they weren't backed by solid musicianship and clever arrangements. The band's 1995 breakout album, Life, reflected the Cardigans at their most saccharine -- the sunny disposition of vocalist Nina Persson being the major argument in favor -- and critics inserted the group into the space age pop revivalist camp. The Cardigans later proved that they were more difficult to pigeonhole, however.

Even the band's origins showed that their later appearance was quite misleading; two heavy metal fanatics formed the group in October 1992 in Jonkoping, Sweden. Guitarist Peter Svensson met bassist Magnus Sveningsson in a hardcore group, though he had previously trained in music theory and jazz arranging. The two later grew tired of metal and decided to form a pop band with vocalist Nina Persson -- an art-school friend who had never sung professionally -- plus keyboard player Lars-Olof Johansson and drummer Bengt Lagerberg.

All five Cardigans moved into a small apartment in 1993 and began recording a demo tape that entered the hands of producer Tore Johansson later that year. He liked what he heard and invited the group to record at his Malmö studio. Signed to the dance-oriented Stockholm label, the Cardigans released Emmerdale in May 1994. The single "Rise & Shine" became a hit on Swedish radio soon after the release of the LP, and a readers' poll in Sweden's Slitz magazine voted Emmerdale the best album of 1994.

The Cardigans spent the last half of 1994 touring Europe and recording their second album. A satirical response to their moody debut, Life showed the band at their most upbeat, including an angelic picture of Persson in an ice-skating outfit for the cover. Released in March 1995 -- with several re-recordings of songs from Emmerdale -- the album eventually sold one and a half million copies worldwide and became especially popular in Japan, where it achieved platinum status.

A deal with Minty Fresh gave the Cardigans an American release of Life in spring 1996, and the group played eight sold-out shows in the U.S. that summer. The American major labels began to notice the attention, and Mercury signed them soon after. First Band on the Moon, released in September 1996, de-emphasized the pure pop in favor of abstract arrangements and some rather violent themes. Nevertheless, the infectious single "Lovefool" became a radio hit by early 1997, and First Band on the Moon eventually reached gold status in America, as well as platinum certification in Japan (just three weeks after its release).

Gran Turismo followed in 1998, though it lacked an obvious hit and led to a long hiatus for the band. Finally, the Cardigans returned in 2003 with Long Gone Before Daylight, marking a clear transition with confessional material closer to the singer/songwriter tradition. Super Extra Gravity followed in 2005, which hit number one in Sweden. By 2006, the band had gone on hiatus. Persson worked on solo material, releasing songs as A Camp and under her own name, while Svensson and Lagerberg issued music as Paus. (Lagerberg also worked with Johansson under the name Brothers of End.) The group reunited for occasional live shows during the 2010s, although without Svensson, who by this time was spending more time on pop music, writing and playing for an array of pop stars produced by Max Martin (One Direction, Avril Lavigne, Ellie Goulding, Ariana Grande, and Meghan Trainor). ~ John Bush, Rovi

