Roxette

“Heart” does well in the US


NEW YORK - One of this summer's fastest-rising pop tunes is titled "Listen to Your Heart." But the message the single offers music-biz execs is to listen to the guy who works in your mailroom.

  That's how Cory Robbins, president of Robbins Entertainment, came across Belgian duo D.H.T.'s cover of "Heart", a power-ballad hit for the Swedish duo Roxette back in 1989. D.H.T., which features 20-year-old singer Edmée Daenen alongside MC/DJ/writer/producer Flor "Da Rick" Theeuwes, has soared to the upper reaches of commercial radio formats with a dance mix and an "unplugged" ballad rendition of the song.

  The single is presently at #1 on the Dance Radio Airplay chart, #5 on the Billboard Radio Monitor mainstream top 40 chart this week, #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at #17 on Nielsen BDS' national airplay list and is expected to climb even more.

  Like everyone who works for Robbins, mailman Matt D'Arduini was invited to the Monday night meeting of label executives. In early 2004, he brought D.H.T.'s "Heart" and played it. Weeks later, Robbins offered Theeuwes and Daenen a deal.

Robbins didn't expect the ballad version to garner much airplay. They sent the single to pop stations, and one station in Saginaw, Mich., WIOG-FM, had enormous success with the unplugged version. Robbins said, 'I don't care. We're a dance label; get the dance version played.'"

This article was written for an earlier version of The Daily Roxette.
Technical errors may occur.

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July 26th, 2005


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