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The Swedish Group Roxette really pulled one over on us Americans--and pretty much the rest of the world--with today's "Great Song of 1989: "Listen to Your Heart."
According to Per Gissle, who co-wrote the song with Mats Persson, "This is us trying to recreate that overblown American FM-rock sound to the point where it almost becomes absurd. We really wanted to see how far we could take it."
Well, they took it pretty far, because the song, based on the relationship trouble a friend of Per's was going through, was a HUGE success, charting in 16 countries--including 11 in the Top 10!
It topped the Top 40 in the US and Canada, and on the Adult Contemporary Charts, it went to #2 in the States and #11 up North.
TRIVIA #1: "Listen to Your Heart" was the very first hit song released ONLY on cassette--no vinyl!
TRIVIA #2: SEVEN different remixes were released, including one called "US Remix," which was most likely another poke at FM-rock.
Most music critics missed the joke/taunt completely. One called it "bland and overproduced." (Just what Per wanted!)
One critic, however, figured it out: "It seems that the Swedes have beaten the Americans at their own game."
In 2003, the Belgian group DHT released a dance version of "Listen to Your Heart," and it was BIG hit all over again, charting in 15 countries...including the US, where it appeared on FIVE Billboard Charts: Mainstream Top 40 and Dance Airplay (#1), Adult Contemporary (#6), Hot 100 (#8), and Adult Top 40(#13).
"Listen to Your Heart" by Roxette, over the top on purpose and on top of the charts in 1989...and by DHT on top of the dance floor in 2003!
Tomorrow: Is this the lunatic you're looking for?
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