On this day in 1989: Roxette went to #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘The Look.’ It would spend one week in the top spot.
‘The Look’ was released in early 1989 as the fourth single from their second studio album ‘Look Sharp!’ It became an international hit, and was one of the most successful singles of 1989, ranked the #17 song for the year. It topped the charts in 25 countries, and was the first of their four #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
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 50 of the Billboard Hot 100 before the duo began official promotion.
Here’s a look at the complete Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1989:
1 3 THE LOOK –•– Roxette – 9 (1)
2 1 ETERNAL FLAME –•– The Bangles – 10 (1)
3 2 GIRL YOU KNOW IT’S TRUE –•– Milli Vanilli – 14 (2)
4 6 SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY –•– Fine Young Cannibals – 11 (4)
5 11 LIKE A PRAYER –•– Madonna – 4 (5)
6 8 STAND –•– R.E.M. – 12 (6)
7 4 MY HEART CAN’T TELL YOU NO –•– Rod Stewart – 18 (4)
8 9 DREAMIN’ –•– Vanessa Williams – 14 (8)
9 7 WALK THE DINOSAUR –•– Was Not Was – 11 (7)
10 17 FUNKY COLD MEDIA –•– Tone Loc – 6 (10)
11 13 SUPERWOMAN –•– Karyn White – 11 (11)
12 12 YOU GOT IT –•– Roy Orbison – 12 (12)
13 16 YOUR MAMA DON’T DANCE –•– Poison – 8 (13)
14 5 THE LIVING YEARS –•– Mike & The Mechanics – 14 (1)
15 19 HEAVEN HELP ME –•– Deon Estus – 7 (15)
16 20 I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU –•– Bon Jovi – 6 (16)
17 10 LOST IN YOUR EYES –•– Debbie Gibson – 12 (1)
18 24 SECOND CHANCE –•– .38 Special – 9 (18)
19 25 ROOM TO MOVE –•– Animotion – 8 (19)
20 27 ROCKET –•– Def Leppard – 6 (20)
