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.
The Voice
Roxette Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I don't want to be around
When it gets out.
I've closed the last picture
And painted the windows
Inside and out.
Give me your dreams
Together we'll cross the borderline.
Voices -
Cracking the night,
Voices -
That cut like a knife,
Voices -
Hear them singing...
From sparks to the fire,
From here to obsession they cover the end.
Twisting a match
And see the reflections of hunters of men.
Give me your dreams
And I'll give you my time,
Until we make it to the borderline.
Voices...
The lyrics to Roxette's song The Voice appear to be about someone who knows that something is going to happen, and they want to distance themselves from it. The first few lines set a spooky tone, with the singer stating that they don't want to be around when "it gets out". It is unclear what "it" is, but the lyrics suggest that it is something that the singer has been expecting. They have closed the last picture and painted the windows, perhaps as a way of barricading themselves in and shutting out the outside world. The repetition of the phrase "give me your dreams and I'll give you my time" suggests a desire for a deep connection, although it is unclear with whom the singer wants to connect. The chorus brings in the idea of voices, which "crack the night" and cut "like a knife". These voices seem to be singing, although what they are singing about is not clear either. However, there is a sense of danger associated with these voices, as they "twist a match" and reflect "hunters of men". Overall, the lyrics suggest a sense of foreboding and the desire to escape from something.
Line by Line Meaning
I knew this would happen
I had a feeling that something like this would occur
And I don't want to be around
I would rather not be present when this happens
When it gets out.
Referring to something being revealed or discovered
I've closed the last picture
I have finished the final piece of artwork or project
And painted the windows
I have applied a fresh coat of paint to the windows
Inside and out.
The painting was done both on the interior and exterior of the windows
Give me your dreams
Share with me your aspirations and hopes
And I'll give you my time,
In exchange for your dreams, I will offer you my time and energy
Together we'll cross the borderline.
We will work together to achieve our goals and surpass boundaries
Voices -
Referencing the sound of singing or speaking
Cracking the night,
The sound of the voices is loud and abrupt, interrupting the quiet of the night
Voices -
The repetition of this line serves to emphasize the importance of the vocal presence
That cut like a knife,
The voices are sharp and emotional, having a powerful impact on the listener
Voices -
The voices are a recurring and central theme in the song
Hear them singing...
Encouraging the listener to pay attention to the voices
From sparks to the fire,
Referring to the progression from small beginnings to a larger, more impactful event
From here to obsession they cover the end.
Highlighting the power and reach of these voices, which can even incite obsession
Twisting a match
Lighting a match and holding it in a way that allows it to burn slowly and steadily
And see the reflections of hunters of men.
Seeing the shadow of a manhunt within this burning match, perhaps suggesting that the voices are causing someone to feel hunted or pursued
Give me your dreams
Repeating this line underscores the importance of ambition and hope in the song
And I'll give you my time,
Reiterating the offer of time and energy in pursuit of these dreams
Until we make it to the borderline.
Working together, we will surpass expected limits and achieve our dreams
Voices...
The song ends with another repetition of this central concept
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PER ANDERSSON, MARIE FREDRIKSSON, PER GESSLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind