Customer Reviews

Pop Hits

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'The Pop Hits' is a compilation of most of Roxette international pop hits from 1988's 'The Look' to 2003's 'Opportunity Nox.'

1. Opportunity Nox - The first and only new single release from the compilation. Once again, I was blown away when I heard this one. This guitar-driven power-pop tune is, in my opinion, one of Roxette's best singles ever. Per takes lead vocals and Marie sings background.

2. The Look - The breakthrough hit. Perhaps the best song they ever did. I won't argue with that. It stands out today as much as it did when it topped almost every chart in 1989. A classic!

3. Dressed For Success (Chris Lord-Alge Mix) - This mix is the same as the 'U.S. Single Version' on the 'Don't Bore Us' compilations. The 2nd hit single in the USA, peaking at #14 in the summer of 1989. This is one of my favorite Marie vocal performances.

4. Dangerous (LP Version) - Whereas the 'Don't Bore Us' compilations included the 'Single Version' of this track, 'The Pop Hits' includes the original album version - which really stands out here due to the remastering. 'Dangerous' became the duo's 3rd US Top Ten hit, reaching #2 in early 1990.

5. Joyride (Single Edit) - Still a classic. Roxette's 4th #1 hit in the USA and #1 almost everywhere in 1991. Gotta love the whistling!

6. The Big L. - This was the 3rd single release pulled from the 'Joyride' album. It was never a single in the USA but that didn't stop it from becoming another hit for Roxette. A bit cheesy, but it's all about the chorus!

7. Church Of Your Heart - The 5th single release from the 'Joyride' album. Underrated classic, in my opinion. One of their best singles. A pretty big hit internationally, but due to record company issues in the USA, it became their last Top 40 single in the States - peaking at #36 in early 1992.

8. How Do You Do! - A nice little cheesy piece of pop! Nothing wrong with that though. A funky guitar riff runs throughout the song. The first single from the 'Tourism' album (1992) and one of their biggest hits.

9. Sleeping In My Car (Single Edit) - One of my favorite songs ever. The first single from 'Crash! Boom! Bang!' (1994) hit #1 in several countries in early 1994. Unlike previous efforts, 'Sleeping In My Car' was more rock-driven, featuring more electric guitar.

10. Run To You - The 4th single from 'Crash! Boom! Bang!' and perhaps more fitting on 'The Ballad Hits' album. This is more so of a mid-tempo pop song, so it still fits. In any case, this is one of my favorites, and it's nice to see it make the cut, where it was left off on 'Don't Bore Us.'

11. June Afternoon - The 2nd single from the 1995, 'Don't Bore Us' release. The perfect summer tune...well for June anyway! It's all about ice cream, red ballons, and the park! Per at his best!

12. Stars - The 3rd single release from 1999's 'Have A Nice Day' and a huge hit in Europe. You either love it or hate it. Well, I love it, and this was one of the songs that revived my craze for the Swedish duo. It's a mix of dance, techno, and pop with a beautiful children's choir to fill in the chorus.

13. The Centre Of The Heart - The first single from 2001's 'Room Service' release. Following in the steps of 'Stars' (to some extent), the song is more dance-oriented than early 90s Roxette releases. A grower for me, but the "na-na-na-na-na-na" chorus and lyrics won me over.

14. Real Sugar - The 2nd single from the 'Room Service' album with the perfect combo - Per on the verses and Marie on the chorus. This track fueled my Roxette craze! It was my favorite song of 2001. I remember hearing this one for the first time and thinking it was the best thing they had ever done! The chorus does it all.

15. Little Miss Sorrow - One of the 2 new songs on the compilation. Unfortunately, this one was not released as a single. Originally recorded for the 'Have A Nice Day' project, the track was slightly reworked and included here. It's more of a mid-tempo track...until the chorus kicks in! Add this one to my list of 15 favorites on this compilation!

Limited Edition EP:

1. Stupid ('Spun' Version) - Originally included on Per Gessle's English 1997 solo effort, 'The World According To Gessle,' the song was slightly remixed for Jonas Akerlund's film, 'Spun.' Although I slightly prefer the original Per version for the heavier guitars, this version still showcases some of Per's best work.

2. Makin' Love To You - More so of a mid-tempo pop ballad. Perhaps it would fit more so on the ballads EP. This one was recorded most likely for the 'Room Service' project. The song builds quite nicely and features Marie on lead vocals. Strong enough for an album cut.

