Gran Turismo (album)

Last updated
Gran Turismo
CardigansGranTurismo.jpg
Studio album by
Released19 October 1998
Recorded1997–1998
Genre
Length42:36
Label Stockholm
Producer Tore Johansson
The Cardigans chronology
The Other Side of the Moon
(1997)
Gran Turismo
(1998)
Long Gone Before Daylight
(2003)
Singles from Gran Turismo
  1. "My Favourite Game"
    Released: 14 September 1998
  2. "Erase/Rewind"
    Released: 20 January 1999
  3. "Hanging Around"
    Released: 12 July 1999
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Boston Phoenix Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [1]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
NME 6/10 [9]
Pitchfork 7.0/10 [10]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [12]
USA Today Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]

Gran Turismo is the fourth studio album by Swedish band the Cardigans, released internationally on 19 October 1998 and in November 1998 in the United States. It features a darker and more moody type of music, mixed with more electronic sounds.

Contents

In an interview in 2009, producer and sound engineer Tore Johansson commented on the dark sound of the record, which sets it apart from the warm, jammy feel of many other recordings made at Tambourine Studios: "It's a very cold and defined recording, no natural reverb or audio curtains: there's not a sound element on that disc which wasn't deliberately put there." [14]

The album and band were nominated for a total of seven awards at the 1999 Grammis—the Swedish equivalent of the Grammy Awards. [15] Gran Turismo sold more than three million copies worldwide. [16]

Background

The album's name is explained by the band in a track on an advanced copy of the album titled "Explain the Title of the Album Gran Turismo": "The title can be interpreted in many ways but I think we only thought of a few ones we liked," Nina says. "We talked about having like Italian or French title and Gran Turismo came up and it sort of felt really good and you know I can think of music sometimes as tourism and traveling. So to me Gran Turismo is sort of the way to describe music sometimes or spending time with music." Peter says, "and I think that also the title suits this very album extremely well because the album is pretty much about trying to find your place in the world. I think sometimes you can always compare living to being a tourist in the world," Nina finishes.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Nina Persson and Peter Svensson, except where noted

Gran Turismo track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Paralyzed" 4:54
2."Erase/Rewind" 3:35
3."Explode" 4:04
4."Starter" 3:49
5."Hanging Around" 3:40
6."Higher" 4:32
7."Marvel Hill"Persson, Magnus Sveningsson, Svensson4:16
8."My Favourite Game" 3:36
9."Do You Believe" 3:19
10."Junk of the Hearts"Persson, Sveningsson, Svensson4:07
11."Nil" (instrumental) Lars-Olof Johansson 2:18

Personnel

Singles

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Gran Turismo
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [42] Platinum50,000^
France (SNEP) [43] Gold100,000*
Japan (RIAJ) [44] Gold100,000^
Netherlands (NVPI) [45] Gold50,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway) [46] Platinum50,000*
Sweden (GLF) [47] 2× Platinum160,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [48] Platinum520,000 [49]
Summaries
Europe (IFPI) [50] Platinum1,000,000*
Worldwide3,000,000 [16]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Crash! Boom! Bang!</i> 1994 studio album by Roxette

Crash! Boom! Bang! is the fifth studio album by Swedish pop rock duo Roxette, released on 11 April 1994 by EMI. The album was an immediate commercial success, peaking within the top 10 in over 20 national charts throughout Europe, Australasia and South America. The full-length album was not originally released in the United States, where a shortened version titled Favorites from Crash! Boom! Bang! was sold for a limited time through McDonald's outlets; this version sold over a million copies in the US but was deemed ineligible to chart on the Billboard 200 as, until 2007, Billboard had a policy of excluding albums sold by an exclusive retailer.

<i>Have a Nice Day</i> (Roxette album) 1999 studio album by Roxette

Have a Nice Day is the sixth studio album by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released worldwide from 22 February 1999 by Roxette Recordings and EMI. Recorded over an 18-month period in studios in Sweden and Spain, the album was produced by Marie Fredriksson, Per Gessle, Clarence Öfwerman and Michael Ilbert, and was their first studio album since Crash! Boom! Bang! in 1994. The album was not released in the US, as the duo were no longer signed to a label there. A deluxe edition was released in Spanish-speaking territories and, in Arabian regions, the naked babies on the cover were digitally removed, due to religious concerns.

