Roxette

Roxette is a Swedish pop rock duo originally consisting of Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle, both of whom were already established musicians in Sweden prior to the band's formation. Fredriksson had released a number of successful solo albums, while Gessle had been the lead singer and songwriter of Gyllene Tider, a band which had three number one albums in Sweden. Acting on the advice of Rolf Nygren, the CEO of their mutual record label EMI, Fredriksson and Gessle collaborated to record "Neverending Love", the first single from Roxette's 1986 debut album Pearls of Passion, which were both hits in Sweden.

Their international breakthrough came with the release of Look Sharp! in 1988. The album contained two Billboard Hot 100 number ones: "The Look" and "Listen to Your Heart". "It Must Have Been Love", from the soundtrack to the 1990 film Pretty Woman, reached number one as well, as did the lead single of their third studio album, 1991's Joyride. That album is Roxette's most successful, selling eleven million copies worldwide. They performed to over 1.5 million people during the "Join the Joyride! Tour". Subsequent albums included 1992's Tourism, 1994's Crash! Boom! Bang!, and 1995's greatest hits compilation Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus!, which each sold at least five million copies worldwide.

Have a Nice Day and Room Service were released in 1999 and 2001, respectively, and earned numerous gold and platinum awards in Europe and Latin America. Fredriksson was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2002, leading to an extended hiatus. The two then released several solo albums, with Gessle also reuniting with Gyllene Tider. Roxette reformed in 2009 for an extensive world tour, which ran until 2016. During this period, they released the albums Charm School, Travelling, and Good Karma. Fredriksson announced her retirement from touring in 2016 due to poor health, and died on 9 December 2019 due to complications stemming from her brain tumour diagnosis.

Roxette is Sweden's second-best-selling music act, after ABBA. They sold between 75 and 80 million records worldwide, and are recognised as one of the highest-certified acts of all time in Germany, achieving sales of almost six million units. They had nineteen top 40 hits in the United Kingdom, where the British Phonographic Industry awarded them certifications of over three million units. In the US, they achieved four number ones on the Billboard Hot 100, and have been certified for sales of over three million units by the Recording Industry Association of America. Since 2021, Gessle has released music under the name PG Roxette; their debut album Pop-Up Dynamo! was issued in 2022. In 2024, he announced a Roxette tour, with Lena Philipsson hired as vocalist.

History

1978–1987: Formation and Pearls of Passion

Per Gessle and Marie Fredriksson had been friends since 1978. Both musicians had successful careers in Sweden in the early 1980s. Gessle was a member of Gyllene Tider,<ref name="latimes">Template:Cite news</ref> (English: Golden Ages), whose first two albums each sold at least 150,000 copies in Sweden.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 1981, Fredriksson performed backing vocals on Gyllene Tider's song "Ingenting av vad du behöver" (English: "Nothing of What You Need").<ref name="look">Template:Cite book</ref> The following year, Gessle invited Fredriksson to audition for Gyllene Tider's producer Lars-Göran "Lasse" Lindbom.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref> Lindbom was impressed by Fredriksson's voice, and offered her a recording contract as a solo artist with the Swedish branch of EMI. However, she refused the deal, saying she "lacked the confidence" and was "too nervous" to be a solo artist. She then joined Lindbom's band as a backing vocalist for an extensive tour of Sweden.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref>

In 1984, Fredriksson recorded backing vocals for Gyllene Tider's debut English album The Heartland Café, released in Sweden under the band's original name and in EP format in North America under the name Roxette—derived from the Dr. Feelgood song of the same name.<ref name="look"/> Soon after, Fredriksson began releasing folk-based solo albums,<ref name="latimes"/> beginning with Het vind (English: "Hot Wind") in 1984.<ref name="look"/> Gessle also turned to solo work, releasing his second Swedish-language solo album, Scener (English: "Scenes"), in 1985, again featuring Fredriksson on background vocals. Fredriksson issued her second solo album, Den sjunde vågen (English: "The Seventh Wave"), in February 1986.<ref name="look"/>

Around this time, the CEO of EMI, Rolf Nygren, suggested Fredriksson and Gessle collaborate together to record a song in English. Fredriksson was warned by friends and industry advisers to not participate with the project, fearing it may impact her burgeoning solo career. Gessle translated a song he wrote called "Svarta glas" (English: "Black Glasses") into English, which became their first single, "Neverending Love". It was released in the summer of 1986 under the name Roxette, and the single sold over 50,000 copies in Sweden. Roxette quickly recorded their debut album Pearls of Passion, which was issued later in 1986.<ref name=Roxettestory-p1/> The album eventually sold over 280,000 copies in Sweden.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> "Neverending Love" and subsequent single "Soul Deep" were issued as singles internationally, but failed to chart outside Sweden.<ref name=Roxettestory-p1/>

File:Rrr 87.jpg

Fredriksson (left), Dahlgren (centre) and Gessle (right) on the "Rock runt riket" tour.

