"The Look" is a song by Swedish
pop 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 ...
. It was released in early 1989 as the fourth single from their second
studio album
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...
, ''
Look Sharp!'' (1988). It became an international hit, and was one of the most successful singles of 1989. It topped the charts in 25 countries, and was the first of their four number ones on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100. The song received mostly positive reviews from music critics.
Background
The duo released their second album ''
Look Sharp!'' in October 1988. It was an immediate commercial success in their home country, spending seven weeks at number one on the
Swedish Albums Chart
Sverigetopplistan (, lit. "the Sweden top list") is the Swedish national record chart, formerly known as Topplistan (1975–1997) and Hitlistan (1998–2007) and known by its current name since October 2007, based on sales data from the Swedish R ...
. "
Dressed for Success
"Dressed for Success" is a song by Swedish pop rock duo Roxette, released in Europe, on 3 August 1988 as the lead single from their second studio album, '' Look Sharp!'' (1988). Following the international success of "The Look" – the album's ...
" and "
Listen to Your Heart" were released as the album's first two singles in Sweden, both becoming top three hits there. "
Chances
Chances may refer to:
* ''Chances'' (TV series), an Australian soap opera
* ''Chances'' (Philippine TV series), a prime-time soap opera
* '' Chances: The Women of Magdalene'', a 2006 documentary film
* ''Chances'' (novel), a 1981 novel by Jac ...
" was released in Germany and France as the first international single from the album.
Composition and style
"The Look" was written by Per Gessle as an exercise while learning how to operate the
Ensoniq ESQ-1
Ensoniq ESQ-1 is a 61-key, velocity sensitive, eight-note polyphony (instrument), polyphonic and multitimbral synthesizer released by Ensoniq in 1985. It was marketed as a "digital wave synthesizer" but was an early Music Workstation. Although it ...
synthesizer he had recently purchased, using a repeated A–G–D bass line as the song's core.
The track's
sixteenth-note
Figure 1. A 16th note with stem facing up, a 16th note with stem facing down, and a 16th rest.
Figure 2. Four 16th notes beamed together.
In music, a 1/16, sixteenth note ( American) or semiquaver (British) is a note played for half the dur ...
rhythm was inspired by the work of
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band formed in 1969 in Houston, Texas. For 51 years, they comprised vocalist-guitarist Billy Gibbons, drummer Frank Beard and vocalist-bassist Dusty Hill, until Hill's death in 2021. ZZ Top developed a signature sound ...
. The first two verses are composed of guide lyrics,
with Gessle explaining he "scribbled
hem
A hem in sewing is a garment finishing method, where the edge of a piece of cloth is folded and sewn to prevent unravelling of the fabric and to adjust the length of the piece in garments, such as at the end of the sleeve or the bottom of the ga ...
down instantly just to remember the rhythm. But they stuck in my head. 'Walking like a man, hitting like a hammer...', it all had a great groove. And in some pseudo-
psychedelic
Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips").Pollan, Michael (2018). ''How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of ...
way
à la
Many words in the English vocabulary are of French origin, most coming from the Anglo-Norman spoken by the upper classes in England for several hundred years after the Norman Conquest, before the language settled into what became Modern Engli ...
'
I Am the Walrus
"I Am the Walrus" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1967 television film ''Magical Mystery Tour''. Written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney, it was released as the B-side to the single "Hello, Goodbye" a ...
', it all seemed to make sense."
He found it "impossible" to replace the lyrics when trying to rewrite them later, and said he sought to balance the lyrical content by making the "rest of the lyrics intelligent in some way."
A demo for the song was recorded at the Tits & Ass Studio in
Halmstad
Halmstad () is a port, university, industrial and recreational city
A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Socia ...
in March 1988.
The original title was "He's Got the Look", with the lyrics using male
pronoun
In linguistics and grammar, a pronoun (abbreviated ) is a word or a group of words that one may substitute for a noun or noun phrase.
