Joyride

Album: Joyride (1991)
Charted: 4 1
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Per Gessle (the male member of the duo) wrote this song for his girlfriend. He came home late and she had left a note on his piano that read, "Hej din tok, jag alskar dig," which means, "Hello, you fool, I love you," in Swedish. Gessle used the line in the song. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Philip - Ahus, Sweden
  • Gessle decided to add whistling to the tune after watching Monty Python's Life of Brian, which features the whistle-heavy song "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life." He told Billboard magazine: "I did the whistling myself. It's overdubbed 12 times, but I did it."
  • Gessle and Marie Fredriksson, the other half of Roxette, knew they wanted this to be the lead single, but their record label, EMI, disagreed. Thinking the uptempo track would be too risky, the label recommended the ballad "Spending My Time" as the first single for the US. Luckily, the duo refused to relent and "Joyride" became the duo's fourth consecutive #1 hit. As for "Spending My Time," it was their first chart single to miss the Top 30.
  • The album title was inspired by a magazine interview with Paul McCartney, in which he described writing songs with John Lennon as "a long joyride." Gessle recalled: "At the time, we were in the middle of recording, and I was looking for a fun, positive title for the album. 'Joyride' seemed like a perfect word."
  • This also hit #1 in several other countries, including Canada, Australia, Germany, Japan, Norway, and their native Sweden.
  • This was used on Beverly Hills, 90210 in the 1991 episode "Pass, Not Pass."

Comments: 2

  • Dennis from Anchorage, AkThis song is one of my favorite musical guilty pleasures.
  • Peter C. "clemo" from Prague, Czech RepublicThe title comes (as I read in the booklet from Roxette greatest hits CD, Per Gessle himself said) from an interview with Paul McCartney, who said "writing songs with John (Lennon) was a complete Joyride" (or something like that)
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes

Chris Robinson of The Black CrowesSongwriter Interviews

"Great songwriters don't necessarily have hit songs," says Chris. He's written a bunch, but his fans are more interested in the intricate jams.

Brandi Carlile

Brandi CarlileSongwriter Interviews

As a 5-year-old, Brandi was writing lyrics to instrumental versions lullabies. She still puts her heart into her songs, including the one Elton John sings on.

Fire On The Stage

Fire On The StageSong Writing

When you have a song called "Fire," it's tempting to set one - these guys did.

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")Songwriter Interviews

A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.

Penny Ford of Snap!

Penny Ford of Snap!Songwriter Interviews

The original voice of Snap! this story is filled with angry drag queens, video impersonators and Chaka Khan.