Popcorn stars join raspberry hearts on “Hits” series CDs

Written by Lars-Erik_Olson on January 25, 2003 to Releases.

STOCKHOLM - It’s raspberries and… popcorn! A star made of popcorn will adorn the covers of “The Pop Hits” CDs – joining the heart made of raspberries used for “The Ballad Hits” collection.

With a star having played a central role in the cover art of many, if not most, of the previous Roxette releases, many Roxette fans expected that they would be seeing the star shape used for “The Pop Hits,” as a follow-up shape to the heart used for “The Ballad Hits.” And while blueberries were one of the options considered to make the star shape (raspberries and blueberries are often “partners,”), it was popcorn, with its obvious “pop” connection, that won out – even though “pop” as a musical term comes from the word “popular” (while popcorn gets its name from the popping sound; i.e., crash! boom! bang! pop!).

Just as the “The Ballad Hits,” album as a filled-in heart, “The Pop Hits” will have a filled-in star, while the single, “Opportunity Nox,” has the star in an outline form (click on photo to enlarge).

As an additional track, the single will contain a live version of “Fading Like a Flower,” recorded during the “Room Service” tour in Brussels.

(Thomas Evensson and i_jera contributed to this article.)

Opportunity Nox: 30 sec. sound clip (OIRFC)

68 comments

coyboyusa said on January 25, 2003 17:55:

wel let me say the design idea is boring and why not 2 or 3 tracks...i mean flaf as an acoustic number on a pop single i dunno it seems a bit backward

animalkingdom said on January 25, 2003 17:57:

I wouldn’t have known that was popcorn...They seemed like some kind of little flowers to me... :)

Anyway, I would have liked to have a little longer playing CD single/ maxi this time... I am sure ’ON’ is just around 3’30” and ’FLAF’ some 3’...It really was a short number in the concerts!

Pascal said on January 25, 2003 18:05:

I like the design. It really stands out.

ernes said on January 25, 2003 18:08:

I agree with the idea of too less tracks, they should add more and not Fading Like A Flower, they should use as b-sides also pop songs, not ballads.

About the cover, I like it very much, I rather prefer this one than another boring picture of Marie and Per, this one will get more attention from people on recordshops.

ernes.

Agus said on January 25, 2003 18:09:

Fading like a Flower? I was expecting another live version of The Look... :-P

New releases of old stuff, even for the singles...

coyboyusa said on January 25, 2003 18:14:

lol aqus indeed and what about the pop ep or isnt there gonna be one?

daniel_alv said on January 25, 2003 18:16:

why didn’t they take a pop song as b-side...

like hotblooded or crush on you

crush on you were great at the tour....!

gyllene_tjej said on January 25, 2003 18:17:

pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop...you make my head go pop :)))

Mmmm, I love popcorn, so it is a sweet cover choice!

While FLAF is not one of these songs to be called up-tempo, I am still very happy to have it in perfect quality! (As I love the new arrangments in this song, not to mention Per’s part!) *mums*

daniel_alv said on January 25, 2003 18:18:

gyllene_tjej: i agree, FLAF IS SO GREAT!!!!!

baio said on January 25, 2003 18:18:

I don’t like the cover, is boring...
And, Why a BALLAD as a B side?

Agus said on January 25, 2003 18:35:

@coyboyusa I (do) hope so, i’m pretty sure there will be a pop ep, or at least a couple of new songs.

But i’m SO fed up of these old songs being released as b-sides over and over again. Where have gone the times when you could find such superb songs as ’Crazy About You’ or ’The Sweet Hello...’ as single b-sides??

Even the sound of Per strumming the strings of his guitar would be more appreciated than the 53th re-release of FLAF, at least for me... :(

JoyRidErno said on January 25, 2003 18:35:

I like popcorn, but the background should be coke...

FLAF was amazing on RS-tour, but I thought, that uptempo song would have been included to the single.

eva_roxer said on January 25, 2003 18:42:

Hi roxers!

Well, what can I say, I like the design of the cover (I thought it was going to be a star made of peas, so I almost guessed right ;)) and I’m very happy to read that the acoustic version of FLAF would be as a b-side, as it’s my fave Rox song ever.

It would be great if this acoustic version is from the concert of Room Service in Madrid, ’cause the performance there was incredible, although M&P almost can’t be heart because they let the crowd sing along all the song :) What great memories!!

daniel_alv said on January 25, 2003 19:04:

i also loved FLAF at RS tour.... but i still want an other song as b-side

coyboyusa said on January 25, 2003 19:11:

maybe it would be smart to release the ep as an ep single to boost its sales?

PeterGm said on January 25, 2003 19:16:

I think Roxette/EMI/Management are confusing themselves, the audience and aren’t following a criteria.

The Good:
-Noticing their double side (ballad and pop) and releasing the hits CDs to correspond.
-The new designs. Raspberries and Popcorn. I’m sure they will make a nice 2CD pack in future whichmany of you will buy! Duh! (Still miss the ’Peas’ theme...)
- Roxette star is back....PLEASE, keep it!!

The Bad:
-As stated on this board, why a ballad on a POP single? After all “Opportunity Nox” is now not promoting Roxette as a ballad band but as a Pop band... it is VERY confusing... BAD marketing. I was very impressed with ’The Ballas Hits’ cos they made bsides and EP ALL ballads...I expected that would be the same for the POP release. Doesn’t seem like it.

A new question: who do you think placed the raspberries and popcorn? where? who ate them afterwards? hehe...

pietROxette said on January 25, 2003 19:16:

maybe it would be smart to release the ep in all countries, not just a few...

coyboyusa said on January 25, 2003 19:30:

true pietro or maybe get rid of the damn copywrite protection stuff so the ep will fit on the cd lol

wendy said on January 25, 2003 20:11:

FLAF live in Brussels was great,you shoul’ve been there,instead of giving comments like “it’s boring” :p

I was one of the lucky people who’ve been there,all in the front :p

cskendras said on January 25, 2003 21:20:

great great great!!!! :o)

Santi said on January 25, 2003 21:36:

OMG :DDDDDDDDDDDD

Now who’s gonna say they never listen to their fans ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

They made a star (idea from TDR)!!
They made it of popcorn (idea from TDR)!!
They made it over a background of a layer of blueberries (idea from TDR... exactly mine... though I expected it to be in the star... but anyway :DDDDDDDD)

flowersonthemoon said on January 25, 2003 22:41:

well.. I love the star.. I really missed it.. and I WANT A T-SHIRT with that star!!! hehehehe

Have a nice day! :)

IceAngel said on January 25, 2003 23:43:

BRILLIANT IDEA!! LOVE THE COVER!! XX

Sascha said on January 25, 2003 23:56:

The cover is great! As expected the logical second part of the symbol-concept! But what’s the background? A cinema-carpet? :-D

Did anyone confirm that FLAF will be the only b-side?

Alfonsette said on January 26, 2003 00:08:

Nice cover
I would have prefer the bluberries, anyway the popcorn is also nice

Bad single as it was “ATAY” just 1 b-side, noone will buy it as it happened with “ATAY”

royalball said on January 26, 2003 00:51:

This is the exact same symbol of the “Dallas Cowboys.” Didn’t know Roxette were football fans.

Alesvenska said on January 26, 2003 02:38:

Though I can’t buy the single any more here in Argentina, I’d rather COY live version as B-side

Hotblooded said on January 26, 2003 03:12:

U guys are the biggest bunch of whingers!!!!! Get over it at least they are releasing something!

But yeah I guess ’CRush On you’ live would have been better than FLAF for a pop hits release but that’s the way it goes!

roxtexanet said on January 26, 2003 03:23:

I love the cover, but this idea definitely came up before in TDR, for example:
http://www2.dailyroxette.com/smalltalk/thread.php/4798 and in other threads as well... wonder if they got the idea from us, or if it was just such an obvious companion to the ballad hits that Rox/Jonas/whoever came up with it on their own... very cool!

Mfan28179-Jason said on January 26, 2003 04:34:

LOL. Popcorn! Just like I had thought! Brilliant.

