Customer Reviews

Have A Nice Day (2009 Remastered Version - Includes Bonus Tracks)

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have to admit that the first time my friend wanted me to listen to this CD, I was less than skeptical. The last impression I had of Roxette was from their "It Must Have Been Love" fame from Pretty Woman. Since then I thought for sure the band broke up because not a lot of bands made it out of the 80s. But I decided to give this a listen, and I was totally blown away. Almost every single song on this album is amazing, especially the power ballads as most reviews have already stated. The lyrics are very emotional and well written and can be applied to SO many situations I'm sure we all have experienced. I mainly listen to other kinds of music, but to be completely honest, this is one of the best albums I own. Please do yourself a favor and give it a shot. I guarantee you will NOT be disappointed!

In Denmark, it is generally regarded as lack of musical insight to like (Swedish) Roxette - it's regarded as something only kids listen to, and which you are supposed to put away "when you grow older and wiser". And whenever someone are going to express how great some new singer is, they do it by stating that "she has a voice that makes Marie Frederiksson from Roxette sound like a sick goat".

Now really, one should think there would be a limit to how stupid people should be, but (re)listening to this album, I start having my doubts. Roxette had their major breakthrough with Look Sharp, and seemeed to reach the peek of their succes with Joyride, but regarding the quality of their music, HAND is by far the culmination - even dwarwing the excellent Joyride!

This album has the perfect blend of about 25 % power-pop hits, as only Roxette can do them, complete with silly lyrics and an absolutely irresistable charm - Crush On You, You Can't Put Your Arms Around What's Already Gone and Stars. Let me quote from Crush On You:

"I'm freezin' in the summer / I'm sweatin' in the winter / No middle in the centre / No colours in the printer / No treatment at the pharmacy / No lessons learned from history / No future in the factory / No meaning in the poetry / No changin' in the weather / No Elvis in the leather / I want you now or never.

Good God I thiought the first time I heard this, but believe me, for all I tried to resist, it was impossible: This song is superb! And even better is Stars - I can't believe anyone can sit still to that song!

Next ingredient: 25% plain rock ear-catchers - 7Twenty7, Pay The Price and Staring At The Ground. One might ask what makes these songs special, and I suppose nothing does really, but ... nobody does it better. It's not sofisticated, there's nothing new, but damn - it works! And if it works, why fix it?

And then the final ingredient, which does the difference - 50 % power balads, as nobody else can do it. And this album features none less than 8 of them - of which at least 7 of them are at least as good as any of their earlier love songs! From an end ... Wish I Could Fly, Waiting For The Rain, Anyone, It Will Take A Long Long Time, I Was So Lucky, Salvation, Cooper and Beautiful Things. It might be unfair to mention any of them specifically, because they are all very different and all very perfect ... from the dreamy sound of Wish I Could Fly, featuring up-to-date, silent drumpatterns; to the perfect Motown-sound-a-like Waiting For The Rain - has anyone made a better Motown-sounding song since Phil Collin's remake of You Can't Hurry Love?; to the chilling Anyone, featuring all the pain of a broken heart:

"Anyone who felt like I do / Anyone who wasn't ready to fall / Anyone who loved like I do / knows it never really happens at all / It's over when it's over / What can I do about it / now that it's over."

Then, falling in love again on I Was So Lucky and Salvation - both among the most beautiful love songs I know. But, though it is hard to believe, considering the quality of the other songs, Roxette are saving the best for last with Beautiful Things, which is, well, undescribable ... so pained and lonely, and at the same time so tender.

"Beautiful things are comin' my way. Beautiful things, I want them to stay. But after a while my beautiful things don't seem beautiful at all. Terrible things like when you wake up and all of your dreams Seem to crack up. Like things you have done like breakin' my heart. For you it don't seem terrible at all. Is there someone I can talk to? Someone on the line? Does anybody want to hear What's on my mind?"