Total plays

1.6 billion
Updated on 2025-04-04

Country

Sweden

Monthly listeners

10,381,335

Followers

1,517,273

Top Cities

  1. Mexico
    162,991 listeners
  2. Chile
    189,180 listeners
  3. Australia
    111,494 listeners
  4. United Kingdom
    114,357 listeners
  5. United States
    120,185 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Lovefool - Radio Edit
Lovefool - Radio Edit
774,456,093 3:17 1996-01-01
My Favourite Game
My Favourite Game
228,556,923 3:38 1998-01-01
Step On Me
Step On Me
192,697,840 3:50 1996-01-01
Erase / Rewind
Erase / Rewind
120,787,701 3:38 1998-01-01
Carnival
Carnival
35,482,304 3:21 1995-01-01
Burning Down The House
Burning Down The House
23,447,781 3:39 1999-01-01
For What It's Worth
For What It's Worth
13,969,138 4:18 2003-01-01
You're The Storm
You're The Storm
12,159,664 3:54 2003-01-01
Step On Me - Sped Up Version
Step On Me - Sped Up Version
11,687,714 3:26 2023-03-30
Communication
Communication
10,195,312 4:28 2003-01-01
Gordon's Gardenparty
Gordon's Gardenparty
9,769,587 3:20 1995-01-01
Live And Learn
Live And Learn
9,377,141 4:15 2003-01-01
I Need Some Fine Wine And You, You Need To Be Nicer
I Need Some Fine Wine And You, You Need To Be Nicer
7,052,573 3:35 2005-01-01
Your New Cuckoo
Your New Cuckoo
6,887,237 3:55 1996-01-01
Iron Man
Iron Man
6,055,963 4:20 1996-01-01
Rise & Shine
Rise & Shine
5,284,410 3:31 1994-01-01
Sick & Tired
Sick & Tired
4,842,483 3:24 1994-01-01
Heartbreaker
Heartbreaker
4,110,625 3:42 1996-01-01
And Then You Kissed Me
And Then You Kissed Me
4,026,445 6:03 2003-01-01
Hanging Around
Hanging Around
4,010,817 3:44 1998-01-01
Been It
Been It
3,527,265 4:05 1996-01-01
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
3,462,493 4:32 1994-01-01
Hey! Get Out Of My Way
Hey! Get Out Of My Way
3,430,868 3:31 1995-01-01
Great Divide
Great Divide
3,355,359 3:17 1996-01-01
Happy Meal II
Happy Meal II
3,351,148 2:36 1996-01-01
Explode
Explode
3,161,048 4:05 1998-01-01
Losers
Losers
3,113,677 3:17 1996-01-01
Don't Blame Your Daughter (Diamonds)
Don't Blame Your Daughter (Diamonds)
2,966,224 3:37 2005-01-01
Paralyzed
Paralyzed
2,964,003 4:57 1998-01-01
Daddy's Car
Daddy's Car
2,889,393 3:37 1995-01-01
My Favourite Game (feat. The Cardigans)
My Favourite Game (feat. The Cardigans)
2,736,894 2:28 2024-01-24
Higher
Higher
2,543,021 4:33 1998-01-01
Fine
Fine
2,484,020 3:11 1995-01-01
Feathers And Down
Feathers And Down
2,366,519 4:30 2003-01-01
War
War
2,296,270 3:56 1998-10-05
Please Sister
Please Sister
2,127,822 4:37 2003-01-01
Never Recover
Never Recover
2,100,390 3:21 1996-01-01
03.45 : No Sleep
03.45 : No Sleep
2,083,156 3:42 2003-01-01
Starter
Starter
2,074,447 3:54 1998-01-01
Do You Believe
Do You Believe
2,041,966 3:23 1998-01-01
Godspell
Godspell
1,899,738 3:29 2005-01-01
In The Afternoon
In The Afternoon
1,885,615 4:11 1994-01-01
A Good Horse
A Good Horse
1,818,667 3:15 2003-01-01
After All...
After All...
1,748,587 2:57 1994-01-01
Couldn't Care Less
Couldn't Care Less
1,746,117 5:32 2003-01-01
Choke
Choke
1,700,994 3:26 1996-01-01
Lead Me Into The Night
Lead Me Into The Night
1,604,689 4:32 2003-01-01
Junk Of The Hearts
Junk Of The Hearts
1,456,526 4:08 1998-01-01
Tomorrow
Tomorrow
1,415,228 3:04 1995-01-01
Marvel Hill
Marvel Hill
1,366,192 4:16 1998-01-01
Losing A Friend
Losing A Friend
1,320,817 3:49 2005-01-01
Celia Inside - Full Version
Celia Inside - Full Version
1,179,548 4:43 1995-03-01
Beautiful One
Beautiful One
1,146,570 3:28 1995-01-01
Celia Inside
Celia Inside
1,130,362 3:36 1994-01-01
Over The Water
Over The Water
1,110,252 2:13 1994-01-01
Been It - Radio Edit
Been It - Radio Edit
