Look Sharp! (Roxette album)

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Look Sharp!
Studio album by
Roxette
Released21 October 1988
RecordedMarch–September 1988
Studio
Genre
Length53:12
LabelEMI
Producer
Roxette chronology
Dance Passion
(1987) 		Look Sharp!
(1988) 		Joyride
(1991)
Singles from Look Sharp!
  1. "Dressed for Success"
    Released: 3 August 1988
  2. "Listen to Your Heart"
    Released: 27 September 1988
  3. "Chances"
    Released: 28 December 1988
  4. "The Look"
    Released: 12 January 1989
  5. "Dangerous"
    Released: 10 May 1989

Look Sharp! is the second studio album by Swedish pop rock duo Roxette, released on 21 October 1988 by EMI, two years after their debut Pearls of Passion (1986). It was recorded at EMI Studios in Stockholm and at Trident II Studios in London between March and September 1988. The album was an immediate commercial success in Sweden, debuting at number one and eventually being certified 6× platinum there.

Although commercial success elsewhere was initially modest, the album was the duo's international breakthrough. It went on to be certified platinum or multi-platinum in numerous territories, while four of its singles attained commercial success. In the United States, the album was certified platinum and the singles "The Look" and "Listen to Your Heart" both topped the Billboard Hot 100, while "Dangerous" and "Dressed for Success" reached numbers 2 and 14, respectively, on the same chart.

Background and release[edit]

"Dressed for Success" and "Listen to Your Heart" were released as the album's first two singles in Sweden, with Per Gessle and EMI choosing to highlight Marie Fredriksson as Roxette's lead vocalist.[1] They were immediate hits in Sweden, peaking at numbers two and three, respectively.[2] "Chances" was released as the album's first single in France, Germany and Italy, but it failed to chart.

"The Look" was released as the album's fourth single in January 1989, becoming another top 10 hit in their home country.[2] While studying there, an American exchange student from Minneapolis, Dean Cushman, purchased the album and brought it home, giving a copy of it to his local Top 40 radio station, KDWB 101.3 FM.[3] "The Look" quickly became popular, and the station began distributing the track to their sister radio operations.[4][5] EMI America had previously rejected the duo as unsuitable for the American market, and Roxette did not have a recording contract there.[6]

"The Look" had already entered the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100 before the duo began official promotion. It would go on to peak at number one eight weeks later.[7] It gradually became a global hit over the next year, topping the charts in 25 countries.[8] It also spent six weeks at number one on the Australian Singles Chart.[9] The album's previous singles—excluding "Chances"—were re-released internationally. Roxette would go on to have four number ones on the Billboard Hot 100, including "Listen to Your Heart"; while the album's final single, "Dangerous", peaked at number two.[10]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[12]
Los Angeles Times[13]
Number One[14]

The album received mixed reviews from critics. In a retrospective review, AllMusic complimented its singles, but said that the album tracks "aren't necessarily filler, but they also aren't as strong as many of the cuts that made up Roxette albums that followed. [...] Only 'Chances' and 'Shadow of a Doubt' show glimmers of the skills the duo would soon flourish."[11] A review for Los Angeles Times echoed a similar sentiment, praising its singles and "Shadow of a Doubt"—along with "Cry"—but said that: "the problem is that most of Look Sharp!'s music is of such a light, ephemeral nature that it disappears without a trace the minute the record leaves the turntable. Looks like Roxette's forte is pop music that is prettily presented but totally disposable."[13]

Accolades[edit]

Roxette were nominated for two Grammis Awards—the Swedish equivalent of the Grammy Awards—in 1989, for Artist of the Year and Best Pop/Rock Group. Fredriksson and Gessle each won an award for Best Pop/Rock Female and Best Composer, respectively.[15] Both Roxette and Fredriksson won numerous Rockbjörnen awards during this period. They were awarded Best Swedish Album and Best Swedish Group at the 1988 ceremony, and won the latter award again the following year. Fredriksson won the award for Best Swedish Female over four consecutive years, from 1986 to 1989.[16]

Commercial performance[edit]

Look Sharp! was an immediate commercial success in Sweden, selling over 140,000 copies within ten days of release.[17] It spent seven weeks at number one,[2] and was certified platinum in the country for shipments in excess of 100,000 units. In the US, the album was certified platinum on 20 January 1990 by the RIAA for shipments in excess of one million units.[18] As of 2009, it sold 408,000 copies there since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales data in May 1991.[19] It peaked at number four in the UK, where it spent over a year on the charts.[20] It was certified platinum by the BPI in December 1990 for sales in excess of 300,000.[21] As of 2001, Look Sharp! had sold over 9 million copies worldwide.[22]

Track listing[edit]

All lyrics are written by Per Gessle; all music is composed by Gessle, except where noted

Look Sharp! – Original cassette and vinyl
No.TitleMusicProducerLength
1."The Look" Clarence Öfwerman3:57
2."Dressed for Success" Öfwerman4:09
3."Sleeping Single" Öfwerman4:38
4."Paint" Öfwerman3:30
5."Dance Away"
Öfwerman3:25
6."Cry"
  • Fredriksson
  • Gessle
Adam Moseley5:19
7."Chances" Moseley4:57
8."Dangerous" Öfwerman3:48
9."Half a Woman, Half a Shadow"FredrikssonÖfwerman3:35
10."View from a Hill" Moseley3:40
11."Shadow of a Doubt"
  • Gessle
  • Mats MP Persson
Öfwerman4:14
12."Listen to Your Heart"
  • Gessle
  • Persson
Öfwerman5:28
Total length:50:40
Look Sharp! – Original CD
No.TitleMusicProducerLength
11."(I Could Never) Give You Up"GessleÖfwerman3:58
12."Shadow of a Doubt"
  • Gessle
  • Persson
Öfwerman4:14
13."Listen to Your Heart"
  • Gessle
  • Persson
Öfwerman5:28
Total length:54:38
Look Sharp! – 2009 reissue (CD bonus tracks)
No.TitleProducerLength
14."The Voice"Öfwerman4:14
15."One Is Such a Lonely Number" (Demo)Öfwerman3:31
16."Don't Believe in Accidents" (Demo)Gessle3:41
Total length:66:04
Look Sharp! – 2009 reissue (iTunes bonus tracks)
No.TitleMusicLength
17."Cry" (Demo)
  • Fredriksson
  • Gessle
5:07
18."Dressed for Success" (Chris Lord-Alge/US Single Mix) 4:10
19."Listen to Your Heart" (US Single Mix)
  • Gessle
  • Persson
4:52
20."Surrender" (Live) 3:09
21."Neverending Love" (Live) 3:27
Total length:86:49
Look Sharp! – 30th Anniversary Edition (bonus disc)[23]
No.TitleLength
1."The Look" (T&A Demo) (30 March 1988)3:29
2."Dressed for Success" (T&A Demo) (20 May 1987)3:22
3."Dressed for Success" (EMI Demo) (26–30 May 1987)3:53
4."Sleeping Single" (T&A Demo) (22 May 1987)3:54
5."Sleeping Single" (EMI Demo) (26–30 May 1987)3:48
6."Paint" (T&A Demo) (28 April 1988)3:36
7."Dance Away" (T&A Demo) (9 February 1988)3:36
8."Cry" (T&A Demo) (9 February 1988)5:08
9."Chances" (T&A Demo) (24 November 1987)4:19
10."Dangerous (Acoustic Version)" (T&A Demo) (25 February 1987)3:08
11."Dangerous" (EMI Demo) (26–30 May 1987)3:29
12."View from a Hill" (T&A Demo) (17 November 1987)3:17
13."(I Could Never) Give You Up" (T&A Demo) (18 December 1987)3:45
14."Shadow of a Doubt" (T&A Demo) (9 February 1988)3:12
15."Listen to Your Heart" (T&A Demo) (9 May 1988)4:26
16."From Head to Toe" (EMI Demo) (26–30 May 1987)3:20
17."Never Is a Long Time" (EMI Demo) (26–30 May 1987)3:53
18."(I Could Never) Give You Up" (Album Version) (bonus track on vinyl editions of the reissue)4:00
19."The Voice"4:16
20."One Is Such a Lonely Number" (EMI Demo) (September 1987)3:34
21."Don't Believe in Accidents" (Demo) (Spring 1988)3:43
Total length:79:08
Look Sharp! – 2022 digital version (disc 2)[24]
No.TitleLength
1."The Voice"4:14
2."One Is Such a Lonely Number" (Demo, September 1987)3:31
3."Don't Believe in Accidents" (Demo, Spring 1988)3:41
4."The Look" (T&A Demo) (30 March 1988)3:27
5."Dressed for Success" (T&A Demo) (20 May 1987)3:20
6."Dressed for Success" (EMI Demo) (26–30 May 1987)3:51
7."Sleeping Single" (T&A Demo) (22 May 1987)3:52
8."Sleeping Single" (EMI Demo) (26–30 May 1987)3:45
9."Paint" (T&A Demo) (28 April 1988)3:34
10."Dance Away" (T&A Demo) (9 February 1988)3:34
11."Cry" (T&A Demo) (9 February 1988)5:07
12."Chances" (T&A Demo) (24 November 1987)4:16
13."Dangerous" (T&A Demo) (11 February 1987)3:22
14."Dangerous (Acoustic Version)" (T&A Demo) (25 February 1987)3:05
15."Dangerous" (EMI Demo) (26–30 May 1987)3:27
16."View from a Hill" (T&A Demo) (17 November 1987)3:14
17."(I Could Never) Give You Up" (T&A Demo) (18 December 1987)3:42
18."Shadow of a Doubt" (T&A Demo) (9 February 1988)3:10
19."Listen to Your Heart" (T&A Demo) (9 May 1988)4:23
20."Boom Boom (And Boom Boom Again)" (T&A Demo) (15 September 1987)2:56
21."In My Own Way" (T&A Demo) (15 September 1987)3:15
22."Love Spins" (T&A Demo) (15 September 1987)3:05
23."Love Spins" (T&A Demo) (18 November 1987)3:22
24."One Is Such a Lonely Number" (T&A Demo) (26 August 1987)3:21
25."Drowning in You" (T&A Demo) (17 April 1988)3:50
26."Silver Blue" (T&A Demo) (21 May 1987)3:58
27."The Thrill of It All" (T&A Demo) (26 August 1987)2:42
28."Physical Fascination" (T&A Demo) (17 April 1988)3:37
29."From Head to Toe" (EMI Demo) (26–30 May 1987)3:17
30."Never Is a Long Time" (EMI Demo) (26–30 May 1987)3:50
31."Never Is a Long Time" (T&A Demo) (11 November 1987)3:48
32."Let's Party!" (T&A Demo) (14 July 1988)3:59
33."Start!" (T&A Demo) (19 February 1988)3:04
34."Night Wire" (T&A Demo) (9 April 1987)2:48
35."Pocketful of Rain" (T&A Demo) (12 June 1987)4:01
36."Rocket" (T&A Demo) (9 April 1987)3:08
37."The Voice" (T&A Demo) (24 March 1987)3:44
38."Silver Blue" (EMI Demo) (May 1988)4:12
39."Here Comes the Weekend" (T&A Demo) (30 March 1988)4:11

Personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Look Sharp!.[25]

  • Roxette are Per Gessle and Marie Fredriksson
  • Recorded at EMI Studios, Stockholm, Sweden and Trident II Studios, London, England
  • Remastered by Alar Suurna at Polar Studio, Stockholm (2009 reissue)
  • All songs published by Jimmy Fun Music, except: "Dance Away", "Cry" and "Half a Woman, Half a Shadow" published by Shock the Music/Jimmy Fun Music

Charts[edit]

Certifications and sales[edit]

Certifications and sales for Look Sharp!
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[47] 3× Platinum 210,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[55] 2× Platinum 100,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[56] 6× Platinum 600,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[57] Platinum 54,376[57]
Germany (BVMI)[58] 2× Platinum 1,000,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[59] 2× Platinum 200,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[60] Platinum 15,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[36] Platinum 100,000^
Sweden (GLF)[62] Platinum 511,000[61]
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[63] 2× Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[21] Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[18] Platinum 1,000,000^
Summaries
Worldwide — 9,000,000[22]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Digital booklet". Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus (liner notes). Roxette. Stockholm, Sweden: EMI Records. 1995. 7243 836203 2 6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ a b c d "Swedishcharts.com – Roxette – Look Sharp!". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  3. ^ O Schulman, Ninni (14 April 2001). "Sagan om Roxette: Tacka Dean för succén" [Lord of Roxette: Thank Dean for success (part 2)]. Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 20 April 2001. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  4. ^ Considine, J.D. (23 September 1989). "Sweden's Roxette Is Making It Big Almost by Accident". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  5. ^ "Talking Shop: Roxette's Per Gessle". BBC News. 15 May 2009. Archived from the original on 18 April 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  6. ^ Hunt, Dennis (13 May 1990). "Roxette Ridicules Rumors". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 16 October 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  7. ^ Trust, Gary; Bronson, Fred (11 February 2015). "Rewinding the Charts: In 1989, Roxette Roared Onto the Hot 100 With 'The Look'". Billboard. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  8. ^ Collins, Simon (27 October 2011). "Roxette are on a roll". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
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  11. ^ a b Buss, Bryan. "Look Sharp! – Roxette | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  12. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press.
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  14. ^ Thomas, Pat (28 June 1989). "Albums". Number One. p. 43. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
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  20. ^ a b "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  21. ^ a b "British album certifications – Roxette – Look Sharp!". British Phonographic Industry.
  22. ^ a b O Schulman, Ninni (15 April 2001). "Sagan om Roxette: På väg tillbaka – eller?" [Lord of Roxette: On the way back – or?]. Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 5 June 2001. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  23. ^ "Roxette: Ein Pop-Meilenstein wird 30: Roxette feiern drei Jahrzehnte "Look Sharp!"" ["Roxette: A pop milestone turns 30: Roxette celebrates three decades of Look Sharp!"] (in German). Warner Music. 23 October 2018. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
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  55. ^ "Austrian album certifications – Roxette – Look Sharp" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  56. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Roxette – Look Sharp". Music Canada.
  57. ^ a b "Roxette" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  58. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Roxette; 'Look Sharp')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  59. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Roxette – Look Sharp!" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Look Sharp! in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  60. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Roxette – Look Sharp!". Recorded Music NZ.
  61. ^ "1989 National Best Sellers - Sweden" (PDF). Music & Media. 13 January 1990. p. 32. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  62. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011.
  63. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Look Sharp!')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.

External links[edit]

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