In 1987, Roxette issued Dance Passion, a remix album of songs from their debut, and embarked on "Rock runt riket" (English: "Rock Around the Kingdom"), a co-headlining tour of Sweden with Eva Dahlgren and Ratata. All three acts collaborated to record "I Want You", which was released as a non-album single in July.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Fredriksson released her third solo album Efter stormen (English: "After the Storm") in October 1987. It was her most successful solo album to date, peaking at number one on the Swedish Albums Chart and being certified platinum by Swedish Recording Industry Association.<ref name="Mariecharts">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="SwedishCerts">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It won Best Swedish Album at the 1987 Rockbjörnen awards, where Fredriksson also won the award for Best Swedish Female.<ref name="Rockbjörnen">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Later that year, Roxette released "It Must Have Been Love (Christmas For the Broken Hearted)". The song was written by Gessle in response to the German division of EMI asking Gessle to "come up with an intelligent Christmas single." The track was a top five hit in Sweden. However, international divisions of EMI – including Germany – chose not to release the song as a single.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

1988–1991: International breakthrough

In the duo's native Sweden, "Dressed for Success" and "Listen to Your Heart" were chosen as the first two singles from their second album Look Sharp!, as Gessle and EMI Sweden chose to highlight Fredriksson's singing. Gessle said, "I always thought we should promote the songs Marie sang. Me being a lead singer wasn't part of the plan, not for me anyway."<ref name="albumnotes">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> Both singles reached the top 10 of the Swedish singles chart, while the album, which was released in Sweden in October 1988, held the No. 1 position for 14 weeks.<ref name=Swedishcharts>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Music critic Måns Ivarsson was underwhelmed by the album, writing derisively: "To consist of two such original persons as Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle, the album sounds unbelievably conventional. Most striking are the lyrics. Gessle's once so subtle Swedish lyrics have became desolate English nonsense."<ref name=Roxettestory-p1/> However, the album won Roxette their first Rockbjörnen awards in Sweden and Gessle his first Grammis award in the category Best Composer.<ref name="grammis">[1] Template:Dead link</ref><ref name=rockbjornen>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

{{#invoke:Listen|main}} When the third single from Look Sharp!, "The Look", became another top 10 single in their home country, Roxette were still unknown internationally. While studying in Sweden an American exchange student from Minneapolis, Dean Cushman, heard "The Look" and brought a copy of Look Sharp! home for the 1988 holiday break. He gave the album to a Minneapolis radio station, KDWB 101.3 FM. The station started playing "The Look"; based on positive caller feedback, the song became very popular, and quickly spread to other radio stations. The song became a radio hit before any Roxette product had been commercially released or promoted in the US market. The story was covered by radio, newspapers and TV in the US and in Sweden.<ref name="latimes"/><ref name=Roxettestory-p2>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=bbctalkingshop>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=latimes1989>Template:Cite news</ref> Fredriksson dismissed rumors that Cushman was paid to take the record to the radio station.<ref name="latimes"/>

EMI had previously rejected Roxette as unsuitable for the American market and they did not have a recording contract there,<ref name="latimes"/><ref name=latimes1989/> but after the popularity of "The Look" in the US, EMI officials made the decision to release and market the single worldwide. "The Look" and pressed copies of Look Sharp! were issued in early 1989 to record stores and radio stations. "The Look" became their first No. 1 in the US on 8 April 1989, where it remained for one week. The breakthrough for Roxette became international when the song also topped the charts in 25 other countries,<ref name=roxofficial>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and at the end of the year, Billboard named "The Look" one of the 20 biggest Hot 100 singles of the year.

"Dressed for Success", featuring Fredriksson on lead vocals with Gessle singing short parts, was the second international single. The single peaked at No. 14 on the Hot 100 as well as at No. 3 in Australia.<ref name=RoxBillboard>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name=Auscharts>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Listen to Your Heart" was released thereafter; it differed from previous singles and instead resembled the guitar-heavy ballads of Heart. Spending a single week at No. 1 in the US in November 1989, it bore the distinction of being the first US Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 not to be commercially available on 7-inch vinyl.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>The Look for Roxette discography confirms "Listen to Your Heart" wasn't commercially available on vinyl.{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

A fourth single, "Dangerous", was released at the end of the year, entering the Hot 100 at the end of December. The single, a duet between Gessle and Fredriksson, spent two weeks at No. 2 on the Hot 100 in February 1990, and again becoming a worldwide success by reaching the top 10 in important music markets such as Germany and Australia.<ref name=Auscharts/><ref name=Gercharts>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Dangerous" was released as a double A-side single in the UK with "Listen to Your Heart".<ref name="OCC"/>

"It Must Have Been Love" – Pretty Woman soundtrack

It was around this time that Touchstone Pictures approached EMI and Roxette about contributing a song to the soundtrack of an upcoming film, Pretty Woman, starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts.<ref name=roxbook>Lundgren & Wikström: (1992) p.?</ref> Gessle maintained that "It Must Have Been Love", by then a two-year-old recording, was chosen because Roxette had no time to compose and record a new song.<ref name=roxbook/> The film's producers turned it down, asking for another song, but Gessle declined to produce another song.<ref name=roxbook/> Some weeks later after re-editing the film before release, the producers re-requested "It Must Have Been Love", but Roxette had to remove the Christmas lyrics.<ref name=roxbook/> Gessle and producer Clarence Öfwerman then took the old recording, had Fredriksson replace a single Christmas-reference line in the song and added some instrumentation and background vocal overlays.