With "Joyride" album, "Have a Nice Day" is one of the best albums from the swedish duo Roxette.
They allow themselves to try with new sounds, more up to date, without losing their basis.
Songs like "Stars", "7twenty7" or "Crush on you" show this new sound. Even many ballads like "Wish i could fly", "Salvation" or "I was so lucky" have some kind of state-of-the-art sound.
Singles choice may be not the best for a good promotion of this album; but for sure if you like pop music, you'll enjoy this piece.

Two ears are barely enough to appreciate this power-pop tour de force. I thought Roxette was a one-hit-wonder but somehow I surfed into this CD a few weeks back and I noticed that even a used copy cost more than most CDs do when they are new. Then I read the rave reviews and listened to the sound samples and decided to pony up the big bucks and buy this disc.

Boy am I glad I did! This CD is quite literally worth its weight in gold to me. It must be one of the great power-pop albums of all time. To me, this represents the culmination of Roxette's approach to music much the same way Pet Sounds represents the culmination of the Beach Boys' approach. And, like Pet Sounds, when I start listening to this CD it's
very difficult to stop without listening to the end. I wouldn't call this a "concept" album per se, but it is well paced and balanced between serveral styles all in the greater genre called "power pop".

This album really has it all. You've got the hard driving dance-pop sounds of Crush On You and 7 Twenty 7, both of which I didn't want to like but I finally gave in and admitted to myself that they rocked. If you like power ballads, this album has Roxette doing what they do best (in my opinion it's the 70's style power ballad style where Roxette really stands out) in Wish I Could Fly, Anyone, Salavation, and the more subdued and gorgeous I Was So Lucky.

Then there's the wonderfully catchy Waiting for The Rain which is the kind of song you'd hear played on the radio every hour back in the 60's. And, I really grew to like the quirky euro-pop Stars. It sounds like something Abba would have done. And there's more! There's not a single throwaway track on this album.

The greatness of Roxette, in my opinion, is that they sound just like most of the music I've listened to over the past thirty years or so, only just a bit better. Most every song on this album reminds me of something I've heard and enjoyed before, but Roxette does it all just a little bit more thoughtfully and professionally than most everyone else. They've got a sound that is very polished and yet fun and spontaneous at the same time. Marie Fredriksson is definitely a superior rock vocalist who really makes you believe that she believes what she's singing. Their lyrics are just a bit more clever than most lyrics you find in this type of music. At first I found it annoying when Per Gessle took the lead vocal, as I'm partial to female vocalists, but his sound grew on me as I listened to this album.

This album sounds like it was a real labor of love, and as the song says, "I Was So Lucky" that I surfed into it.

When I first heard Wish I could fly I thought it was bland pop balladry and was quite unimpressed....until the subsequent 3 or 4 listens. Having already owned every other Roxette album it was inevitable that I would buy this. I was not expecting what I heard. HAND is a total mind bloiwer from start to finsih. The infectious Crush on You reflects the confidence that a four year hiatus has given the group; and it is definitely worth the wait.

The sixties swing of Waiting for the Rain lifts spirits on any dull & damp day, while power ballad Anyone incorporates sweet meldoy and the trademanrk Fredriksson power vocals that she is loved for.

It is really on the second part of the cd that Roxette give themselves away as true geniusses who warrant and merit the right to lay claims on Abba's crown. Stars surprises as a credible club-floor filler that still carries a chorus and verse, and is a complemented by some serious power rockers (Staring at the Ground and the infuriatingly catchy and uplifting Pay the Price) which showcase Gessle's knack for a melody and Fredriksson's diversity as a vocalist (singer is too mediocre a description).

Personal favourites on the album come in the form of ballads, but not in the same vein as what we know Roxette for. Cooper tells a strange tale with a haunting backing melody by Marie.

Beautiful Things however lends credence to the expression 'save the best for last' because the album's closing song is charged with emotional lyrics (is there someone i can talk to?/does anybody want to know what's on my mind?) and deep, brooding 2/3 part harmonies which highlight Roxette's increasing maturity as artistes (not that there has been any question of their abilities to date).

It is hard to give a synopsis of then album, because it covers much musical territory and styles, biut never without losing that trademark Roxette sound and production.

