"Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)" is a song by Swedish
pop rock
Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...
duo
Roxette from their third studio album, ''
Joyride'' (1991). Written by
Per Gessle
Per Håkan Gessle (; born 12 January 1959) is a Swedish singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the male half and primary songwriter of the Swedish pop rock duo Roxette, which he formed with Marie Fredriksson in 1986 and which was ...
and produced by
Clarence Öfwerman
Clarence Öfwerman (born 22 November 1957) is a Swedish record producer, best known as the longtime producer of Roxette, having been with the band from their debut album '' Pearls of Passion'' in 1986 through to 2016's '' Good Karma'', Roxette ...
, the song was released as the second single from ''Joyride'' on 29 April 1991 by
EMI Records. It became the duo's fifth consecutive top-10 hit single in the United States, peaking at number two on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100. The song reached the top 10 in an additional 12 countries.
Composition
According to
Ultimate Guitar
Ultimate Guitar (Ultimate Guitar USA LLC), which is also known as Ultimate-Guitar.com or simply UG, is an online platform for guitarists and musicians. Its website and mobile application provides guitar tablature catalogues and chord sheets. U ...
, the song is written in
common time
The time signature (also known as meter signature, metre signature, or measure signature) is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats (pulses) are contained in each measure (bar), and which note val ...
with a moderately fast tempo of 105
beats per minute
Beat, beats or beating may refer to:
Common uses
* Patrol, or beat, a group of personnel assigned to monitor a specific area
** Beat (police), the territory that a police officer patrols
** Gay beat, an area frequented by gay men
* Battery ...
. It is a piano-based
rock ballad
A sentimental ballad is an emotional style of music that often deals with romantic and intimate relationships, and to a lesser extent, loneliness, death, war, drug abuse, politics and religion, usually in a poignant but solemn manner.J. M. C ...
in the
key of F which modulates a step up to G halfway through the song. The track follows a basic chord sequence of Am–Em–Am–C–G–Am–Em–D in each
verse. The first two lines of each
chorus have a progression of C–F–Am–G–C–F–G–C, with the second half of the chorus amending the sequence to a shortened C–F–Am–G–F–G. The
bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or rail) without blocking the way underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, which is usually somethi ...
consists of three repetitions of Am–G–C–D followed by a progression of E–E
7–Am–C–G–Am. The duo later recorded a Spanish version of the song for their 1996 compilation album ''
Baladas en Español''.
Critical reception
in his review of ''
Joyride'',
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
editor Bryan Buss described the song as an "insistent rock ballad" and "painfully pretty".
Larry Flick from ''
Billboard'' wrote that the duo "slow the pace down" for a "familiar power ballad that should push all the right buttons". Swedish newspaper ''
Expressen'' called it a "powerful ballad" and compared it to "
Listen to Your Heart". Dave Sholin from the ''
Gavin Report'' commented, "In a
Top 40
In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or "cont ...
world starved for true pop music, the arrival of a new release by these two Swedish melody makers deserves bells, whistles and every other type of fanfare imaginable. Choosing a favorite from among their dazzling catalog of hits is an impossible task, and once again
Per
Per is a Latin preposition which means "through" or "for each", as in per capita.
Per or PER may also refer to:
Places
* IOC country code for Peru
* Pér, a village in Hungary
* Chapman code for Perthshire, historic county in Scotland
Math ...
and
Marie
Marie may refer to:
People Name
* Marie (given name)
* Marie (Japanese given name)
* Marie (murder victim), girl who was killed in Florida after being pushed in front of a moving vehicle in 1973
* Marie (died 1759), an enslaved Cree person in Tr ...
top themselves with an outstanding example of what hit mass appeal music is all about".
Norwegian newspaper ''
Glåmdalen'' stated that "Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)" is one of the best songs on the ''Joyride'' album." ''
Göteborgsposten'' described it as a "
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1976 in Sheffield. Since 1992, the band has consisted of Rick Savage (bass, backing vocals), Joe Elliott (lead vocals), Rick Allen (drums, backing vocals), Phil Collen (guitar, backing vocals), ...
-like ballad", while ''I Dag'' called it a "pompous arena ballad". Pan-European magazine ''
Music & Media'' wrote that it's a "melancholic ballad". Brendon Veevers from ''
Renowned for Sound
''Renowned for Sound'' is an Australian online magazine
An online magazine is a magazine published on the Internet, through bulletin board systems and other forms of public computer networks. One of the first magazines to convert from a pri ...
'' said that it is "pure gold", adding that "though its a ballad and though it touches an emotional nerve, it is also uplifting in its delivery with Per's masterful guitar work and Marie's exquisite vocals uniting perfectly here."
J.D. Considine from ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'' noted Fredriksson's "vocal fire-work" on the song.
Chart performance
Although not as successful as their previous single "
Joyride", the song was a top-ten hit in numerous countries. It remains the duo's highest-peaking single ever on the
Irish Singles Chart, peaking at number four. "Listen to Your Heart", "
It Must Have Been Love
"It Must Have Been Love", originally "It Must Have Been Love (Christmas for the Broken Hearted)", is a song written by Per Gessle and performed by the Swedish pop duo Roxette. The power ballad became the duo's third number one hit in the United ...
" and "
Almost Unreal
"Almost Unreal" is a song by Swedish pop music duo Roxette, released on 10 May 1993 as the lead single from the soundtrack of the 1993 live action adaptation of '' Super Mario Bros.'', which starred Bob Hoskins, John Leguizamo, Dennis Hopper, and ...
