Roxette
from WikiMusicGuide, the free music guide. Your music wiki.
Roxette is one of the successful Swedish Pop - Rock duo band that have established their pouplarity in music world.
Contents |
About
Early Life
Roxette is one of the Swedish Pop – Rock Band that emerged in 1986. The band is composed of Marie Fredriksson, vocalist and Per Gessle, guitarist, vocalist and composer. They met at a recording studio in Sweden in 1978. Per had fronted a popular Swedish band, Gyllene Tider, and Marie get on a solo career before the two joined forces to form a duo band in the mid-eighties This builds up their foundation as a band that eventually spread all over the world. Roxette’s recordings started in 1985 though they were not officially formed.
During the late Eighties and to mid Nineties, couple of attractive and well-performed singles made by the duo Roxette Sweden’s most successful musical import since Abba. They really have a unique specialization in terms of guitar-oriented rock unlike Abba who also has their own style in music. From the very start, they lay down their plans on the English-speaking market that is important to international stardom, even recording and writing in English.
Albums
In 1989, Roxette’s plan paid off, when their second album, 1988’s “Look Sharp!”, toped in the US, resulting to #1 hit singles “The Look” and “Listen to Your Heart”, the #2 hit single “Dangerous”, and the #4 hit single “Dressed for Success”.
In 1990, Fredricksson and Gessle again made it to top the singles chart with their hit ballad “It Must Have Been Love”, which was featured as soundtrack to the movie “Pretty Woman”. The following year, they released their fourth album, “Joyride”, which produced another #1 hit with the title track “Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)”, hits #2 in the U.S. It was also in 1991 when Roxette began their first worldwide tour, they even performed over 107 concerts and attracting a huge crowd that even reaches to more than 1.6 audience from Europe, North and South America, and Australia. During their tour, Roxette also produced 3 more international hit singles from Joyride album, so on with the power ballad hit, “Spending My Time”.
Roxette ended their first worldwide tour in July, 1992 where in they established themselves as one of the most popular bands in the world. Most of the music magazines published Roxette as the No. 2 band in Europe, just behind U2. The main reasons of their popularity are their hit singles and constant touring. In Late 1992, Roxette released their fourth album titled; “Tourism” which produced another 2 hit singles, “How Do You Do!”, and “Queen of Rain”.
It was January 1993, when after their 4 years of hit singles, constant promotion and touring, Roxette were invited to perform at the prestigious MTV Unplugged at Stockholm, Sweden. The year 1993, was a very meaningful year for Roxette, as Marie born her first baby, and Per soon to marry to Asa Nordin. Despite of their personal life, Roxette spent much of their time in the recording studios developing material for their upcoming new album. It was late 1993, when Roxette appeared again in a commercial movie soundtrack with their song “Almost Unreal”, in the movie “Super Mario Bros.”. “Almost Unreal” was one of their big hit particularly in Europe, which received much airplay around the world despite the poor quality of the movie itself.
In early 1994, when Roxette released Crash! Boom! Bang! music critics were shocked and even confused on the overall style of the album. They wonder where Roxette were going anymore in term of music, and consequently could not place them in any one category of music type. Expectedly, critics pay short attention in reviewing the album completely, and many shared their opinions of Roxette in their reviews, which were all obviously false. Nevertheless, Crash! Boom! Bang! Will always be reminisced as a musical success story, artistic wise, though it did not result to a high gross sale compared to their previous albums.
To support their Crash! Boom! Bang! Album, they had their second worldwide tour during mid-1994. They performed in Europe, South Africa, Australia, Asia and South America. Their live performance in China was one of the tour’s highlight, in which they were second band ever to perform live in that country. It was mid-1995 when Roxette’s tour ended, and it was overwhelmingly more rock-oriented than the previous Joyride tour.
As of 1995, Roxette went into slightly unique directions. Per Gessle even wrote and performed songs for a band called “The Lonely Boys”, and also involved together with his old band, Gyllene Tider. Likewise, Marie did several performances with other artists. It was late-1995, when Roxette released their Greatest Hits Album titled “Don’t Bore Us – Get To The Chorus!”, which contained 14 songs of their greatest hits and together with 4 new songs including the hit singles “You Don’t Understand Me” and “June Afternoon”. Luckily, the album sold over 4.5 million copies.
During 1996, the duo’s one and only release was the Spanish album titled “Baladas En Español”. Throughout the year, Roxette did their best in negotiations with their record company in the US, but resulted to ineffective promotion. Per Gessle spent most his time working and performing with his band Gyllene Tider, while Marie Fredricksson even went busy recording her solo album. In late-1996, their Greatest Hits album re-entered the album charts in many countries particularly in Australia where in it achieved top 10 place.
Roxette have just had a 12 month break from writing and recording, and Marie has just had another baby. However, Per Gessle will release a worldwide solo album in early 1997. Recordings for the new Roxette album are likely to begin in early 1997.
March 1997, it is estimated that Roxette have sold over 37 million albums, and over 17 millions singles. This makes Roxette as the second biggest selling Swedish artist of all time.