Although it has only sold approximately 2 million copies to date, it is the quality of this album which counts and which guarantees Roxette that anyone who buys this album will be invariably pleased from start to finish.

Per and Marie didn't fail to please their fans with this album. Have A Nice Day is quite possibly Roxette's best album to date. On this CD, they deliver a unique sound of rock, pop and a little bit of techno. The opening track, Crush On You has a catchy tune and a great beat. The lyrics are kinda weird, but they're weird in a good way. Crush On You (in my opinion) is the best song on this album, maybe the best song Roxette has ever done. Marie's voice sounds the best in love songs, such as Wish I Could Fly, Anyone, or Salvation...spine chilling, beautiful songs, full of emotion, but they're not sappy at all. Another gem of this album is the long-titled You Can't Put Your Arms Around What's Already Gone. Per sings it. Waiting For The Rain is another great song, Marie plays the piano in it, and she wrote the lyrics too. Great job, Marie! It Will Take A Long Time, I Was So Lucky and Beautiful Things are also pretty good songs. Cooper is a very enjoyable song, the only ballad that's sung by Per. Have A Nice Day also has some upbeat tracks to get people moving, such as 7 twenty 7, Stars, Pay The Price, Staring at the ground, and of course Crush On You. Overall, this album is a must have if you have Roxette's previous albums, but new fans will like it as well. I've gotta go now, so buy this album and have a nice day!

This Roxette's "Have A Nice Day" Collection Set It's Great For Fans Of All Time. The CD Includes The Original Track Listing Of The "Have A Nice Day" album released 1999: 1. Crush On You (5 stars) 2. Wish I Could Fly (5 stars) 3. You Can't Put Your Arms Around What's Already Gone (3 stars) 4. Waiting For The Rain (4 stars) 5. Anyone (5 stars) 6. It Will Take A Long Long Time (5 stars) 7. 7 Twenty 7 (4 stars) 8. I Was So Lucky ( 5 stars) 9. Stars (5 stars) 10. Salvation (5 stars) 11. Pay The Price (3 stars) 12. Cooper (4 stars) 13. Staring At The Ground (4 stars) 14. Beautiful Things (4 stars)

Plus This Bonus Tracks: 15. Happy Together (3 stars) 16. Better Of On Her Own (5 stars) 17. Crazy About You (4 stars) 18. See Me (4 stars)

Great CD with an excellent track listings for anyone who is a Roxette fan! You must buy it!

You know you've bought a great CD when you just have to listen to every song everytime you put it in the player. HAND is just that! I thouroughly enjoy it from start to finish. US radio needs to play more of them, especially their new stuff. It's a great set of music and I'm glad I bought it.

It's now been more than 10 years since Per Gessle and Marie Fredriksson, as Swedish duo Roxette, burned up charts in more than 30 nations, including the United States, with "The Look" and the album LookSharp!. It's been 13 years since Gessle and Fredriksson first released an album, Pearls of Passion, in 1986. And it's been 15 years since Heartland Café, the very first album credited to Roxette, featuring members of Gessle's '80s megaband Gyllene Tider, was released. After all that time, a band such as Roxette can do one of three things: remain static, break up or constantly change and remain dynamic. Luckily, Gessle and Fredriksson have chosen the last of the three options. And we're all better off for it.

Even after all this time, I still contend, with each succeeding Roxette release, that you're not going to hear the same youthful but ernest charm of Joyride or the same spunky spontaneity of Tourism. But Gessle and Fredriksson are now in their 40s and hardly willing to regress as artists.

So Have a Nice Day, or HAND as Roxette fans affectionately call it, is here. And what you get with this release is a refined but newly energized Roxette. You get a lot of pop-ish electronica. You get some hi-NRG feel ("Crush on You," "Stars"). You get '70s style moog ("You Can't Put Your Arms Around What's Already Gone"). You get that continual Beatles-esque sound that Roxette has developed over the years ("Waiting for the Rain"). You get acoustics ("It Will Take a Long, Long Time"). You get trance ("Wish I Could Fly"). You get balladry ("Salvation," "Cooper"). You get power-balladry ("Anyone", a very Burt Bacharach-type production). You even get a quirky but brilliant rock tune called "Staring at the Ground." What does Roxette have to do to make you happy, indeed?

The two songs I'd recommend most of all are "Pay the Price" and "Beautiful Things." Written by Gessle, "Price" has what Fredriksson calls a "raspberry" feel to it. It is a generously loud and fun piece of rock that shows just how far Roxette has come as a rock band. Co-written by Gessle and Fredriksson, "Beautiful Things" is another Beatles-esque song that captures gripping lyrics ("Does anybody want to hear what's on my mind?") and a beautiful melody. You can't lose with this song, probably Roxette's best, most aesthetic and, yet, most pragmatic ballad yet.

Let's hope there's a U.S. release for this album sometime before the hit of the next millenium. Even if we don't really deserve it for having ignored Roxette for all these years, there's room for salvation. Gotta get going ahead...

Roxette is Marie Fredriksson & Per Gessle.
'Have A Nice Day'
Produced by Clarence Ofwerman, Michael Ilbert, Marie Fredriksson, & Per Gessle for Roxette Recordings.
1999 Roxette Recordings under exclusive license to EMI Svenska AB.
Recorded at El Cortijo, Marbella; Polar, Stockholm; Cosmos, Stockholm; and Atlantis, Stockholm between January and October 1998.
Engineer: Michael Ilbert. Assistant engineer: Lennart Haglund.
Mixed at Mono Music, Stockholm: August - November 1998 by Clarence, Michael, Per, & Marie. Mix engineer: Michael Ilbert.
Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, New York City.
UPC: 7 24349 88532 5

First of all, I'm usually not one to review an album. Most of the time I review compilations based on sound quality, tracklistings, and packaging. However, I do make exceptions for exceptional albums. Roxette's 1999 studio album is one exception!

'Have A Nice Day', released in late February 1999 was, as far as I'm concerned, quite a controversial release among the fans at the time. I did not discover the album until late 2000 after realizing that Roxette were still together after hearing "Wish I Could Fly" on a local radio station here in the U.S. After sampling a number of the tracks on the Internet I just knew that I had to get the album. I still remember the negative buzz still surrounding the album around my time of discovery, some of the reviews taking a stab at the lyrics and the ballads. I suppose many fans viewed it as a lightweight, cheesy kind of release after the heavy sound of their previous studio album, 'Crash! Boom! Bang!' 'Have A Nice Day' presented a more adult contemporary sound in many ways, focusing more so on piano and strings instead of electric guitars for the most part. The album cover and design are very silly, but what about the music?

Ten years after it's original release I have to admit that 'Have A Nice Day', in my opinion, is still Roxette's best album. The album takes me on an emotional rollercoaster, touching mostly upon love, breakups, crushes, loneliness, and the ups and downs of relationships. Surely this is nothing new when it comes to music, but does anyone do it better than Roxette?

The production is crisp and beautiful, top notch from start to finish! I think that the elaborate, clean production elements make this album stand out above all other Roxette albums and most albums in general. It's a bright, colorful, shiny release even on the sad songs. The record is crammed with lush arrangements, soaring vocals, and unforgettable melodies. EVERY song has a hook!

The album starts with "Crush On You" (words & music by Per Gessle), a gem that many fans to this day still claim should have been a single release. Apparently the track was originally planned as a single -- rumored to be single no. 5 -- but never came to be, probably after the mediocre reaction to fourth single, "Salvation". I think that many fans were hoping for it to be the second single over "Anyone". Since "Anyone" didn`t exactly light the charts on fire maybe it would have been a better move?

"Crush On You" is all over the place lyrically. Gessle sings in one verse, "Got dead flies in my scotch with ice | My talents always vaporize | I want your bird of paradise" before Marie jumps in with the "I got a crush got a crush on you" chorus. Pure pop perfection! A personal favorite. Yep, it should have been a single. 10/10. Then again, so many others should have been as well. Read on.

