Before coming together to form the duo, Fredriksson and Gessle were already established artists in Sweden, with Fredriksson releasing a number of solo albums and Gessle being the lead singer and songwriter of Gyllene Tider, which had three No. 1 albums. On the advice of the managing director of their record label, they came together to record "Neverending Love", which became a hit single in Sweden.
After the release of Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus!, a greatest hits record, the duo took a hiatus before returning with the albums Have a Nice Day (1999) and Room Service (2001). They continued to chart in other territories, mainly in Europe and Latin America, where they earned various Gold and Platinum awards until the beginning of the new millennium. In 2002, the duo took a break from recording and touring when Fredriksson was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Gessle went on to release solo albums and reunited with Gyllene Tider before Roxette took to the stage together again for the first time in 8 years, in 2009, during Gessle's European Party Crasher tour. In 2011, they released Charm School, their first studio album in ten years, which was followed by Travelling in 2012. Their latest studio album, Good Karma, was released in 2016.
Their songs "It Must Have Been Love" and "Listen to Your Heart" continue to receive wide radio airplay, with both singles recently receiving awards from BMI for achieving five million radio plays. They have sold an estimated 75 million records worldwide, with over 10 million in certified units from Germany, the US and the UK, achieving gold and platinum certifications for Joyride and Look Sharp! in all three regions.
On 18 April 2016, an official statement was released, cancelling the last leg of the RoXXXette 30th Anniversary Tour due to concerns about Marie Fredriksson's health. As her doctors have advised her to refrain from playing live, she will no longer tour with Roxette. Fredriksson stated: "Sadly, now my touring days are over and I want to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful fans that has followed us on our long and winding journey." Gessle added: "The joyride on the road is over now – but we sure had fun, didn't we?" Roxette has also worked in the studio on their tenth studio album, Good Karma. They have worked with young producers from Sweden like Addeboy vs Cliff "to inject new blood into the Roxette sound". Remixes aside, this is the first time that they have allowed anyone outside of the Roxette canon to produce new music. On 8 April 2016, the lead single off the album, "It Just Happens", was released. The album followed on 3 June 2016.
Per Gessle toured Europe in October and November 2018 as "Per Gessle's Roxette" with a set that lent heavily on the band's back catalogue.
Dressed For Success
Roxette Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tried to make it little by little
Tried to make it bit by bit on my own
Quit the job, the grey believers
Another town where I get close to the bone
Oh, oh, oh
Whatcha gonna tell your father?
I don't know
Whatcha gonna tell your mother?
Let me go
I'm gonna get dressed for success
Shaping me up for the big time, baby
Get dressed for success
Shaping it up for your love
For your love
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm not afraid
A trembling flower
I'll feed your heart
And blow the dust from your eyes, oh
And in the dark, things happen faster
I love the way you sway your hips next to mine, oh
Whatcha gonna tell your brother?
Oh, oh, oh
Whatcha gonna tell your father?
Ooh, I don't know
Whatcha gonna tell your mother?
Let me go
I'm gonna get dressed for success
Shaping me up for the big time, baby
Get dressed for success
Shaping it up for your love, yeah
Look sharp
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Whoa, whoa
Whatcha gonna tell your brother?
Oh, oh, oh
Whatcha gonna tell your father?
I don't know
Whatcha gonna tell your mother?
Let me go
Dressed for success
I'm gonna get dressed for success
I'm gonna get dressed for success
Hitting the spot for the big time, baby
Get dressed for success
Shaping it up for your love
For your love
Yeah, yeah, yeah
For your love
Yeah, yeah, yeah
For your love
Yeah, yeah, yeah
For your love
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah
The song "Dressed for Success" by Roxette is an upbeat track about personal growth and taking control of one's life. The lyrics describe the singer's quest for success, despite facing opposition and doubt from others, including family members. The line "Tried to make it bit by bit on my own" suggests that the singer has been working hard to achieve success, perhaps implying a sense of independence or resilience. The verse "I'm not afraid / A trembling flower / I'll feed your heart / And blow the dust from your eyes" further reinforces the idea that the singer is determined to succeed despite any obstacles in their path.
The chorus of the song is catchy and inspiring, with the repeated phrase "I'm gonna get dressed for success" serving as a rallying cry for the singer to continue pushing forward. The line "Shaping me up for the big time, baby" suggests that the singer is preparing themselves for a major breakthrough, while the line "Shaping it up for your love" implies that the singer's motivation is fueled by their desire to win the approval or affection of a specific person.
Overall, "Dressed for Success" is a song about perseverance, ambition, and self-improvement, with a message that is both empowering and uplifting.