Though it was not the first single released from the soundtrack, "It Must Have Been Love" would prove to be Roxette's most successful single release. The song spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 in June 1990, three months after the film's release, and stayed for two additional weeks at No. 2, spending a total of seventeen weeks in the top 40. Billboard named the song the No. 2 Hot 100 single of the year, behind Wilson Phillips's "Hold On".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The single also topped the charts in more than 20 other countries (including Australia<ref name=Auscharts/>) around the world. In Germany the single spent 9 months in the top 75, and peaked at No. 3 in the UK, the duo's highest singles chart position there.<ref name="OCC"/><ref name=Gercharts/> The soundtrack went on to be certified three times platinum by the RIAA.<ref>Template:Cite certification</ref>

1991–1992: Joyride

As 1990 wound down, Roxette completed their tour and returned to Sweden to record their follow-up to Look Sharp! The 15-track collection titled Joyride, which was released in March 1991, became a critical and commercial success. It topped the charts in a number of countries and became Roxette's best selling album. Their record company EMI invested almost 2 million dollars on promotion for the album,<ref name="Roxettestory-p2" /> which stayed at No. 1 in Germany for 13 weeks, while staying on the US album chart for over a year.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> J.D. Considine of Rolling Stone magazine reviewed Joyride: "By emphasizing its sense of personality, Roxette delivers more than just well-constructed hooks; this music has heart, something that makes even the catchiest melody more appealing."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The album's success brought the duo two Rockbjörnen awards for Best Swedish Album and Best Swedish Group, the second time they had achieved that feat.<ref name="rockbjornen" />

The single "Joyride" became Roxette's first No. 1 in their home country.<ref name="Swedishcharts" /> It also topped the charts in more than 25 countries around the world, including Germany, Australia and the US; it was their fourth and last No. 1 in the US.<ref name="RoxBillboard" /><ref name="Auscharts" /><ref name="Gercharts" /> The single also charted well in the UK, and achieved success in Canada, which resulted in the song being nominated in 1992 for a Juno Award in the category, Best Selling Single by a Foreign Artist.<ref name="juno92">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Its follow-up, "Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)", a power ballad similar to "Listen to Your Heart", with Fredriksson on lead, spent a week at No. 2 in the US in July and achieved success in other big markets as well.<ref name="OCC" /><ref name="RoxBillboard" /><ref name="Auscharts" /><ref name="Gercharts" />

Roxette then embarked on an ambitious worldwide tour.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Join the Joyride! World Tour 1991/92 tour eventually reached more than 1.5 million fans in 107 concerts around the world,<ref name="tourismintro">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> including a few dates in the US. On reviewing their Universal Amphitheater performance, Dennis Hunt of the Los Angeles Times said, "Fredriksson is squandering her talents in pop's low-rent district. She's clearly superior to Roxette's uncomplicated, hook-crammed material..."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The end of 1991 saw the merger of SBK, Chrysalis and EMI record companies, to form EMI Records Group North America.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The resulting merger saw many personnel changes that resulted in a downturn in publicity for Roxette. Though Joyride was certified platinum<ref name="RIAA" /> and made impressive worldwide sales, the subsequent singles from the album—the ballad "Spending My Time" and "Church of Your Heart"—failed to reach the heights of previous singles in the US charts.

In late 1991, the band was honoured with its own postage stamp in Sweden, along with Lena Philipsson and Jerry Williams.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Music tastes in the U.S. were changing, with the emergence of new genres such as new jack swing, grunge, harder-core rap and hip-hop. As William Ruhlmann of AllMusic later wrote, "Americans probably lost interest [in Roxette] at about the time that Nirvana came roaring in from the Northwest."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In a 2009 interview with BBC News, Gessle highlighted the popularity of Nirvana and grunge music as a contributor to Roxette's downturn in success.<ref name="bbctalkingshop" /> Although Roxette's commercial momentum in America was slowing down dramatically, elsewhere, singles from the Joyride album continued to become hits when "Spending My Time" and "The Big L." charted in many countries.<ref name="OCC" /><ref name="Auscharts" /><ref name="Gercharts" />

1992–1993: Tourism

Roxette continued the Join the Joyride tour into 1992. It was during this tour that most of the material for Tourism: Songs from Studios, Stages, Hotelrooms & Other Strange Places was recorded. Instead of releasing an album of brand-new material, Gessle and Fredriksson re-mastered older recordings, including several slated for, but not included on, Look Sharp! and Joyride. They also recorded some of their live performances, recorded a country music-inspired version of "It Must Have Been Love" in a Los Angeles studio, and recorded new material in various locations around the world – an empty dance club, a hotel room – and compiled everything on to the album. Released in October 1992, Gessle and Fredriksson said Tourism was meant to "capture the energy within the band".<ref name=tourismintro/>

The first single off the album was "How Do You Do!" followed by the ballad "Queen of Rain" and an electrified version of the song "Fingertips", originally recorded acoustically for the album and re-titled "Fingertips '93" for single release. Singles from Tourism barely dented the American radio and record charts but in the rest of the world, the first single "How Do You Do!", hit the top 5 in most European and South American countries. The album Tourism also charted well outside of the US, reaching No. 1 in Germany and Sweden, No. 2 in the UK as well as peaking at No. 3 in Australia.<ref name="OCC"/><ref name=Swedishcharts/><ref name=Auscharts/><ref name=Gercharts/> The album sold 6 million copies worldwide.<ref name=Roxettestory-p3>Template:Cite news</ref> The duo's success reflected in an ECHO Award nomination for International Group of the Year.<ref name=echo>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At home, Roxette won a Rockbjörnen Award for Best Swedish Group. It remains the last Rockbjörnen the duo received.<ref name=rockbjornen/> In October 1992, Fredriksson released her first solo album in Swedish for five years, titled Den ständiga resan (The Eternal Journey).<ref name=Swedishcharts/>