Pronouns have traditionally been regarded as one of the parts of speech, but some modern theorists would not co ...
s.
Gessle said this was done because he initially wanted Marie Fredriksson to sing the track.
Both he and EMI Sweden had chosen to highlight Fredriksson as Roxette's lead vocalist.
However, when recording the demo, Gessle realised the song "didn't fit her style that well, so I had a go and it sounded OK."
He said the song immediately had a "special power", saying that the demo "stood out; it was a great song. Everyone loved it. The only negative thing I could think of was that I was singing it, because that wasn't the idea
ehind Roxette"
Anders Herrlin, the bassist in Gessle's former band
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 ...
, was integral in the recording of the song's electronic components. Gessle sought to avoid the "live band" sound present on Roxette's debut album ''Pearls of Passion''; Herrlin
programmed eight digital
snare drum
The snare (or side drum) is a percussion instrument that produces a sharp staccato sound when the head is struck with a drum stick, due to the use of a series of stiff wires held under tension against the lower skin. Snare drums are often used ...
s in the intro alone, and "maybe 20 or so other effects" throughout the track. According to Gessle, guitarist Jonas Isacsson also had a "big impact" on the song, saying: "We asked him to play something in the style of
George Harrison
George Harrison (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001) was an English musician and singer-songwriter who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Sometimes called "the quiet Beatle", Harrison embraced Indian c ...
's "
I Want to Tell You" and "
Taxman
"Taxman" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1966 album ''Revolver''. Written by the group's lead guitarist, George Harrison, with some lyrical assistance from John Lennon, it protests against the higher level of progress ...
" from ''
Revolver
A revolver (also called a wheel gun) is a repeating handgun that has at least one barrel and uses a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers (each holding a single cartridge) for firing. Because most revolver models hold up to six roun ...
'', and off he went. Great cocky riffs."
Isacsson said the main guitar
riff
A riff is a repeated chord progression or refrain in music (also known as an ostinato figure in classical music); it is a pattern, or melody, often played by the rhythm section instruments or solo instrument, that forms the basis or accompani ...
was written several days earlier while composing songs with then-girlfriend
Marianne Flynner
Marianne Flynner, (born 16 September 1954) is a Swedish singer.
During the 1980s she travelled with Rocktåget, and sung as a backup-choir girl with among others, Roxette and Eva Dahlgren.
For eight years, she lived in California, before stu ...
. Upon playing the riff during the recording of "The Look", Isacsson said Gessle, producer
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's l ...
and
engineer
Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who invent, design, analyze, build and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while considering the l ...
Alar Suurna "went bonkers", and that Gessle "instantly wanted it as opening riff for the song."
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. UG ...
, the track features an unusual
song structure
Song structure is the arrangement of a song, and is a part of the songwriting process. It is typically sectional, which uses repeating forms in songs. Common forms include bar form, 32-bar form, verse–chorus form, ternary form, strophic form, and ...
. Each
verse
Verse may refer to:
Poetry
* Verse, an occasional synonym for poetry
* Verse, a metrical structure, a stanza
* Blank verse, a type of poetry having regular meter but no rhyme
* Free verse, a type of poetry written without the use of strict me ...
is composed of an A–G–D–A sequence, followed by a
chorus
Chorus may refer to:
Music
* Chorus (song) or refrain, line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse
* Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound
* Chorus form, song in which all verse ...
of A–A–C–G–A–C–G–A–A–F–G–A, with the second chorus containing an additional A at the end. The second chorus is proceeded by a
guitar solo
A guitar solo is a melodic passage, instrumental section, or entire piece of music, pre-written (or improvised) to be played on a classical guitar, electric guitar or an acoustic guitar. In 20th and 21st century traditional music and popular m ...
of E–A–G/A–E–A–E–A–E–A–G–D–A–G–D–A–A. The song then descends to a spoken
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 ...
consisting of an A–G–A–G sequence, building back up with a
pre-chorus
Song structure is the arrangement of a song, and is a part of the songwriting process. It is typically sectional, which uses repeating forms in songs. Common forms include bar form, 32-bar form, verse–chorus form, ternary form, strophic form, and ...
of
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. ...
singing an additional "Na na na na na" refrain, which repeats the same sequence from the initial verses albeit modified up by almost two
octave
In music, an octave ( la, octavus: eighth) or perfect octave (sometimes called the diapason) is the interval between one musical pitch and another with double its frequency. The octave relationship is a natural phenomenon that has been refer ...
s. An abbreviated
outro consisting of C–G–A–C–G–A–A–F–G then follows, before the song abruptly stops. A
coda
Coda or CODA may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* Movie coda, a post-credits scene
* ''Coda'' (1987 film), an Australian horror film about a serial killer, made for television
*''Coda'', a 2017 American experimental film from Na ...
of A–G–D–A then repeats until the song
fades out.
Commercial performance
"The Look" was issued in Sweden on 12 January 1989, as the third single from ''Look Sharp!'' in that country.
The track was an immediate commercial success there, peaking at number six and spending almost two months in the top ten of the then-
fortnightly
A fortnight is a unit of time equal to 14 days (two weeks). The word derives from the Old English term , meaning "" (or "fourteen days," since the Anglo-Saxons counted by nights).
Astronomy and tides
In astronomy, a ''lunar fortnight'' is h ...
Sverigetopplistan
Sverigetopplistan (, lit. "the Sweden top list") is the Swedish national record chart, formerly known as Topplistan (1975–1997) and Hitlistan (1998–2007) and known by its current name since October 2007, based on sales data from the Swedish R ...
chart.
The song was certified gold by the
Swedish Recording Industry Association
Grammofonleverantörernas förening (GLF), or the Swedish Recording Industry Association in English, is an organization representing the music recording industry of Sweden. It has compiled and published the official record charts for the Swedish mu ...
for shipments in excess of 25,000 units.
Around the same time, an American exchange student from
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
named Dean Cushman returned from Sweden and gave his copy of the album to his local
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 " con ...
radio station,
KDWB-FM
KDWB-FM (101.3 MHz) is an American commercial radio station broadcasting in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota, licensed to suburban Richfield. KDWB's radio format is Top 40/CHR. Its transmitter is located in Shoreview, while its studios ar ...
in
Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
.
The station's program director Brian Phillips initially ignored Cushman's request to play a song from the album, leaving the CD unplayed in his office for several weeks. Phillips eventually listened to it after learning Cushman had come to the office requesting the return of his CD. Immediately impressed by the album's opening track, "The Look" was played by the station for the first time on US radio less than an hour later, and the response from listeners was overwhelmingly positive; the station immediately began receiving phone calls to replay the track.
KDWB began distributing the track to their sister radio operations,
sending 500 copies to other stations throughout the United States.
EMI America promptly signed the duo to a recording contract as a result of the airplay.
The label had previously rejected Roxette as "unsuitable for the American market".
The song had already entered the top fifty of the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 before official promotion began,
peaking at number one on the chart eight weeks later. This made "The Look" the third number one single by a Swedish act on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, following
Blue Swede
Blue Swede were a Swedish rock band fronted by Björn Skifs which was active between the years 1973–1979. Blue Swede released two albums of cover versions, including a rendition of "Hooked on a Feeling", which brought them international chart s ...
's "
Hooked on a Feeling
"Hooked on a Feeling" is a 1968 pop song, written by Mark James and originally performed by B. J. Thomas. Thomas's version featured the sound of the electric sitar (played by Reggie Young) and reached No. 5 in 1969 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 10 ...
" in 1974 and
ABBA
ABBA ( , , formerly named Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid or Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Frida) are a Swedish supergroup formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The group's ...
's "
Dancing Queen
"Dancing Queen" is a Europop and disco song by the Swedish group ABBA, released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, ''Arrival'' (1976). It was written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson. Andersson and Ulvaeus al ...