1,084,871 3:41 1996-09-17
In The Round
In The Round
1,068,396 4:16 2005-01-01
Nil
Nil
960,432 2:19 1998-01-01
Good Morning Joan
Good Morning Joan
952,778 3:37 2005-01-01
Cloudy Sky
Cloudy Sky
933,637 4:08 1994-01-01
Overload
Overload
906,313 3:19 2005-01-01
Black Letter Day
Black Letter Day
825,293 4:31 1994-01-01
Travelling With Charley
Travelling With Charley
759,130 4:10 1995-01-01
Little Black Cloud
Little Black Cloud
749,133 3:26 2005-01-01
And Then You Kissed Me II
And Then You Kissed Me II
699,161 3:57 2005-01-01
Drip Drop Teardrop
Drip Drop Teardrop
694,568 3:23 2005-01-01
Pikebubbles
Pikebubbles
669,919 3:04 1994-01-05
Holy Love
Holy Love
583,361 4:07 2005-01-01
Hold Me
Hold Me
572,046 3:38 2003-06-02
Country Hell
Country Hell
534,621 2:47 1996-09-17
Erase / Rewind - 2008 Remix by Kleerup
Erase / Rewind - 2008 Remix by Kleerup
523,924 4:02 2008-01-01
If There Is A Chance
If There Is A Chance
506,607 4:17 2003-03-19
Carnival - Puck Version
Carnival - Puck Version
488,100 2:53 1995-03-01
(If You Were) Less Like Me
(If You Were) Less Like Me
487,615 4:04 2006-02-06
Sunday Circus Song
Sunday Circus Song
477,567 3:54 1995-01-01
Pooh Song
Pooh Song
460,547 3:14 2008-01-25
Our Space
Our Space
441,831 3:32 1994-01-01
The Road
The Road
420,879 6:53 2003-02-17
Das Model - 00
Das Model - 00
382,950 2:54 2003-02-17
Plain Parade
Plain Parade
377,796 3:38 2008-01-25
Laika
Laika
373,962 1:19 2008-01-25
The Boys Are Back In Town
The Boys Are Back In Town
362,329 4:01 1995-03-01
Give Me Your Eyes
Give Me Your Eyes
361,434 3:21 2005-10-14
For The Boys
For The Boys
357,099 3:37 2005-11-21
I Figured Out - Demo '93
I Figured Out - Demo '93
354,060 2:04 2008-01-25
Happy Meal I
Happy Meal I
335,404 2:38 2008-01-25
Seems Hard
Seems Hard
333,072 3:58 1994-01-01
Losers - First Try
Losers - First Try
322,253 3:16 1996-09-17
After All... - Demo '93
After All... - Demo '93
317,522 2:37 2008-01-25
Last Song
Last Song
301,042 3:21 1994-01-01
Slow
Slow
294,981 4:04 2005-10-14
Nasty Sunny Beam
Nasty Sunny Beam
290,955 2:57 2008-01-25
Closing Time
Closing Time
278,463 10:25 1995-01-01
Blah Blah Blah
Blah Blah Blah
276,935 2:59 1996-09-17
Emmerdale
Emmerdale
265,719 2:25 1995-03-16
My Favourite Game (feat. The Cardigans & P Money) - P Money Remix
My Favourite Game (feat. The Cardigans & P Money) - P Money Remix
251,618 2:29 2024-06-28
Slowdown Town
Slowdown Town
246,743 4:08 2005-10-14
War - First Try
War - First Try
210,315 4:08 2008-01-25
Hold Me - Mini Version
Hold Me - Mini Version
176,268 1:17 2003-03-19
Deuce
Deuce
153,559 3:33 2008-01-25
Junk Of The Hearts - NÃ¥id Remix
Junk Of The Hearts - NÃ¥id Remix
133,959 5:25 1999-01-01
Higher - NÃ¥id Remix
Higher - NÃ¥id Remix
116,654 3:52 1999-01-01
Erase / Rewind - Dim's From The Old School Mix
Erase / Rewind - Dim's From The Old School Mix
95,149 3:13 2008-01-01
My Favourite Game - Rollo's Mix
My Favourite Game - Rollo's Mix
86,837 6:35 2003-01-01
Communication - Polar Session '01
Communication - Polar Session '01
78,111 4:21 2024-09-06
My Favourite Game - Live in Kiev, Ukraine / 2003
My Favourite Game - Live in Kiev, Ukraine / 2003
78,074 5:48 2005-11-21
You're The Storm - Sandkvie Session
You're The Storm - Sandkvie Session
77,762 4:34 2003-06-02
For What It's Worth - Polar Session - '01
For What It's Worth - Polar Session - '01
71,457 4:14 2003-02-17
Erase / Rewind - NÃ¥id Remix
Erase / Rewind - NÃ¥id Remix
67,660 6:43 1999-01-01
A Good Horse - iTunes exclusive
A Good Horse - iTunes exclusive
65,205 3:53 2003-03-19
Erase / Rewind - Cut La Roc Vocal Mix
Erase / Rewind - Cut La Roc Vocal Mix
58,050 4:01 1999-03-15
Mr. Crowley
Mr. Crowley
