Dressed for Success

"Dressed for Success"
Single by Roxette
from the album Look Sharp!
B-side	"The Voice"
Released	3 August 1988
Recorded	May–June 1988
Studio	EMI (Stockholm, Sweden)
Genre	Synth-rock
Length	4:09
Label	EMI
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

"Dressed for Success" is a song by Swedish pop rock duo Roxette, released in Europe, 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 the first to be released outside of Sweden – "Dressed for Success" was re-issued internationally in 1989 and became a worldwide hit, most notably in Australia, where it peaked in the top three and was certified platinum by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

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.

Critical reception

In an ironic review of 15 July 1989 the Johnny Dee, observer of British music newspaper Record Mirror, placed it into "thumbs-down section" but expressed regret by saying that "isn't all that bad". As per him song has "a nifty beat". Bryan Buss from AllMusic described the song as "punchy" and "hopeful". 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".

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.

Formats and track listings

All songs were written and composed by Per Gessle.

Credits and personnel

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

• Recorded between May and June 1988 at EMI Studios, Stockholm, Sweden
• Mixed at EMI Studios, Stockholm
• Single version mixed at The Grey Room, Los Angeles

Musicians

• Marie Fredriksson – lead and background vocals
• Per Gessle – lead and background vocals, mixing
• Anders Herrlin – programming, engineering
• Jonas Isacsson – electric and acoustic guitars
• Clarence Öfwerman – keyboards, programming, production, mixing
• Alar Suurna – mixing, engineering
• Chris Lord-Alge – mixing (single version)

Charts

Certifications

Release history