<i>Room Service</i> (Roxette album) 2001 studio album by Roxette

Room Service is the seventh studio album by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released worldwide from 2 April 2001. A planned release in the United States failed to materialise, as the duo's label there, Edel Records America, had been disbanded the previous month due to financial difficulties. Marie Fredriksson was not as involved in the album's production as she had been on previous records, taking part in the composition of just two songs. The album was remastered and reissued with bonus tracks in 2009.

<i>The Ballad Hits</i> 2002 greatest hits album by Roxette

The Ballad Hits is the second greatest hits compilation album by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released on 4 November 2002 by Roxette Recordings and Capitol Records. It was the first of a two-part series of "best of" albums released by the duo in quick succession, and was followed by The Pop Hits in March 2003. Two new songs were recorded specially for The Ballad Hits: lead single "A Thing About You" and "Breathe". The album was a commercial success upon release, and has been certified gold or platinum in a number of territories.

<i>Hello Nasty</i> 1998 studio album by Beastie Boys

Hello Nasty is the fifth studio album by the American hip hop group Beastie Boys, released on July 14, 1998, by Grand Royal and Capitol Records. The album sold 681,000 copies in its first week, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, and won Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards. In Beastie Boys Book (2018), Ad-Rock said he felt Hello Nasty was the group's "best record".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Camp</span> Swedish musical group

A Camp is the solo side project of Nina Persson, vocalist for the Swedish indie pop band The Cardigans, her husband, composer Nathan Larson, and former Atomic Swing guitarist Niclas Frisk. Persson formed A Camp when The Cardigans took a break after several years of touring and the recording of their 1998 album Gran Turismo. A Camp recorded and released two albums, in 2001 and 2009, after which the project has been inactive.

<i>Paint the Sky with Stars</i> 1997 greatest hits album by Enya

Paint the Sky with Stars: The Best of Enya is the first greatest hits album by Irish singer-songwriter Enya, released on 3 November 1997 by WEA. Following her worldwide promotional tour in support of her previous album The Memory of Trees (1995), Enya began selecting tracks for a compilation album in early 1997, as her recording contract with WEA permitted her to do so. The album contains songs from her debut album Enya (1987) to The Memory of Trees (1995) and two new tracks, "Paint the Sky with Stars" and "Only If...".

<i>Spiceworld</i> (album) 1997 studio album by the Spice Girls

Spiceworld is the second studio album by English girl group the Spice Girls, released on 1 November 1997 by Virgin Records. Its music incorporates dance-pop music and production. The album became a commercial success worldwide, lengthening the so-called "Spicemania" of the time. It debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, with first-week sales of 190,000 copies and shipped 1.4 million copies in two weeks. The album also reached number one in 13 countries, while peaking inside the top three in Australia, Canada, France, Switzerland and the United States. Spiceworld has sold over 14 million copies worldwide, making it one of the world's best-selling albums by a girl group.

<i>Escapology</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Robbie Williams

Escapology is the fifth studio album recorded by English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams. It was released on 18 November 2002 through EMI Records. The album features a guest appearance by singer Rose Stone and was produced by Guy Chambers and Steve Power. The album's lead single "Feel" was released on 2 December 2002, two weeks after the album. The track was an international hit, reaching the top of the charts in Austria, Poland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and top five positions in countries such as Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Three other singles from the album were released: "Come Undone", "Something Beautiful" and "Sexed Up".

<i>Aquarium</i> (Aqua album) 1997 studio album by Aqua

Aquarium is the debut studio album by Danish band Aqua, released on 26 March 1997. The album is best known for including the globally successful single "Barbie Girl", which went on to become a widely recognizable hit around the world, as well as the popular track “Lollipop (Candyman)”. The album also featured the songs "Doctor Jones" and "Turn Back Time". In early 1997, the release of Aquarium was initially preceded by the singles "Roses Are Red" and "My Oh My", which was released a second time in 1998.

<i>Long Gone Before Daylight</i> 2003 studio album by The Cardigans

Long Gone Before Daylight is the fifth studio album by Swedish rock band the Cardigans. Released in Japan on 19 March 2003 and in Europe from 24 March by Stockholm Records, it was their first studio album since the release of Gran Turismo in 1998, during which time band members released numerous solo works under assumed aliases: Peter Svensson issued Paus' sole, self-titled album in 1998. This was followed by the release of the self-titled record from Nina Persson's A Camp in 2001, and bassist Magnus Sveningsson's I Sing Because of You in 2002.