First single "Wish I Could Fly" (words & music by Per Gessle) follows as the second track on the album. What a brilliant piece of music! Wow! Absolutely brilliant!!! "Wish I Could Fly" is one of those gems that stands above most other ballads in Roxette's vast catalogue of music. Remember what I said about the production? The drum loop, strings, acoustic guitars, and bass coincide in order to create a mysterious feel that matches the lyrics seamlessly. And let's not forget that Marie Fredriksson gives one of the best vocal performances of her career! Then again, Marie can sing anything and make it sound amazing.

My favorite part is at 2:45 in which the drum loop stops and the music resembles a plane's engine before jumping back into the drum loop. Absolutely incredible! Then we have the beautiful climax of the song, the best part, in my opinion: "I wish I could fly | Around and around | Over this town | The dirt on the ground | I'd follow your course | Of doors left ajar | To try to find out | Who you really are". I love the lyric and the emotional pull in this part of the song. Listen how the strings match Marie's vocal in "over this town". It grabs you! Feel those chills run down your spine.

The song became a huge sales smash and massive radio hit, the 7th most played song in Europe in 1999 while charting very well throughout the world on the singles chart -- #2 Denmark, #2 Argentina, #4 Sweden, #4 Brazil, #9 Finland, #10 Italy, #11 UK, #11 Austria, #12 Switzerland, and #14 Norway. The song even made a dent on the U.S. charts in the later half of 2000, breaking the Adult Top 40 (#40) and Adult Contemporary charts (#27) on the independent Edel America label. "Wish I Could Fly" is my favorite Roxette ballad and one of my favorite recordings of all time. 10/10.

Track three is "You Can't Put Your Arms Around What's Already Gone" (words & music by Per Gessle), an uptempo piece of electronic-based music. It has quite an '80s vibe going on, which gives it bonus points on my part. I must admit that I was not always that fond of this song, mostly because it comes across as a bit too cheesy -- the whole "baba b-baba b-baba ba" parts. Funny stuff! Maybe this is where the fans had a problem? But I love the lyrics, especially the part in which the album was named: "Took the tram 'round the bay | Where everyone tells you to have a nice day". Overall, it's still a catchy track with such silly lyrics as "Now you drive me real crazy just by being born" and "You used to kiss like no one had done before". Baba b-baba! Sing along. 9/10.

"Waiting For The Rain" (words & music by Marie Fredriksson), track four, is a loud, intense listening experience! Yep, that is Marie playing piano! The song is one of those epic recordings, with a '60s retro sound, that builds and builds into the smashing chorus of drums, tambourine, guitars, trumpet, trombone, strings, horns, and so forth. It gets really loud! Yet, it's so well done! Everything fits together so well, making "Waiting For The Rain" a highlight on the album even if the chorus is filled with "Na na na na na" bits. Marie sings: "The day you left me | The day you came | I'll never forget you | Feel you in my pain | The time stood still | The time was flying | I wonder why I'm not dying". The music is the shining moment here. I love this! 10/10.

Then there's "Anyone" (words & music by Per Gessle), track number five, the second single release from the project, originally slated to be the first single. I think that Roxette and company were really expecting a massive single with this one, maybe as big as some of their earlier number one hits like "Listen To Your Heart" and "It Must Have Been Love". "Anyone" is the kind of song that is set up to sound big on the radio with it's huge production and killer chorus. Once you hear this song you will immediately think "hit single" -- well, at least I did!

Another intense production of piano and strings and a slow rhythm pattern of drums make this a favorite. The song builds so beautifully into the chorus, simplifying to just Marie over piano in the first verse: "Anyone who have a love close to this knows what I'm saying | Anyone who wants a dream to come true knows how I'm feeling | All I can think of is you and me doing the things that I wanna do | All I imagine is heaven on earth I know it's you". Then there's the second verse, my favorite part: "Anyone who ever kissed in the rain knows the whole meaning". Everything flows so well in this song before exploding in the chorus: "Anyone who felt like I do | Anyone who wasn't ready to fall".

Unfortunately, despite becoming a radio hit in a number of territories throughout the world, the song did not live up to expectations on the singles charts, barely making the Top Forty in major markets -- #30 in Switzerland and #35 in Sweden. However, Denmark really felt the heartbreak, charting a spot higher than "Wish I Could Fly" by landing at #1! At least some people got it. "Anyone" eventually made an appearance on Roxette: The Ballad Hits in 2002 and Roxbox 1986-2006 in 2006. The original demo version by Per can be found on the Anyone [ENHANCED] single, whereas the "Anyone"/"I Love How You Love Me" Per demo version can be found on the 'RoxBox'.

The video for "Anyone" was banned in a number of countries and restricted to late night airings in others due to the scene in which Marie Fredriksson attempts suicide by drowning herself in the sea. Perhaps the lack of video airtime had an effect on chart performance? "It's over when it's over | What can I do about it?" Yes, the song is really that heartbreaking! "Lying awake in an ocean of teardrops, I float away". Apparently, interest in the song and video are still quite strong with a large viewership for the promo video on sites such as YouTube. 10/10.

"It Will Take A Long Long Time" (words & music by Per Gessle), a beautifully arranged acoustic guitar and piano ballad, lands at track number six. Wow. What a song! I absolutely love this one! Again, this song just shows again why Roxette is the best when it comes to ballads. After the depressing feel of the past four tracks Roxette take a more positive spin on "It Will Take A Long Long Time" with the chorus: "Got to get goin' goin' ahead | It will take a long, long time | Got to go ahead and deal with my life | It has taken such a long time this time". How is that for inspiration? I love the "Sunny called, I was in the bath ..." lyric as well. Per at his best! And yes, Marie once again gives a killer vocal performance. The emotion in her voice is incredible. Her voice was made for this kind of music, and vice-versa.

"Long Long Time" even made a brief appearance in the Julia Roberts/Richard Gere film, 'Runaway Bride', following in the steps of "It Must Have Been Love" for `Pretty Woman`. Listen for it! Also, be sure to check out "It Will Take A Long Long Time [Modern Rock Version]" available on both the Real Sugar single and `RoxBox'. This version is even better, in my opinion, adding an electric guitar on top of the already amazing production, even giving it a slight country vibe. A missed single release? If given a longer appearance in the movie and included on the soundtrack maybe this amazing song could have been! 10/10.

"7Twenty7" (words & music by Per Gessle) follows at what else? Track 7, of course! "Oh I'll be diving my head in the pure white snow", Per Gessle sings. "7Twenty7" cranks the album up considerably with it's electric guitars sliding over the electronic arrangement and synths. Production-wise, it's not really that different from "Crush On You", especially since Per takes lead again vocally and Marie provides vocals on the bridge. With lyrics such as "hey mister, do you know the way to salvation square?" and "it's a long, long winter 'til the birds will sing" this gem is one of Per's finest lyrics. It has edge! Check out Per's rock demo on the Stars single and 'RoxBox'. 9.5/10.

After the uptempo edge of "7Twenty7" comes the stunningly beautiful "I Was So Lucky" (words & music by Per Gessle) at track eight, a song which Mr. Gessle dedicates to his son, Gabriel, in the liner notes of the album. I cannot think of any other words to describe this song other than stunningly beautiful. Everything about this song is perfect. Remember that emotional rollercoaster that I mentioned earlier? Yep, after the hard, anxious feel of the previous track comes the warm, feel-good sensation of "I Was So Lucky", a gem that could have become, in my opinion, a massive single success if released at the right time.

"I Was So Lucky" is one of the sweetest songs that I've ever heard. It`s one of those simple, piano songs which shines in every possible way. "It's no secret I've been waiting but I didn't expect this | Nothing will remain, nothing stays the same after you came | It's no secret I've been starving, I never felt anything for years | I sat up all night just to watch your smile when you're sleeping | I was so lucky you came by and turned a different corner | I could've been somewhere else, you could've passed by". After the brilliant, building saxophone section comes the final chorus, which is, in my opinion, the best moment. Marie takes her vocal up a notch emotionally, along with the strings and backing vocals, to give the song yet another boost, highlighting the chorus with background "ooooooooooooooh" and "ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh" vocals: "... It could have been someone else you had in mind, oh my..." Pure Gessle. Love this!

