The Look

"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]

This article is about the Roxette song. For other uses, see Look (disambiguation).
"The Look"
Single by Roxette
from the album Look Sharp!
B-side"Silver Blue" (Demo)
Released12 January 1989
RecordedMay and August 1988
StudioEMI Studios, Stockholm
GenrePop rock
Length3:57
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)Per Gessle
Producer(s)Clarence Öfwerman
Roxette singles chronology
"Chances"
(1988)		 "The Look"
(1989)		 "Dangerous"
(1989)
Music video
"The Look" on YouTube

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. 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 from Minnesota 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]

Composition

Gessle wrote "The Look" while learning to program an Ensoniq ESQ-1 synthesizer, and stated that the song's "extremely important" sixteenth-note rhythm was inspired by ZZ Top.[10]

The first two verses are composed of guide lyrics, with Gessle explaining in the liner notes of their 1995 compilation album Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus! that they were "words just scribbled down to have something to sing. Couldn't come up with anything better, so we kept them. Everybody gets lucky sometimes."[11]

Critical reception

Bryan Buss from AllMusic described the song as "bright" and "shiny".[12] Bill Coleman from Billboard said it is an "easy-paced pop track that incorporates an eager rock edge and funky rhythm underpinnings. Already a smash in some markets, this one is too catchy for words."[13] Music & Media commented that Roxette "are widely tipped as the new ABBA. [Time] will tell if they manage to be as productive as the legendary foursome, but this tense, atmospheric Beatle-esque song definitely marks a step in the right direction. Without doubt one of its most attractive features is the subtle vocal harmonising in the chorus."[14] People called it a "brisk, nicely turned tune", adding that it "has both bounce and kick, they compare favorably with their Scandinavian predecessors."[15]

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) – 7:22
  2. "The Look" (7" Version) – 3:58
  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

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Rox Box/Roxette 86–06.[16]

  • Recorded at EMI Studios in Stockholm, Sweden between May and August 1988.
  • Mixed by Alar Suurna, Per Gessle and Clarence Öfwerman at EMI Studios in Stockholm.

Musicians

Charts and certifications

'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"
Released13 November 1995
Length5:08
Songwriter(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 were eventually included on the European 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
Scotland (The Official Charts Company)[60] 33
UK Singles (OCC)[38] 28

2015 Remake
"The Look (2015 Remake)"
Single by Roxette
Released17 July 2015
RecordedX-Level Studios
GenreElectropop
Length3:58
LabelCosmos
Songwriter(s)Per Gessle
Producer(s)
Roxette singles chronology
"The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye (Bassflow Remake)"
(2012)		 "The Look (2015 Remake)"
(2015)		 "It Just Happens"
(2016)

"The Look" was remixed again in 2015 and released as a non-album single under Cosmos Music Group on 17 July 2015. This "2015 Remake" was produced by Gessle, Clarence Öfwerman 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,[61] later released in 2016. Swedish fashion label KappAhl approached Gessle about using a medley of Roxette songs for an upcoming advertising campaign 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[61] at X-Level Studios in Stockholm, formerly EMI Studios—the same studio where the track had originally been recorded in 1988.[62] It features new vocals from Gessle and Marie Fredriksson.[61]

Formats and track listings
  • Digital download and 7" single (334–43545)
  1. "The Look" (2015 Remake) – 3:58
  2. "The Look" (2015 Remake) (Instrumental) – 3:55

Charts
Chart (2015) Peak
position
Swedish Digital Songs (Sverigetopplistan)[63] 38

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.[64]
  • American band Electric Six did a cover of the song on the Mimicry half of their album Mimicry and Memories.
  • Alan Tam, a singer from Hong Kong, covered the song in Cantonese '你知我知’ (which translates to "You Know, I Know") in 1989.

Appearances in other media

The first appearance of "The Look" on a TV show was during a montage featuring Erika Eleniak and Chris Gartin in the Baywatch episode "The Cretin of the Shallows" of the first season broadcast on 1 December 1989.[65] In the 1990s, an adaptation of "The Look" was used in a television advertisement for India's Lakmé Cosmetics featuring Aishwariya Rai. In 2009, the song was prominently featured in a marketing campaign for Grand Theft Auto IV.[66] 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.

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 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.[67]

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.[68]

The song was used as the opening theme of episode 2 of the 2017 Netflix TV series GLOW.[69]

An a cappella version is used in a commercial for the 2018 Toyota Camry.[70]

The song is featured in the trailer for the 2019 film 47 Meters Down: Uncaged as well as a scene in the movie.[71]

References
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  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.
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  10. Hitlåtens historia: The Look. SVT. Aired in 2009.
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  67. "2014.11.07 電影「逆轉勝 Second Chance」 官方前導預告Official Teaser".
  68. http://www.tunefind.com/show/scream-queens/season-2/33567. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  69. Walsh, Megan. "Netflix's 'GLOW' Soundtrack Perfectly Captures The Essence Of The '80s". Romper. Retrieved 2017-09-24.
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  71. "47 Meters Down: Uncaged-Soundtracks". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
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