Stars

Look Sharp!
Stars
Biography
Heartland
Pearls of Passion
Look Sharp!
Joyride
Tourism
Crash! Boom! Bang!
Don't Bore Us - Get to the Chorus!
Rarities
Baladas En Español
Have A Nice Day
Room Service
The Ballad Hits
The Pop Hits

the second album...

The full-length follow-up, Look Sharp!, was released in Europe in October 1988, two years after Pearls of Passion. Gessle and EMI Svenska chose to highlight Fredriksson's singing and released "Chances" and "Dressed For Success" as the first singles.

01. The Look 3:57

02. Dressed For Success 4:09

03. Sleeping Single 4:37

04. Paint 3:30

05. Dance Away 3:24

06. Cry 5:19

07. Chances 4:57

08. Dangerous 3:48

09. Half A Woman, Half A Shadow 3:35

10. View From A Hill 3:40

11. (I Could Never) Give You Up 3:57

12. Shadow Of A Doubt 4:14

13. Listen To Your Heart 5:28

 

After "Success's" run on Swedish radio emerged "The Look," a novelty song highlighted by synthesizers and a clangy guitar line as well as esoteric lyrics sung by Gessle about a woman "walking like a man, hitting like a hammer."
 
While studying in Sweden, an American exchange student from Minneapolis, Dean Cushman, heard "The Look," then one of the most played songs on radio, and brought a copy of Look Sharp! home for the 1988 holiday break. According to Gessle, Cushman "badgered" a Minneapolis radio station, KDWB 101.3 FM, to play the song. Based on positive caller feedback, the station's program director copied the song and distributed it to other stations, and within weeks the song became uniquitous throughout the region and, ultimately, nationwide.
 
EMI Svenska's parent group, which had not previously agreed to an American distribution of Look Sharp!, immediately issued a single to American record stores and radio stations and pressed copies of Look Sharp!. "The Look" reached No. 1 on the April 8, 1989, Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for one week. At the end of the year, Billboard named "The Look" one of the 20 biggest Hot 100 singles of the year.
 
Roxette then assembled an international tour as EMI issued "Dressed For Success" as the second single in the United States, and the song peaked at No. 14. "Listen to Your Heart" was released thereafter. A power-ballad, the song managed to garner great listener interest even though it differed from the synth pop of "The Look," instead resembling the guitar-heavy ballads of Heart. The single, the first ever to be released in cassette-only format without a 45 RPM 7" vinyl alternative, spent a single week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending Nov. 4, 1989.
 
A fourth single in the United States, "Dangerous," was released at the end of the year and spent two weeks at No. 2 on the Hot 100 in February 1990.
 
It was around this time that Touchstone Pictures approached EMI and Roxette about contributing a song to the soundtrack of the upcoming film Pretty Woman starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. Gessle has claimed that "It Must Have Been Love," by then a two-year-old recording, was chosen because Roxette didn't have time to compose and record a new song while touring through Australia and New Zealand.
 
Gessle and producer Clarence Öfwerman took the old recording, had Fredriksson replace a single Christmas-referenced line in the song, added some instrumentation and background vocal overlays, and gave the song to the soundtrack producers, who Gessle claimed turned it down. Gessle also claimed that, after re-editing the film before release, the producers re-requested the song, and it was added to the soundtrack.
 
Pretty Woman was released in March 1990 and went on to make more than $178 million at U.S. box offices and more than $460 million worldwide, becoming the most succesful film of the year. The soundtrack went on to be certified three times platinum by the RIAA. Though not the first single released from the soundtrack, "It Must Have Been Love" would prove to be the most successful, spending two weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 beginning in the June 16, 1990, edition.
 
The song had staying power on the chart, spending two additional weeks at No. 2 after falling from the perch, a total of nine weeks in the Top 10, and a then-impressive 17 weeks in the Top 40. Billboard named "It Must Have Been Love" the No. 2 Hot 100 single of the year behind Wilson Phillips' "Hold On." The song would prove to be Roxette's most successful single release, peaking at the top of the singles charts in many countries and No. 3 in the United Kingdom, the group's highest chart position there.
 

The Look

1-2-3-4 walking like a man,

Hitting like a hammer,

She's a juvenile scam.

Never was a quitter,

Tasty like a raindrop,

She's got the look.

Heavenly bound

Cause heaven's got a number

When she's spinning me around,

Kissing is a colour.

