All bigger bands have staples, or should if they are any good, Roxette has their fair share of staples; songs that must be performed live.

So what are Roxette’s staples? After thoroughly analyzing all the setlists from 1988 to 2014 (no one remembers 1987, including Per) here’s my conclusion:

Roxette has 12 staples, these 12 tracks have been performed on all tours, or on every tour since they were released:

“Listen to Your Heart,” since 1988.
“The Look,” since 1988
“Dressed for Success,” since 1988
“It Must Have Been Love,” since 1991
“The Big L.,” since 1991
“Fading Like a Flower,” since 1991
“Joyride,” since 1991
“Spending My Time,” since 1991 but not in 2010/2011
“Sleeping in My Car,” since 1994
“Crash! Boom! Bang!,” since 1994
“Things Will Never Be the Same,” 1991, 1992, 2010-2012

Roxette’s number one staple is: “Dangerous!” “Dangerous” has been performed on all tours, including the 1987 Rock Runt Riket. You didn’t see that one coming, did you? I certainly didn’t.

The most diverse Roxette setlists, and also longest, were 1994 and 2001 followed by 1992.

So what does this mean? Well, if Roxette has to play these 12 tracks, there isn’t much room for “fillers,” is there? If a normal Roxette concert has an average of 20 songs, (has been as short as 15 and as long as 22,) that leaves eight songs… 1994, 1995 there were a few covers added to the setlist, and again in 2010 but that’s not very common. 1987 there was a ’60s soul medley for instance. The usual songs Roxette uses to fill these some of these eight spots are:

“How Do You Do!”
“Stars”
“She’s Got Nothing On”
“7Twenty7”
“Opportunity Nox”

That makes 17. That leave a mere three to elaborate with, like I said – not a lot of space. Of course there have been some unexpected songs, “Silver Blue” or Per’s own “Do You Wanna Be My Baby?” in 2010 for instance. Also when there has been a single release during a tour Roxette has been rather quick picking that up. “Way Out” and “She’s Got Nothing On” and even “It’s Possible” in 2011 and also “Run To You” in 1995. On the other hand there have been many singles that never have been played live, like “June Afternoon,” “Salvation” and “A Thing About You” to mention but a few.

What about the closer? Roxette closes a concert 99 times out of 100 with a ballad. “Listen to Your Heart” has been a solid closer, as well as “Queen of Rain” and “Perfect Day.” 1994/1995 ended with “Love is All” and “Go to Sleep” and 2010-2012 with “Church of Your Heart.”

And finally it’s worth noting that “The Look” always ends up at the end of the set, while “Sleeping in My Car” always ends up at the beginning (except in 2001.) We’ve intentionally left out the 2000 US promo tour and 2009 Night of the Proms as they were totally different.

Which songs would you like to hear live this tour? Which songs would you leave out?