After reading the above comments, I agree mostly with everyone. Capitol’s marketing isn’t the best (as we all know) so I guess it makes sense that “Fading Like A Flower (Live)” will be the b-side. Go figure! Right? It should have been put on the “A Thing About You” single instead of “The Weight Of The World” (which should have been limited to the EP alone, making it more special), where it would have made much more sense, considering it would also help PROMOTE (key word here) ’The Ballad Hits’ since the original version is on that album. So, you have 2 songs promoting the release verses one song. Then again, am I involved in record company marketing and promotion? Of course not. But after seeing these mistakes, a job in the promo department of Capitol Records would be nice. ;)

And definately “Crush On You (Live)” should have been the b-side of “Opportunity Nox.” Many fans rave about the song as it is, and this would have been the perfect opportunity to give the song some more exposure and entice fans to buy the single for this live version, especially if they attended the concert. Other than “Crush On You (live),” a different uptempo could have been included to PROMOTE the compilation, such as a live version of “Real Sugar” or “The Centre of The Heart,” for example - both which will most likely make the compilation. Perfect plan and opportunity to promote the release. I guess “opportunity” doesn’t “nox” in this case.

It would be interesting to know who makes these marketing/promotion decisions. It’s fantastic to have a live version of Fading Like A Flower, but realistically, it doesn’t fit there. I wonder what Capitol is thinking sometimes. Hmmm.

Santi said on January 26, 2003 08:17:

The background?... the background are blueberries, aren’t they? :O

brunorox said on January 26, 2003 09:26:

Hello to the Roxette fans,

I Roxette sono il miglior gruppo del mondo !!

So it looks so, why not ? I expected some pictures of the Brussels concert as there is a live version of FLAF. It was for us a big honor to welcome Marie and Per in Brussels.

To Wendy: the live version was wonderful, indeed. But why not the kind of “remix” or “remake” of Anyone and Crash! Boom! Bang! which was to me an innovation.

To Agus: One other version of The Look live ? I know this is certainly the best Roxette song ever, but it would have been so original. Let’s give the other songs a chance ...
To the anonymous: you should give your names, it’s so easy to give such comments ... LOG IN before posting a comment!

To the others:

1) it is a real pitty that, after ten years, that Marie and Per still don’t have released the MTV UNPLUGGED !!! I don’t understand... Lots of fans, I mean almost all of them, asked for it and didn’t get it.

2) A third or fourth best of ...? uh, well ?

Anyway, I hope Marie is better now.

Let’s wait for this new song, let’s ROX !!!

Stay safe, be a joyrider and have a nice day !!!!!

Santi said on January 26, 2003 10:11:

They can NOT release MTV UNPLUGGED. They have the rights to release 3 songs of that concert, which they already did (in the CBB singles B-sides), the rest is owned by MTV, and MTV have never wanted to release it.

Agus said on January 26, 2003 10:32:

@brunorox: i was just being ironic. Only a joke... ;)

Jossan said on January 26, 2003 10:43:

Pop pop! I love popcorn!!!!!*mums*

alchemiste said on January 26, 2003 11:08:

@Santi
it´s just a matter of money... they could easily release it but MTV would take a part of the cake.

IceAngel said on January 26, 2003 11:35:

lol @ hotblooded!

pietROxette said on January 26, 2003 12:17:

No maxi single for ON.

CRIZ said on January 26, 2003 13:27:

Hmmmm Popcorn!! I really like Popcorn!! I wonder why Rox is trying to make us fans eat all the time....what next? Köttbullar...Potatochips...Ice-cream??? *LOL*
I’m sure we Rox-fans will have funny Popcorn-fights in the cinemas real soon....;)
But on the next cover I wanna have a lovely pic of Marie and Per please!!!

And I agree...why so less tracks on the single-CD?
:( anyway I love FLAF live from RS-tour it was one of my favourite moments!

Stormkeeper said on January 26, 2003 14:02:

Marvellous idea! And I´m a big fan of popcorn. Actually I eat them too much.

george_1983 said on January 26, 2003 15:59:

I´m full agree with “Hotblooded” because “Crush on You” could have be a good single, right now was the opportunity to include in the “b” side in order that more people know about it...

[email protected]

george_1983 said on January 26, 2003 16:02:

i´m not agree with “No doubt”....I think that “Roxette, and “No doubt” are really diferent groups...

Roxette-atic said on January 26, 2003 16:08:

Its an exellent cover! It looks really cool. But like most of us here I think that “Fading Like A Flower” live is a bad choice as the b side to the new song. They have so many POP HITS to choose from. Please Per, give us “Crush On You” live!!!! Btw, we already have “fading Like A Flower” live as a b side on the “How Do You Do!” single, remember?

roxtexanet said on January 26, 2003 16:27:

@pietROxette: Are you sure there’s no maxi single?? CDON has it listed on their site, and they’ve even got a catalogue number for it!

matthias said on January 26, 2003 17:31:

Hey!