And Marie sings her heart out! Nobody could sing it better: "I was so lucky you picked me | My trash turned to silver". Yep, that's right! Her trash turned to silver! Is Per really serious with this lyric? As goofy as it may sound it really works and gives the song another emotional lift! Can you tell that I adore this!?!? Probably my favorite part on the entire album. If you want to hear Per's vocal take look for his June 1998 demo on the maxi-single pressing of 'Stars'. 10/10.

As "I Was So Lucky" fades "Stars" (words & music by Per Gessle) joins in as the disc skips over into track nine. From the softer moments of "I Was So Lucky" comes a dance pop gem, a complete turnaround from the easy-going ballads and uptempos so far presented on the album. "Stars" takes Roxette to another level, becoming a dancefloor classic with it's techno beat and choir chorus! After hearing the brilliant "Wish I Could Fly" I stumbled upon "Stars" on the U.S. 2000 edition of Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus: Greatest Hits release. "Stars" was one of the main reasons that I decided to purchase 'Have A Nice Day' in the first place.

I absolutely fell in love with this song upon the first listen. It has, in my opinion, one of the best productions of any dance recording out there with it's stomping drum beat and dicey synths. Once again it goes to show the versatility of Roxette, churning out warm ballads and uptempo gems such as this at the same time. The promo video featured Marie in the water singing with ducks! "Stars" was even performed as a ballad in many shows of the 2001 Roxette 'Room Service Tour'. The children's choir in the chorus will have you singing along: "Stars will show where the waters flow where the gardens grow that's where I'll meet you". "Stars" was the third single release from the album and has found a spot on the duo's most recent hits compilations, including A Collection of Roxette Hits: Their 20 Greatest Songs! (2006) and The Pop Hits (2003). In some countries "Stars" was an even bigger success than "Wish I Could Fly" -- #3 Denmark, #9 Finland, #11 Norway, #13 Sweden, #19 Spain, #23 Germany, and #28 Switzerland. 10/10.

Then there's "Salvation" (words & music by Per Gessle), another stunning ballad in the same vein as "I Was So Lucky". Marie sings lead: "I can barely remember my past | Everything seems to disappear so fast | But I recall being jealous and alone | Gazing at the dreams going by | I started my life when you knocked on the door | Found something inside I didn't dare to ignore | Now I do believe in flowers on the moon | I'll swim beside the golden tide". Another ace ballad!

Per even has his part: "Some will get broken others will get lucky like me meeting you | Don't pass me by" in which Marie sings, "I found salvation, oh yeah | You bring me salvation" over a tender piano arrangement. Marie's voice is so sweet and angelic here. There's no other voice like it! "Salvation" is an album highlight that is more commercial sounding than "I Was So Lucky" and "It Will Take A Long Long Time", hence why it was picked as single number four. Even though it found a spot on their very own 'Ballad Hits' and 'RoxBox' releases it deserved much more success. Be sure to check out the video as well, and see what you can make of it. It's something quite special. 10/10.

It's uptempo pop rock again with "Pay The Price" (words & music by Per Gessle), the eleventh track on 'Have A Nice Day' and a double A-sided single with "Anyone" in Japan. Unlike "Crush On You" and "7Twenty7" "Pay The Price" remains true to the classic Roxette sound of the mid-'90s, sounding like something that could have been pulled from 'Crash! Boom! Bang!', for example, or Per's 1997 solo effort, The World According to Per Gessle.

The song was a bit of grower for me, but I've always been rather fond of it, regardless. Now I love it, especially the bridge in which the song takes a turn into just an acoustic section with Per on lead and Marie backing. Then the music builds into this crashing, electric guitar section reminiscent of pop rockers such as "Sleeping In My Car". Marie and Per share lead vocals on this one: "Pay the price of love when he calls for you". Fantastic! 9.5/10.

