Dressed for Success

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For the Ugly Betty episode, see Dress for Success (Ugly Betty).

"Dressed for Success"
Dressed for success (swedish).jpg
Single by Roxette
from the album Look Sharp!
B-side"The Voice"
Released3 August 1988
RecordedMay–June 1988
StudioEMI Studios, Stockholm
GenrePop rock
Length4:09
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)Per Gessle
Producer(s)Clarence Öfwerman
Roxette singles chronology
"I Call Your Name"
(1988) 		"Dressed for Success"
(1988) 		"Listen to Your Heart"
(1988)
Music video
"Dressed for Success" on YouTube
Alternative cover
Rox dressedforsuccess nl single cover.jpg

"Dressed for Success" is a song by Swedish pop rock duo Roxette, released on 3 August 1988 as the lead single from their second studio album, Look Sharp! (1988). Following the international success of "The Look" – the album's third single in their home country, but first to be released outside of Sweden – "Dressed for Success" was re-issued internationally from June 1989 and became a worldwide hit,[1] most notably in Australia, where it peaked in the top three and was certified platinum by ARIA.[2][3]

Recording[]

The recording of the song was marked by a dispute between the band members, but this apparently contributed to the strength of Marie's performance.

"I was so mad when I did it. Everything about that session went wrong, we argued about the arrangement, we changed the key, I was dead tired of the song when I went in to do a guide vocal. Did it in one blast and suddenly realized, 'hmm... this is it'."

— Marie Fredriksson, Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus! liner notes.[4]

Critical reception[]

Bryan Buss from AllMusic described the song as "punchy" and "hopeful".[5] Music & Media commented, "Another relentless pop song from the Swedish duo. Reminiscent of The Look but this time the emphasis is more on Marie Frederiksson's vocals."[6]

Music video[]

The music video for the song mostly revolves around the duo performing together in "nightclub ruins" (similar to those featured in their previous video, "The Look", also directed by Peter Heath) as several dancers and groups of party-goers sway to the song.[7]

Formats and track listings[]

All songs written and composed by Per Gessle.

  • EU 7" single (Sweden 1363207 · UK EM96)
  • EU cassette (UK TCEM96)
  1. "Dressed for Success" – 4:19
  2. "The Voice" – 4:16
  • US cassette (US 4JM-50204)
  1. "Dressed for Success" – 4:19
  2. "The Look" – 4:11
  • Sweden 12" single (1363216)
  1. "Dressed for Success" (The Look Sharp! Remix) – 7:50
  2. "Dressed for Success" (Instrumental) – 4:13
  3. "Dressed for Success" (7" Version) – 4:13
  4. "The Voice" – 4:16
  • EU 12" single (UK 12EM96)
  1. "Dressed for Success" (Remix) – 6:30
  2. "The Look" (Big Red Mix) – 7:32
  3. "The Voice" – 4:16
  • CD single (UK CDEM96)
  1. "Dressed for Success" (7" Version) – 4:13
  2. "The Look" (7" Version) – 3:57
  3. "Dressed for Success" (Remix) – 6:30
  4. "The Voice" – 4:16

Personnel[]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Rox Box/Roxette 86–06.[8]

  • Recorded at EMI Studios in Stockholm, Sweden in May and June 1988.
  • Mixed by Alar Suurna, Per Gessle and Clarence Öfwerman at EMI Studios in Stockholm. Single version mixed by Chris Lord-Alge at The Grey Room, Los Angeles.

Musicians

Charts and certifications[]

References[]

  1. ^ Thorselius, Robert (May 2003). The Look for Roxette: The Illustrated Worldwide Discography & Price Guide (1st ed.). Sweden: Premium Förlag Publishing. ISBN 978-9197189484.
  2. ^ a b "Roxette – Dressed For Success". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "ARIA End Of Year Singles 1989 | Top 50 Australian Singles Chart". ARIA Charts. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Digital booklet". Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus (liner notes). Roxette. Stockholm, Sweden: EMI Records. 1995. 7243 836203 2 6.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Buss, Bryan. "Roxette – Look Sharp!". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 1 July 1989. p. 16. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  7. ^ Ballad & Pop Hits - The Complete Video Collection (DVD liner notes). Roxette. EMI. 2003. 7243 4 90946 9 7.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ "Booklet". The Rox Box/Roxette 86–06 (liner notes). Roxette. Stockholm, Sweden: Roxette Recordings and Capitol Records. 2006. 9463 67972–2 9.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ "Roxette – Dressed For Success" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  10. ^ "Roxette – Dressed For Success" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  11. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6421." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  12. ^ "Roxette – Dressed For Success" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  13. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Dressed For Success". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  14. ^ a b "Songs from the Year 1989". tsort.info. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  15. ^ "Roxette – Dressed For Success". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  16. ^ "Lista Przebojów Trójki - Polskie Radio Online: Notowanie nr399 - 14 października 1989". Polskie Radio (in Polish). 14 October 1989. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  17. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  18. ^ "Roxette – Dressed For Success". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  19. ^ "Roxette – Dressed For Success". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  20. ^ "Roxette: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  21. ^ "Roxette Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  22. ^ "Top 100 Singles of '89". RPM. RPM Library Archives. 23 December 1989. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  23. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1989" (in German). Swiss Music Charts. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  24. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Roxette – Dressed For Success". Music Canada. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  25. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
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