Line by Line Meaning
Tried to make it little by little
I've been working hard to achieve my dreams in small steps
Tried to make it bit by bit on my own
I've been putting in the effort alone without any help
Quit the job, the grey believers
I left my job and the people who never believed in my dreams
Another town where I get close to the bone
I moved to another place where I faced many challenges to achieve my goals
Whatcha gonna tell your brother?
What will you say to your brother about me?
Whatcha gonna tell your father?
What will you say to your father about me?
Whatcha gonna tell your mother?
What will you say to your mother about me?
I don't know
I'm unsure
Let me go
Allow me to follow my own path
I'm gonna get dressed for success
I'm going to make an effort to look good and confident for my success
Shaping me up for the big time, baby
I'm preparing myself for the big goals and big opportunities
Shaping it up for your love
I'm doing this for the love of my life
I'm not afraid
I'm not scared
A trembling flower
Despite being delicate and fragile, I will persevere
I'll feed your heart
I'll give you love and happiness
And blow the dust from your eyes, oh
I'll help open your eyes to the beauty around you
And in the dark, things happen faster
In the darkness, things happen more quickly or take unexpected turns
I love the way you sway your hips next to mine, oh
I enjoy being close to you and dancing with you
Look sharp
Be alert and ready for anything
Hitting the spot for the big time, baby
I am aiming for great success
For your love
I'm doing all of this for love
Yeah
Yes
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Per Hakan Gessle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Atif_Ph.D._Kate_Bush_Fan_Club
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
Tried to make it little by little
Tried to make it bit by bit on my own
Quit the job, the grey believers
Another town where I get close to the bone
Whatcha gonna tell your brother?
Oh, oh, oh!
Whatcha gonna tell your father?
I don't know!
Whatcha gonna tell your mother?
Let me go
I'm gonna get dressed for success,
Shaping me up for the big time, baby
Get dressed for success
Shapin' it up for your love
For your love
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
I'm not afraid, a trembling flower
I'll feed your heart and blow the dust from your eyes
And in the dark, things happen faster
I love the way you sway your hips next to mine
Whatcha gonna tell your brother?
Oh, oh, oh!
Whatcha gonna tell your father?
I don't know!
Whatcha gonna tell your mother?
Let me go
I'm gonna get dressed for success
Shaping me up for the big time, baby
Get dressed for success
Shapin' it up for your love
Look sharp!
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Whatcha gonna tell your brother?
Oh-o-u-o-oh!
Whatcha gonna tell your father?
I don't know!
Whatcha gonna tell your mother?
Let me go
Dressed for success
I'm gonna get dressed for success
I'm gonna get dressed for success
Hittin' a spot for the big time, baby
Get dressed for success
Shapin' it up for your love
For your love
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
For your love
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
For your love
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
For your love
Yeah, yeah, yeah
@chriscl841
Queremos decirte querida Marie, que sentimos mucho tu partida 🥀 xq eras una de las más grandes cantantes del Anglo en los 90's ...
Marcaste mi vida y la de muchos con tu hermosa música y eso nunca lo olvidaremos 😢 en especial esas hermosas baladas románticas que escuchaba cuando iba al Liceo en la Educación media y que llenaban de alegría nuestros corazones 😭😭
Querida Marie, te Extrañaremos demasiado xq dejaste una huella imborrable en todos nuestros corazones y estoy seguro que tú música siempre vivirá con nosotros, xq aunque estés en el cielo, siempre habrá momentos para recordarte con temas tan lindos como los que nos entregaste 😢 ...
Te Extrañamos Mucho Marie Fredriksdon 😭😭😢😢
Q.E.P.D 🌷🌷
Besos al Cielo y que descanses en Paz !!! 🌱🌱
Reina de la Lluvia 🎤🌨️🌷
@martinodendaal1703
This woman stole my heart - she could just sing anything. Her passing was sooooooooo sad to me. Hope she sings for God up in heaven.
@reneelouiseazzopardi2073
Such a beautiful soul ❤
@tonycampbell9641
I graduated Marine Corps boot camp in 1989. Leaving Parris Island this was the first song on the radio I had heard in 3 months. Needless to say I blowed the speakers up in my dad's old pick up truck. First song I heard as a United States Marine. Semper Fi!
@GrimWare_3QpkRcAU....
I was already in, first heard and seen this video in an Okinawa night club, It caught my attention then and never let go, Semper Fi..
@nikkig8657
For the past week I’ve been playing this song to my 5 year old son in the mornings to inspire him to get dressed - and it’s working - he actually asks me to play it now!! Such a fun way to start the day 😁
@echofourmike85
Brilliant idea!
@pauljordan4452
I was five when it was released and I loved it. R.I.P. Marie.
@LadyVoldemort
I wish your son success to someday!!!
@RodrigoSilvaDiaz
Good Idea !!!! 👏
@paulaneary7877
That's brilliant! I don't know why but this song just pops in my head about once a year and I have to listen to it.