The Look

"The Look"
Single by Roxette
from the album Look Sharp!
B-side	"Silver Blue" (Demo)
Released	12 January 1989
Format	7" single 12" maxi cassette CD maxi
Recorded	1988 at EMI Studios, Stockholm, Sweden
Genre	Pop rock
Length	3:57
Label	EMI
Writer(s)	Per Gessle
Producer(s)	Clarence Öfwerman
Roxette singles chronology
"Chances" (1988) "The Look" (1989) "Dangerous" (1989)
Music video "The Look" on YouTube

"The Look" is a song by the 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 topped the charts in 25 countries,^[1] and was the first of their four number ones on the Billboard Hot 100.^[2]

Background

The duo released their second album Look Sharp! in October 1989. It was an immediate commercial success in their home country, spending seven weeks at number one on the Swedish Albums Chart. The album's first two Swedish singles, "Dressed for Success" and "Listen to Your Heart", both became top three hits there;^[3] while another song, "Chances", was released in Germany, Italy and France.^[4]

When "The Look" was about to be released in Sweden as the fourth single, an American exchange student named Dean Cushman returned from Sweden and urged his local Top 40 radio station KDWB in Minneapolis to play the song.^[5] It quickly became popular, and the station began distributing the track to their sister radio operations.^[6][7] EMI America had previously rejected the duo as unsuitable for the American market, and Roxette did not have a recording contract there.^[8] "The Look" had already entered the top fifty of the Billboard Hot 100 before the duo began official promotion. It would go on to peak at number one eight weeks later.^[9]

According to Gessle, the lyrics of the first two verses were guide lyrics.

"Walking like a man, hitting like a hammer"... the first two verses are guide lyrics, words just scribbled down to have something to sing. Couldn't come up with anything better, so we kept them. Everybody gets lucky sometimes...

—Per Gessle^[10]

Formats and track listings

All songs written and composed by Per Gessle.

• 7" single (Sweden 136336 · UK EM87 · US B-50190)
• Cassette (UK TCEM87 · US 4JM-50190)

1. "The Look" – 3:56
2. "Silver Blue" (Demo) – 4:05

• EU 12" single (Sweden 1363336 · UK 12EM87)

1. "The Look" (Head Drum Mix) – 7:16
2. "The Look" (7" Version) – 3:56
3. "Silver Blue" (Demo) – 4:05

• US 12" single (V-56133)

1. "The Look" (Visible Mix) – 6:03
2. "The Look" (Power Radio Mix) – 4:09
3. "The Look" (Big Red Mix) – 7:33
4. "The Look" (Invisible dub) – 5:11
5. "Silver Blue" (Demo) – 4:00

• CD single (Sweden 1363332 · UK CDEM87)

1. "The Look" (Head Drum Mix) – 7:22
2. "The Look" (7" Version) – 3:58
3. "Silver Blue" (Demo) – 4:06
4. "Sleeping Single" (Demo) – 3:46

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1989) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[11] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] 2 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] 3 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[14] 2 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[15] 13 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[16] 1 France (SNEP)[17] 12 European Hot 100 (Music & Media)[18] 1 Germany (Official German Charts)[19] 1 Ireland (IRMA)[20] 10 Italy (FIMI)[21] 1 Japan International (Oricon)[18] 2 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[22] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] 2 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[24] 1 Norway (VG-lista)[25] 1 Poland (ZPAV)[18] 8 Spain (AFYVE)[26] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[27] 6 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[28] 1 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[29] 7 US Billboard Hot 100[2] 1 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[30] 47

Year-end charts Chart (1989) Position Australian Singles (ARIA)[31] 2 Austrian Singles (Ö3)[32] 2 Belgian Singles (Ultratop Flanders)[33] 24 Brazilian Singles (ABPD)[18] 35 Canadian Singles (RPM)[34] 10 Dutch Singles (Top 40)[35] 10 Dutch Singles (Top 100)[36] 43 German Singles (GfK)[37] 4 Italian Singles (FIMI)[38] 9 New Zealand Singles (Recorded Music NZ)[39] 2 Swiss Singles (Schweizer Hitparade)[40] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[18] 17 US Singles (Cashbox)[18] 6 US Radio Songs (Billboard)[18] 14 US Pop Songs (Billboard)[18] 39 Decade-end charts Chart (1980–89) Position German Singles (GfK)[18] 30

Chart succession

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[41]	Platinum	70,000^^
Canada (Music Canada)[42]	Gold	50,000^^
Sweden (GLF)[43]	Gold	25,000^^
United States (RIAA)[44]	Gold	500,000^^
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

'95 Remix

"The Look '95"
Single by Roxette
from the album Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus! - Roxette's Greatest Hits
B-side	"Crazy About You"
Released	13 November 1995
Length	5:08
Writer(s)	Per Gessle
Roxette singles chronology
"You Don't Understand Me" (1995) "The Look '95" (1995) "June Afternoon" (1996)

"The Look" was remixed in 1995 and re-released exclusively in the United Kingdom 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 single were eventually included on the European release of the single "She Doesn't Live Here Anymore" (1996).