<i>Super Extra Gravity</i> 2005 studio album by the Cardigans

Super Extra Gravity is the sixth and final studio album by Swedish band the Cardigans. It was produced by Tore Johansson, who last worked with the Cardigans on Gran Turismo and later with the band Franz Ferdinand. The album was released in Germany and Ireland on 14 October 2005 and in the UK on 17 October 2005. A Japanese edition was later released. The first single released was "I Need Some Fine Wine and You, You Need to Be Nicer". The second single was "Don't Blame Your Daughter (Diamonds)". It was said that "Godspell"—the lyrics of which reference a conservative religious mentality common to the band's hometown of Jönköping—was to be the third single, but plans for its release fell through.

<i>Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael</i> 1998 greatest hits album by George Michael

Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael is the first compilation album by George Michael, released on 9 November 1998. The collection of 29 songs is separated into two-halves, with each CD of the double set containing music of a particular theme and mood. The first CD, titled "For the Heart", predominantly contains Michael's hit ballads, while the second CD, "For the Feet", comprises mostly his popular dance tunes. A DVD release also titled Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael followed in 1999, featuring 23 music videos from Michael's career.

<i>A Collection of Roxette Hits: Their 20 Greatest Songs!</i> 2006 greatest hits album by Roxette

A Collection of Roxette Hits: Their 20 Greatest Songs! is the fourth greatest hits compilation album by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released on 18 October 2006 by Roxette Recordings and Capitol to celebrate 20 years since the release of their debut album, Pearls of Passion. It was issued in conjunction with a six-disc box set, The Rox Box/Roxette 86–06. The duo recorded "One Wish" and "Reveal" in June 2006, their first songs recorded as a duo since vocalist Marie Fredriksson's brain tumour diagnosis four years earlier.

<i>Westlife</i> (album) 1999 studio album by Westlife

Westlife is the debut studio album by Irish boy band Westlife. The album was released on 1 November 1999 through RCA. The album spawned the five UK number-one hit singles "Swear It Again", "If I Let You Go", "Flying Without Wings", the double A-side "I Have a Dream"/"Seasons in the Sun", and "Fool Again".

<i>Greatest Hits: 1965–1992</i> 1992 greatest hits album by Cher

Greatest Hits: 1965–1992 is the first European compilation album by American singer-actress Cher, released on November 9, 1992, by Geffen Records. The album reached the top 10 in several European countries and topped the UK Albums Chart for 7 non-consecutive weeks where it became the best-selling album by a female artist of 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bailando (Paradisio song)</span> 1996 single by Paradisio

"Bailando" is a song by Belgian group Paradisio. It was released in 1996 as the lead single from their debut album, Paradisio. The song is produced by Patrick Samoy and Luc Rigaux and reached number-one in Italy, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden. It peaked at number 2 in Belgium. In Sweden, it was the best selling single by being triple platinum. The song was a hit in most countries across Europe during the summer of 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Cardigans discography</span>

The Cardigans are a band from Sweden. They have released six studio albums, which in total have sold about 15 million copies worldwide. This is a list of their album and single releases.

<i>Where We Belong</i> (album) 1998 studio album by Boyzone

Where We Belong is the third studio album by Irish boy band Boyzone. The album was released on 25 May 1998 by Polydor Records. Five singles were released from the album, including a cover version of "I Love the Way You Love Me". The album became a top 10 album in eleven countries. It was the group's second album to be released in the United States, where it charted at number 167 on the Billboard 200. Where We Belong is also the third and final studio album Boyzone released before the death of Stephen Gately, 11 years later.

<i>Romanza</i> 1997 compilation album by Andrea Bocelli

Romanza is the first compilation album by Italian tenor singer Andrea Bocelli, released internationally in 1997.

