"Joyride" is a song by Swedish pop duo Roxette. Written by Per Gessle, it was released on 25 February 1991 by EMI as the lead single from their third studio album, Joyride (1991). It became one of Roxette's biggest hits and was one of the most successful singles of 1991, topping multiple record charts across Europe, as well as in Australia, Canada, and the United States. The song's accompanying music video, directed by Doug Freel,[1] received heavy rotation on MTV Europe.[2]
Recording and release
Per Gessle has said that the opening line of the song was inspired by a note his girlfriend (now wife) left on his piano, which read: "Hej, din tok, jag älskar dig" ("Hello, you fool, I love you").[3] Its title was derived from an interview in which Paul McCartney compared writing songs with John Lennon to "a long joyride". Roxette's former tour manager Dave Edwards is credited with narration on the song.[4]
Critical reception
AllMusic editor Bryan Buss described the song as a "chanting carnival" in his review of the Joyride album.[5]Larry Flick from Billboard viewed it as a "playful pop/rock ditty with a catchy chorus that is destined to make a quick sprint up the charts."[6] Jim Farber from Entertainment Weekly noted that "they blithely toss a bit of whistling into "Joyride", next to some psychedelic Beatles-like flourishes."[7] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report wrote, "Plenty of reason for joy in Top 40 land as Per Gessle and Marie Fredriksson deliver the first of a new batch of songs. Wisely, the Swedish duo retain "Look Sharp" producer Clarence Ofwerman, and, once again it's clear all three understand the way to a pop music fan's heart. Roxette has re-applied that happy, feelgood formula to making mass appeal records, and it's earned them instant recognition and remarkable chart success. This title track from their new album is certain to not only meet everyone's expectations, but surpass them."[8] Pan-European magazine Music & Media complimented the song as "a perfect example of their pop sensibilities."[9]
Brendon Veevers from Renowned for Sound commented, "There isn't a soul alive who cannot say they don’t love this track – Roxette fan or not. It's pop at its finest and the video is equally as memorable; the band speeding down a U.S highway, playing guitar on top of a red Corvette."[10]Rolling Stones J.D. Considine said that the song is "decked out in a glossy, Sgt. Pepper-style arrangement".[11]Mark Frith from Smash Hits labeled it as a "over-the-top" pop song, "with catchy choruses that remind you slightly of those other musical Swedes, ABBA."[12] A writer for Cleveland.com ranked "Joyride" the 46th best Billboard Hot 100 number one of the 1990s, saying: "Even more so than the group's biggest hit, 'It Must Have Been Love,' 'Joyride' showed off Per Gessle's ability to craft fantastic pop-rock songs. The song's pop spirit and rock swagger mesh seamlessly."[13]
Commercial performance
The song became one of the duo's biggest hits and was one of the most successful singles of 1991. It was their first number one single in their home country[14] and their first platinum-certified single there.[15] It also topped the charts in numerous other territories, including Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Switzerland. The song spent eight weeks at number one in Germany,[16] where it was certified gold by the Bundesverband Musikindustrie for sales in excess of 250,000 copies.[17] "Joyride" peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart, their second-highest chart placing there—behind top three hit "It Must Have Been Love".[18]
The song spent three weeks atop the Australian Singles Chart,[19] and was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for shipments in excess of 70,000 units.[20] It went on to remain one of the top ten-best selling singles of the year in that country.[20] It was their fourth and last number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.[21] It also topped the national RPM singles chart in Canada,[22] where it was certified gold by Music Canada (formerly the Canadian Recording Industry Association) for shipments in excess of 50,000 units,[23] and nominated for a Juno Award in 1992 for Best Selling Single by a Foreign Artist.[24]
Music video
The music video for "Joyride" was directed by Doug Freel.[1] It was made as a playful and spectacular video, where Marie and Per, among other things, sat on a Ferrari while a driver laying down, being invisible to the camera took care of the gas and brake. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the song reaching No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on 11th May 1991, the video was restored and premiered in 4K on YouTube in 2021.[1] Gessle told about the restoring process, "Some so-called “green screen” scenes have been removed, because they were very difficult to recreate. Instead, we’ve found other goodies in the raw material. In the long run, however, we plan to restore the video completely – and perhaps also other Roxette videos – in 4K resolution." By February 2024, "Joyride" had generated more than 14 million views.[25]
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