" in 1976.
The track went on to top the charts in 25 countries. It spent three weeks atop the New Zealand Singles Chart,
and six weeks at number one in Australia, where it was certified platinum for sales in excess of 70,000 copies. It also topped the charts throughout Scandinavia, peaking at number one in Denmark, Finland and Norway,
and was certified gold in the former country for shipments in excess of 45,000 units.
The song spent five weeks at number one in West Germany, and an additional five weeks at number two.
The song was a massive success in Spain and Switzerland, spending eight weeks at number one in both countries.
In the United Kingdom, where "The Look" was released on 13 March 1989, it reached number seven 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 ...
.
After the song became a hit in the United States, rumours circulated within the American press that Cushman had been paid to bring the song to the attention of KDWB. Fredriksson categorically denied these rumours in an interview with the ''
Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...
'' in 1990, saying: "If you hear that we paid that exchange student to take our record to that radio station, don't believe it."
Gessle later said: "I wish we were that clever! It was a complete fluke." Phillips said of Cushman: "He did what great promotion men in the music business do. He was persistent. He kept calling. And finally he shows up at the radio station and sits in the lobby: 'Listen, what are you gonna do about my CD?' And without that persistence, it's a very different world for Roxette." Cushman eventually befriended Gessle and Fredriksson, who autographed the same CD he had submitted to KDWB.
Critical reception
While reviewing the track, several publications favourably compared Roxette to fellow Swedish act
ABBA
ABBA ( , , formerly named Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid or Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Frida) are a Swedish supergroup formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The group's ...
. ''
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 ...
'' dubbed it the single of the week, and said the vocal harmonising in the refrain was the best part of the song. They went on to comment: "Time will tell if they manage to be as productive as the legendary foursome, but this tense, atmospheric
Beatle
The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the development ...
-esque song definitely marks a step in the right direction." ''
People Magazine
''People'' is an American weekly magazine that specializes in celebrity news and human-interest stories. It is published by Dotdash Meredith, a subsidiary of IAC (company), IAC. With a readership of 46.6 million adults in 2009, ''People ...
'' also compared the duo to ABBA, saying the song has "bounce and kick", while
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 databas ...
called the song "bright" and "shiny".
Bill Coleman from ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' said "The Look" was "too catchy for words", describing it as a "
pop track that incorporates an eager
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
edge and
funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...
y rhythm underpinnings." A writer for
Stereogum
''Stereogum'' is a daily Internet publication that focuses on music news, reviews, interviews, and commentary. The site was created in January 2002 by Scott Lapatine.
''Stereogum'' was one of the first MP3 blogs and has received several award ...
noted an inability to define the genre of the track, saying that despite its disparate influences, the song was neither rock, dance or funk. Although they commented on the lyrics, which they described as "nonsense", they went on to say the song "sounds colossal. After the fake ending, when everything goes silent for a couple of seconds and then comes rushing back, it sounds even more colossal. You can waste all your effort on trying to write lyrics that make sense, or you can focus your energy on making something like that happen. Roxette chose wisely."
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance writer, occ ...
, in a 2019 report for ''Billboard'', said the song was "
glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s and was performed by musicians who wore outrageous costumes, makeup, and hairstyles, particularly platform shoes and glitter. Glam artists drew on diver ...
for the age of
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker BushSince around 2000, he has been usually called George H. W. Bush, Bush Senior, Bush 41 or Bush the Elder to distinguish him from his eldest son, George W. Bush, who served as the 43rd president from 2001 to 2009; pr ...
: stylized and stylish on the surface, yet classically structured at its core. Equal parts craft and trash, it was the platonic ideal of a hit pop single." He also commented on the route the song took to commercial success, saying: "It was a hit single lying in wait, ready for the right ears to recognize
tspotential. That it was discovered by an exchange student and a Midwestern programmer remains one of the minor miracles of late-'80s pop."
