Roxette - Listen to Your Heart
"Listen to Your Heart" is one of the most famous and beloved ballads of the Swedish pop-rock duo Roxette, consisting of Per Gessle and Marie Fredriksson.
Here is the story of this famous song:
Song Creation (1988)
Authors: The song "Listen to Your Heart" was written by Per Gessle (the author of the lyrics and music) in collaboration with Mats "MP" Persson, the former guitarist of Gessle's band Gyllene Tider.
Inspiration: The lyrics of the song were inspired by a close friend of Per Gessle, who was going through "emotional turmoil, stuck between an old relationship and a new love." Gessle spent the whole night talking to a friend who was on the verge of divorce and trying to come to terms with the fact that the relationship was over.
Recording: The song was recorded in August 1988 at EMI Studios in Stockholm, Sweden.
The goal: Roxette wanted to create a "big American ballad" to see how far they could go in that direction.
Graduation and success (1988-1989)
Album: "Listen to Your Heart" is included in Roxette's second studio album, "Look Sharp!", which was released on October 21, 1988.
Single: In Sweden, the song was released as the second single from the album "Look Sharp!" on September 27, 1988.
Breakthrough in the USA: Although the first single from the album, "Dressed for Success", did not make a big impression in the USA, "Listen to Your Heart" was a real breakthrough for Roxette in the American market. It reached number one on the US and Canadian charts around November 1989. Notably, it was the first song to reach number one in the United States without the commercial release of a 7-inch single.
Success in the UK: In the UK, "Listen to Your Heart" originally reached number 62 in October 1989. However, after the huge success of "It Must Have Been Love", the song was re-released as a double A-side with "Dangerous" in August 1990 and reached number 6 on the UK Singles Chart.
Music Video:
Location: The music video was shot by director Doug Friel during a live performance at the ruins of Borgholm Castle on the Swedish Baltic island of Eland. The crew was so impressed that they even thought the ruins were created specifically for the video, rather than being a real historical site.
Legacy and influence:
"Listen to Your Heart" became one of the most successful songs of 1989 and cemented Roxette's status as a global star.
The song won awards from BMI for more than 2 million plays on American radio by 1998, and then for 3, 4 and 5 million plays in subsequent years.
Her lyrical theme about the need to listen to your inner feelings when making difficult decisions, especially in relationships, has made her versatile and beloved by many.
In 2005, a trance-style cover version of the song from the Belgian band DHT also became a hit, returning "Listen to Your Heart" to the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.
"Listen to Your Heart" remains one of Roxette's hallmarks and a classic of 80's and 90's pop music, continuing to touch the hearts of listeners around the world.