Her loving is a wild dog,

She's got the look

She's got the look.

She's got the look.

What in the world can make a brown-eyed girl turn blue.

When everything i'll ever do i'll do for you

And i go: la la la la la

She's got the look

Fire in the ice

Naked to the t-bone

Is a lover's disguise.

Banging on the head drum,

Shaking like a mad bull,

She's got the look.

Swaying to the band,

Moving like a hammer

She's a miracle man.

Loving is the ocean,

Kissing is the wet sand,

She's got the look

She's got the look.

She's got the look.

What in the world can make a brown-eyed girl turn blue.

When everything i'll ever do i'll do for you

And i go: la la la la la

She's got the look

Walking like a man,

Hitting like a hammer,

She's a juvenile scam.

Never was a quitter,

Tasty like a raindrop,

She's got the look.

And she goes: na na na na na na na na.

She's got the look.

She's got the look.

What in the world can make a brown-eyed girl turn blue.

When everything i'll ever do i'll do for you

And i go: la la la la la

She's got the look

 

Dressed For Success

Tried to make it little by little,

Tried to make it bit by bit on my own.

Quit the job, the grey believers,

Another town where I get close to the bone.

Whatcha gonna tell your brother? - oh oh oh

Whatcha gonna tell your father? - I don't know!

Whatcha gonna tell your mother? - Let me go...

I'm gonna get dressed for success

Shaping me up for the big time, baby.

Get dressed for success

Shaping it up for your love

For your love, yea yea yea

I'm not afraid, a trembling flower,

I'll feed your heart and blow the dust from your eyes

And in the dark things happen faster.

I love the way you sway your hips next to mine.

Whatcha gonna tell your brother? - oh oh oh

Whatcha gonna tell your father? - I don't know!

Whatcha gonna tell your mother? - Let me go...

I'm gonna get dressed for success

Shaping me up for the big time, baby.

Get dressed for success

Shaping it up for your love

For your love, yea yea yea

Look sharp!

Whatcha gonna tell your brother? - oh oh oh

Whatcha gonna tell your father? - I don't know!

Whatcha gonna tell your mother? - Let me go...

Get dressed for success

I'm gonna get dressed for success,

Hitting a spot for the big time, baby.

Get dressed for success shaping it up for your love

For your love, yeah yeah yeah....

 

Sleeping Single

Here's the house.

Here's the city and the stream.

Here's the father to my dream.

Here's the lost and lonely look in your eyes.

When you leave I will break down and cry

Sleeping single - I will wait for you.

I'm sleeping single - 'til you change your mind.

Sleeping single - I will wait for you 'til time has gone by

I'll pay the price

For all the love you poured like rain

"toujours l'amour" over again,

But the midnight chills are getting so rough

And the bed is big enough for both of us

Sleeping single - I will wait for you.

I'm sleeping single - 'til you change your mind.

Sleeping single - I will wait for you 'til time has gone by

Sleeping single - I would die for you.

I'm sleeping single - won't you change your way.

Sleeping single - I will pray for you to stay,

He-he-hey...he-he-hey...

'Til time has gone by

(chorus)

Won't you change your mind?

 

Paint

I've got a hot chilly feeling I don't understand.

I've got to run through this minute like a hurricane.

I've got to tighten my wire from the sense to the soul.

I find my back to the wall when it's time to go.

I've gotta know

Is that your heartbeat?

Paint...me right.

Can you feel the heat in me tonight?

Oh I, I'm the pearl...

Paint your love all over my world.

I get a love shock electric from the touch of your hand.

I'm getting lost in the riddles of the modern man.

I've got it up down all around tied to the bone.

Hey there's a strange situation on the late nite show.

I've got to know

Is that your heartbeat?

Paint...me right.

Can you feel the heat in me tonight?

Oh I, I'm the pearl...

Paint your love all over my world.

Do it right, I can feel the woman in me tonight.

Oh I, I'm the pearl...

Paint your love all over my world.

Paint...me right.

Can you feel the heat in me tonight?

Oh I, I'm the pearl...

I can feel the heat in me.

Paint...me right.

Can you feel the heat in me tonight?

Oh I, I'm the pearl...

Paint your love all over my world.

Do it right, I can feel the woman in me tonight.

Oh I, I'm the pearl...

Paint your love all over my world.

Paint your love all over my world.

 

Dance Away

There's a hidden meaning

In everything he says,

Every close encounter,

Every kiss, every caress.

Even the truth has got that bitter taste of a lie.

Well, I can read his lips now

But I can't read his mind

I can see him dance away now oh oh - oh oh oh

I can see him dance away now oh oh - oh oh oh

He was one of the kind

That seems so hard to find.

There's a change of weather,

Now he leaves me far behind.

That I don't matter to him came as such a surprise.

Well, I can read his lips now,

I thought I read his eyes

And I can see him dance away now oh oh - oh oh oh

I can see him dance away now oh oh - oh oh oh

(repeat)

 

Cry

Living here without you is not an easy way of life.

I spend my time without you,

I try to make it all worthwhile.

Standing in a rainfall coming down from the sky

Why should I cry over you?

Why should I cry cry cry over you?

I keep on thinking about you.

I've got no private pride to hide.

I've built my world around you

Like a call without reply.

My love has lost direction,

She's got the sun in her eyes

Why should I cry over you?

Why should I cry cry cry over you?

Hearing your footsteps,

Loud on my stairs

(a-walking...) -

Living without you.

Feeling the sweet sweet smell of love in the air

(I can feel it...) -

Living without you.

Kissing the face that I see everywhere

But I'm living without you, I'm living without.

Why should I cry cry cry over you?

Hearing your footsteps,

Loud on my stairs

(a-walking...) -

Living without you.

Kissing the face that I see everywhere

But I'm living without you, I'm living without.

Cry cry cry over you

Why should I cry over you?

(repeat)

 

Chances

(Got to got you to got to take your chances)

(Got to got you to got to take your chances on me)

Hear my call,

Here and everywhere

I've been walking the streets in despair.

One more fire

Turns a shade of grey,

One more tear

Is lost in the rain.

And I say that I love you.

I say that I need you.

Baby I leave you a sign of desire.

No shadow will haunt you,

No heart will desert you,

No one will hurt you,

No space or no time

Got to got you got to got to take your chances on me,

Like the river will lead the water to the sea,

Take on me,

Take your chances on me.

Don't ever let it be.

Don't ever let it be

There's a night when you close your eyes

Around a dream that shines like the sun.

Everyone knows it's beautiful,

Tell me why you want to dream it alone.

And I say that I love you,

I say that I need you,

Baby I leave you the lines in my palm.

No darkness will get you,

No heart will desert you,

Nothing can hurt you or do you any harm

Got to got you got to got to take your chances on me,

Like the river will lead the water to the sea,

Take on me,

Take your chances on me.

Don't ever let it be.

Don't ever let it be

And I say that I love you,

I say that I need you,

Baby I leave you the lines in my palm.

Got to got you got to got to take your chances on me,

Like the river will lead the water to the sea,

Take on me,

Take your chances on me.

Don't ever let it be.

Take on me.

Like the river will lead the water to the sea...

 

Dangerous

You pack your bag.

You take control.

You're moving into my heart

And into my soul.

Get out of my way!

Get out of my sight!

I won't be walking on thin ice

To get through the night.

Hey, where's your work?

What's your game?

I know your business

But I don't know your name...

Hold on tight,

You know she's a little bit dangerous.

She's got what it takes to make ends meet

The eyes of a lover that hit like heat.

You know she's a little bit dangerous

You turn around,

So hot and dry.

You're hiding under a halo,

Your mouth is alive.

Get out of my way!

Get out of my sight!

I'm not attracted to go-go deeper tonight.

Hey, what's your word?

What's your game?

I know your business

But I don't know your name...

Hold on tight,

You know she's a little bit dangerous.

She's got what it takes to make ends meet

The eyes of a lover that hit like heat.

You know she's a little bit dangerous

Hey, what's your word?

What's your game?

I know your business

But I don't know your name...

Hold on tight,

You know she's a little bit dangerous.

She's got what it takes to make ends meet

The eyes of a lover that hit like heat.

You know she's a little bit dangerous

She's armed and she's extremely dangerous.

She's got what it takes to make ends meet

The eyes of a lover that hit like heat.

You know she's a little bit dangerous

 

Half A Woman, Half A Shadow

Wash my pain away

Half a woman, half a shadow

Daylight is breaking again.

I hide in the dark.

I'm watching the rain.

You're out of touch

And you're out of reach.

What can I say,

I never wanted it this way.