Music video
The music video was directed by Peter Heath and filmed in a studio in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
. The duo perform the song in a messy, colorful room, while interacting with a group of women.
Formats and track listings
All songs were written and composed by Per Gessle.
* 7-inch single (Sweden 136336 · UK EM87 · US B-50190)
* Cassette (UK TCEM87 · US 4JM-50190)
# "The Look" – 3:56
# "Silver Blue" (demo) – 4:05
* International 12-inch single (Sweden 1363336 · UK 12EM87 · Australia ED408)
# "The Look" (Head Drum mix) – 7:22
# "The Look" (7-inch version) – 3:58
# "Silver Blue" (demo) – 4:05
* US 12-inch single (V-56133)
# "The Look" (Visible mix) – 6:03
# "The Look" (Power Radio mix) – 4:09
# "The Look" (Big Red mix) – 7:33
# "The Look" (Invisible dub) – 5:11
# "Silver Blue" (demo) – 4:00
* CD single (Sweden 1363332 · UK CDEM87)
# "The Look" (Head Drum mix) – 7:22
# "The Look" (7-inch version) – 3:58
# "Silver Blue" (demo) – 4:06
# "Sleeping Single" (demo) – 3:46
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 ...
''.
* Recorded between May and August 1988 at EMI Studios (Stockholm, Sweden)
*
Mixed at EMI Studios (Stockholm, Sweden)
Musicians
*
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 d ...
– lead and background vocals, mixing
*
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 and background vocals
* Per "Pelle" Alsing –
hi-hat
A hi-hat (hihat, high-hat, etc.) is a combination of two cymbals and a pedal, all mounted on a metal stand. It is a part of the standard drum kit used by drummers in many styles of music including rock, pop, jazz, and blues. Hi-hats consist o ...
* Anders Herrlin –
programming and
engineering
Engineering is the use of scientific method, 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 rang ...
* Jonas Isacsson – electric guitars
*
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's l ...
– keyboards, 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
* Alar Suurna – mixing, engineering
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
1995 remix
"The Look" was remixed in 1995 and re-released exclusively in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
in conjunction with the release of their first greatest hits compilation, ''
Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus! Roxette's Greatest Hits''. This version of the song does not appear on the album, but two of the versions from this were eventually included on the European single "
She Doesn't Live Here Anymore" (1996).
Formats and track listings
* UK CD1
(CDEMS406)
# "The Look" (Chaps 1995 Remix) – 5:08
# "The Look" (Chaps Donna Bass Mix) – 6:53
# "The Look" (
Rapino Club Mix) – 5:22
# "The Look" (Rapino Dub Mix) – 5:14
* UK CD2
(CDEMS406)
# "The Look" (Chaps 1995 Remix) – 5:10
# "The Look" (Original Version) – 3:59
# "Crazy About You" – 3:59
# "
Dressed for Success
"Dressed for Success" is a song by Swedish pop rock duo Roxette, released in Europe, on 3 August 1988 as the lead single from their second studio album, '' Look Sharp!'' (1988). Following the international success of "The Look" – the album's ...
" (U.S. Mix) – 4:53
Charts
2015 remake
"The Look" was remixed again in 2015 and released as a non-album single under
Cosmos Music Group
Cosmos Music, formerly Bonnier Amigo Music Group (BAMG), is an independent record company based in Stockholm, Sweden.
Bonnier Amigo Music Group was formed in 2001 in music, 2001 when the record company and distributor Amigo Musik merged with the ...
on 17 July 2015. This "2015 Remake" was produced by Gessle,
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's l ...
and
Christoffer Lundquist. Additional production was credited to Swedish duo Addeboy vs Cliff, who had recently contributed material to Roxette's then-upcoming tenth studio album ''
Good Karma
Karma (; sa, कर्म}, ; pi, kamma, italic=yes) in Sanskrit means an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptively ...