57,931 2:35 1995-03-16
Lovefool - Live At Hultsfredsfestivalen
Lovefool - Live At Hultsfredsfestivalen
57,362 3:21 1998-10-05
You're The Storm - First Demo
You're The Storm - First Demo
49,430 3:28 2003-06-02
My Favourite Game - Wubbledub Mix
My Favourite Game - Wubbledub Mix
43,008 5:57 1998-10-05
Sick & Tired - Live From Hultsfredsfestivalen, Sweden / 1997
Sick & Tired - Live From Hultsfredsfestivalen, Sweden / 1997
42,447 3:34 1998-10-05
Iron Man - First Try
Iron Man - First Try
42,401 3:40 2024-09-06
My Favourite Game - NÃ¥id Remix
My Favourite Game - NÃ¥id Remix
42,277 5:07 1999-01-01
Pooh Song
Pooh Song
40,040 3:14 2010-07-30
Explode - Live in Kiev, Ukraine / 2003
Explode - Live in Kiev, Ukraine / 2003
39,282 4:34 2005-11-21
Been It - Live
Been It - Live
37,876 4:06 1998-04-28
Hanging Around - Live in Kiev, Ukraine / 2003
Hanging Around - Live in Kiev, Ukraine / 2003
34,050 4:34 2006-02-06
Hanging Around - NÃ¥id Remix
Hanging Around - NÃ¥id Remix
32,432 4:10 1999-01-01
Cocktail Party Bloody Cocktail Party
Cocktail Party Bloody Cocktail Party
31,302 15:46 2024-09-06
Higher - Live in Kiev, Ukraine / 2003
Higher - Live in Kiev, Ukraine / 2003
30,619 4:36 2006-02-06
Paralyzed - Live in Kiev, Ukraine / 2003
Paralyzed - Live in Kiev, Ukraine / 2003
24,848 5:09 2003-01-01
Great Divide - Demo '96
Great Divide - Demo '96
24,045 2:45 2024-09-06
Your New Cuckoo - Radio Edit
Your New Cuckoo - Radio Edit
23,032 3:31 1996-09-17
Lovefool - Tee's Frozen Sun Mix
Lovefool - Tee's Frozen Sun Mix
20,788 7:51 1996-09-14
Explode - Remix
Explode - Remix
18,118 5:11 1999-03-15
I Need Some Fine Wine And You, You Need To Be Nicer - Live at O2 Music-Flash
I Need Some Fine Wine And You, You Need To Be Nicer - Live at O2 Music-Flash
16,916 3:30 2006-01-01
Heartbreaker - Live From Hultsfredsfestivalen, Sweden / 1997
Heartbreaker - Live From Hultsfredsfestivalen, Sweden / 1997
16,244 2:47 1999-03-15
In The Round - Live at O2 Music-Flash / Instrumental
In The Round - Live at O2 Music-Flash / Instrumental
15,457 2:01 2006-01-01
Losing A Friend - Live at O2 Music-Flash
Losing A Friend - Live at O2 Music-Flash
14,420 3:45 2006-01-01
Erase / Rewind - Live at O2 Music-Flash
Erase / Rewind - Live at O2 Music-Flash
14,245 3:43 2006-01-01
Never Recover - Live From Hultsfredsfestivalen, Sweden / 1997
Never Recover - Live From Hultsfredsfestivalen, Sweden / 1997
13,366 2:54 1999-03-15
Live and Learn - Live at O2 Music-Flash
Live and Learn - Live at O2 Music-Flash
12,167 3:58 2006-01-01
Been It - Censored Radio Edit
Been It - Censored Radio Edit
11,946 3:42 1996-09-17
My Favourite Game - Live at O2 Music-Flash
My Favourite Game - Live at O2 Music-Flash
11,798 5:15 2006-01-01
Little Black Cloud - Live at O2 Music-Flash
Little Black Cloud - Live at O2 Music-Flash
10,724 3:29 2006-01-01
Your New Cuckoo - Hyper Disco Mix
Your New Cuckoo - Hyper Disco Mix
9,944 9:24 1996-09-17
Your New Cuckoo - Super Stereo Mix
Your New Cuckoo - Super Stereo Mix
9,814 3:53 1996-09-17
Don't Blame Your Daughter (Diamonds) - Live at O2 Music-Flash
Don't Blame Your Daughter (Diamonds) - Live at O2 Music-Flash
9,653 3:40 2006-01-01
You're The Storm - Live at O2 Music-Flash
You're The Storm - Live at O2 Music-Flash
8,979 4:01 2006-01-01
Godspell - Live at O2 Music-Flash
Godspell - Live at O2 Music-Flash
8,523 3:32 2006-01-01
Hanging Around - Live at O2 Music-Flash
Hanging Around - Live at O2 Music-Flash
7,634 4:32 2006-01-01
03.45 : No Sleep - Live at O2 Music-Flash
03.45 : No Sleep - Live at O2 Music-Flash
7,375 3:37 2006-01-01
Bonus Track
Bonus Track
1,825 0:21 2005-10-14
Bonus Tracks
Bonus Tracks
< 1000 0:21 2005-10-14