{{#invoke:Listen|main}} In early 1993, Roxette became the first non-native-English speaking artists to be featured on MTV's Unplugged series,<ref name=roxofficial/> though the songs from the performance were never released on an official Unplugged album. In the same year, Roxette recorded and released "Almost Unreal", a song originally slated for the film Hocus Pocus starring Bette Midler.<ref name=albumnotes/> However, the song was moved to the soundtrack of the film based on the Nintendo video game Super Mario Bros.<ref name=albumnotes/> Supported by an expensive video and ultimately receiving respectable airplay, "Almost Unreal" managed to briefly reach the lower end of the Billboard Hot 100 but charted highest in the UK reaching the top 10, the group's first time there since "Joyride" two years before.<ref name="OCC"/><ref name=RoxBillboard/> Roxette themselves were dismissive about the song, with Fredriksson saying it was "not one of our most inspired moments."<ref name=albumnotes/> On the other hand, Gessle stated: "I still like the song in a way... but if you wanted to make a parody of Roxette, it would probably sound something like this."<ref name=albumnotes/> To coincide with the UK television premiere of the film Pretty Woman, "It Must Have Been Love" was re-issued in September 1993 and entered the UK and Irish singles charts for the second time.<ref name="OCC"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

1994–1998: Crash! Boom! Bang! and Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus!

Template:Quote box Roxette changed their musical style with the 1994 release of Crash! Boom! Bang! Bryan Buss of Allmusic wrote, "They rock harder than on their pop-friendly albums prior to this, and the result shows growth but not the fun that made them so popular in the first place... Though the two have an edge on this album, they almost seem to have become a bit bored."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Although Crash! Boom! Bang! saw chart success (No. 1 in Sweden, No. 2 in Germany and No. 3 in Australia and the UK),<ref name="OCC"/><ref name=Swedishcharts/><ref name=Auscharts/><ref name=Gercharts/> it sold fewer copies than had their previous albums, selling 5 million copies worldwide.<ref name=Roxettestory-p3/> EMI America were reluctant to release the album,<ref name=Roxettestory-p3/> and instead promoted a shortened 10-track Favorites CD in association with McDonald's. The Favorites of Crash! Boom! Bang! CD reportedly sold about 1 million copies.<ref name=Roxettestory-p3/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was noted by journalists that the McDonald's promotion CD (and other CDs by Tina Turner, Garth Brooks and Elton John) led to US music retailers of the time being unhappy with the promotion for several reasons, including that it bypassed established music stores and that the price of the CD was way below normal wholesale costs. Some stores refused to sell the albums published by EMI, with one major chain protesting by temporarily pulling all products from CEMA (EMI's distribution wing) out of its sales and ad campaigns.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The duo's relations with EMI's North American subsidiary, which had never been smooth, collapsed after the release of this album.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Crash! Boom! Bang! became the last Roxette release EMI issued in the US until Greatest Hits was released in 2011 on subsidiary label Capitol Records.

The first single release from Crash! Boom! Bang! was "Sleeping in My Car". The distortion guitar-heavy pop song, born out of anger and frustration of the album's grown up nature,<ref name=albumnotes/> reached No. 2 in Canada, as well as the top 10 in 7 European countries (including No. 1 in Sweden) as well as the top 15 in the UK, Australia and Germany. However, in the US, it was less successful, reaching only No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Subsequent releases--the album's title selection, "Fireworks", and "Run to You"—were less successful but managed to reach the charts in some countries.<ref name="OCC"/><ref name=Gercharts/>

Roxette then embarked on another, albeit scaled-down, worldwide tour, skipping North America in the process.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The "Crash! Boom! Bang! Tour" saw Roxette becoming the first Western band to be allowed to perform in China (Workers' Indoor Arena, Beijing) since Wham! in 1985.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The procedure to get permission for this concert took over a year, and included self-censorship of lyrics.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2008 they were ordered to pay 4.5 million kronor in unpaid taxes to the Swedish Tax Agency, for money earned during the German part of the 1994/95 tour.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In October 1995, Roxette released their first greatest hits compilation, Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus! This reached the top 5 in many European countries, including the UK, as well as the top 10 in Australia.<ref name="OCC"/><ref name=Auscharts/> The compilation sold 6 million copies worldwide,<ref name=Roxettestory-p3/> and featured four new songs, three of which were released as singles, including the ballad "You Don't Understand Me", co-written by Desmond Child.<ref name=albumnotes/> Also that year, a compilation of demos, B-sides and remixes, alongside some of the 1993 MTV Unplugged material, was released in Japan and parts of South America under the title Rarities.