'',
later released in 2016. Swedish fashion label KappAhl approached Gessle about using a
medley of Roxette songs for an upcoming
advertising campaign
An advertising campaign is a series of advertisement messages that share a single idea and theme which make up an integrated marketing communication (IMC). An IMC is a platform in which a group of people can group their ideas, beliefs, and conc ...
in Scandinavia, although Gessle instead decided to create an exclusive remix for "The Look". This new version was recorded over the course of two days
at
X-Level Studios in Stockholm, formerly EMI Studios—the same studio where the track had originally been recorded in 1988. It features new vocals from Gessle and
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. ...
.
Formats and track listings
* Digital download and 7-inch single
(334–43545)
# "The Look" (2015 Remake) – 3:58
# "The Look" (2015 Remake) – 3:55
Charts
Cover versions
*
Candlelight Red included a modern rock cover of the song on their 2011 album ''The Wreckage,'' and released the single "She's Got the Look" in March 2012.
* American band
Electric Six
Electric Six is a six-piece American rock band formed in 1996 in Detroit, Michigan. Their music was described by AllMusic as a combination of garage, disco, punk rock, new wave, and metal. The band achieved recognition in 2003 with the singl ...
did a cover of the song on the Mimicry half of their album
Mimicry and Memories
''Mimicry and Memories'' is a compilation album by Electric Six. Disc one, ''Mimicry'', is composed of cover songs. Disc two, ''Memories'', consists of demos, B-sides and rarities. It was funded through a Kickstarter campaign and self-released di ...
.
*
Alan Tam
Alan Tam Wing-lun MH (; born 23 August 1950) is a Hong Kong singer and actor. He played a major role in developing the Cantopop scene in the 1980s as he was known for singing romantic ballads with modern arrangements. From 1983 to 1987, Alan Tam ...
, a singer from
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
, covered the song in
Cantonese
Cantonese ( zh, t=廣東話, s=广东话, first=t, cy=Gwóngdūng wá) is a language within the Chinese (Sinitic) branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages originating from the city of Guangzhou (historically known as Canton) and its surrounding are ...
'你知我知’ (which translates to "You Know, I Know") in 1989.
*
Breaking Benjamin
Breaking Benjamin is an American Rock music, rock band from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, formed in 1999 by lead singer and guitarist Benjamin Burnley and drummer Jeremy Hummel. The first lineup of the band also included guitarist Aaron Fink an ...
guitarist
Keith Wallen
Keith Wallen (born February 24, 1980) is an American musician who is the rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist of the rock band Breaking Benjamin, former guitarist and backing vocalist of Adelitas Way, and the co-founder, lead singer and guitar ...
covered this song in 2019, in addition to releasing it as a single.
*
Lord of the Lost
Lord of the Lost is a German gothic metal band from Hamburg. The band was formed by singer and frontman Chris Harms.
History
Lord of the Lost was founded in mid-2007 by Chris Harms as a solo project. While working on the initial songs and pub ...
, a German Gothic Metal band, released a cover feat.
Blümchen (Jasmin Wagner) as a bonus song on their 2022 album "Blood & Glitter"
Appearances in other media
The first appearance of "The Look" on a TV show was during a montage featuring
Erika Eleniak
Erika Eleniak (born September 29, 1969) is an American actress, ''Playboy'' Playmate, and model known for her role in ''Baywatch'' as Shauni McClain. Her film debut was in '' E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial'' (1982). She starred in the films ''The B ...
and
Chris Gartin
Christopher Russell Gartin (born January 12, 1977, in New York City, New York) is an American actor and producer, known for '' Black Swan'' (2010), '' Tremors 2: Aftershocks'' (1996) and '' Transcendence'' (2014). He was previously married to Jo ...
in the ''
Baywatch
''Baywatch'' is an American action drama television series about lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County, California, and Hawaii, starring David Hasselhoff. It was created by Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz, and Gregory J. Bonann, ...
