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.
View From a Hill
Roxette Lyrics
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Cold is the colour of the dark.
Find a byway and climb that hill,
Watch the thunder cast a spell.
What did you gain from love?
Don't ask me!
All for the sweetest thrill...
I see it perfectly clear and I cry for the dreams that you kill
Oh oh, view from a hill, and it's only a moment away.
Love is a rainfall, hard on the head,
No escape though you're soaking wet.
Leave me blinded by your light.
Leave me stranded alone tonight.
What did you gain from love?
Don't ask me!
All for the cheapest thrill...
I see a view from a hill -- oh oh.
I see it perfectly clear and I cry for the dreams that you kill -- oh oh,
View from a hill, and it's only a motion away.
The lyrics of Roxette's song View From a Hill convey the intense emotions that come with heartbreak. The first verse describes the overwhelming feeling of sadness that comes with a broken heart - the "raging waves" and "cold" darkness represent the depth of the pain. The second line "Find a byway and climb that hill" suggests that seeking a new perspective can help alleviate the heartache. However, the thunderstorm almost seems to reflect the turmoil within, representing the internal struggle of trying to move on.
The chorus presents the titular view from a hill, which represents the opportunity for a fresh start. Yet, the lyrics also express sadness for the lost dreams and opportunities that came with the relationship. The second verse describes love as a kind of rain that soaks and overpowers, leaving the singer feeling stranded and alone. The repeated chorus underscores the desire to move on from heartbreak but also highlights the difficulty in doing so.
Overall, the song is a heartfelt exploration of the sometimes overwhelming and complicated emotions that come with a broken heart. It speaks to the universality of heartbreak as well as the hope that comes with new beginnings.
Line by Line Meaning
Raging waves sweep this heavy heart.
The singer's heart is burdened by overwhelming emotions, like waves crashing over it.
Cold is the colour of the dark.
The darkness and sadness the singer feels is chilling and bleak.
Find a byway and climb that hill,
The singer should take a different path in order to reach a higher point.
Watch the thunder cast a spell.
The power and majesty of the natural world is captivating and awe-inspiring.
What did you gain from love? Don't ask me!
The singer can't speak for someone else's experience of love, and it may not always be fulfilling or positive.
All for the sweetest thrill...
The pleasures of love can be intense, but they may not last.
I see a view from a hill - oh oh.
The singer is able to view the world from a new, elevated perspective, perhaps with greater clarity.
I see it perfectly clear and I cry for the dreams that you kill
Seeing things from this new vantage point makes the singer deeply sad for the dreams and possibilities that have been lost.
View from a hill, and it's only a moment away.
This new perspective is just a moment, but it could be transformative.
Love is a rainfall, hard on the head,
Like rain, love can be relentless and overwhelming, causing discomfort.
No escape though you're soaking wet.
Even if you try to avoid love, it can still soak you through.
Leave me blinded by your light.
The brightness of love can make it hard to see anything else.
Leave me stranded alone tonight.
Sometimes love can leave you isolated and lost.
All for the cheapest thrill...
The highs of love can be fleeting, and not worth the lows.
View from a hill, and it's only a motion away.
By changing your perspective, you can find new opportunities and paths in life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PER GESSLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind