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Joyride (Roxette song)

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Wikipedia article




{{Infobox song

| name = Joyride

| cover = Joyride_(single).jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Roxette

| album = Joyride

| B-side = Come Back (Before You Leave)

| released =

| recorded = July 1990

| studio = EMI (Stockholm, Sweden)

| genre =

| length =

| label = EMI

| writer = Per Gessle

| producer = Clarence fwerman

| prev_title = It Must Have Been Love

| prev_year = 1990

| next_title = Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)

| next_year = 1991

| misc =

}}

"'Joyride'" is a song by Swedish pop duo Roxette. Written by Per Gessle, it was released as the lead single from their third studio album, 'Joyride' (1991), on 25 February 1991. It became one of Roxette's biggest hits, and was one of the most successful singles of 1991, topping multiple record charts across Europe, as well as in Australia, Canada, and the United States.

Recording and release



Per Gessle has said that the opening line of the song was inspired by a note his girlfriend (now wife) left on his piano, which read: "Hej, din tok, jag lskar dig" ("Hello, you fool, I love you"). Its title was derived from an interview in which Paul McCartney compared writing songs with John Lennon to "a long joyride". Roxette's former tour manager Dave Edwards is credited with narration on the song.

Critical reception



AllMusic editor Bryan Buss described the song as a "chanting carnival" in his review of the 'Joyride' album. Larry Flick from 'Billboard' described it as a "playful pop/rock ditty with a catchy chorus that is destined to make a quick sprint up the charts." Jim Farber from 'Entertainment Weekly' noted that "they blithely toss a bit of whistling into "Joyride", next to some psychedelic Beatles-like flourishes." Dave Sholin from the 'Gavin Report' wrote, "Plenty of reason for joy in Top 40 land as Per Gessle and Marie Fredriksson deliver the first of a new batch of songs. Wisely, the Swedish duo retain '"Look Sharp"' producer Clarence Ofwerman, and, once again it's clear all three understand the way to a pop music fan's heart. Roxette has re-applied that happy, feelgood formula to making mass appeal records, and it's earned them instant recognition and remarkable chart success. This title track from their new album is certain to not only meet everyone's expectations, but surpass them." 'Music & Media' stated that the song "is a perfect example of their pop sensibilities."

Brendon Veevers from 'Renowned for Sound' commented, "There isn't a soul alive who cannot say they dont love this track Roxette fan or not. It's pop at its finest and the video is equally as memorable; the band speeding down a U.S highway, playing guitar on top of a red corvette." 'Rolling Stone's J.D. Considine said that the song is "decked out in a glossy, Sgt. Pepper-style arrangement". Mark Frith from 'Smash Hits' labeled it as a "over-the-top" pop song, "with catchy choruses that remind you slightly of those other musical Swedes, ABBA." A writer for Cleveland.com ranked "Joyride" the 46th best 'Billboard' Hot 100 number one of the 1990s, saying: "Even more so than the group's biggest hit, 'It Must Have Been Love,' 'Joyride' showed off Per Gessle's ability to craft fantastic pop-rock songs. The song's pop spirit and rock swagger mesh seamlessly."

Commercial performance



The song became one of the duo's biggest hits and was one of the most successful singles of 1991. It was their first number one single in their home country and their first platinum-certified single there. It also topped the charts in numerous other territories, including Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Switzerland. The song spent eight weeks at number one in Germany, where it was certified gold by the Bundesverband Musikindustrie for sales in excess of 250,000 copies. "Joyride" peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart, their second-highest chart placing therebehind top three hit "It Must Have Been Love".

The song spent three weeks atop the Australian Singles Chart, and was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for shipments in excess of 70,000 units. It went on to remain one of the top ten-best selling singles of the year in that country. It was their fourth and last number one single on the US 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart. It also topped the national 'RPM' singles chart in Canada, where it was certified gold by Music Canada (formerly the Canadian Recording Industry Association) for shipments in excess of 50,000 units, and nominated for a Juno Award in 1992 for Best Selling Single by a Foreign Artist.

In popular culture



During the 1994 Stanley Cup playoffs, the song was used as the intro music of the Vancouver Canucks as they took to the ice before each game.

Formats and track listings



All songs were written and composed by Per Gessle.

* 'Cassette and 7-inch single' (Sweden 1364002 UK TCEM177 US 4JM-50342)

# "Joyride" (7-inch version) 3:58

# "Come Back (Before You Leave)" 4:34

* '12-inch single' (Sweden 1364006 Germany 1C-060-1364006)

# "Joyride" (12-inch version / magicfriendmix) 6:08

# "Joyride" (7-inch version) 3:58

# "Come Back (Before You Leave)" 4:34

* 'CD single' (Sweden 1364002 UK CDEM177)

# "Joyride" (7-inch version) 3:58

# "Come Back (Before You Leave)" 4:34

# "Joyride" (12-inch version / magicfriendmix) 6:08

# "Joyride" (US remix) 4:04

Personnel



Credits are adapted from the liner notes of 'The Rox Box/Roxette 8606'.

'Studios'

* Recorded in July 1990 at EMI Studios (Stockholm, Sweden)

* Mixed at EMI Studios

'Musicians'

* Dave Edwards narration

* Marie Fredriksson lead and background vocals

* Per Gessle lead and background vocals, whistling, mixing

* Anders Herrlin programming and engineering

* Jonas Isacsson electric guitars

* Clarence fwerman keyboards, programming and production, mixing

* Alar Suurna mixing, engineering

Charts



Weekly charts



Year-end charts



Decade-end charts



Certifications



Release history



See also



* List of European number-one airplay songs of the 1990s

* List of number-one hits in Australia

* List of number-one hits in Austria

* List of number-one hits in Belgium (Flanders)

* List of number-one hits in Germany

* List of number-one hits in the Netherlands

* List of number-one hits in Norway

* List of number-one hits in Switzerland

* List of number-one hits on the 'Billboard' Hot 100


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