Gessle briefly reunited with Gyllene Tider in 1996, then Roxette took instrumental masters of many of its ballads and recorded translated Spanish lyrics over them. The resulting album, Baladas En Español, sold well in Spanish-speaking regions, reaching 2× platinum in Spain and platinum in Argentina.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The single "Un día sin ti" ("Spending My Time") accompanied by a video directed by Jonas Åkerlund, became their first Latin Pop Airplay chart entry.<ref name=RoxBillboard/> The duo then released solo albums, I en tid som vår (In a Time Like Ours) by Fredriksson and The World According to Gessle by Gessle, with both charting in Sweden.<ref name=Swedishcharts/>

1999–2001: Have a Nice Day and Room Service

Gessle and Fredriksson reunited in 1998 to record material for a new Roxette album, Have a Nice Day, which was released in February 1999 and gave Roxette a comeback in continental Europe. It entered at No. 1 in Sweden and No. 2 in Germany.<ref name=Swedishcharts/> The first single, "Wish I Could Fly", became their highest-charting UK single since 1993 (No. 11). In Sweden it charted at No. 4, their best position since "Sleeping in My Car".<ref name="OCC"/><ref name=Swedishcharts/> Although the second single, "Anyone", did not chart well in Europe, "Stars", the third single, charted well in Scandinavian and German-speaking countries. NMETemplate:'s review called Have a Nice Day "...another clever-clever bastard of an album which defies Doctor Rock."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A review of "I Wish I Could Fly" written by Håkan Steen of Aftonbladet said, "The come-back single is a disappointment. The lyrics, which convey a sense of distance in a relationship, are not particularly engaging."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The album, according to Billboard magazine, was under discussion for release in the US, but ultimately, it was not released there.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="rolling">[2] Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

In 2000, Fredriksson released a greatest hits compilation called Äntligen (At Last), which went on to be a big seller in Sweden, peaking at No. 1 for three weeks.<ref name=Swedishcharts/> Meanwhile, Roxette signed a US distribution deal with Edel Music, which re-released Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus! In doing so, it replaced some non-US hits with songs from Have a Nice Day.<ref name=rolling/> To promote the release the duo did a small tour of The United States, performing at the Boston Mixfest and at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The single "Wish I Could Fly", included on the album, reached No. 27 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and No. 40 on the Adult Top 40 chart.<ref name=RoxBillboard/>

File:Roxette Concerto01.jpg

Roxette in a 2001 concert in Spain

Room Service followed in 2001, to a mixed response from critics. "Probably the best Roxette album since Joyride," wrote Leslie Mathew of Allmusic, "Room Service is an exciting, immediate, high-gloss pop gem that contains very little filler indeed."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Per Bjurman from Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet was critical of the album. "It is not very good." he wrote. He did praise the three singles, "Real Sugar", "The Centre of the Heart", and "Milk and Toast and Honey", but he ended the review with the prediction: "Roxette is not finished. But soon, I suspect."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The album topped the Swedish charts and reached No. 3 in Germany, but it received little attention in the UK. A planned US release through Edel America Records did not happen as the label was disbanded due to financial difficulties,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> though it did peak at No. 2 on CNN's Worldbeat album chart.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The first single, "The Centre of the Heart" topped the charts in Sweden, made the top 10 in Spain, and the top 15 in Finland.<ref name=Swedishcharts/><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The other singles, "Real Sugar", the album's opening track and "Milk and Toast and Honey" were less successful. Roxette again went on tour, this time in Europe only, as concerts planned in South Africa were cancelled after the 11 September 2001 attacks.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On reviewing their Löfbergs Lila Arena concert, Bjurman from Aftonbladet wrote, "Roxette succeed in all cases, to never leave the 80s."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His review criticised Roxette's playlist, which consisted of some of their early hits. Johan Lindqvist from Göteborgs-Posten was more positive, scoring their Munich concert four stars out of five.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2002–2008: Fredriksson's illness, compilation albums and solo work

Roxette received an honorary award from the Swedish government at the February 2002 Grammis ceremony.<ref name="Aren">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On 11 September 2002, Fredriksson had an epileptic seizure and fractured her skull after collapsing in her bathroom.<ref name="vi">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Following MRI scans, it was confirmed that Fredriksson had a brain tumour.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The diagnosis led to the cancellation of Roxette's planned performance at the 2002 Night of the Proms concert series.<ref name="NOTP">Template:Cite magazine</ref> After waiting several weeks for the fracture to subside, she underwent surgery to remove the malignant tumour, followed by months of chemotherapy and radiation treatment.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Fredriksson was unable to speak for a considerable period of time afterward,<ref name="vi"/> and for the rest of her life was unable to read,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> was blind in one eye, and had limited hearing and mobility.<ref name="Collins">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Roxette issued two greatest hits compilations, The Ballad Hits in late 2002 and The Pop Hits in early 2003.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On December 1, 2002, a 600-page discography book titled The Look for Roxette was released, which included a four-song EP of previously unreleased material. The release of The Ballad Hits was delayed until Valentine's Day 2003 in English-speaking territories such as Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In January 2003, Roxette received the Litteris et Artibus ("Culture and Education") award from King of Sweden Carl Gustaf XVI,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> for "achievements in Sweden and internationally".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Ballad Hits sold over a million copies within a year, and was the best-selling album released by a Scandinavian act that year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The duo received a World Music Award for the Best Selling Scandinavian Artist in October 2003.<ref name=wma>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In 2003, Gessle released Mazarin (Cake), which became his most successful solo album.<ref name="Afraid">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The record sold over 335,000 copies in Sweden as of January 2005,<ref name="Gyllene">Template:Cite news</ref> and received numerous awards.<ref name=rockbjornen/><ref name="Aren"/> Gyllene Tider reformed to celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2004,<ref name="hit">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> releasing the studio album Finn 5 fel! (Find 5 Errors!) in June, their first new material since 1996.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> That album was also successful, selling 230,000 copies in Sweden by January 2005.<ref name="Gyllene"/>