"Cooper" (words & music by Per Gessle) slows things down considerably on track twelve with it's haunting string section and slow arrangement. "Cooper", with lead vocals by Per Gessle and backing from Marie, tells the story of a young girl who leaves late one night "3 o'clock sharp", questioning "When can I say she's coming home?" and "May I ask who's calling?" Beautiful string arrangement and production. It's a mysterious piece of music and a turn lyrically on the album. Check out the orchestral "Closer To God" version on the "Anyone" single as well. A gem. 9.5/10.

'Have A Nice Day' takes another uptempo turn with track thirteen, "Staring At The Ground" (words & music by Per Gessle). Wow. This one starts out brilliantly with the drum loop, but it's really all about the acoustic and electric guitars! Woah. What a production! The whole vibe of this one is cool, including the harmonica solo by Per Gessle himself! This is the perfect Roxette song, with Marie on lead vocals and Per/Christoffer on backup. My favorite part has to be roughly at a minute and a half when the electric guitars soar: "I'm staring at the ground | I wish I could bring the spring to your door | To the coldest side of town | I carry your wounded dreams like the devil's deeds in the pocket of my jeans". "Staring At The Ground" clocks in at just under 3 minutes, making it the shortest track on the album yet one of the best! Per's demo version can be found on the 'RoxBox'. 10/10.

The album closes with perhaps the grandest recording of all, "Beautiful Things" (words by Per Gessle & music by Marie Fredriksson), track fourteen. The masterpiece, originally written and recorded as the Per Gessle solo demo "Beautiful Things, Terrible Things" in April 1996 for his 'The World According To Gessle' project, took quite a turn production wise once Marie got her hands on the music. While the lyrics are mostly the same as the 1996 demo the music is completely different. Per's version is still sad, but it's more of a mid-tempo cut.

Everything about this recording is flawless -- from the string arrangements to the piano playing by Marie herself. This is yet another one of those "wow" recordings! I suppose that I've overused the word a bit too much by now, but "Beautiful Things" is arguably the best ballad that the band has ever put together.

However, there is one problem! It is just too sad to listen to on a regular basis, mainly the reason that I cannot name this one my favorite. The depressing lyrics and gloomy arrangement can really take an emotional toll (seriously). Therefore, one has to really be in a miserable state or else this song may just turn your mood that way. It's a real downer! Regardless, I still adore this beautiful song and easily place it among Roxette's finest recordings ever, making a much deserved placed on the 'RoxBox'.

A few of the downhearted lyrics: "Terrible things like when you wake up and all of your dreams seem to crack up | Like things you have done, like breaking my heart | For you it don't seem terrible at all." Then the crushing, killer chorus follows: "Is there someone I can talk to? | Someone out there on the line? | Does anybody want to hear what's on my mind?" Marie sings it with such a passionate, depressing vocal as well: "Since you've been gone no beautiful thing seems beautiful to me". Beautiful things indeed. 10/10.

It's really great to see this album get recognition after all these years. This album truly deserves all the appreciation that it can get! It truly is a mind-blowing piece of music. While the album did not match the success of their earlier projects, reportedly selling anywhere between two and three million copies worldwide (it was not even released in the U.S. -- what?!), the overall 5-star rating on Amazon goes to show that the buzz surrounding the album after all these years is mostly positive.

I would love to see this album get a deluxe 2-disc edition treatment in the near future. I'm sure that there are many more goodies in the vaults surrounding this project. Meanwhile, if you enjoy this album I suggest the 'RoxBox' for additional 'Have A Nice Day' era highlights not included here.

If you wish to make a complete 'Have A Nice Day' single disc collection, add the 'RoxBox' to your collection in addition to the era single releases, and tag on the following tracks: 15. Happy Together (b-side of "Wish I Could Fly"), 16. Better Off On Her Own (b-side of "Stars"), 17. It Hurts ('Have A Nice Day' session outtake), 18. Little Miss Sorrow ('Have A Nice Day' session outtake), 19. It Will Take A Long Long Time [Modern Rock/Alternative Version] (b-side of "Real Sugar"), 20. Cooper (Closer To God) (b-side of "Anyone"). I highly recommend these tracks as well! Information about these era highlights can be found in my review of the 'RoxBox' here at Amazon.