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Joyride (Roxette song)

"Joyride" is a song by Swedish pop duo Roxette. Written by Per Gessle, it was released on 25 February 1991 by EMI as the lead single from their third studio album, Joyride (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. The song's accompanying music video, directed by Doug Freel,[1] received heavy rotation on MTV Europe.[2]

"Joyride"
Single by Roxette
from the album Joyride
B-side"Come Back (Before You Leave)"
Released25 February 1991 (1991-02-25)
RecordedJuly 1990
StudioEMI (Stockholm, Sweden)
Genre
Length
  • 4:24 (album version)
  • 4:00 (7-inch single)
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)Per Gessle
Producer(s)Clarence Öfwerman
Roxette singles chronology
"It Must Have Been Love"
(1990) 		"Joyride"
(1991) 		"Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)"
(1991)
Music video
"Joyride" on YouTube

Recording and release

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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 älskar dig" ("Hello, you fool, I love you").[3] 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.[4]

Critical reception

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AllMusic editor Bryan Buss described the song as a "chanting carnival" in his review of the Joyride album.[5] Larry Flick from Billboard viewed it as a "playful pop/rock ditty with a catchy chorus that is destined to make a quick sprint up the charts."[6] Jim Farber from Entertainment Weekly noted that "they blithely toss a bit of whistling into "Joyride", next to some psychedelic Beatles-like flourishes."[7] 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."[8] Pan-European magazine Music & Media complimented the song as "a perfect example of their pop sensibilities."[9]

Brendon Veevers from Renowned for Sound commented, "There isn't a soul alive who cannot say they don’t 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."[10] Rolling Stones J.D. Considine said that the song is "decked out in a glossy, Sgt. Pepper-style arrangement".[11] 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."[12] 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."[13]

Commercial performance

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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[14] and their first platinum-certified single there.[15] 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,[16] where it was certified gold by the Bundesverband Musikindustrie for sales in excess of 250,000 copies.[17] "Joyride" peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart, their second-highest chart placing there—behind top three hit "It Must Have Been Love".[18]

The song spent three weeks atop the Australian Singles Chart,[19] and was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for shipments in excess of 70,000 units.[20] It went on to remain one of the top ten-best selling singles of the year in that country.[20] It was their fourth and last number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.[21] It also topped the national RPM singles chart in Canada,[22] where it was certified gold by Music Canada (formerly the Canadian Recording Industry Association) for shipments in excess of 50,000 units,[23] and nominated for a Juno Award in 1992 for Best Selling Single by a Foreign Artist.[24]

Music video

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The music video for "Joyride" was directed by Doug Freel.[1] It was made as a playful and spectacular video, where Marie and Per, among other things, sat on a Ferrari while a driver laying down, being invisible to the camera took care of the gas and brake. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the song reaching No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on 11th May 1991, the video was restored and premiered in 4K on YouTube in 2021.[1] Gessle told about the restoring process, "Some so-called “green screen” scenes have been removed, because they were very difficult to recreate. Instead, we’ve found other goodies in the raw material. In the long run, however, we plan to restore the video completely – and perhaps also other Roxette videos – in 4K resolution." By February 2024, "Joyride" had generated more than 14 million views.[25]

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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.[4]

Formats and track listings

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All songs were written and composed by Per Gessle.

  • Cassette and 7-inch single (Sweden 1364002 · UK TCEM177 · US 4JM-50342)
  1. "Joyride" (7-inch version) – 3:58
  2. "Come Back (Before You Leave)" – 4:34
  • 12-inch single (Sweden 1364006 · Germany 1C-060-1364006)
  1. "Joyride" (12-inch version / magicfriendmix) – 6:08
  2. "Joyride" (7-inch version) – 3:58
  3. "Come Back (Before You Leave)" – 4:34
  • CD single (Sweden 1364002 · UK CDEM177)
  1. "Joyride" (7-inch version) – 3:58
  2. "Come Back (Before You Leave)" – 4:34
  3. "Joyride" (12-inch version / magicfriendmix) – 6:08
  4. "Joyride" (US remix) – 4:04

Personnel

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Credits are adapted from the liner notes of The Rox Box/Roxette 86–06.[26]