" all peaked at number five.
On the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
, "Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)" peaked at position number 12.
It charted highest in
North America, peaking at position number two in Canada and the United States, where it was held off the top spot in both countries by
Bryan Adams
Bryan Guy Adams (born 5 November 1959) is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter, composer, and photographer. He has been cited as one of the best-selling music artists of all time, and is estimated to have sold between 75 million and mor ...
's "
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You
"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams. Written by Adams, Michael Kamen, and Robert John "Mutt" Lange, the power ballad was the lead single for both the soundtrack album from the 1991 film '' Rob ...
".
It became Roxette's sixth and last US top 10 hit.
Music video
The accompanying
music video
A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device ...
for "Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)" was shot mostly in the
Gamla stan Gamla stan (, "The Old Town"), until 1980 officially Staden mellan broarna ("The Town between the Bridges"), is the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Gamla stan consists primarily of the island Stadsholmen. Officially, but not colloquially, Gamla stan ...
area of
Stockholm and features images of
Stockholm City Hall
Stockholm City Hall ( sv, Stockholms stadshus, ''Stadshuset'' locally) is the seat of Stockholm Municipality in Stockholm, Sweden. It stands on the eastern tip of Kungsholmen island, next to Riddarfjärden's northern shore and facing the islands ...
.
Track listing and formats
All songs written and composed by Per Gessle.
* 7-inch and cassette single
(Sweden 1364047 · UK TCEM190 · US 4KM-50355)
# "Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)" – 3:51
# "I Remember You" – 3:55
* 12-inch single
(Europe 1364046)
# "Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)" – 3:51
# "I Remember You" – 3:55
# "Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)" (
Gatica Mix) – 3:57
* CD single
(Europe 1364042)
# "Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)" – 3:51
# "I Remember You" – 3:55
# "Physical Fascination" (Extended/Guitar Solo Version) – 4:00
# "Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)" (Gatica Mix) – 3:57
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the
liner notes
Liner notes (also sleeve notes or album notes) are the writings found on the sleeves of LP record albums and in booklets that come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for cassettes.
Origin
Liner notes are desc ...
of ''
The Ballad Hits
''The Ballad Hits'' is the second greatest hits compilation album by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released on 4 November 2002 by Roxette Recordings and Capitol Records. It was the first of a two-part series of "best of" albums released by the duo in q ...
''.
Studios
* Recorded in July 1990 at EMI Studios (Stockholm, Sweden)
*
Mixed at EMI Studios (Stockholm, Sweden)
Musicians
* Marie Fredriksson –
lead
Lead is a chemical element with the symbol Pb (from the Latin ) and atomic number 82. It is a heavy metal that is denser than most common materials. Lead is soft and malleable, and also has a relatively low melting point. When freshly cu ...
and
backing vocals
A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are ...
* Per Gessle – backing vocals, mixing
* Anders Herrlin –
programming,
engineering
Engineering is the use of scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad range of more speciali ...
* Jonas Isacsson –
electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that requires external amplification in order to be heard at typical performance volumes, unlike a standard acoustic guitar (however combinations of the two - a semi-acoustic guitar and an electric acoustic gu ...
* Clarence Öfwerman –
keyboard
Keyboard may refer to:
Text input
* Keyboard, part of a typewriter
* Computer keyboard
** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping
** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware
Music
* Musi ...
s, programming,
production
Production may refer to:
Economics and business
* Production (economics)
* Production, the act of manufacturing goods
* Production, in the outline of industrial organization, the act of making products (goods and services)
* Production as a stati ...
, mixing
* Staffan Öfwerman – backing vocals
* Alar Suurna – mixing, engineering
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Release history
Dancing DJs vs. Roxette (2005)
In 2005, the song was remixed by British dance act Dancing DJs. Credited as Dancing DJs vs Roxette, the remix charted in numerous territories, including Finland, Ireland, Sweden and the UK.
Formats and track listings
* CD single
* Digital download
# "Fading Like a Flower" (Dancing DJs Remix - Radio Edit) – 3:05
# "Fading Like a Flower" (Hardino Mix) – 6:05
# "Fading Like a Flower" (Dancing DJs Remix - Extended Mix) – 6:10
# "Fading Like a Flower" (
Alex K Remix) – 6:08
# "Fading Like a Flower" (Discode Remix) – 6:30
# "Fading Like a Flower" (Alex K Bounce Remix) – 5:46
Charts
Other cover versions
* A cover of the song was released by Swedish artist
Frida Öhrn in 2020.
* A
Happy Hardcore
Happy hardcore, also known as 4-beat or happycore, is a subgenre of hardcore dance music or " hard dance". It emerged both from the UK breakbeat hardcore rave scene, and Belgian, German and Dutch hardcore techno scenes in the early 1990 ...
cover by Rob IYF and Al Storm featuring Lacie was released in April 2022.
See also
*
List of European number-one airplay songs of the 1990s
''Music & Media'' published a chart of the most popular songs on European radio every week. During the 1990s, the main airplay chart had been changed thrice: European Airplay Top 50 (up to 12 October 1991), European Hit Radio (22 December 1990 t ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fading Like A Flower (Every Time You Leave)
1991 singles
1990s ballads
Roxette songs
Songs written by Per Gessle
1991 songs
EMI Records singles
Pop ballads
Rock ballads