References

  1. 1 2 Brunner, Rob (6 November 1998). "Gran Tourismo". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  2. Lambeth, Sam (October 7, 2018). "The Cardigans: Gran Turismo turns twenty". Louder Than War . Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  3. Davies, Lucy (2003). "The Cardigans - Long Gone Before Daylight Review". BBC Music . Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  4. Harrison, Quentin (October 14, 2023). "The Cardigans' 'Gran Turismo' Turns 25 - Album Anniversary". Albumism. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Gran Turismo – The Cardigans". AllMusic . Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  6. Pappademas, Alex (2 November 1998). "The Cardigans: Gran Turismo (Mercury)". The Boston Phoenix . Archived from the original on 8 April 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  7. Sullivan, Caroline (23 October 1998). "The Cardigans: Gran Turismo (Stockholm)". The Guardian .
  8. Holdship, Bill (8 November 1998). "The Cardigans, 'Gran Turismo,' Mercury". Los Angeles Times . ISSN   0458-3035 . Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  9. Long, April (16 October 1998). "The Cardigans – Gran Turismo". NME . Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  10. Wisdom, James P. "Cardigans: Gran Turismo". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 12 March 2008. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  11. "The Cardigans: Gran Turismo". Q (159): 115. December 1999.
  12. Kot, Greg (29 October 1998). "The Cardigans: Gran Turismo". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 14 November 2007. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  13. Gundersen, Edna (10 November 1998). "The Cardigans, Gran Turismo". USA Today .
  14. "Gran Turismo Live – Snuggling with the Enemy". 16 November 2012.
  15. "Artists & Music | Stockholm Records". Billboard . Vol. 111, no. 7. 13 February 1999. p. 20. ISSN   0006-2510.
  16. 1 2 "GT sales" . Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  17. 1 2 3 "Cardigans | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  18. "Austriancharts.at – The Cardigans – Gran Turismo" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  19. "Ultratop.be – The Cardigans – Gran Turismo" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  20. "Ultratop.be – The Cardigans – Gran Turismo" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  21. "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 68, No. 9: Nov 23, 1998". RPM . RPM Library and Archives. 23 November 1998. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  22. "Hits Of The World - Gran Turismo - Denmark". Billboard . Vol. 111, no. 19. 8 May 1999. p. 47. ISSN   0006-2510.
  23. "Dutchcharts.nl – The Cardigans – Gran Turismo" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  24. 1 2 "Hits Of The World - Gran Turismo - Eurochart & Ireland". Billboard . Vol. 111, no. 12. 20 March 1999. p. 57. ISSN   0006-2510.
  25. "The Cardigans: Gran Turismo" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  26. "Lescharts.com – The Cardigans – Gran Turismo". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  27. "Offiziellecharts.de – The Cardigans – Gran Turismo" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  28. "Hits Of The World - Gran Turismo - Italy". Billboard . Vol. 111, no. 16. 17 April 1999. p. 62. ISSN   0006-2510.
  29. "Hits Of The World - Gran Turismo - Japan". Billboard . Vol. 110, no. 43. 28 October 1998. p. 60. ISSN   0006-2510.
  30. "Charts.nz – The Cardigans – Gran Turismo". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  31. "Norwegiancharts.com – The Cardigans – Gran Turismo". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  32. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   8480486392.
  33. "Swedishcharts.com – The Cardigans – Gran Turismo". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  34. "Cardigans | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  35. "The Cardigans Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  36. "Sverigetopplistan > Sök Alla Listar > Årlistar (inkl samlingar) > Album > 1998 > Visa!". Sverigetopplistan (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  37. "Jaaroverzichten 1999". Ultratop (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  38. "Rapports annuels 1999". Ultratop (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  39. "Top Annuali Album: 1999" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry . Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  40. "Sverigetopplistan > Sök Alla Listar > Årlistar (inkl samlingar) > Album > 1999 > Visa!". Sverigetopplistan (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  41. "End of Year Album Charts - 1999". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  42. "Cardigans Platinumskiva för 50000 sålda skivor av 'Gran Turismo' 1998". Lauritz.com (in Swedish). Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  43. "French album certifications – The Cardigans – Gran Turismo" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  44. "Japanese album certifications – カーディガンズ – グラン・トゥーリスモ" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan.Select 1998年11月 on the drop-down menu
  45. "Dutch album certifications – The Cardigans – Gran Turismo" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers.Enter Gran Turismo in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2002 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  46. "IFPI Norsk platebransje". IFPI Norway. Archived from the original on 26 June 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  47. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1999" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17.
  48. "British album certifications – The Cardigans – Gran Turismo". British Phonographic Industry.
  49. Copsey, Rob (19 June 2018). "The Cardigans announce UK tour to celebrate 20th anniversary of Gran Turismo album". Official Charts. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  50. "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1999". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 2 February 2020.