The front is looking really great!
Just like ATAY did. C’mon guys, it’s an eyecatcher.

But where’s the video as Enhanced CD?

I loved the ATAY vid on the MCD (since none of the TV stations did show it very often... Shame!)

Where are more tracks? Ok, FLAF is brilliant. On Tour, too. But didn’t they remember the “Centre of the Heart”-Flop?

Great song, brilliant pop-Video. But no remixes. Poor!

I’m a bit disappointed with the backside. It looks a bit... poor. See it yourself:
[I removed the link ’cause I want to keep the surprise. Try to find it yourself ;-) ]

Ooops... Shouldn’t that be a midnight suprise? *g*

I’m really sorry. But wait for the MP3 snippet. There’s more to discover! :-)

Anyway, I hope the CD will be of the same quality as The Ballad Hits was. Glossy Paper, nice Photos, altogether looking very nice.

I’m can’t wait!

Matthias :-)

coyboyusa said on January 26, 2003 18:21:

the stupid maxi will be all remixes like center of the heart

marre said on January 26, 2003 19:04:

The new cover is great I like the popcorn star :D

But what’s with the background???? That does not look like blueberryes. When I think about it it looks like my tvscreen on a good day ;)

But hey I can live with it ROXETTE ROCKS

ohh one more thing
CRush on you LIVE should be a b side
Per what where you thinking??????

I love you Per anyway and please tell Marie hello from a fan in Göteborg ;):)

marre gbg

Jud (moderator) said on January 26, 2003 19:27:

just one thought...just maybe cuz FLAF was nice live, and Marie sings it instead of Per? (crush on u is mostly sung by Per).
Maybe Marie liked it alot?

UKroxer said on January 26, 2003 19:36:

I think the cover is great. it will stand out and looks good as a follow up to the ballad hits cover. But one song b side!... fading like a flower?!.... a good choice but maybe a couple of upbeat live songs would have been better. the centre of the heart? crush on you? real sugar? etc... or even milk & toast & honey as it was the last single (in UK)

cskendras said on January 26, 2003 19:47:

we even don’t know what the new songs will be like...perhaps we’ll get a second single with many b-sides...

Maciek said on January 27, 2003 00:10:

well, I’ve already heard 30 secunds of Opportunity Nox, and I must say that I’m dissapointed.

Well I was hoping that it will be pure rock like SINM or H&I or else, instead of that we have uptempo, dance song, with fast beat, and some guitars [thanx God] .

Well, let’s be honest it’s a mix betweem 7207, Real sugar and TCOTH.

I wonder if the second new song [I hope that there will be on CD] will be more fantastic like it was with TBH. Because i think that Breathe is much better than ATAY

cheers

Fernandinha said on January 27, 2003 00:31:

AHHH! THE SONG IS FANTASTIC!! I LOVED IT VERY VERY MUCH.
PER AND MARIE YOU MADE MY WEEK :)

FERNANDA - SÃO PAULO - BRAZIL

Santi said on January 27, 2003 05:58:

@Fernandinha: Could you edit your “AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH” and make it a bit shorter so that the rest of people can read the rest of the page in a normal way, without having to scroll all the time to the right? Thank you.

Silverguitar said on January 27, 2003 06:50:

Yeah, I listened to the snippet of “Opportunity Nox” all night long and can’t wait to hear the complete song. So finally they release a song that really rocks again. It really nox you of your feet ;o)

BIG THANX FOR THIS POWER POP SONG !!!

IV_ROX said on January 27, 2003 16:54:

OppNox is just FANTASTIC!!!!
I just heard the 30” snip and I’m thrilled! I die to hear the whole thing.
Great job, ROXETTE!

Fernandinha said on January 27, 2003 21:59:

Ok Santi don’t be nervous. I’ll not scream so high again.
Fernanda

deja_vu said on January 29, 2003 05:48:

i love the song so much!! brilliant!!

BigRoxfan said on January 29, 2003 12:13:

Well, what can I say other than....MAN IT ROX, this OPPORTUNITY NOX!!! hehehehehe

Loved it, thank you thank you Per and Marie, but I agree about the b-side....c’mon, something uptempo with Marie singing!!!

Cannot wait for the whole song!!!!

Opportunity_Nox said on February 1, 2003 22:08: