Roxette’s joyride began 14 years ago this week
Written by DanJKroll on April 5, 2003 to Roxette.
NEW YORK - It was 14 years ago this week that Roxette’s rise to international stardom became official — that was the week that “The Look” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Already household names in their native Sweden, Per Gessle and Marie Fredriksson were unknown in much of the rest of the world. In February 1989, an exchange student asked radio station KDWB in Minneapolis to play a CD he’d bought in Sweden. One of the tracks, “The Look,” scored big with listeners and, to make a long story short, about two months later the song was the top song in America.
Nearly a decade and a half later, Roxette has enough hit material for two greatest hits packages — “The Ballad Hits” and “The Pop Hits”.
Other articles with the same topic
- Roxette live in Yekaterinburg: the set list (March 5, 2011)
- Samara was a smash (March 4, 2011)
- Roxette tour moves south to Samara, Russia (March 3, 2011)
- North America and Australia on the Roxette radar for later this year (March 2, 2011)
- Roxette live in Kazan: a promising start to the World Tour (March 1, 2011)
29 comments
eva_roxer said on April 5, 2003 10:50:
Rox was able to make it without promotion...maybe EMI is waiting again for them to repeat it?
rox-kuryliw said on April 5, 2003 11:04:
and 14 years later , they are still here, fighting strong. and ever popular with there fans , and new fans. ( me since HAND, to young to remember The look )
zeeshan said on April 5, 2003 14:02:
Per and Marie you are the best!! GOOD LUCK for the future.. may you carry on for as long as possible.
All the best to both you!
Love,
Z
CRIZ said on April 5, 2003 15:09:
Oh yeaah.. for me it’s 14 years ago too..but I think I got addicted to Rox in the late summer than..It took some time with the brainwashing thru the radio...hehehe but then I got weak.
Gosh, that’s half of my whole life now that I’m a Rox-fan. Yeaaaah, let’s get old together!!
mon-ami said on April 5, 2003 19:45:
u know what?? i am proud to keep myself a fan so many years. but that´s scary too- how the time flies so fast. THINK ABOUT IT- 14 YEARS FROM NOW , JUST IN THIS SITE , WE WILL READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT OPPORTUNITY NOX , WHICH WAS CREATED 14 YEARS AGO...(i guess i will have rox fans children till then). peace
roxave said on April 5, 2003 20:38:
wou! i was only 12 years old!!!
Now, 14 years later i´m still LOVING THEM!!
To be continued... (14 years more at least)
Keep on Roxing!!!
pelu said on April 6, 2003 20:09:
It´s really amazing that Roxette have been on top for such a long time! i can´t think of many artists that have worked for such a long time.
So, please give us many more years with your music!
Shane said on April 6, 2003 21:51:
14 years ago? I am so old! Roxette hit Canada when I was in my senior year of high school - so many great memories - thank you Marie and Per!
And thanks to that exchange student who brought them back to North America.
carbon_boy said on April 7, 2003 06:18:
I suddenly feel VERY old.... LOL! Yep, its been a long joyride, hey?
Patty said on April 7, 2003 09:56:
Wow, I was 12 years old, and I’m still loving them.
Marie & Per you are simply the best!
Love
Emil__BG said on April 7, 2003 12:04:
ooohh yeee–1989 was a such a perfect year for me..
but
The Joyride continue!!!
And I believed that joyride would go on and on
for the rest of my life....
i’m sure about that..cos i love you more and more...
keep the ball roling:-)))
Shane said on April 7, 2003 17:31:
I also cut my hair like Marie’s - I thought she looked so cool! However, I have very black hair, so I think I looked more like Per than Marie......
DaminehGessle said on April 5, 2003 10:16:
Nice :)
Will wait for the 24th! I hope I see new material in 24th year greatest hits.