It was a quite time since Roxette had their new album and concert tours. Per Gessle will going to launch his solo album “The Handyman” by March 2007. He will even have his summer tour concerts.
Awards & Certifications
AWARDS
MARIE FREDRIKSSON'S AWARDS:
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | "Best female pop-rock artist of the year" | Swedish Grammy Nominations |
| 1992 | "Best female pop-rock artist of the" | Swedish Grammy Nominations |
| 1992 | "Best songwriter of the year" | Swedish Grammy Nominations |
| 1996 | "Best female pop-rock artist of the year" | Swedish Grammy Nominations |
| 1988 | "Best female pop-rock artist of the year" | Swedish Grammy Awards |
| 1992 | "Best artist of the year" | Swedish Grammy Awards |
PER GESSLE'S AWARDS:
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | "Best composer of the year" (Joyride) | Swedish Grammy Nominations |
| 1992 | "Best composer of the year" (Tourism) | Swedish Grammy Nominations |
| 1997 | "Best video of the year" (Kix) | Swedish Grammy Nominations |
| 1988 | "Best composer of the year" (Look Sharp!) | Swedish Grammy Awards |
| 1996 | "Best artist of the year" (Gyllene Tider) | Swedish Grammy Awards |
| 1996 | "Best song of the year" (Gå & Fiska!) | Swedish Grammy Awards |
| 1997 | "Best video of the year in Israel" (Do You Wanna Be My Baby?) | Other Awards |
ROXETTE'S AWARDS:
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | "Best pop-rock group of the year" (Look Sharp!) | Swedish Grammy Nominations |
| 1998 | "Best artist of the year" (Look Sharp!) | Swedish Grammy Nominations |
| 1988 | "Best producer of the year" (Clarence Öfwerman) | Swedish Grammy Nominations |
| 1991 | "Best artist of the year" (Joyride) | Swedish Grammy Nominations |
| 1991 | "Best video of the year" (The Big L.) | Swedish Grammy Nominations |
| 1992 | "Best pop group of the year" (Tourism) | Swedish Grammy Nominations |
| 1991 | "Best pop group of the year" (Joyride) | Swedish Grammy Awards |
| 1991 | "The jury's special prize of the year" (Jonas Isacsson) | Swedish Grammy Awards |
| 1994 | "Best pop-rock group of the year" (Crash! Boom! Bang!) | Russian Prizes |
| 2001 | "Best song of the year"(Milk & Toast & Honey) | Russian Prizes |
CERTIFICATIONS
| Year | Album | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | A Collection Of Roxette Hits | Gold |
| 2002 | The Ballad Hits | Gold |
| 2001 | Don‘t Bore Us Get To The Chorus | Platinum |
| Have a Nice Day! | Platinum | |
| Room Service | Platinum | |
| 1999 | Have a Nice Day! | Platinum |
| 1995 | The Best of Roxette | Gold |
| 1994 | Crash! Boom! Bang! | Platinum |
| Crash! Boom! Bang! | Gold | |
| 1992 | Joyride | 4x-Platinum |
| Look Sharp | 2x- Platinum | |
| Tourism | Gold | |
| Tourism | Platinum | |
| 1991 | Joyride | 3x-Platinum |
| Joyride | Gold | |
| Look Sharp! | Gold | |
| 1990 | Look Sharp! | 2x-Platinum |
| 1989 | Look Sharp! | Platinum |
Chart Toppers
| Year | Title | SE | SZ | DE | FI | LV | UK | MTVE | US | AU | CL | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Neverending Love | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Pearls of Passion | |
| Goobye To You | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| Soul Deep | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 1988 | The Look | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 7 | - | 1 | 1 | - | Look Sharp! | |
| Dressed for Success | 2 | 4 | 16 | - | - | 18 | - | 14 | - | - | |||
| Dangerous | 2 | 10 | 8 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 8 | - | |||
| Listen to Your Heart | 2 | 8 | 7 | - | - | 6 | - | 1 | 12 | - | |||
| 1990 | It Must Have Been Love | 3 | 1 | 4 | - | - | 3 | - | 1 | 1 | - | Pretty Woman | |
| 1991 | Joyride | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 4 | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | Joyride | |
| Fading Like a Flower | 1 | 3 | 5 | - | - | 12 | - | 2 | 10 | 2 | |||
| The Big L | 2 | 13 | 13 | - | - | 21 | - | - | 22 | 1 | |||
| Spending My Time | 1 | 15 | 9 | - | - | 22 | 2 | 32 | 17 | 2 | |||
| Church of Your Heart | 3 | - | 28 | - | - | 21 | 19 | 36 | - | 1 | |||
| 1992 | How Do You Do! | 1 | 2 | 2 | - | - | 13 | 1 | 58 | 28 | - | Tourism | |
| Queen of Rain | 2 | 27 | 19 | - | - | 28 | 3 | - | - | 5 | |||
| Fingertips 93 | 13 | - | 45 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 1993 | Almost Unreal | - | 15 | 20 | - | 10 | 7 | 4 | 94 | 16 | 2 | Super Mario Bros. | |
| 1994 | Sleeping In My Car | 2 | 7 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 94 | 16 | 2 | Crash! Boom! Bang! | |
