The Cardigans - Carnival

What this video is

Released in March 1995 on Trampolene and Stockholm Records, 'Carnival' was The Cardigans' debut on the UK Singles Chart and the lead single from their breakthrough album Life. It arrived during a fertile period of Scandinavian pop exportation—Ace of Base had recently conquered global charts—and positioned The Cardigans as a distinctly retro-leaning alternative, fusing bossa nova lightness with 1960s pop structure.…

Why it matters

A foundational document of the mid-90s twee/bossa nova pop revival, 'Carnival' demonstrates how Swedish artists translated Anglo-American indie aesthetics through a Scandinavian filter. Its rapid editing, warm saturation, and carnival iconography became visual shorthand for the band's broader…

The director

Matt Broadley is a Swedish music video director and director of photography active since the 1990s. He directed several chart-topping videos including Ace of Base's 'All That She Wants' and Culture Beat's 'Mr. Vain', and has worked extensively in Swedish TV…