The Look

"The Look" is a song by the Swedish pop duo Roxette. It was released in early 1989 as the fourth single from their second studio album, "Look Sharp!" (1988). It became an international hit, and was one of the most successful singles of 1989. It topped the charts in 25 countries, and was the first of their four number ones on the "Billboard" Hot 100.
Background.
The duo released their second album "Look Sharp!" in October 1988. It was an immediate commercial success in their home country, spending seven weeks at number one on the Swedish Albums Chart. The album's first two Swedish singles, "Dressed for Success" and "Listen to Your Heart", both became top three hits there; while another song, "Chances", was released in Germany, Italy and France.
When "The Look" was about to be released in Sweden as the fourth single, an American exchange student from Minnesota named Dean Cushman returned from Sweden and urged his local Top 40 radio station KDWB in Minneapolis to play the song. It quickly became popular, and the station began distributing the track to their sister radio operations. EMI America had previously rejected the duo as unsuitable for the American market, and Roxette did not have a recording contract there. "The Look" had already entered the top fifty of the "Billboard" Hot 100 before the duo began official promotion. It would go on to peak at number one eight weeks later.
Composition.
Gessle wrote "The Look" while learning to program an Ensoniq ESQ-1 synthesizer, and stated that the song's "extremely important" sixteenth-note rhythm was inspired by ZZ Top.
The first two verses are composed of guide lyrics, with Gessle explaining in the liner notes of their 1995 compilation album "Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus!" that they were "words just scribbled down to have something to sing. Couldn't come up with anything better, so we kept them. Everybody gets lucky sometimes."
Critical reception.
Bryan Buss from AllMusic described the song as "bright" and "shiny". Bill Coleman from "Billboard" said it is an "easy-paced pop track that incorporates an eager rock edge and funky rhythm underpinnings. Already a smash in some markets, this one is too catchy for words." "Music & Media" commented that Roxette "are widely tipped as the new ABBA. [Time] will tell if they manage to be as productive as the legendary foursome, but this tense, atmospheric Beatle-esque song definitely marks a step in the right direction. Without doubt one of its most attractive features is the subtle vocal harmonising in the chorus." "People Magazine" called it a "brisk, nicely turned tune", adding that it "has both bounce and kick, they compare favorably with their Scandinavian predecessors."
Formats and track listings.
All songs written and composed by Per Gessle.
Personnel.
Credits adapted from the liner notes of "The Rox Box/Roxette 86–06".
Musicians
'95 Remix.
"The Look" was remixed in 1995 and re-released exclusively in the United Kingdom in conjunction with the release of their first greatest hits compilation, "Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus! Roxette's Greatest Hits". This version of the song does not appear on the album, but two of the versions from this were eventually included on the European single "She Doesn't Live Here Anymore" (1996).
2015 Remake.
"The Look" was remixed again in 2015 and released as a non-album single under Cosmos Music Group on 17 July 2015. This "2015 Remake" was produced by Gessle, Clarence Öfwerman and Christoffer Lundquist. Additional production was credited to Swedish duo Addeboy vs Cliff, who had recently contributed material to Roxette's then-upcoming tenth studio album "Good Karma", later released in 2016. Swedish fashion label KappAhl approached Gessle about using a medley of Roxette songs for an upcoming advertising campaign in Scandinavia, although Gessle instead decided to create an exclusive remix for "The Look". This new version was recorded over the course of two days at X-Level Studios in Stockholm, formerly EMI Studios—the same studio where the track had originally been recorded in 1988. It features new vocals from Gessle and Marie Fredriksson.
Appearances in other media.
The first appearance of "The Look" on a TV show was during a montage featuring Erika Eleniak and Chris Gartin in the "Baywatch" episode "The Cretin of the Shallows" of the first season broadcast on 1 December 1989. In the 1990s, an adaptation of "The Look" was used in a television advertisement for India's Lakmé Cosmetics featuring Aishwariya Rai. In 2009, the song was prominently featured in a marketing campaign for "Grand Theft Auto IV". It can also be heard on in-game radio station Vice City FM. The track also appears as a playable track in the 2010 music rhythm game "Rock Band 3."
The song was mentioned in the "Family Guy" episode "Baby Not on Board" when Stewie announced his remorse for staying up all night listening to Persian radio.
It served as the theme song for the TV Land reality TV competition "She's Got the Look."
The song was covered by Filipina singer Sarah Geronimo, and it was used as a promotion for Jag when she became the new endorser of the clothing brand.
The song was covered by Taiwanese artist Luantan Ascent (). It was used as an insert song for the movie Second Chance () and was also featured in its promotional teaser trailer.
The season 2 premiere episode of the FOX series "Scream Queens" featured the song in a scene where the Chanels see Dr. Brock Holt showering in the hospital locker room.
The song was used as the opening theme of episode 2 of the 2017 Netflix TV series "GLOW".
An a cappella version is used in a commercial for the 2018 Toyota Camry.
The song is featured in the trailer for the 2019 film as well as a scene in the movie.