Love sleeps all alone.

The cold telephone,

I know the heart.

Yes, I know the kind.

The kisses of fire,

Turning to grey.

I never wanted it this way.

I always wanted you to stay

Cause I'm half a woman, half a shadow.

Wash my pain away

Cause I'm half a woman, half a shadow.

Oh, love always change with the trees,

The spring and the leaves,

The waves on the sea.

Wilder than light the wind in your eyes

Led me astray.

I never wanted it this way.

I always wanted you to stay.

Wash my pain away

Cause I'm half a woman, half a shadow.

Wash my pain away

Cause I'm half a woman, half a shadow.

Oh, wash my pain away

Oh I need you, yes I need you.

Give me a reason to believe.

 

View From A Hill

Raging waves sweep this heavy heart.

Cold is the colour of the dark.

Find a byway and climb that hill,

Watch the thunder cast a spell.

What did you gain from love? -

Don't ask me!

All for the sweetest thrill...

I see a view from a hill - oh oh.

I see it perfectly clear

And I cry for the dreams that you kill -

Oh oh, view from a hill,

And it's only a moment away

Love is a rainfall, hard on the head,

No escape though you're soaking wet.

Leave me blinded by your light.

Leave me stranded alone tonight.

What did you gain from love? -

Don't ask me!

All for the cheapest thrill...

I see a view from a hill -- oh oh.

I see it perfectly clear

And I cry for the dreams that you kill --

Oh oh, view from a hill,

And it's only a motion away.

What did you gain from love? -

Don't ask me!

All for the cheapest thrill...

I see a view from a hill -- oh oh.

I see it perfectly clear

And I cry for the dreams that you kill --

Oh oh, view from a hill,

And it's only a motion away.

(repeat)

 

(I Could Never) Give You Up

(I could never give you up, the way you make my love shine)

I've been hiding,

Lost in the love of another.

I've followed the moon and a song

And I thought it would take me forever

To find a place where I belong.

I watch a rainbow rise.

I give you all i've got

I could never give you up,

The way you make my love shine.

I could never give you up,

The way you make true love shine

I believe you

When you say you don't want to be lonely.

I'll carry your heart like a bridge

When you need all the time you can find

To get the hurt out of your mind.

I'll watch the rain go by

And give you all i've got

Cause I could never give you up,

The way you make my love shine.

I could never give you up,

The way you make true love shine

I could never give you up,

I watch a rainbow rise.

I give you all i've got

I could never give you up,

The way you make my love shine.

I could never give you up,

The way you make true love shine

(repeat)

 

Shadow Of A Doubt

I heard your heart,

You held it close to me.

The wild embrace,

The silent sea,

A whisper of imagery

For Lovers Supreme

But now

I'm lost in the crowd,

No shadow of a doubt

It's all over now,

No shadow of a doubt

You changed the dream.

You changed the scenery,

The tender touch,

The urge to breathe,

There under a lovelit sun

What's lost could be found

But now,

No trace of a sound,

No shadow of a doubt.

I'm faraway bound.

No shadow of a doubt.

But now

I'm lost in the crowd,

No shadow of a doubt

It's all over now,

No shadow of a doubt

No trace of a sound,

No shadow of a doubt.

I'm faraway bound.

No shadow of a doubt

 

Listen To Your Heart

I know there's something in the wake of your smile.

I get a notion from the look in your eyes, yea.

You've built a love but that love falls apart.

Your little piece of heaven turns too dark.

Listen to your heart

When he's calling for you.

Listen to your heart

There's nothing else you can do.

I don't know where you're going

And I don't know why,

But listen to your heart

Before you tell him goodbye.

Sometimes you wonder if this fight is worthwhile.

The precious moments are all lost in the tide, yea.

They're swept away and nothing is what is seems,

The feeling of belonging to your dreams.

Listen to your heart

When he's calling for you.

Listen to your heart

There's nothing else you can do.

I don't know where you're going

And I don't know why,

But listen to your heart

Before you tell him goodbye.

And there are voices that want to be heard.

So much to mention but you can't find the words.

The scent of magic, the beauty that's been

When love was wilder than the wind.

Listen to your heart

When he's calling for you.

Listen to your heart

There's nothing else you can do.

I don't know where you're going

And I don't know why,

But listen to your heart

Before you tell him goodbye.

 

***** My Roxette Fansite *****