'' episod
"The Cretin of the Shallows"of the first season broadcast on 1 December 1989. In the 1990s, an adaptation of "The Look" was used in a
television advertisement
A television advertisement (also called a television commercial, TV commercial, commercial, spot, television spot, TV spot, advert, television advert, TV advert, television ad, TV ad or simply an ad) is a span of television programming produce ...
for India's
Lakmé Cosmetics
Lakmé is an Indian cosmetics brand, owned by Hindustan Unilever. It was named after the French opera ''Lakmé'', which itself is the French word for goddess Lakshmi who is renowned for her beauty. It was started in 1952 as a 100% subsidiary of ...
featuring
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan ( Rai; born 1 November 1973) is an Indian actress who is primarily known for her work in Hindi and Tamil films. The winner of the Miss World 1994 pageant, she has established herself as one of the most popular celebriti ...
. In 2009, the song was prominently featured in a marketing campaign for ''
Grand Theft Auto IV
''Grand Theft Auto IV'' is a 2008 action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the sixth main entry in the ''Grand Theft Auto'' series, following 2004's '' Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas'', and the ...
''. It can also be heard on in-game radio station
Vice City FM. The track also appears as a playable track in the 2010 music rhythm game ''
Rock Band 3
''Rock Band 3'' is a 2010 music video game developed by Harmonix. The game was initially published and distributed by MTV Games and Electronic Arts, respectively, in late October 2010. Mad Catz took over both roles and re-released the title on N ...
.''
The song was mentioned in the ''
Family Guy
''Family Guy'' is an American animated sitcom originally conceived and created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The show centers around the Griffin family, Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter Griff ...
'' episode "
Baby Not on Board
"Baby Not on Board" is the fourth episode in the Family Guy (season 7), seventh season of the American animated series, animated television series ''Family Guy''. It originally aired on the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox network in the United State ...
" when
Stewie announced his remorse for staying up all night listening to
Persia
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
n
radio
Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmit ...
.
It served as the theme song for the
TV Land
TV Land is an American pay television channel owned by Paramount Global through its networks division. Originally a spinoff of Nick at Nite consisting exclusively of classic television shows, the channel now airs a combination of recent and cla ...
reality TV competition ''
She's Got the Look
''She's Got the Look'' is a reality series created for and aired on TV Land. Hosted by model Kim Alexis, twenty women compete to become the next great supermodel 35 years or older. Celebrity judges, Robert Verdi, Sean Patterson and Roshumba Will ...
.''
The song was covered by Filipina singer
Sarah Geronimo
Sarah Asher Tua Geronimo-Guidicelli (, , born July 25, 1988) is a Filipino singer, performer and actress. Geronimo rose to prominence after winning the television singing contest '' Star for a Night'' earning her a recording contract with Vi ...
, and it was used as a promotion for Jag when she became the new endorser of the clothing brand.
The song was covered by Taiwanese artist Luantan Ascent (
亂彈阿翔). It was used as an insert song for the movie Second Chance (
逆轉勝) and was also featured in its promotional teaser trailer.
The season 2 premiere episode of the FOX series ''
Scream Queens'' featured the song in a scene where the Chanels see Dr. Brock Holt showering in the hospital locker room.
The song was used as the opening theme of episode 2 of the 2017
Netflix
Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fil ...
TV series ''
GLOW''.
An a cappella version is used in a commercial for the 2018
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry (; Japanese: トヨタ・カムリ ''Toyota Kamuri'') is an automobile sold internationally by the Japanese auto manufacturer Toyota since 1982, spanning multiple generations. Originally compact in size (narrow-body), the Camry ...
.
The song is featured in the trailer for the 2019 film
47 Meters Down: Uncaged as well as a scene in the movie.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Look, The
Roxette songs
1989 singles
1995 singles
Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Number-one singles in Australia
European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles
Number-one singles in Germany
Number-one singles in Italy
Number-one singles in New Zealand
Number-one singles in Norway
Number-one singles in Switzerland
Songs written by Per Gessle
1988 songs
EMI Records singles