The Cardigans had every intention of rocking out in a way they hadn’t done on previous records. But one song required a subtler, slinkier approach. It’s a good thing they took that approach, because the song in question, “Lovefool,” turned out to the most successful of their career.
What is the song about? And how did “Lovefool” transform itself into something that would become catnip on radio all over the world? Here is the story behind The Cardigans’ 1996 smash that still sounds fizzy and fresh after all these years.
“Fool” Me Once
The Cardigans formed in Sweden in the early ’90s, and they were distinguished early on by the dreamy vocals of lead singer Nina Persson and an eclectic musical bent. They began the process of collecting material for their third album First Band on the Moon while they were still touring the album Life, which they had released in 1995.
As a result, it was in an airport where guitarist Peter Svensson first played the song to the rest of the band. He had the first part of the chorus (Love me, love me, say that you love me) in place. Persson didn’t think the song should be quite so syrupy, so she countered with Fool me, fool me, go on and fool me. She explained to The Guardian what went into her lyrics:
“It’s a song about how it’s very human to bend over backwards when it comes to getting love. The character is very calculating, aware that what they’re going to get isn’t real but that it’s better than nothing.”
Booting the Bossa Nova
When Svensson initially wrote the music, he envisioned the song played with a bossa nova rhythm. Needless to say, that slightly antiquated style wasn’t exactly in demand on the various radio formats of the time. The band’s producer, Tore Johansson, gave the band a hard time about the song, suggesting they switch it up.
Johansson convinced The Cardigans to throw more of a disco feel behind the song, without revving up the pace so much that it would lose the prettiness of the melody. That’s when “Lovefool” came together into a version that did well right off the bat in countries all over the world.
But the song’s exposure went into overdrive when filmmaker Baz Luhrmann reached out to the band. He was looking for just the right pop songs for his modernized version of Romeo + Juliet, and “Lovefool” caught his attention. Once the song appeared in the film, The Cardigans found themselves hitting new heights of popularity.
What is the Meaning of “Lovefool”?
The portmanteau title of “Lovefool” hints at the song’s duality. The narrator is clearly in love with the person she’s addressing, but she can feel him pulling away: Dear, I fear we’re facing a problem / You love me no longer, I know, she sings to begin the song. But she explains that she can delude herself as long as he sticks around: I don’t care if you really care / As long as you don’t go.
The narrator receives advice from others she ignores: That I ought just stick to another man / A man that surely deserves me / But I think you do. She also neglects all the logic that tells her she shouldn’t subject herself to this anguish anymore: Reason will not reach a solution / I will end up lost in confusion.
I can’t care ’bout anything but you, Persson sings to close out the song, but her voice sounds far more quizzical than decisive. “Lovefool” suggests we’ll put up with all manner of indignities to be with the one we love. The Cardigans dressed that somewhat sour message in a chirpy sheen to make it accessible, and the rest is ’90s pop history.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Photo by Jeremy Bembaron/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images
Local News
Comments / 0