"Roxette, Sweden's first pop export of the 90's with the striking image and catchy blend of pop and rock, consist of Marie Fredriksson (born 30 May 1958 Sweden) and Per Gessle (born 12 January 1959, Halmstad, Sweden). Gessle became a solo star in the early 80s having previously played in the new wave band Gyllene Tider. He was 'discovered' by former Abba manager Thomas Johannson who was looking for songs for a Frida album. Meanwhile Fredriksson was playing on the singer/songwriter circuit. Johansson teamed them up in 1985 and they became Roxette. Recording at Gessle's studio in Halmstad they soon conquered Sweden and broke through in the USA thanks to the inclusion of the ballad, 'It Must Have Been Love', which was used on the soundtrack of the film Pretty Woman .
Roxette's history started from a song: "Svarta Glas", written by Per. He asked a Swedish singer to record it, but she refused. Then Per made an English version for it, "Neverending Love", and Rolf Nygren, from EMI, suggested Per to perform it himself together with Marie (they had already met many times before, since 1977, and Marie sang with Per for the first time in 1981, for Gyllene Tider). And she accepted! "Neverending Love" single was a hit in Sweden.
Roxette got its name from a 70's song by Dr. Feelgood, one of Per's favorite bands.
In 1986, Roxette released their first album in Sweden: "Pearls Of Passion", and in 1987 they started a tour (The Rock Runt Riket Tour) around the country. Roxette, with Ratata and Eva Dahlgren (Swedish artists) performed live for more than 110,000 people.
In 1988, the album "Look Sharp!" was released in Sweden. In that year something very strange happened: an exchange student from the United States enjoyed their music and took a copy of the album with him to America. Then he took it to the biggest radio station in Minneapolis, KWB, and told the program director Brian Phillips , 'You have to listen to this album because it's great'. Soon "The Look" went up to ..1 before the album was officially released worldwide (what happened in 1989).
In late 1989 Roxette reached ..1 again with "Listen To Your Heart" and began their first European tour. "Look Sharp!" sold 8 million copies around the world.
In 1987 Per had written a song called "It Must Have Been Love (Christmas For The Broken Hearted)", and in 1990, after a few changes "It Must Have Been Love" got into a movie called "Pretty Woman", with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, which was a great success and the song was ..1 in many countries. "Pretty Woman" sound track album sold 9 million copies worldwide.
Roxette's third album "Joyride" was released in 1991, named after a comment made by Paul McCartney (he said that writing songs with John Lennon was a long joyride). The album sold 10 million units and the hit "Joyride" reached ..1 in many countries. Other successful songs in the album are "Spending My Time" and "Fading Like A Flower (Every Time You Leave)".
So they started a world tour. During the "Join The Joyride" tour (108 concerts around the world in more than 87 countries, including even Russia and China) they made an album, "Tourism - Songs from studios, stages, hotel rooms & other strange places", recorded in many countries, like Sweden, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Chile, Switzerland and USA. Released in 1992, "Tourism" sold about 7 million albums.
In 1993, Per wrote a song, "Almost Unreal" for a Bette Midler movie, but it ended up in the "Super Mario Bros." sound track, which also had another Roxette song, "2 Cinnamon Street" (a kind of female version of "Cinnamon Street", from the "Tourism" album). "Almost Unreal" is a very beautiful song, although the movie is not so good...
In 1994 Roxette released a new album "Crash! Boom! Bang!", which has sold around 5 million copies, and started another world tour. But in this tour they didnt go to USA because the local EMI thought it wouldnt be successful. EMI USA released the album "Favorites From Crash! Boom! Bang!", sold only in the McDonalds fast food restaurants, which sold about 1 million copies.
In 1995 EMI released "Rarities" in some few countries with some demos and some MTV Unplugged versions. "Rarities" is now out of print. In October Roxette released "Dont Bore Us - Get To The Chorus! Roxettes Greatest Hits" which contained 14 greatest hits and 4 new ones.
In early 1996 Roxette released "Baladas En Espanol" with some of their best ballads recorded in Spanish.
In 1997 Per and Marie signed their contract with EMI for the next 10 years. Still in 1997, EMI re-released "Pearls Of Passion", which was released only in Sweden in 1986. It contains the original 12 tracks and 8 extra tracks.
In early 1998, after four years out of studio, Roxette went to Spain to record some songs for the new album, "Have A Nice Day, which was released in early 1999.
On April 2001 they release their next album - "Room Service" and after tons of letters and messages from the fans they started a new "Room Service Tour 2001". They played mostly in Europe. Because of the tragedy on 11-Sept-01 Roxette canceled their shows in South Africa.
On 10 June, 2002 Marie rereleases all her old albums in a BoxSet, called "Karlekens Guld" (Love's Gold). Each album has some bonus tracks and the whole boxset has a bonus CD with Marie's concert in Stockholm, in August 2000 during her Antligen tour - the same one, which can be found as a bonus in her DVD box.
In July 2002 Roxette wrote about new single - "A Thing About You", wich was released on October 19, followed by "The Ballad Hits" CD, which was also released that year. The promotion of "ATAY" was confirmed at "The Night Of The Proms" shows in Benilux in Sept-Nov 2002, but as Marie got in an accident in September 2002 all the shows were canceled. In autumn 2002 Robert Thorselius also released his book "The Look for Roxette - Worldwide discography & price guide", 1st edition of it contains bonus CD with 4 previously unreleased demos.
In January 2003 Marie and Per got a medal from His Majesty the Kind of Sweden. Marie told later she's very proud about that. In March 2003 Roxette release "The Pop Hits" compilation and new single "Opportunity Nox" with cartoon video, directed by Jonas Akerlund's team.
Later in mid-June 2003 Per releases his solo album 'Mazarin', which is a great success in Sweden. He also goes into tour all around the country. Some rumors appear about Marie does also record her solo CD, but noone knows if it would be in Swedish or in English, as she's got a lot of songs in both languages. The desicion will be made a bit later"
Roxette House 2003
The casting couch is upholstered in velvet / It sits near a sign that says "No Helmets" / The casting couch is a ubiquitous thing / Like indian-givers and mobile phone rings / By Manic Monkey from The Cut Throats of Tall Poppies
Hi guys, I just wanted to say that your music helped me get through so many difficult years that I have really lost count. The Roxette sound is a real spirit lifter and allows one to forget the shabbier elements of their existence - well at least for the length of a song.
HEY! myself and my brother have grown up listening to you guys and still do! Im mainly into heavy metal but have a soft spot for your music! was wondering if you were touring australia at all!!?? we'd fly anywhere here to see you guys! you know u want tooo..... PLEASE!!!
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