Top 10 Roxette Pop Hits
4 min read
Everyone who knows me knows that one of the biggest loves of my life is music. Most of those people also know that of the music that I hold nearest and dearest to me, one shines out above all others – Roxette. Yes, I am a sucker for the timeless power ballads and energetic, hook fueled brilliance of the bands up-tempo gems and when it comes to picking our favorites amongst the bands enormous catalogue, we (the ‘Roxers’ of the world), like fans of any band or artist, all have our own personal preferences.
From time to time we like to take a break from reviewing the latest releases on Renowned For Sound to look back at the music that has inspired us as individuals. A nod to the greats, if you will and with a new live DVD on the way from the band, what better time for a little reminiscing. So, join me as I countdown my personal Top 10 favorite Roxette pop hits (click here see our Top 10 favorite Roxette Ballads)…
10. ‘Opportunity Nox‘
As Marie Fredriksson was making her steady recovery from an almost life threatening brain tumor, the band released a collection of upbeat Roxette hits in 2003 and this was the records lead single. Check out the video below and you will get to see Roxette in pretty cool cartoon form.
[youtube id=”9Hv9vLonKN8″ width=”620″ height=”360″]
9. ‘The Centre of the Heart‘
The lead single from 2001’s Room Service, this track is a synth monster with sweet verses and kickin’ chorus and the bands famous “nah-nah-nah’s’. The video for this one was shot inside California’s famous Madonna Inn hotel.
[youtube id=”JttOvEpqem0″ width=”620″ height=”360”]
8. ‘The Look’
The track that broke Roxette onto the mainstream and into the fickle U.S market, The Look is one of those timeless hits from the eighties that everyone knows and loves and the track that helped make the band a household name the world over.
[youtube id=”LlVI7ZNiFlI” width=”620″ height=”360″]
7. ‘It’s Possible’
As the band toured the world many times over during their successful comeback in 2011 and 2012, they pieced together a follow up to 1992’s Tourism called Traveling and this gem fronted the record. I adore this track with its infectious hooks and full-throttle tempo. This one is pure Roxette!
[youtube id=”8odqs4ishF8″ width=”620″ height=”360″]
6. ‘June Afternoon’
Definitely a track to play on high volume in the summer months, June Afternoon was one of the 3 singles lifted from the bands greatest hits collection, Don’t Bore Us, Get To The Chorus in 1995. Its lyrics are playful and its vibe is sweet bubblegum and sunshine.
[youtube id=”_Wxnh7hXdW4″ width=”620″ height=”360″]
5. ‘Crush On You’
When Have A Nice Day was released back in 1999, this track was a favourite for Roxette fans and to this day it remains one of the most played tracks from Roxette on my iPod. As the records opening track it cracked the lid on a new venture into electronic music for the duo.
[youtube id=”LZdjNY1VWPs” width=”620″ height=”360″]
4. ‘How Do You Do’
Takes from the bands 1993 ‘live’ collection, How Do You Do remains a tour favourite and is up there with the best of Roxette’s uptempo hits.
[youtube id=”nx2iLOvP0rM” width=”620″ height=”360″]
3. ‘Stars’
Stars is one of my favourite tracks from the Have A Nice Day release of ’99. The song threw Roxette into deep techno waters and while critics weren’t too fond of the parent record or this as one of the single cuts from the album, the use of a children’s choir, Marie’s powerhouse vocals, the many spacey sound effects running through the track and a pair of ducks singing to Marie as she dives into the chilly Stockholm waters in a quest to follow the man of her dreams in the video for the track is pure gold!
[youtube id=”uzZRdjXd2qw” width=”620″ height=”360″]
2. ‘Dangerous’
Overflowing with hooks, Dangerous is another one of the bands monster singles from 1988’s Look Sharp and was a #2 hit for the band in the U.S. The video for this, along with Listen To Your Heart, was shot within the impressive surroundings of Sweden’s Borgholm Castle.
[youtube id=”VFNRh26TPmM” width=”620″ height=”360″]
1. ‘Joyride’
An obvious number one, I admit. There isn’t a soul alive who cannot say they don’t love this track – Roxette fan or not. It’s pop at its finest and the video is equally as memorable; the band speeding down a U.S highway, playing guitar on top of a red corvette. Love it!
[youtube id=”xCorJG9mubk” width=”620″ height=”360″]
Like this article? Save it on Pinterest by clicking HERE!
Join us tomorrow as I count down my Top 10 favorite Roxette ballads.
::: RenownedForSound.com’s Editor and Founder –
Interviewing and reviewing the best in new music and globally recognized artists is his passion.
Over the years he has been lucky enough to review thousands of music releases and concerts and interview artists ranging from top selling superstars like 27-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss, Boyz II Men, Roxette, Cyndi Lauper, Lisa Loeb and iconic Eagles front man/songwriter, Glenn Frey through to more recent successes including Newton Faulkner, Janelle Monae and Caro Emerald.
Brendon manages and coordinates the amazing team of writers on RenownedForSound.com who are based in the UK, the U.S and Australia.
Thanks for this Brendon. Your personal top 10 is fantastic. I have to totally agree with your number 1.
Yes! I love Stars and Crush on you. The purest fans hates that modern tunes. In internet, we always found someone like us :P Congrats!
I consider myself a Roxer, always keen to see what Per comes up with next but the electronic / synth material is not for me and as for that Stars video with the ‘ducks’ YIKES!!
I liked your HAND review (and we agree on many points). But this ranking… I am not that sure about it. No trace of Sleeping In My Car there. And It’s Possible (one of their worst singles ever, along with One Wish) better than The Look? Real Sugar and The Big L are missing too. Compared with those, It’s Possible is piece of garbage.
Nice list, Brendon! Actually I wanted to post a comment for your fantastic review of Have a Nice Day, so I’ll post it here anyway. It’s funny the way this album always been a bit controversial for many fans. Personally I love it as well, and exactly for the reasons you point. Maybe the uptempo tracks I’m not a big fan of, but the ballads are really fantastic, all of them. Beautiful Things must be their most beautiful album closer so far (and that’s a tough competition…). I don’t know if you have read Per’s personal list of his favourite lesser known Roxette songs, it was recently on Roxette Blog and it’s also a very interesting read.
I love the way all Roxette fans have fond memories of their favourite songs (not always just the biggest hits), and how after the years we never stop rememembering and loving them =)
Off Travelling, I’d pick Turn Of The Tide for a ballad (such a beautiful melody and vocal performance by Marie), and for an uptempo track, it’s a tie between It’s Possible and Touched by The Hand Of God, both awesome, catchy and full of energy.
Hope to read again from you soon!
Thanks everyone. There will be another Top 10 count down today for the bands Ballads. Glad you are all liking the list. It ain’t always about the big number ones and the singles – there are a LOT of amazing Rox tracks over the years.
Agree Brendon, Rox have recorded so many great songs but most of your list here is not to my taste.
Sleeping in my Car
Way Out
Secrets That She Keeps
Hotblooded
As for ballads, You Don’t Understand Me, what a song! Let’s not talk about the video though…
Yeah, Secrets that she Keeps is a fantastic track. Probably my favorite from Pearls of Passion. Also Surrender.
I always preferred ‘Dangerous’ to ‘Joyride’, which believe it or not, was an OK-song for me. From their recent albums, ‘Touched by the hand of God’ is a gem, as is ‘Soul Deep’ from their classic records.