It was 20 years ago today...
Written by tevensso on July 7, 2006 to Editorial.
STOCKHOLM - 
Sweden, July 8 1986. “Neverending Love,” a new single was released by a group called “Roxette.” No one in Sweden knew at that point what Roxette was, or who, except for the precious few Gyllene Tider fans that knew of the US version of “Heartland.”
“Neverending Love” was an English version of the song “Svarta glas” that Per had composed for Swedish artist Pernilla Wahlgren. She turned it down, and gave it to her brother Niklas Wahlgren who recorded it and was about to release it when EMI called his record company and told them to remove the song from the album; Per Gessle needed it himself, but in English, and together with hot rock artist Marie Fredriksson. Enuff said.
When the single was released Per, 27 and Marie, 28, didn’t want their picture on the sleeve, therefore a ’50s style drawing was used. The song went straight into the Sommartoppen chart, I don’t remember how high the first week, and as a matter of fact, I was in the USA so how could I?
I arrived back in Sweden on July 16th after 11 months in the US as an exchange student. I met up with my friend who immediately told me that Roxette had a new song out. That’s not possible, I said. Roxette broke up last year. So he gave me the 7” single. I was blown away. In June 1985 Gyllene Tider called it a day, and here was a new Per Gessle project! Amazing! There was a God after all. So I turned the record on… and was disappointed… I felt Per had sold himself to Eurodisco. Nevertheless, I started listening to the one song, hoping for more, and needless to say, it grew on me.
Now it’s 20 years later, I’m 20 years older (what happened?) and Roxette is still with me. And Roxette has sold over 70 million records so far. Quite a feat for two timid “hillbillies” from the south of Sweden, don’t you think?
Other articles with the same topic
- Year in review 2007: Gessle on tour, Marie and husband in studio - but where was Roxette? (January 5, 2008)
- "Att vara Per Gessle" - a review (December 7, 2007)
- Mikael Bolyos gets reviewed (July 6, 2007)
- Happy birthday, Per! (January 12, 2007)
- Year in review 2006: Roxette turns 20, releases stir dispute (December 31, 2006)
73 comments
ncurran said on July 7, 2006 22:54:
Wow, 20 yrs to the day. and i was only 9 back then...and id never heard of roxette until a few yrs later, but it is still kind of special. I wonder if per and marie actually realise that the actual anniversary is today
CamilaLook said on July 7, 2006 23:04:
perfect history..ohh my ...how do I love them!
roxkisses
substitute said on July 7, 2006 23:34:
Oh my God!!!20 years!!!20 years ago i was 9,but today i love ROXETTE MORE THAN EVER!!!!
Sparvogamarie said on July 7, 2006 23:59:
“There was a god”
You are so funny Tev!
I was 7 and it would be 4 more years before I noticed the angel with the spiky hair....*sighs*
Alesvenska said on July 8, 2006 00:10:
Drawing a *20 years old* fine line, a neverending song!
Robrox said on July 8, 2006 00:14:
So today Roxette turns 20. in three days I have my 20th birthday as well. Is anybody closer to Roxette?
Fernanda-Brasil said on July 8, 2006 00:15:
I was 7 years old and I couldn’t imagine that 5 years later I would listen to a band from a country so far from here and that I would become a giant fan as I am today.
I loved this!!!! :)
chrisjankunas said on July 8, 2006 00:43:
I wasnt born yet ;) 20 years today then? I really hope we get some solid news about the upcomming releases soon - I soooooo can not wait ! I have even wished the Summer away ! And I almost NEVER wish time away !
Eloy said on July 8, 2006 02:43:
tevensso says: ... Now it’s 20 years later, I’m 20 years older (what happened?) and Roxette is still with me... and I say: I feel the same feeling about it. thanxs tevensso for telling us your nice story :-) really nice and cool!
Eloy said on July 8, 2006 02:47:
me again over here. neverending love! the perfect way to call the feeling about roxette: the story, the music, all the feelings are just like A NEVERENDING LOVE :-) thxs Marie, thxs Per... ... .
Roxrider_USA said on July 8, 2006 03:27:
I was 5 years old.
It’s so amazing it’s been 20 years that Roxette has been filling our lives with innumerous moments of hapiness and intense feelings described by silly little words in the lyics to shouts and to the melodies within the songs we’ve all come to love in one way or another.
For many of us, Roxette has been an important and constant part of our lives. Many of us can’t really describe or write about themselves or even about their lives without thinking of or mentioning Roxette.
