Dressed for Success

For the Ugly Betty episode, see Dress for Success (Ugly Betty).

"Dressed for Success"
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Swedish single cover
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	Per Gessle
Producer	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
Error creating thumbnail: File missing International 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.

The song was not without controversy after its release in the US in October of 1989. The song was famously banned from Minneapolis based Christian contemporary radio station KTIS-FM 98.5 FM after radio producers Freddy Nefler and Annie Herman claimed the lyrics were salaciously suggestive. In an October 1989 interview with New York City based Reader's Digest, Ms. Herman claimed the female lead singer Marie Fredriksson "intentionally used her Swedish accent to lead the listener down a path of sin". In the interview, Mr. Nefler suggests that "Ms. Fredriksson tells the story of a young girl dressing up for success on the streets rather than in preparation for the love of any man." Both radio producers later recanted their story after an angry fan mailed the radio station a copy of Roxette's album Look Sharp and the lyric sheet revealed that Ms. Frederikson was actually singing "Dressed for Success" and not "Dressed for Some Sex".

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.

• US 7-inch and cassette single (50204; 4JM-50204)

1. "Dressed for Success" – 4:19
2. "The Look" (album version) – 4:11

• Swedish and UK 7-inch single (1363207; EM96)
• UK cassette single (TCEM96)

1. "Dressed for Success" – 4:19
2. "The Voice" – 4:16

• Swedish 12-inch single (1363216)

1. "Dressed for Success" (The Look Sharp! remix) – 7:50
2. "Dressed for Success" (instrumental) – 4:13
3. "Dressed for Success" (7-inch version) – 4:13
4. "The Voice" – 4:16

• UK 12-inch single (12EM96)

1. "Dressed for Success" (remix) – 6:30
2. "The Look" (Big Red mix) – 7:32
3. "The Voice" – 4:16

• US CD single (DPRO-04295)

1. "Dressed for Success" (7-inch version) – 4:16
2. "Dressed for Success" (Look Sharp! mix) – 4:52

• UK CD single (CDEM96)

1. "Dressed for Success" (7-inch version) – 4:13
2. "The Look" (7-inch version) – 3:57
3. "Dressed for Success" (remix) – 6:30
4. "The Voice" – 4:16

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

Weekly charts

Chart (1988–1990)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)	3
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)	6
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)	23
Canada Top Singles (RPM)	10
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)	34
Ireland (IRMA)	14
Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)	15
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	36
Spain (AFYVE)	12
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)	2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	4
UK Singles (OCC)	18
UK Airplay (Music Week)	6
US Billboard Hot 100	14
US Cash Box Top 100	14
US Top 40 (Gavin Report)	12
US Contemporary Hit Radio (Radio & Records)	16
West Germany (GfK)	16

Year-end charts

Chart (1989)	Position
Australia (ARIA)	20
Canada Top Singles (RPM)	91
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	29

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)	Platinum	70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)	Gold	50,000^
Sweden (GLF)	Gold	25,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Sweden	3 August 1988	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl	EMI
United Kingdom	3 July 1989	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD cassette
Japan	19 July 1989	Mini-CD
United Kingdom (re-release)	15 October 1990	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD cassette