Studios

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

Musicians

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[20] Platinum 70,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[63] Gold 25,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[23] Gold 50,000^
Germany (BVMI)[17] Gold 250,000^
Sweden (GLF)[15] Platinum 50,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Europe 25 February 1991
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
 EMI [14]
United Kingdom
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [64]
Japan 27 February 1991 Mini-CD [65]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Peres, Patricia (11 May 2021). "Roxette – Joyride 30 Q&A with Per Gessle & restored 4K Joyride video premiere". roxetteblog.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Station Reports: MTV" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 10. 9 March 1991. p. 40. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus! liner notes". Archived from the original on 23 March 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Once Upon a Time in the Top Spot: Roxette, "Joyride"". Rhino Entertainment. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  5. ^ Buss, Bryan. "Roxette - Joyride". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  6. ^ Flick, Larry (16 February 1991). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 71. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  7. ^ Farber, Jim (19 April 1991). "Joyride". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  8. ^ Dave Sholin (15 February 1991). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 1843. p. 100. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  9. ^ "Spotlight: Roxette" (PDF). Music & Media. 30 March 1991. p. 13. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  10. ^ Veevers, Brendon (11 December 2013). "Top 10 Roxette Pop Hits". Renowned for Sound. Archived from the original on 2015-03-15. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  11. ^ J.D. Considine (27 June 1991). "Roxette: Joyride : Music Review". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on 25 March 2008. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  12. ^ Frith, Mark (20 March 1991). "Review: Singles". Smash Hits. No. 321. p. 44. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  13. ^ Tony L. Smith (21 October 2020). "Every No. 1 song of the 1990s ranked from worst to best". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  14. ^ a b c "Roxette – Joyride". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17.
  16. ^ a b "Roxette – Joyride" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  17. ^ a b "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Roxette; 'Joyride')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  18. ^ a b "Roxette: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  19. ^ a b "Roxette – Joyride". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  20. ^ a b c d "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1991". ARIA Charts. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  21. ^ a b "Roxette Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  22. ^ a b "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1510." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  23. ^ a b "Canadian single certifications – Roxette – Joyride". Music Canada.
  24. ^ "Awards | The JUNO Awards". Juno Award. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  25. ^ "Roxette - Joyride". YouTube. 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  26. ^ "Booklet". The Rox Box/Roxette 86–06 (liner notes). Roxette. Stockholm, Sweden: Roxette Recordings and Capitol Records. 2006. 9463 67972–2 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ^ "Roxette – Joyride" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  28. ^ "Roxette – Joyride" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  29. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1535." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  30. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 14. 6 April 1991. p. 34. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  31. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 13. 30 March 1991. p. 27. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  32. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  33. ^ "Roxette – Joyride" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  34. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 19. 11 May 1991. p. 19. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  35. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Roxette". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  36. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 21. 25 May 1991. p. 26. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  37. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Roxette" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  38. ^ "Roxette – Joyride" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  39. ^ "Roxette – Joyride". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  40. ^ "Roxette – Joyride". VG-lista. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  41. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 24. 15 June 1991. p. 22. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  42. ^ "Roxette – Joyride". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  43. ^ "Roxette Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  44. ^ "Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LIV, no. 39. 11 May 1991. p. 4. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  45. ^ * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  46. ^ "Alle Rechte Jahreshitparade 1991" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Archived from the original on 10 June 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  47. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1991" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  48. ^ "RPM100 – Hit Tracks of 1991 Top Singles: Volume 55, No. 3 – Dec 21, 1991". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 21 December 1991. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  49. ^ "RPM 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1991". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 21 December 1991. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  50. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 1991" (PDF). Music & Media. 8 (51–52): 21. December 21, 1991. Retrieved January 17, 2020 – via American Radio History.
  51. ^ "EHR Year-End Top 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. December 21, 1991. p. 20. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  52. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  53. ^ Lauren Murphy (June 2021). "The Throwback: Here's what happened in music in 1991". Entertainment.ie. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  54. ^ "De Single Top 100 1991 Over" (PDF) (in Dutch). Radio 538. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  55. ^ "Jaahroverzichten 1991" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  56. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 1991". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  57. ^ "Topp 40 Single Russetid 1991". VG-lista (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  58. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1991". Swiss Hitparade. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  59. ^ "1991 Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 11 January 1992. p. 20.
  60. ^ "1991 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 51. December 21, 1991. p. YE-14.
  61. ^ "Awards – Top 50 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cashbox. Vol. LV, no. 20. 28 December 1991. p. 8. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  62. ^ Lwin, Nanda. "Top 100 singles of the 1990s". Jam!. Archived from the original on 29 August 2000. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  63. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Roxette – Joyride" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  64. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 23 February 1991. p. vi.
  65. ^ "ジョイライド | ロクセット" [Joyride | Roxette] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
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