Also, for many of us, if Roxette had not been part of our lives as we grew up, we definetaly would be somewhat different people nowadays.
It’s so amazing it’s been 20 years...
of Roxette, of course.
Yeah, it’s definetaly amazing...
Carlos E., New York.
Nox1983 said on July 8, 2006 04:09:
one of the most beautiful articles i have ever read here ;)
ally77 said on July 8, 2006 07:16:
@ Robrox, sorry I beat you to it!
Yeah twenty years ago I was 9 years old…
Today is my “Födelsedag” and I am 29!!!!!!!
….. and ironically I actually remember my birthday quite well in 1986, I had a party…. There was a cute butterfly cake and some tears (you know what kids parties are like) lol
No party today though!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROXETTE…
…it’s nice to share your day!
Now where is miracle man today? It’s his birthday as well…
**goes to dance around the room**
rox-kuryliw said on July 8, 2006 07:59:
mmm i was 3 when this song came out lol, all started wih neverending love. happy 20th birthday roxette. hope thi sis first track on the gh20 years
sandyam said on July 8, 2006 08:04:
20 years ago I was only 5 years old and attending primary school.
6 years later the girl next door gave a (copied) tape of Look Sharp and said hey, here you have a tape with music that I am sure will fit your style.
Well, things got out of hand and now I have been a fan for about 14 years!
FireDiamond said on July 8, 2006 08:44:
wow in 1986 i was -6 monts!! actually Joyride was my first ever tape! I guess it‘s a small world cos IT WAS the girl next door who gave me the copied tape! ever since i can‘t stop listen to Roxette and now it‘s some 15 years later!
thanx for the extraordinary 15 years Rox! now I just can‘t image what it would have been like without you! All the best and more from Bulgaria!
pwbbounce said on July 8, 2006 08:51:
20 years eh?? Not a bad career I feel. lol!!
Nice to know that there are some bands that can stay around for longer than 15 mins. Makes the whole music business seem a little bit better!
Really they are among the last of a dying breed I think. I can’t think of any bands just starting out now that’s gonna last this long
Sascha said on July 8, 2006 09:05:
I was 9 as well, but didn’t learn about Roxette until 3 years later. It feels strange to be already older than Marie & Per when they started this whole thing... 20 years – how fast time is running!!! Marie and Per really have something to be proud about, their music will live much much longer!
n-Somnia said on July 8, 2006 10:26:
I was only 5, and had been to my first school for only a few months.
Roxoholic said on July 8, 2006 10:51:
I was 2 years old, but didn´t I didn´t become interested in music until I was 5. All thanks to The Look.
But Neverending Love deserves to be on the new CD. Like you´ve all said; it wouldn´t be 20 years without it:)
denny said on July 8, 2006 13:57:
A great story. :)
Happy birthday Roxette! And it definitely is a Neverending Love between the fans and this special music, so close to our hearts. :)
I better stop writing, I’m in a sappy mood today. ;)
Ally and everyone else who is born on this day, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
animalkingdom said on July 8, 2006 13:58:
Haha!
This article is like some school paper “Me and Roxette, 20 years together”...
Hey, today is also the Spice Girls’ anniversary. 10 years since Wannabe hit the stores in Britain! ;)
miss-misery said on July 8, 2006 14:16:
In July 1986 I was 5, altmost 6..... and I remember the first Roxette song I ever heard: IMHBL in 1990, from a hits compilation, I think.
But I didn’t become interested in them until early 1992, when a friend in school copied Joyride for me. I remember that the first time I heard the tape I thought “how boring!” However, I began to hear it again and again, and so far, I think is my most heard tape ever (I still have it, and I don’t think it’s audible anymore!
Over the years, there have been times when I was a complete fanatic, and times when I wasn’t into Roxette at all. And obviously, my music taste has changed a lot since 1992. However, I guess Roxette music has been with me all these years, and without them, I would have never been interested in much of the music I listen to nowadays (i.e. The Beatles)
So, I guess that the only thing I can say is: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! :D
sille-rox said on July 8, 2006 14:22:
i was 7 years old (1986) Fan since 1992
15 years!!!!!!!
Happy B-Day Roxette!!!!!!!!
roxlad said on July 7, 2006 22:53:
Neverending Love should be in the Rox-box ’cos if not it won’t be a 20-year thing but an 18-year one!
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