"The Big L." is a song by Swedish

pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop!, a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Albums * ''Pop'' (G ...

duo

Roxette Roxette was a Swedish pop rock duo, consisting of Marie Fredriksson (vocals and keyboards) and Per Gessle (vocals and guitar). Formed in 1986, the duo became an international act in the late 1980s, when they released their breakthrough second a ...

. Written by Per Gessle, it was released as the third

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

from their third studio album, '' Joyride'' (1991), on 26 August 1991. The song became a top ten hit in Belgium, Ireland and Sweden, and was the highest-charting single released from ''Joyride'' in France. It also reached the top twenty in a number of other countries, including Australia, Austria, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland. Despite a US radio mix of the song appearing on CD versions of the single, it was never released as a single in North America.

Critical reception

'' Aberdeen Press and Journal'' commented on the song, that "they can still bang out a decent tune." AllMusic editor Bryan Buss wrote in his review of '' Joyride'', that "The Big L." follows "in the successful vein Gessle and Fredriksson mined with "

The Look "The Look" is a song by Swedish pop duo Roxette. It was released in early 1989 as the fourth single from their second studio album, '' Look Sharp!'' (1988). It became an international hit, and was one of the most successful singles of 1989. It ...

". Swedish newspaper ''

Expressen ''Expressen'' (''The Express'') is one of two nationwide evening newspapers in Sweden, the other being '' Aftonbladet''. ''Expressen'' was founded in 1944; its symbol is a wasp and its slogans are "it stings" or "''Expressen'' to your rescue". ...

'' called it a "peppery pop song adorned with details from old rock 'n' roll". ''I Dag'' described it as "classic pop that could just as well be

Gyllene Tider Gyllene Tider (; "Golden Times") was a Swedish pop group fronted by Roxette singer, guitarist and songwriter Per Gessle. They were one of the best-selling Swedish bands ever and have had numerous hits in Scandinavia, starting with the break-th ...

in the 90s". Kim Såtvedt from Norwegian newspaper ''

Laagendalsposten ''Laagendalsposten'' (lit. The ''Lågendal Post'') is a regional newspaper for Kongsberg and the Numedal, in Buskerud, Norway. Its main office is in Kongsberg. The newspaper is printed in 10.500 copies and has about 50,000 readers. ''Laagendalspos ...

'' noted it as a "useful up-tempo song". ''

Music & Media ''Music & Media'' was a pan-European magazine for radio, music and entertainment. It was published for the first time in 1984 as ''Eurotipsheet'', but in 1986 it changed name to ''Music & Media''. It was originally based in Amsterdam, but later ...

'' wrote that the song is "again proof of Per Gessle's knack for writing pleasant pop underpinned by rocking beats. The casual but economic production further adds to the song's power."

Formats and track listings

All songs were written and composed by Per Gessle. * Cassette and 7-inch single (Europe 1364347 · UK EM204) # "The Big L." – 4:29 # "One Is Such a Lonely Number" (Demo, September 1987) – 3:33 * 12-inch single (Europe 1364346) # "The Big L." (The Bigger, The Better Mix) – 6:17 # "The Big L." – 4:29 # "One Is Such a Lonely Number" (Demo) – 3:33 * CD single (Europe 1364342) # "The Big L." – 4:29 # "One Is Such a Lonely Number" (Demo) – 3:33 # "The Big L." (The Bigger, The Better Mix) – 6:17 # "The Big L." (US Mix) – 4:35

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of ''

The Rox Box/Roxette 86–06 ''The Roxbox (Roxette 86-06)'' is a boxed set compilation by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released on 18 October 2006 by Roxette Recordings and Capitol. It is an expanded companion piece to the single-disc greatest hits album '' A Collection of Ro ...

''. Studios * Recorded in June 1990 at EMI Studios (Stockholm, Sweden) * Mixed at EMI Studios (Stockholm, Sweden) Musicians *

Marie Fredriksson Gun-Marie Fredriksson (; 30 May 1958 – 9 December 2019) was a Swedish singer, songwriter, pianist and painter, who was best known internationally as the lead vocalist of pop rock pop duo, duo Roxette, which she formed in 1986 with Per Gessle. ...

– lead vocals, background vocals * Per Gessle – lead vocals, background vocals, mixing * Anders Herrlin – programming, engineering * Jonas Isacsson – electric guitars, acoustic guitars,

harmonica The harmonica, also known as a French harp or mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used worldwide in many musical genres, notably in blues, American folk music, classical music, jazz, country, and rock. The many types of harmonica inclu ...

* Clarence Öfwerman –

keyboards 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 ...

, programming, production, mixing * Staffan Öfwerman – background vocals * Alar Suurna – mixing, engineering

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Big L, The 1991 singles 1991 songs Roxette songs Songs written by Per Gessle