"Joyride" is a song by the Swedish pop duoRoxette. Written by Per Gessle, it was released as the lead single from their third studio album, Joyride, the follow-up to the duo's highly successful second studio album, Look Sharp!. It became one of Roxette's biggest hits, and was one of the most successful singles of 1991, topping multiple record charts across Europe, as well as in Australia, Canada, and the United States.
Recording and release
has said that the opening line of the song was inspired by a note his girlfriend left on his piano, which read: "Hej, din tok, jag älskar dig". Its title was derived from an interview in which Paul McCartney compared writing songs with John Lennon to "a long joyride". Roxette's former tour manager Dave Edwards is credited with narration on the song.
Critical reception
editor Bryan Buss described the song as a "chanting carnival" in his review of the Joyride album. Larry Flick from Billboard described it as a "playful pop/rock ditty with a catchy chorus that is destined to make a quick sprint up the charts." Jim Farber from Entertainment Weekly noted that "they blithely toss a bit of whistling into "Joyride", next to some psychedelic Beatles-like flourishes." Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report wrote, "Plenty of reason for joy in Top 40 land as Per Gessle and Marie Fredriksson deliver the first of a new batch of songs. Wisely, the Swedish duo retain "Look Sharp" producer Clarence Ofwerman, and, once again it's clear all three understand the way to a Pop music fan's heart. Roxette has re-applied that happy, feelgood formula to making mass appeal records, and it's earned them instant recognition and remarkable chart success. This title track from their new album is certain to not only meet everyone's expectations, but surpass them." Brendon Veevers from Renowned for Sound commented, "There isn’t a soul alive who cannot say they don’t love this track – Roxette fan or not. It’s pop at its finest and the video is equally as memorable; the band speeding down a U.S highway, playing guitar on top of a red corvette." Rolling Stones J.D. Considine said that the song is "decked out in a glossy, Sgt. Pepper-style arrangement". Mark Frith from Smash Hits labeled it as a "over-the-top" pop song, "with catchy choruses that remind you slightly of those other musical Swedes, Abba."
Commercial performance
The song became one of the duo's biggest hits and was one of the most successful singles of 1991. It was their first number one single in their home country and their first platinum-certified single there. It also topped the charts in numerous other territories, including Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Switzerland. The song spent eight weeks at number one in Germany, where it was certified gold by the Bundesverband Musikindustrie for sales in excess of 250,000 copies. "Joyride" peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart, their second-highest chart placing there—behind top three hit "It Must Have Been Love". The song spent three weeks atop the Australian Singles Chart, and was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for shipments in excess of 70,000 units. It went on to remain one of the top ten-best selling singles of the year in that country. It was their fourth and last number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also topped the nationalRPM singles chart in Canada, where it was certified gold by Music Canada for shipments in excess of 50,000 units, and nominated for a Juno Award in 1992 for Best Selling Single by a Foreign Artist.