3. Better Off On Her Own - B-side to the 'Stars' single. This is one of the duo's best b-sides. It's a simple acoustic tune with Per on lead vocals and Marie doing a very sweet backup. Recorded in March 1999, shortly after the release of 'Have A Nice Day.'

4. Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla (You Broke My Heart) - Again, this is more so of a mid-tempo pop ballad. Whatever the case, I love the title and lyrics! Per sings lead once again.

There are a few misses here though: Fingertips '93, Fireworks, and She Doesn't Live Here Anymore. I suppose EMI/Capitol wanted to limit the compilation to 15 tracks like they did with 'The Ballad Hits' and therefore, cut out a few "hits." It's unfortunate since they are some of Roxette's best pop singles. Additionally, the disc is "copy-controlled." However, the disc plays fine and allows me to rip MP3 and Wav files freely.

Even if you own some of these songs on previous releases, it's worth buying for the remastered tracks. All tracks have been digitally remastered, and the difference can especially be heard in the earlier recordings. Overall, it's a nice addition to my collection. Now I'm waiting for a US release! C'mon Capitol!

This compilation album spans from "The Look" to "Room Service" and covers the pop, upbeat songs. Of the new tracks, "Opportunity Nox" seems to be destine to be another hit racked up for Marie and Per, and it would be a shame to miss "Little Miss Sorrow".

Yeah, I love Roxette. This has for eons now, it seems, been something considered deffenitely silly in Denmark, something you ought to be slightly ashamed of and deffinitely would keep to yourself if possible. Not that I can for the life of me understand why, considering what comes out of my speakers when I turn on my radio these days ...

This is then the pop hits collection, and I dare say that this must be labeled as an 'impossible to dislike' CD. I can't imagine anybody not being cheared up by listening to this music. And that's pop music at it's best.

Of course, all the hits are here ... 'The Look', 'Dressed For Succes', 'Joyride', 'Stars', 'The Centre Of The Heart' and just for the measure a couple of new songs as well, featuring the delighting 'Opportunity Nox' ... oh yes, Roxette rocks on.

Of course one will always have complaints regarding compilation CDs - personally I should have prefered the single mix of 'Dangerous' (as on the former compilation), but that's a minor detail; also I would have been delighted to have the single mix of 'Stars' included, since this was notably different from the album version (no children choir at all) - not that I dislike the album version, I think it's terrific, but I should have loved to have both versions.

Then there is the thing about left out songs. In this case I have two songs that I would have included, had I had any choice - though neither of these songs were released as singles (can someone explain me why?). This is 'Crush On You', the fantastic openor from Have A Nice Day, and 'Make My Head Go Pop' from Roomservice - both songs I think are among the very best pop songs from the Roxette factory. There is after all plenty of room left on the CD, that only runs for 55 minutes or so.

About the bonus EP ... well, these songs are not exceptional. Note bad perhaps, but not nearly as good as the songs included on the Ballad Hits bonus EP, and not even close to as good as the songs on the CD.

A final note about the copy protected CDs. They play pretty well, but not perfectly, on my DVD/CD player - it skips tiny parts every now and then, making notable and annoying disturbancies in the rhythm of the songs. On my computer is sounds pretty awful - the included player doesn't work well at all, and the sound is very distorted. Fortunately, I have no problems in ripping the files from the CD to my harddisc ... and then I can burn my own normal version - including the extra songs I miss. Then I have my perfect pop hits collection!

I serioulsy HATE and detest how so many people write off and put down/criticse Roxette. I think they are modern day masters as good as Lennon, McCartney, Dylan, Neil & Tim Finn, James Blunt, The Beatles, ABBA, Travis, Coldplay, David Gray, Crowded House & Split Enz. They were the first band I loved & first record I bought. This CD is the best! It spurred on my materialistic streak & consumeristic collection of over 1000 original CDs since the 1990's.

Roxette is one of those groups that deservedly get lots of airplay, with their infectious hooks and catchy pop songs. It's a safe bet that you know most of their hit singles, even if you don't know the songs by name or who sings them.

The chameleon of pop music, Roxette's music infiltrates your sub-conscious, and whenever there's a familiar pop song buzzing around in your head, and you just can't place it, it's probably them.

The US version of this album from Amazon.com lists 15 songs, and notes below that there are four bonus tracks. The UK album available on Amazon UK only lists 11 songs, but I can't be sure if this is a typo or if it's missing a few tracks.