Fredriksson released her first English-language solo album, The Change, in October 2004,<ref name="Live">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which debuted atop the Swedish albums chart.<ref name="Mariecharts"/> Despite being unable to read or write, Fredriksson rediscovered her love of drawing during her illness, and began using charcoal to create artwork as a form of therapy.<ref name="Art">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She drew the cover art for The Change,<ref name="Live"/> and held her first art exhibition – titled "After the Change" – at the vernissage of the Doktor Glas gallery in Kungsträdgården, Stockholm in October 2005.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The following month, Gessle released his second English-language studio solo album, Son of a Plumber.<ref name="Afraid"/>

Also in 2005, several remixes of Roxette songs became hit singles. A remix of "Fading Like a Flower" by Dancing DJs was a top twenty hit in the UK,<ref name="OCC"/> while Belgian dance group DHT's 2003 trance cover of "Listen to Your Heart" became a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and was certified gold by the RIAA.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Fredriksson released her seventh solo album in June 2006, an album of Swedish cover songs titled Min bäste vän (My Best Friend).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> To commemorate their 20th anniversary, Roxette issued the four-disc box set The Rox Box/Roxette 86–06 on 18 October 2006. The set also included a DVD containing all their music videos and a previously-unreleased 1993 concert for MTV Unplugged. Roxette recorded two new songs for the box set, "One Wish" and "Reveal", which both featured on a new greatest hits album, A Collection of Roxette Hits: Their 20 Greatest Songs!, released on the same date as The Rox Box.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Gessle released two more solo albums: En händig man (A Handy Man) in 2007 and Party Crasher in 2008.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

2009–2016: Reformation, touring and studio albums

File:Roxette on stage in Amsterdam.jpg

Fredriksson and Gessle in Amsterdam on 6 May 2009

Rumours of a Roxette reunion began in April 2009 when Gessle was interviewed by the BBC,<ref name=bbctalkingshop/> where he said he world "love to do more Roxette and I would love to do more recordings as well, because [Marie is] a great person and a great singer, but I don't want to push her at all. It's really up to her. If she calls me up and tells me 'I'm ready', I'd say 'Let's go for it'."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Fredriksson joined Gessle on stage during the 6 May 2009 date of Gessle's "Party Crasher Tour" in Amsterdam. Immediately after the concert, Gessle announced to Swedish publication Aftonbladet that Roxette would perform at the 2009 edition of Night of the Proms.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Roxette was scheduled to perform at the 2002 edition of the tour, but withdrew because of Fredriksson's illness.<ref name="NOTP"/> The tour began on 23 October 2009 and consisted of 42 dates in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. On the same date the tour began, Gessle confirmed to Swedish newspaper Expressen that Roxette had been recording material for a new album since May.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2010, the band performed a series of warm-up concerts in Europe,<ref name="Hollywood">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> along with a June concert at the Stockholm Concert Hall for the Wedding of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, and Daniel Westling.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Roxette embarked on "The Neverending World Tour" at the beginning of 2011, an extensive worldwide tour.<ref name="Guardian">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Their eighth studio album, Charm School, was released on 11 February 2011, preceded by lead single "She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)" on 10 January.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The song was Roxette's highest-peaking single in Germany since 1992's "How Do You Do!", while the album was their first since 1992's Tourism to peak at number one in Germany.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album was certified gold and peaked within the top twenty of numerous European territories.<ref name="BVMI"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It sold half a million copies worldwide by the end of 2011.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

During "The Neverending World Tour", Roxette recorded Travelling, an album of new studio recordings, live tracks and soundcheck performances. The album was issued in March 2012, and was preceded by "It's Possible" as the lead single. The song was A-listed on BBC Radio 2. By April 2012, Roxette had performed to over a million people during "The Neverending World Tour".<ref name="Guardian"/> In 2013, Gessle reunited with Gyllene Tider. The band embarked on a tour of large arenas and stadiums in Sweden, and released the album Dags att tänka på refrängen (Time to Think About the Chorus). That same year, Fredriksson issued the solo album Nu! (Now!), and also embarked on a solo tour of Sweden.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Roxette issued their first live album in late 2013, Live: Travelling the World, which was also issued as part of a DVD and Blu-ray box set.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Roxette resumed touring in late 2014.<ref name="Huff">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They issued another greatest hits compilation, Roxette XXX – The 30 Biggest Hits, from late 2014,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> while an updated version of their 2006 box set The Rox Box/Roxette 86–06, titled The RoxBox!: A Collection of Roxette's Greatest Songs, was released in Australia in early 2015.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They continued touring in 2015,<ref name="Huff"/> and in July released "The Look (2015 Remake)", a new recording of their 1988 single.<ref name="Look2015">Template:Cite magazine</ref> French DJ Sebastien Drums created a remix and music video for a new Roxette song titled "Some Other Summer", which was released in late 2015.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Roxette Diaries, a documentary directed by Jonas Åkerlund, was released on video on demand services in March 2016.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The following month, Fredriksson announcing her retirement from touring. She was advised by doctors to stop all touring activity, due to poor health. She issued a statement saying: "Sadly, now my touring days are over and I want to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful fans that [have] followed us on our long and winding journey."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> By the end of the tour, Roxette had performed to 2.5 million people (excluding music festival appearances) in over 50 countries.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Roxette's tenth and final studio album, Good Karma, was released in June 2016.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album is more electronic than the other albums the duo released following their reformation.<ref name="Renowned">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was produced by Gessle alongside regular producers Clarence Öfwerman and Christoffer Lundquist, and Swedish duo Addeboy vs. Cliff, with whom Roxette had collaborated on the 2015 remix of "The Look".<ref name="Look2015"/> Three singles were released from the album: "It Just Happens",<ref name="Collins"/> "Some Other Summer",<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and "Why Don't You Bring Me Flowers?".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2017–2023: Fredriksson and Alsing's deaths, vault releases and PG Roxette