| Crash! Boom! Bang! | 4 | 31 | 31 | 7 | 2 | 26 | 19 | - | - | - | |||
| Fireworks | 4 | - | 11 | 13 | - | 30 | - | - | - | - | |||
| Run To You | 10 | - | 51 | - | - | 28 | - | - | 40 | - | |||
| Vulnerable | 2 | - | 71 | - | - | 44 | - | - | - | - | |||
| 1995 | You Don't Understand Me | 2 | - | 42 | 4 | 5 | 42 | 11 | - | - | - | ||
| June Afternoon | 5 | 35 | 57 | - | - | 52 | - | - | - | - | |||
| She Doesn't Lice Here Anymore | 10 | - | 86 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 1999 | Wish I Could Fly | 4 | 12 | - | 2 | 1 | 11 | 5 | - | - | 2 | Have A Nice Day! | |
| Anyone | 35 | 30 | - | 17 | 14 | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| Stars | 13 | 28 | - | 18 | 9 | 56 | 19 | - | - | - | |||
| Salvation | 52 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2001 | The Centre of The Heart | 1 | 28 | 31 | 2 | 12 | - | 12 | - | - | - | Room Service | |
| Real Sugar | 23 | - | - | - | 20 | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| Milk & Toast & Honey | 21 | 29 | 54 | - | 22 | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| 2002 | A Thing About You | 14 | 35 | - | 16 | 9 | 67 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2003 | Opportunity Nox | 11 | 87 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | The Pop Hits |
News
Tours & Concerts
A Handy Man Tour - Per Gessle solo Tour
July 11, 2007 – Halmstad - Örjans Vall
July 13, 2007 – Linköping - Stångebrofältet
July 14, 2007 – Sandviken - Högbo Bruk
July 15, 2007 – Leksand - Sammilsdal
July 17, 2007 – Borgholm - Idrottsplatsen
July 19, 2007 – Helsingborg - Sofiero Slott
July 20, 2007 – Västervik - Gränsö Slott
July 21, 2007 – Göteborg - Slottskogsvallen
July 22, 2007 – Strömstad - Vallen
July 24, 2007 - Visby - Östers Gravar
July 27, 2007 – Skövde - Bolougnerskogen
July 28, 2007 – Christinehof - Christinehof Slott
July 29, 2007 - Varberg - Fästningsrundan
August 1, 2007 – Jönköping - Elmiafältet
August 3, 2007 – Karlstad - Mariebergsskogen
August 4, 2007 – Växjö - Evedal
August 5, 2007 – Malmö - Mölleplatsen
August 10, 2007 – Västerås - Lögarängen
August 11, 2007 – Örebro - Behrn Arena
August 12, 2007 – Stockholm - Sjöhistoriska Muséet
Announcements
- Per Gessle will going to release his new album in Swedish with the title "En händig man" - ("A Handyman"). Probably the album will be released on June 12, if everything goes as planned.
- Per will have his summer tour in sweden. Tickets will be released by March 15.
Discography
Comprehensive list of the recordings made.
Albums
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Singles
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Soul Deep | EMI Int'l. |
| Goodbye To You | ||
| 1987 | I Want You | |
| 1988 | Chances | Capitol |
| Dressed For Success | ||
| 1989 | The Look | Capitol |
| Listen To Your Heart | ||
| Dangerous | ||
| 1991 | The Look | Capitol |
| It Must Have Been Love | ||
| 1992 | Here Comes the Weekednd | Capitol |
| Never Is A Long Time | ||
| 1992 | How Do you Do! | Capitol |
| Queen of Rain | ||
| 1993 | Hocus Pocus | Capitol |
| 1994 | Fading Like A Flower | EMI Int'l. |
| Sleeping In My Car | ||
| 1995 | Rarities | |
| 2006 | The Look | |
| Joyride | ||
| Listen To Your Heart | ||
| Dangerous | ||
| It Must Have Been Love | ||
| Fading Like a Flower | ||
| 2006 | One Wish | |
| Reveal |
Compilations & Live Releases
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Other artists
Similar artists
Influences
Contemporaries
Trivia
- The name Roxette was taken from a Dr Feelgood song from the 70's titled "Roxette". Interestingly, it was also the "international name" used by Gyllene Tider in 1984 when they were marketed in the USA. Gyllene Tider is a Swedish band whom Per Gessle had worked before as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist.
- Marie Fredriksson had recovered from a brain cancer.
- 1994 will always be remembered for when Roxette changed their complete style, both appearance-wise, and musically. Marie had adopted a much shorter hairstyle, while Per had gone for he "natural" long hair look.
- During their tour in 1991-1992, Staffan Ofwerman, a band member, is notorious for putting whole cigarette packets in his mouth.
- Per's favourite guitars are Rickenbackers, Gibson Les Paul's, Telecasters, and the Gretsch White Falcon.
- Marie's favorite color is black.
Reviews
External Links
Roxette Official Website
The Daily Roxette
Run to Roxette
Little Marie
Marie Fredriksson Online
Gyllene Tider