Roxette is made up of guitarist Per Gessie and vocalist Marie Fredriksson, who came together in the late eighties to make beautiful music together. Many albums and hit singles later, they're still with us, and even though this is a 1993 album, it still sounds as perky as ever.

For pop entertainment how can you beat lyrics such as:

"Walking like a man, hitting like a hammer, she's a juvenile scam, never was a quitter, tasty like a raindrop, she's got the look."

Trust me, you know more than 75% of the songs on this album, and after this crash course in Roxette 101, you won't forget them again.

Amanda Richards, May 26, 2005

Roxette. You can listen to their songs and put their music into two categories. A band of ballad songs, who makes you fall in love with them (and with someone else too, if you do have a heart); and a band of pop/rock songs, which you can't tell if they are pop or rock, but you can realize that once you listen to songs like "How do you do!" you get them stuck in your mind all day long.

The Pop Hits Collection fits in the second category. It is a brilliant and finest album gathering a compilation of a 17-year-old career. Every single track affords a glimpse of energy and history, either through sweet-voiced Marie Fredriksson or the smooth performance of Per Gessle's vocals (the supporting musicians of the band play leading role, you can tell). In most of the tracks, these talented, successful and skillful duo of singers/songwriters are mixed together in such a tuned up style, you can't imagine one without the other (in spite of their brilliant solo careers).

To sum up, Roxette has proven that it doesn't take all sorts to make the music world, but people of quality and capacity just like them. If you like Roxette, you have a fine, exigent taste for music and, well, if you don't... don't worry, many other people do.

This album is just so full of life. Again, Roxette (Marie & Per) have done it. From the album cover to the bonus tracks you get the feeling that there's much more happiness to life than it seems. It's pure positive energy. Opportunity Nox takes you on a awesome skyride while Little Miss Sorrow and Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla (You Broke My Heart) heal your soul.

Get out of the box 'cause "Opportunity Nox"!.

Roxette have been widely known for both Pop and Ballad songs. In 2002 they decided to release two separate albums with their Pop Hits on one side (2003), and the Ballads on the other (2002).
"The Pop Hits" is definitely a must. All known Roxette rock hits are in it, and the new tracks "Opportunity Nox" and "Little Miss Sorrow" show how Per is still on the same music writing style.
A Party album. A must for your car, and definitely a good idea to have it if you're a DJ.
"The Look" still nowadays sounds as fresh as it did when it was first released in 1988.
The tracks are ordered chronologicaly except for the opening song, which shows how they have changed throughout their career, but still have kept their trademark.
Only "Run To You" seems not to fit in the album, given that is is slower than the rest (and actually considered as a Ballad in their Spanish attempt album "Baladas en Español"), and leaving out "She Doesn't Live Here Anymore" which is one of the most rock orientated in their history.
However, not all uptempo songs have been included and many jewels and masterpieces didn't make it to the radio charts. Worth finding them.

The compilation album I like to call The Sequel. Its "younger sister", The Ballad Hits was/is very successful when it came out in 2002. The Pop Hits is right up there with it. When The Ballad Hits came out I predicted this one coming...because I don't know how anyone would get away with releasing a compilation album without their first #1 single, "The Look".

Just like The Ballad Hits, this album also features 2 new tracks, 13 of their up-tempo singes from 1988 to 2001, and on some versions (for a limited time) a bonus 4-track EP with B-sides and previously unreleased songs. Its only single outtake is the opening track, "Opportunity Nox". Just like "A Thing About You", it is the only one to be released from it.

This album is absolutely ideal for parties - especially "retro" themed ones (in reference to the first half of the album). Another 5-star album from a 5-star band. Grab yourself a copy today! :)

"The Pop Hits" is the latest compilation of Roxette's Pop Hits (meaning up tempo numbers). Its sister compilation is "The Ballad Hits".
Anyways, on this CD you have them almost all - "The Look", "Dangerous", "Dressed For Success" etc etc. Songs most people know and still deny it! On this CD you also get the new songs "Opportunity Nox" and "Little Miss Sorrow". While "Nox" flirts with dance music and heavy keyboard arrangements, "Ms Sorrow" is a guitar filled gem, sounding a lot like Oasis. Mysteriously missing from the album are "Fireworks" and "She Doesn't Live Here Anymore"...
If you ever liked any of Roxette's faster songs, this is a given for you!