Formats and track listings

• UK CD1 (CDEMS406)

1. "The Look" (Chaps 1995 Remix) – 5:08
2. "The Look" (Chaps Donna Bass Mix) – 6:53
3. "The Look" (Rapino Club Mix) – 5:22
4. "The Look" (Rapino Dub Mix) – 5:14

• UK CD2 (CDEMS406)

1. "The Look" (Chaps 1995 Remix) – 5:10
2. "The Look" (Original Version) – 3:59
3. "Crazy About You" – 3:59
4. "Dressed for Success" (U.S. Mix) – 4:53

Charts

Chart (1995)	Peak position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[29]	28

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.^[45]

Appearances in other media

The first appearance of "The Look" was a montage featuring Erika Eleniak and Chris Gartin (as Greg, who was always around Shauni at the beach) in the Baywatch episode "The Cretin of the Shallows" of the first season broadcast on 1 December 1989.^[46]

In 1990s, an adaptation of "The Look" was used in a television advertisement for India's Lakmé Cosmetics featuring Aishwariya Rai. In 2009, "The Look" was used in a trailer and TV commercial for the game Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City.^[47][48] It can also be heard on in-game radio station Vice City FM.

"The Look" appears as a playable track in the 2010 music rhythm game Rock Band 3.

The song was mentioned in the Family Guy episode "Baby Not on Board" when Stewie announced his remorse for staying up all night listening to Persian radio.

It served as the theme song for the TV Land reality TV competition She's Got the Look.

The song was covered by Filipina singer Sarah Geronimo, and it was used as a promotion for Jag when she became the new endorser of the clothing brand.

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.^[49]

References

1. Simon Collins (27 October 2011). "Roxette are on a roll". The West Australian. Seven West Media. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
2. "Roxette – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Roxette. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
3. "swedishcharts.com - Roxette - Look Sharp!". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
4. "Chances - The Look For Roxette". TheLookForRoxette. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
5. Ninni O Schulman (14 April 2001). "Sagan om Roxette: Tacka Dean för succén" [Lord of Roxette: Thank Dean for success (part 2)]. Expressen (in Swedish). Bonnier AB. Archived from the original on 20 April 2001. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
6. J.D. Considine (23 September 1989). "Sweden's Roxette Is Making It Big Almost by Accident". Los Angeles Times. tronc. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
7. "Talking Shop: Roxette's Per Gessle". BBC News. BBC. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
8. Dennis Hunt (13 May 1990). "Roxette Ridicules Rumors". Los Angeles Times. tronc. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
9. Gary Trust, Fred Bronson (11 February 2015). "Rewinding the Charts: In 1989, Roxette Roared Onto the Hot 100 With 'The Look'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
10. "Digital booklet". Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus (liner notes). Roxette. Stockholm, Sweden: EMI Records. 1995. 7243 836203 2 6.
11. "Australian-charts.com – Roxette – The Look". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
12. "Austriancharts.at – Roxette – The Look" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
13. "Ultratop.be – Roxette – The Look" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
14. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6348." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
15. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 6345." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
16. "Finnish Singles Charts 1961-1995: Toukokuu 1989 May". Suomen virallinen singlelista. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
17. "Lescharts.com – Roxette – The Look" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
18. "Songs from the Year 1989". tsort.info. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
19. "Offiziellecharts.de – Roxette – The Look". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
20. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Roxette". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
21. "Roxette - The Look" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
22. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Roxette search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
23. "Dutchcharts.nl – Roxette – The Look" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
24. "Charts.org.nz – Roxette – The Look". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
25. "Norwegiancharts.com – Roxette – The Look". VG-lista. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
26. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
27. "Swedishcharts.com – Roxette – The Look". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
28. "Swisscharts.com – Roxette – The Look". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
29. "Roxette: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
30. "Roxette – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Roxette. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
31. "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 50 Singles 1989". ARIA Charts. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
32. "Alle Rechte Jahreshitparade 1989" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
33. "Jaaroverzichten 1989" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
34. "Top 100 Singles of '89". RPM. RPM Library Archives. 23 December 1989. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
35. "De Single Top 100 1989 Over" (PDF) (in Dutch). Radio 538. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
36. "Jaahroverzichten 1989" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
37. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
38. "Top Annuali Single: 1989" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
39. "Top Selling Singles of 1989". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
40. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1989" (in German). Swiss Music Charts. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
41. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 444. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
42. "Canadian single certifications – Roxette – The Look". Music Canada. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
43. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
44. "American single certifications – Roxette – The Look". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 15 November 2016. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
45. "Candlelight Red Hits Radio Hard With She's Got The Look Single / Prepare To Hit The Road With Trapt". Evigshed. 1 March 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
46. Bonann, Gregory J.; Brad Alan Lewis (2000). Baywatch: Rescued from Prime Time - The Official, Behind-the-Scenes Story of the World’s Most Popular TV Show. Beverly Hills, CA: New Millennium Press. p. 200. ISBN 1-893224-09-0.
47. "Roxette's official website".
48. "GTA: The Ballad of Tony Gay - official website".
49. http://www.tunefind.com/show/scream-queens/season-2/33567. Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics