Carnival (The Cardigans song)

"Carnival" is a song by Swedish band the Cardigans. It was released in March 1995 as the first single from their second album Life. It gave the group their first appearance on the UK Singles Chart, reaching number 72 in June 1995. After their next single, a re-issue of "Sick & Tired", reached the top 40, "Carnival" was re-pressed and reached a peak of number 35. This release also peaked at number 44 in the Netherlands, becoming the band's first single to chart there.

"Carnival"
Swedish CD single cover
Single by the Cardigans
from the album Life
B-side
Released25 March 1995 (1995-03-25)
Length
  • 3:37 (album version)
  • 3:20 (single/radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Tore Johansson
The Cardigans singles chronology
"Sick & Tired"
(1995)		 "Carnival"
(1995)		 "Sick & Tired (reissue)"
(1995)

"Carnival" was the first released material by the Cardigans on which Nina Persson received a writing credit, on this occasion alongside bassist Magnus Svenningsson whom she would later supersede as the group's primary lyricist. The song concerns the narrator's unrequited love for a boy, and mentions a "carnival" (the description actually appears to refer to a funfair) which the narrator would like to attend with the boy but does not go because he never responds to her.

The single's B-sides are a cover of Ozzy Osbourne's "Mr Crowley", one of several Osbourne and Black Sabbath cover versions released by the group; and "Emmerdale", an instrumental which shared its name with their previous album, but did not appear on it.

Critical reception

James Masterton for Dotmusic wrote, "It's in a similar vein to their last hit; light, almost fluffy jazz-pop that sounds gorgeous but is unlikely to bring them a major hit just yet."[1]

Music video

The accompanying music video of "Carnival" was directed by Swedish-based director Matt Broadley.[2]

Track listing

International CD single (1995)

  1. "Carnival" – 3:20
  2. "Mr Crowley" – 2:35
  3. "Emmerdale" – 2:25

Charts
Chart (1995–1996) Peak
position
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[3] 14
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[4] 17
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[5] 44
Scotland (OCC)[6] 41
UK Singles (OCC)[7] 35

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[8] Gold 100,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Japan 25 March 1995 CD
[9]
United Kingdom 15 May 1995
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
[10]

References
  1. Masterton, James (26 November 1995). "Week Ending December 2nd 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  2. "Credits – Matt Broadley". mattbroadley.com. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  3. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (4.11. '95 – 10.11. '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 4 November 1995. p. 26. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  4. "The Cardigans – Carnival" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  5. "The Cardigans – Carnival" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  6. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  7. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  8. "Japanese digital single certifications – Cardigans – Carnival" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 20 May 2021. Select 2018年1月 on the drop-down menu
  9. "Cardigans Discography" (in Japanese). PolyGram. Archived from the original on 21 February 1999. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  10. "New Releases: Singls". Music Week. 13 May 1995. p. 39.
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