Fredriksson and Gessle resumed solo work following the release of Good Karma. Gessle released two Swedish-language solo albums in 2017, En vacker natt (A Beautiful Night) and En vacker dag (A Beautiful Day).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His tenth solo album, Small Town Talk, was released in 2018, and consisted of English versions of songs from En vacker natt and En vacker dag. All three records were recorded in Nashville.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Fredriksson released the non-album singles "Alone Again" and "I Want to Go" in 2017,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and "Sing Me a Song" in 2018.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Roxette issued a 30th-anniversary edition of Look Sharp! in October 2018, containing a bonus disc of previously unreleased outtakes and demos.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Gessle toured Europe in October and November 2018 as "Per Gessle's Roxette", with set lists for the tour consisting primarily of songs from Roxette's back catalogue.<ref name="MusicWeek">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Marie Fredriksson died on 9 December 2019, at the age of 61. Her cause of death was not initially specified,<ref name="NYT">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> but it was later confirmed she died from complications stemming from her 2002 brain tumour diagnosis.<ref name="NME">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Paying tribute to Fredriksson, Gessle said she was "the most wonderful friend for over 40 years", and "an outstanding musician, a master of the voice, an amazing performer."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Gessle released his eleventh studio album, Gammal kärlek rostar aldrig (Old Love Never Rusts), in November 2020.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A four-disc compilation of Roxette outtakes titled Bag of Trix was released the following month.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> An outtake from the Good Karma sessions, "Let Your Heart Dance with Me", was issued as the lead single from the compilation two months earlier. It was one of the final songs Fredriksson recorded before her death.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On 19 December 2020, Roxette's longtime drummer Pelle Alsing died at the age of 60.<ref name="NME"/>

In 2021, Roxette released a 30th-anniversary edition of Joyride, containing two bonus discs of previously unreleased outtakes and demos.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> That same year, Gessle created a new project called PG Roxette. The band features Gessle alongside vocalists Helena Josefsson and Dea Norberg, who had both provided vocals on Gessle's previous work, either on his solo material or as backing vocalists on Roxette's live shows.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The band's first release was a cover of the Metallica song "Nothing Else Matters",<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> released on The Metallica Blacklist in September 2021.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The following year, Roxette digitally issued a triple volume compilation of remixes titled ROX RMX (Remixes from the Roxette Vaults).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> PG Roxette released their debut album, Pop-Up Dynamo!, in October 2022,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with a 4-track EP titled Incognito following in 2023.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2024–present: Live reformation and musical

On 2 May 2024, Gessle announced the live reformation of Roxette. With Lena Philipsson taking over on lead vocals, the band will tour Australia and South Africa from February 2025.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A 3-CD box set of ROX RMX (Remixes from the Roxette Vaults) was released in September 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A musical titled Joyride the Musical, based on Roxette's music and Jane Fallon's book Got You Back, will run at Malmö Opera from September 2024 until April 2025.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Impact and legacy

File:Roxette 2014-04-08 002.jpg

Per and Marie at a 2014 event celebrating the 25th anniversary of "The Look" topping the Billboard Hot 100.

Roxette is Sweden's best-selling music act after ABBA.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Roxette have sold between 75 and 80 million records worldwide.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They sold over 5.7 million records in Germany, where they are recognised as one of the highest-certified acts of all time.<ref name="BVMI">Template:Cite certification</ref> In the United Kingdom, Roxette had nineteen top 40 hits,<ref name="OCC">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the British Phonographic Industry have certified the band for shipments of over 3 million units.<ref name="BPI">Template:Cite certification</ref>

In the United States, the RIAA awarded them certifications of 3.5 million units.<ref name="RIAA">Template:Cite certification</ref> They have sold over two million albums in the country since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales data in May 1991.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Roxette achieved four number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100: "The Look", "Listen to Your Heart", "It Must Have Been Love" and "Joyride". Gessle is the sole-credited writer on three of these songs, making him one of the most successful solo songwriters on Billboard Hot 100 history.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Roxette songs continue to receive extensive airplay. In 2014, both "Listen to Your Heart" and "It Must Have Been Love" received awards from music publisher Broadcast Music, Inc., after each song had been played on US radio five million times.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> "It Must Have Been Love" received an updated award in 2021, following its six millionth play.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Awards