New releases

The Rest Of The Best (Vol. 1)
The Rest Of The Best (Vol. 1)
2024-09-06
[Universal Music AB]
The Rest Of The Best (Vol. 2)
The Rest Of The Best (Vol. 2)
2024-09-06
[Universal Music AB]
Step On Me (Sped Up Version)
Step On Me (Sped Up Version)
2023-03-30
[Universal Music AB]
Best Of
Best Of
2008-01-25
[Universal Music AB]
Best Of
Best Of
2008-01-25
[Universal Music AB]
Erase / Rewind (2008 Remix by Kleerup)
Erase / Rewind (2008 Remix by Kleerup)
2008-01-01
[Universal Music AB]
Don't Blame Your Daughter (Diamonds) [UK Version]
Don't Blame Your Daughter (Diamonds) [UK Version]
2006-02-06
[Universal Music AB]
Don't Blame Your Daughter (Diamonds)
Don't Blame Your Daughter (Diamonds)
2006-02-06
[Universal Music AB]
Don't Blame Your Daughter (Diamonds)
Don't Blame Your Daughter (Diamonds)
2006-02-06
[Universal Music AB]
The Cardigans - Live at O2 Music-Flash
The Cardigans - Live at O2 Music-Flash
2006-01-01
[Universal Music AB]
I Need Some Fine Wine And You, You Need To Be Nicer
I Need Some Fine Wine And You, You Need To Be Nicer
2005-11-21
[Universal Music AB]
I Need Some Fine Wine And You, You Need To Be Nicer
I Need Some Fine Wine And You, You Need To Be Nicer
2005-11-21
[Universal Music AB]
I Need Some Fine Wine And You, You Need To Be Nicer
I Need Some Fine Wine And You, You Need To Be Nicer
2005-11-21
[Universal Music AB]
Super Extra Gravity
Super Extra Gravity
2005-10-14
[Universal Music AB]
Super Extra Gravity
Super Extra Gravity
2005-10-14
[Universal Music AB]
Super Extra Gravity
Super Extra Gravity
2005-10-14
[Universal Music AB]
Super Extra Gravity (Remastered)
Super Extra Gravity (Remastered)
2005-01-01
[Universal Music AB]
Live And Learn
Live And Learn
2003-12-03
[Universal Music AB]
You're The Storm
You're The Storm
2003-06-02
[Universal Music AB]
You're The Storm
You're The Storm
2003-06-02
[Universal Music AB]
A Good Horse
A Good Horse
2003-03-19
[Universal Music AB]
Long Gone Before Daylight
Long Gone Before Daylight
2003-03-19
[Universal Music AB]
Long Gone Before Daylight
Long Gone Before Daylight
2003-03-19
[Universal Music AB]
For What It's Worth
For What It's Worth
2003-02-17
[Universal Music AB]
For What It's Worth
For What It's Worth
2003-02-17
[Universal Music AB]
Paralyzed
Paralyzed
2003-01-01
[Universal Music AB]
Long Gone Before Daylight (Remastered)
Long Gone Before Daylight (Remastered)
2003-01-01
[Universal Music AB]
Erase/Rewind
Erase/Rewind
1999-03-15
[Universal Music AB]
Erase/Rewind
Erase/Rewind
1999-03-15
[Universal Music AB]
Erase / Rewind
Erase / Rewind
1999-03-15
[Universal Music AB]
Gran Turismo Overdrive
Gran Turismo Overdrive
1999-01-01
[Universal Music AB]
My Favourite Game
My Favourite Game
1998-10-05
[Universal Music AB]
My Favourite Game
My Favourite Game
1998-10-05
[Universal Music AB]
Gran Turismo
Gran Turismo
1998-10-01
[Universal Music AB]
Gran Turismo (Remastered)
Gran Turismo (Remastered)
1998-01-01
[Universal Music AB]
Been It
Been It
1996-09-17
[Universal Music AB]
Your New Cuckoo
Your New Cuckoo
1996-09-17
[Universal Music AB]
Your New Cuckoo
Your New Cuckoo
1996-09-17
[Universal Music AB]
Lovefool
Lovefool
1996-09-14
[Universal Music AB]
First Band On The Moon (Remastered)
First Band On The Moon (Remastered)
1996-01-01
[Universal Music AB]
Carnival
Carnival
1995-03-16
[Universal Music AB]
Life
Life
1995-03-01
[Universal Music AB]
Hey! Get Out Of My Way
Hey! Get Out Of My Way
1995-03-01
[Universal Music AB]
Life (Remastered)
Life (Remastered)
1995-01-01
[Universal Music AB]
Emmerdale
Emmerdale
1994-02-18
[Universal Music AB]
Rise & Shine
Rise & Shine
1994-01-05
[Universal Music AB]
Emmerdale (Remastered)
Emmerdale (Remastered)
1994-01-01
[Universal Music AB]