Template:Awards table |- |rowspan=3|1988 |rowspan=2|Look Sharp |Grammis (Sweden) – Composer of the Year (Gessle)<ref name=grammis/> |Template:Won |- |Rockbjörnen (Sweden) – Best Swedish Album<ref name=rockbjornen/> |Template:Won |- |rowspan=2|Roxette |Rockbjörnen (Sweden) – Best Swedish Group<ref name=rockbjornen/> |Template:Won |- |rowspan=5|1989 | Smash Hits Poll Winners Party – Most Promising New Group | Template:Nom |- | rowspan=2|"The Look" |MTV Video Award (USA) – International Viewer's Choice (Europe) |Template:Won |- | Music & Media Year-End Awards – Pan European Award<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> | Template:Draw |- |rowspan=6|Roxette |Rockbjörnen (Sweden) – Best Swedish Group<ref name=rockbjornen/> |Template:Won |- |Silver Bravo Otto (Germany) – Best rock/pop Group<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |Template:Won |- |1990 |Bronze Bravo Otto – Best rock/pop group<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |Template:Won |- |rowspan=7|1991 |Brit Award (UK) – Best international group<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |Template:Nom |- |Silver Bravo Otto – Best rock/pop group<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |Template:Won |- |Rockbjörnen (Sweden) – Best Swedish Group<ref name=rockbjornen/> |Template:Won |- |rowspan=2|Joyride |Rockbjörnen (Sweden) – Best Swedish Album<ref name=rockbjornen/> |Template:Won |- |Grammis – Pop Group of the Year<ref name=grammis/> |Template:Won |- |"Joyride" |MTV Video Award – International Viewer's Choice (Europe) |Template:Won |- |rowspan=3|Roxette |Australian Music Awards – Most Popular International Group |Template:Won |- |rowspan=4|1992 |Gold Bravo Otto – Best rock/pop Group<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |Template:Won |- |Rockbjörnen (Sweden) – Best Swedish Group<ref name=rockbjornen/> |Template:Won |- |"Joyride" |Juno Award (Canada) – Best Selling Single by a Foreign Artist<ref name=juno92/> |Template:Nom |- |rowspan=2|Roxette |Echo (Germany) – International Group of the Year<ref name=echo/> |Template:Nom |- |rowspan=2|1993 |Echo (Germany) – International Group of the Year<ref name=echo/> |Template:Nom |- | Join the Joyride! Tour | Hungarian Music Awards – Best Foreign Concert | Template:Nom |- |1995 | Roxette |Echo (Germany) – International Group of the Year<ref name=echo/> |Template:Nom |- |1999 |"Wish I Could Fly" |Fono Music Award (Europe) – European No. 1 Airplay hit<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> |Template:Won |- |2000 |rowspan=3|Roxette |WMA – Best selling Scandinavian artist<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |Template:Won |- |2002 |Grammis (Sweden) – Government Music Export Prize<ref name=grammis/> |Template:Won |- |2003 |WMA – Best selling Scandinavian artist<ref name=wma/> |Template:Won |- | 2006 | "Listen to Your Heart" | BMI Pop Awards – Award-Winning Song | Template:Won |- | 2007 | The Rox Box/Roxette 86–06 | Grammis (Sweden) – Best Compilation<ref name=grammis/> | Template:Nom

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Band members

Current members

• Per Gessle – vocals, guitars, harmonica, percussion, banjo, keyboards (1986–2019; 2024–present)
• Lena Philipsson - vocals (2024–present)

Former members

• Marie Fredriksson – vocals, keyboards, piano (1986–2019; her death)

Discography

• Pearls of Passion (1986)
• Look Sharp! (1988)
• Joyride (1991)
• Tourism (1992)
• Crash! Boom! Bang! (1994)
• Have a Nice Day (1999)
• Room Service (2001)
• Charm School (2011)
• Travelling (2012)
• Good Karma (2016)

Tours

File:Christoffer lundqvist and malin ekstrand live in halmstad 14 08 10.JPG

Christoffer Lundquist (guitarist) and Malin Ekstrand (backing vocals), who accompanied Roxette during the 2010 European tour

• Rock runt riket Template:Small Swedish Tour Template:Small (1987)<ref name=roxtours>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Look Sharp '88! Tour Swedish Tour (1988)<ref name=roxtours/>
• Look Sharp Live! European Tour (1989)<ref name=roxtours/>
• Join the Joyride! Tour (1991–92)<ref name=roxtours/>
• Join the Summer Joyride – European Tour (1992)<ref name=roxtours/>
• Crash! Boom! Bang! Tour (1994–95)<ref name=roxtours/>
• Room Service Tour (2001)<ref name=roxtours/>
• Night of the Proms (2009) (Classic meets Pop – headliner, with several artists)<ref name=roxtours/>
• The Neverending World Tour (2009–16)
• Per Gessle's Roxette – European Tour (2018)<ref name="MusicWeek"/>
• Roxette Concert 2025 (2025)

See also

• Join the Flumeride – a mockumentary of two fictional bands parodying Roxette and Gyllene Tider, and featuring a cameo appearance by Per Gessle.
• List of artists who reached number one in the United States
• List of bands named after other performers' songs
• List of Billboard number-one singles
• List of Swedes in music
• Swedish popular music
• PG Roxette

References

General sources

• Template:Cite book

External links

• Template:Official website
• Roxette on the Internet Archive
• {{#if:Roxette|Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at Discogs|{{#if:Template:Wikidata|Template:Wikidata Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at DiscogsTemplate:EditAtWikidata|Template:PAGENAMEBASE discography at Discogs}}}}
• Template:MusicBrainz artist
• Entry at 45cat.com